2025 NFL Free Agency: Final Predictions Before the Legal Tampering Period Begins

The time is almost here.

In just a couple of days, the “legal tampering” period will begin and NFL teams can talk to the representatives for this year’s pending free agents. Players who have recently been released are already fair game.

They totally aren’t already talking to other player reps yet. Nope. No NFL team would ever break the rules like that. Like that’s why there’s a “legal tampering” period now in the first place.

Get outta here with that.

As free agency gets closer and closer, the speculation about who will land where only increases. What will the New England Patriots do with their $125 million and change in cap space? How about the four other teams with over $75 million to spend?

You can flip that script, too. How will the quarterback carousel headlined by Sam Darnold and Aaron Rodgers play out? Which offensive linemen will land massive contracts—and where? How about the big-name edge-rushers who were given their walking papers over the past week or so?

Well, we like speculating as much as anyone, so as dozens of players prepare to find new teams and hundreds of millions in contracts is about to be handed out, here’s a look at predictions for some of the top free agents of 2025.

Sam Darnold will Return to the Minnesota Vikings

Ric Tapia/Getty Images

This needs to be prefaced.

The original prediction for Sam Darnold’s next team was the Las Vegas Raiders. But after the Raiders sent a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Geno Smith, that was the end of that.

That creates a new potential suitor for Darnold’s services in the Pacific Northwest, but it also hammers home the real possibility that the market for Darnold won’t be what he’d hoped—and that the best course of action might be to stand pat and remain in Minnesota.

The Vikings passed on applying the franchise tag to Darnold. But NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero told The Rich Eisen Show that doesn’t mean Minnesota isn’t interested in the 27-year-old.

"The Vikings have an offer out to him," Pelissero said. "They have been in talks. They chose not to use the franchise tag, which is probably a pretty good indication that Sam Darnold's market is a little bit lighter than what people had been expecting on the outside. Does Sam Darnold decide to go back on effectively a one-year deal in Minnesota and be the guy until he's not the guy, with J.J. McCarthy sitting there breathing down his neck? Does he decide, I'm gonna go someplace else, whether that's on another one-year deal or it's on a multi-year deal?"

Who knows? If Darnold does re-up, in a month we could be talking about which teams are most likely to trade for McCarthy.

Just kidding. It won’t take a month.

Things are about to get much more interesting in the Twin Cities

Aaron Rodgers Isn’t Leaving Met Life Stadium

Luke Hales/Getty Images

Like the Raiders, the New York Giants have a massive need at the quarterback position. The team has the third pick in April’s draft, which could put them in the running for Ward or Sanders. But while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show this week, Giants beat writer Art Stapleton said the G-Men could be headed down the veteran route—with a quarterback who played in New York a year ago.

“From my understanding, right now they are pretty significantly down the road where they are negotiating to the point where, if Aaron Rodgers winds up as a Giant—before the start of the league year next week—it would not be a shock to people in his area and at The Meadowlands. The Giants have talked about what it would take to get Aaron here, with the Giants, to not leave New Jersey. The Giants have yet to be scared off of Aaron Rodgers coming on some show every Tuesday. I think from a football fit, this is something that they’re seriously considering.”

As soon as Rodgers is officially released, he’s free to sign with another team, so the G-Men may not even have to wait until Monday to strike a new deal.

The wisdom of signing a 41-year-old quarterback coming off a down season is admittedly questionable. But what isn’t in question is the shaky ground Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen find themselves on entering 2025. If the Giants aren’t significantly better this year, heads will likely roll.

Desperation can be a powerful motivator. But it has also spurred NFL teams to make decisions they later regret.

The Kansas City Chiefs will Poach OT Ronnie Stanley from the Ravens

Michael Owens/Getty Images

Offensive linemen are perennially one of the more coveted positions in free agency. Even middling linemen often land big contracts on the open market.

And Ronnie Stanley of the Baltimore Ravens is much more than a middling option. After battling injuries for several years, Stanley re-gained his Pro Bowl form last season—per PFF, Stanley allowed just two sacks in 1,089 snaps.

