1 Word to Describe Every Team's 2025 NFL Offseason After Early Free Agency

We’re now a couple of weeks into the new league year in the NFL, and the free-agent pickings have become slim. 

The signings will continue, but most of the moves have been made. 

With that in mind, let's toss out one word to summarize each team's experience on the market thus far.

AFC East

Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Justin Fields

Buffalo Bills: Forward-thinking

With new deals for Josh Allen, Greg Rousseau, Khalil Shakir and Terrel Bernard, the Bills core is locked up for many years to come. 

Miami Dolphins: Treading

As in, they are staying above water and should continue to be competitive despite the loss of Jevon Holland. Ifeatu Melifonwu is an intriguing replacement, and the damage was otherwise limited for a cap-strapped franchise.

New England Patriots: Splashy

Uncharacteristically so, but when you have that many holes and that much money to spend, you'd better make some splashes. The Patriots defense will be far better in 2025, as should the team as a whole. 

New York Jets: Sad

It's simply the end of an era that wasn't good to begin with; the beginning of a rebuild from something that was never properly built. And barring a sudden emergence from Justin Fields, it's hard to see light at the end of the tunnel for the Jets.

AFC North

Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Myles Garrett

Baltimore Ravens: Preservation

The key is the Ravens aren't messing with Lamar Jackson's blind side thanks to Ronnie Stanley's return, and adding DeAndre Hopkins could also bolster support for their franchise quarterback. 

Cincinnati Bengals: Risky

The Bengals are putting all of their chips in on this core now that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have been locked up, but $124 million per year on three players is a massive gamble. 

Cleveland Browns: Helpless

That’s where Deshaun Watson's albatross contract and Myles Garrett's leverage play left a team that isn't going anywhere without somehow hitting the jackpot at quarterback. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Incomplete

So long as Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only quarterbacks on the roster, that will remain the case for the Steelers.

AFC South

Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Daniel Jones

Houston Texans: Forlorn

Yeah, take an offensive line that was already a liability for your young franchise quarterback and trade away starters Laremy Tunsil and Kenyon Green. I'm sure that will solve things for the Texans...

Indianapolis Colts: Hedging

How else would you describe the addition of Daniel Jones as an insurance policy for third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson? Outside of that, a mediocre team got worse in the trenches but improved in the secondary. Nothing to move the needle. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: Productive

Not mind-blowingly splashy, which is fine because they are all in on this core. The secondary looks better, as does the offensive line. That's what they needed right now. 

Tennessee Titans: Confusing

A team that really should just commit to a full rebuild if not a full-blown 2025 tank job goes out and overpays Dan Moore Jr. and signs 35-year-old Kevin Zeitler? It's odd. Do the Titans not realize how bad they are?

AFC West

Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

Jim Harbaugh

Denver Broncos: Inspired

The Broncos now look like a team prepared to truly challenge the Chiefs with one of the most stacked defenses in the NFL. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Desperate

As in, this looks like a team clinging to what it can as the core fades and depth continues to evaporate. The Chiefs did about as well as they could have under tough financial circumstances. 

Las Vegas Raiders: Futile

The Raiders were busy, but the defense is worse and Geno Smith isn't suddenly going to lift them into contention mode. This team needs a heck of a lot more. 

Los Angeles Chargers: Disappointing

The Chargers had an opportunity to make some dents, but they instead remained relatively quiet and still look like a sub-contender in need of a top receiver and more pieces on defense.

NFC East

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Deebo Samuel

Dallas Cowboys: Deterioration

The Cowboys kept Osa Odighizuwa but suffered several losses elsewhere on defense, downgraded at running back and made some bizarre trades that are unlikely to make a difference. They are worse than they were in 2024.

New York Giants: Bizarre

Why let Xavier McKinney go and then sign Jevon Holland? And why is the offense still getting neglected? It's been an odd offseason, with the quarterback position still a complete question mark. 

Philadelphia Eagles: Sobering

Congrats on the Super Bowl win. Now, say goodbye to three key defensive players plus a standout offensive lineman. That's the life of a defending champ these days. The Commanders are coming on fast.

Washington Commanders: Determined

Washington did exactly what it needed to do to ensure Jayden Daniels can keep blossoming in 2025 by adding difference-makers Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil. And it fine-tuned beyond that. Really well played from a team on the rise.

NFC North

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Dayo Odeyingbo

Chicago Bears: Aggressive

The Bears knew the offensive line needed retooling, and they didn't mess around with three critical veteran additions. Throw in Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett on defense, and this team has attacked the offseason. There are no excuses if they don't deliver in 2025. 

Detroit Lions: Balanced

They lost corner Carlton Davis but signed D.J. Reed. Nobody else of significant note came or went. The Lions believe in what they have, which makes sense considering how they looked for most of 2024.

Green Bay Packers: Steady

The Packers have improved on both sides of the ball without the spending that highlighted their 2024 offseason. Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs should help more than any losses hurt.  

Minnesota Vikings: Smart

They resisted the temptation to throw money at Sam Darnold and instead focused on building even more around the guy they invested a primo draft pick in just a year ago. J.J. McCarthy will have a much better line than Darnold, and his defense will also be stronger.

NFC South

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Chris Godwin

Atlanta Falcons: Disaster

Kirk Cousins remains on the Falcons roster and the payroll, and they have now lost key trench veterans Drew Dalman and Grady Jarrett with no additions to write home about. What is this team doing?

Carolina Panthers: Unbalanced

The Panthers added not one but four key pieces to a defense that was in desperate need of talent. The problem is the interior offensive line and receiving corps still need work. Carolina might have been too focused on one area this month, which could hurt young quarterback Bryce Young in a make-or-break season. 

New Orleans Saints: Stubborn

The Saints will never accept a rebuild, will they? The money they handed to Chase Young and Justin Reid indicates that. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hopeful

Mainly that there is still some fight left in this core with returning veterans Chris Godwin and Lavonte David. Are they wrong? Probably, but it makes sense to give this gang one more shot with Baker Mayfield at quarterback.

NFC West

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Sam Darnold

Arizona Cardinals: Underwhelming

The Cardinals are trying to make this happen now under Kyler Murray. At least that should be the plan. And while the Josh Sweat addition is nice, it's pretty shocking that a young team flush with cap space made no other significant signings to further support Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. 

Los Angeles Rams: Busy

It’s been a roller-coaster ride that at some points has indicated they are tearing it down while signaling they're all-in for one more run at other points. The talent is still there overall, but the Rams will look fairly different again in 2025. That might not be a bad thing because it did seem they had a ceiling the last few years. 

San Francisco 49ers: Curtains

That's the end for this 49ers core. The championship window has closed on an aging, injury-prone roster that is relying on a so-so quarterback who had his numbers inflated by his environment the last few years. Losing Deebo Samuel, Talanoa Hufanga, Aaron Banks, Dre Greenlaw and Jaylon Moore will be too much to overcome. 

Seattle Seahawks: Contradictory

It looked like they were fully committed to a rebuild of sorts with Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Geno Smith on the way out. And then they handed more than $100 million to a quarterback who has put together less than one good NFL season in Sam Darnold.