The Ravens have indicated a strong desire to bring the soon-to-be 31-year-old back. But if Stanley does hit the open market, Nate Taylor of The Athletic wrote that the Kansas City Chiefs are primed to take a run at him.

"When free agency begins, the Chiefs will target Ronnie Stanley, the nine-year veteran who is the best left tackle available on the market, according to sources," Taylor wrote. "Stanley's experience and value, in both the run and pass game when healthy, are why the Chiefs believe he can be a major upgrade at the position and also be a dependable starter for multiple years. After all, the Chiefs have started a different left tackle in each of their five Super Bowl appearances over the last six years."

Cap space is something of an issue for Kansas City, but this would hardly be the first time an NFL team made cap space appear seemingly from thin air. After getting manhandled by the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs badly need to upgrade the offensive line. And Kansas City wouldn’t have traded Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears without a plan in mind to replace him.

That plan is Ronnie Stanley.

The New England Patriots will Spend Big on WR Chris Godwin

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

It’s hardly surprising that the New England Patriots have been mentioned in connection with just about every wide receiver available in free agency or via trade. The team possesses arguably the weakest assemblage of passing-game talent in the league and more cap space ($125.1 million) than any team in the NFL.

The team could swing a trade for Seattle’s DK Metcalf. But the Seahawks are reportedly seeking a first-rounder and a third-rounder for the 27-year-old, and Metcalf wants $30 million a season on a new deal.

That a hefty price tag—one that could spur the Patriots to pivot to one of the top free agent wideouts. And in the opinion of Bernd Buchmasser of Pats Pulpit, the best option available is Chris Godwin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“With (Tee) Higgins off the board, Godwin projects as the best free agent wide receiver available and somebody the Patriots might have a keen interest in,” he said. “While more of a Z-receiver than an outside option, he would add a dynamic presence to Josh McDaniels’ offense and serve as a volume target and go-to guy for Drake Maye. Even though he is coming off a season-ending ankle injury — one that should not limit his availability for the offseason program and training camp — he likely won’t come cheap: New England might have to pay him upwards of $25 million per year to bring him aboard.”

$25 million is admittedly a lot to pay for a receiver coming off a serious injury. But from 2021 to 2023, Godwin peeled off three straight seasons with at least 80 receptions and over 1,000 yards.

New England has to improve Drake Maye’s weapons. And with the most cap space in the NFL, the Pats have the resources to win a bidding war and add the best wide receiver available.

The Washington Commanders will Sign Edge-Rusher Harold Landry III

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

This year’s free-agent class at edge-rusher wasn’t especially impressive not that long ago. But that class became significantly better this past week with the release of Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers and Harold Landry of the Tennessee Titans.

Before severing ties with the 28-year-old, the Titans gave Landry permission to seek a trade—and at the time, Justin Melo of Titan Sized mentioned the Washington Commanders as a potential trade partner who could fit.

“The Commanders are flush with cap space, boasting a fourth-most $80.8 million to spend in free agency,” Melo said. “Defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn saw his unit record a modest 43 sacks, with the aging Dante Fowler Jr. leading the way with 10.5 quarterback takedowns. Fowler Jr. played on an expiring contract and Landry is younger than him by two years. Fellow pass rusher Clelin Ferrell is also slated for free agency, making the position a fairly big need in Washington.”

With Landry now released, all he will cost the Commanders is cash. The eighth-year veteran missed the entire 2022 campaign with an ACL tear, but both before and after the injury Landry was consistently productive. In each of the past three seasons in which he has played, Landry logged at least 70 total tackles and nine sacks.

He won’t come cheaply—Landry is now arguably the top edge-rusher available in free agency. But the Commanders have the cash. The team has a need at the position. And after last year’s surprise NFC Championship run, Washington is firmly in “win-now” mode.

Joey Bosa will Join his Younger Brother with the San Francisco 49ers

Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

Joey and Nick Bosa both played at Ohio State, but the last time the two were on a playing field together as teammates was high school. While speaking to reporters last year, Nick said it would be a kick to once again play with Joey in the NFL.

“It’d be cool at some point,” Nick said. “I always thought of myself being somebody that will play here and retire here, which I think not many people do on one team, and I think it would be a cool thing to accomplish, but you never know.”

Bosa is going to get his wish this year.

After nine up-and-down seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. Joey Bosa was released recently in a cap-cutting move. And while Gilbert McGregor of the Sporting News was rattling off potential landing spots, the 49ers were the first team he mentioned.

“It's already been a big offseason for the 49ers, who will look to bounce back after a nightmarish 2024 campaign. They could lean into rebuilding team chemistry by pairing Joey Bosa with his younger brother, Nick,” he said. “The two just missed out on an opportunity to play together as teammates at Ohio State but now have the chance to share the field and wreak havoc together as pass rushers to help San Francisco get back to the top of the NFC West. Familial ties aside, the 49ers could use a boost on the defensive end and can count on Joey Bosa's veteran presence to add some consistency. For multiple reasons, the family reunion could be the most likely outcome.”

Edge-rusher might not be San Francisco’s biggest need, but a healthy Bosa would be a sizable upgrade on the aging Leonard Floyd opposite, well, Bosa. And given the elder Bosa’s injury history, the terms of his contract might not be that steep.

The Detroit Lions will Sign the Top Free Agent CB in D.J. Reed

Kara Durrette/Getty Images

The Detroit Lions are coming off their most successful regular-season in franchise history. But the team came up short of the Super Bowl, in part because of a pass defense that finished 2024 last in the NFC.

Improving that pass defense has to be a priority for the Lions this offseason—especially with No. 1 cornerback Carlton Davis set to hit free agency. In the opinion of Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports, the best player set to become available at the position is D.J. Reed of the New York Jets.

“Reed is one of underrated cornerbacks in the league, earning a chance to be a CB1 after spending several years with Sauce Gardner,” Kerr said. “Opposing quarterbacks targeting Reed last season completed just 46.3% of their passes, as he allowed just two pass touchdowns and a 63.0 passer rating as the primary defender in coverage. He also had 11 passes defended. Reed had seven pass interference penalties and zero interceptions, but he's been one of the consistent cornerbacks and is a lockdown defender.”

Last year, Reed had a passer rating against of 87.1—the fifth straight season where the 28-year-old allowed a passer rating against of less than 90. At 28, Reed is also in the prime of his career.

It’s not as splashy as bringing in a big name on the edge opposite Aidan Hutchinson. But the secondary should be the top free-agent priority for the Lions this offseason. Signing Reed would be a big get for the Lions—and entrench Detroit as the favorites to repeat as champions of the NFC North.

DT Jonathan Allen will Land with the Cincinnati Bengals

Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

The 2024 season was a major letdown for the Cincinnati Bengals—they entered the year with aspirations of a deep playoff run but missed the postseason altogether. A big reason for that disappointing campaign was a defense that ranked 25th in both yards and points allowed per game.

While speaking to reporters at the Combine, Bengals GM (in reality if not in title) Duke Tobin said that Cincinnati realizes the defense has to be upgraded in the offseason.

“We have the ability to build the defense,” Tobin said. “We know our defense wasn’t good enough. It couldn’t get stops when it needed it, couldn’t protect leads, didn’t get off the field. And then in critical moments when the game was the line, it didn’t rise to the occasion. We’re going to attack the defense. And we already have.”

The problem is that things appeared headed in the opposite direction. Top edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson has requested a trade. Batterymate Sam Hubbard retired at 29. Tackle B.J. Hill is a free agent.

The Bengals desperately need some good news up front—and as the team tries to get both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins locked down long-term, the team doesn’t have the resources to go on a spending spree along the defensive line.

Jonathan Allen is 30 years old and missed over half of last season. After the Commanders failed to find a trade partner for the ninth-year veteran. He was released. But as recently as 2022, Allen was a Pro Bowler, and he can likely be had on a short-term “prove it” deal.

Allen isn’t going to single-handedly fix Cincy’s defensive issues. But his arrival would at least stop the bleeding. And if Hendrickson winds up playing out the final year of his contract, the defensive front in the Queen City wouldn’t be that far from being in decent shape.