Grading Every NFL Team's Offseason Before the 2025 Draft
Phase 2 of the 2025 offseason is about to begin.
In just a few days, the draft will begin in Green Bay. By the time that Saturday evening rolls around, 257 collegiate players will know where their professional careers will begin. Dozens more will sign as undrafted free agents—and the NFL will be drastically changed.
Of course, the NFL has already been drastically changed by the opening waves of free agency. Some teams went nuts from the jump, signing players by the fistful. Others took a more measured process. And some watched as player after player signed with other teams.
Now, there will be another wave of free agency after the draft. Between that and the festivities in Wisconsin, there’s still time for teams who appear to have hit it out of the park to actually strike out. And for teams who have struggled to date to turn things around.
But as things stand just before the draft, here’s a look at which teams have done what so far this offseason.
Apologies for the baseball metaphor. It was uncalled for.
Arizona Cardinals
1 of 32
Key Signings: EDGE Josh Sweat, EDGE Baron Browning, TE Trey McBride (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: LB Kyzir White, OT Kelvin Beachum, EDGE Dennis Gardeck
The focus of the offseason for the Arizona Cardinals has been the defensive front. The team’s two biggest outside signings were edge-rushers—Josh Sweat was given over $19 million a season to bolt Philadelphia and anchor Arizona’s new-look pass-rush, while Baron Browning was brought over from Denver to start opposite him.
Arizona also locked up young tight end Trey McBride with a four-year, $76 million extension, while aging defensive tackle Calais Campbell is back in the desert after eight seasons with the Jaguars, Ravens, Falcons and Dolphins.
There will be a new defensive signal-caller in the desert this year after linebacker Kyzir White wasn’t brought back, but outside that the Redbirds didn’t suffer any major losses.
However, the Cardinals still have issues at wide receiver opposite Marvin Harrison Jr., in the secondary and along the offensive line. There’s work to do in the draft.
Grade: B-
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 32
Key Signings: EDGE Leonard Floyd, LB Divine Deablo, OT Jake Matthews (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: S Justin Simmons, DT, Grady Jarrett, EDGE Matt Judon
The Falcons have struggled mightily rushing the passer in recent years, ranking 31st in sacks two of the past three seasons. But due in part to quarterback Kirk Cousins’ contract, the Falcons weren’t able to make any splash moves on the edge, settling for swapping one aging veteran in Matt Judon out for another in Leonard Floyd.
Outside that, it was a quiet offseason for the Falcons so far. The team did re-up long-time tackle Jake Matthews, but linebacker Divine Deablo is a marginal NFL starter.
Veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett signed quickly with the Chicago Bears after being released by the Falcons, while safety Justin Simmons’ tenure with the team was short-lived—Simmons is gone after one year in Atlanta.
If Atlanta’s going to contend in the NFC South, the team has to bolster the defense in the draft—and find the impact edge-rusher that has seemingly eluded Atlanta for years.
Grade: D+
Baltimore Ravens
3 of 32
Key Signings: OT Ronnie Stanley (Re-Signed), WR DeAndre Hopkins, QB Cooper Rush
Key Departures: OG Patrick Mekari, CB Brandon Stephens, LB Malik Harrison
For the Baltimore Ravens, the biggest offseason move was keeping one of their own—the team re-upped star tackle Ronnie Stanley on a three-year, $60 million pact.
Veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was brought in to upgrade the passing-game weapons available to quarterback Lamar Jackson, but he’s 32 and coming off the worst season of his career in terms of receiving yards. Should Jackson go down the team now has a highly experienced backup—Cooper Rush was given a two-year deal to come hold a clipboard in Baltimore.
Frankly, the team lost as much as it gained in free agency—guard Patrick Mekari got $12.5 million a season to bolt Baltimore for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the NFL’s second-worst pass defense from a year ago lost a starter when Brandon Stephens joined the New York Jets.
Look for that pass defense to be a focus in Green Bay—a Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations can’t be a sieve through the air again.
Grade: C
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Buffalo Bills
4 of 32
Key Signings: EDGE Joey Bosa, WR Josh Palmer, EDGE Gregory Rousseau (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: CB Kaiir Elam (Trade), WR Mack Hollins, WR Amari Cooper
The most expensive move the Bills made was simply one to keep their most important player happy—quarterback Josh Allen was handed a whopping $147 million in guarantees in a contract extension.
The Bills added a pair of players from the Los Angeles Chargers who haven’t really met expectations in recent years—veteran Joey Bosa was added to bolster Buffalo’s pass rush, while wide receiver Josh Palmer got a surprising $12 million a season to offset the loss of Mack Hollins and Amari Cooper.
There weren’t many departures of note in western New York, and one was Buffalo’s idea—after three disappointing seasons with the Bills, cornerback Kaiir Elam was shipped to the Dallas Cowboys for a pair of Day 3 picks.
The Bills remain a very dangerous team. But they aren’t markedly better in April than they were in February.
Grade: C+
Carolina Panthers
5 of 32
Key Signings: CB Jaycee Horn (Re-Signed), S Tre’von Moehrig, DT Tershawn Wharton
Key Departures: S Xavier Woods, RB Miles Sanders
The Carolina Panthers were atrocious defensively last season, and while the team brought in a new 1,000-yard running back in Rico Dowdle, the focus of the offseason in Charlotte was the defensive side of the ball.
The Panthers spent big to keep young cornerback Jaycee Horn in town, handing the 26-year-old $25 million a year over four seasons. After a breakout season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Tre’Von Moehrig got $17 million a year to join Horn in the Panthers secondary. Carolina also bolstered the defensive front by poaching a player from the AFC champions, signing defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton.
Frankly, there weren’t really any impactful departures from the Panthers—veteran safety Xavier Woods and running back Miles Sanders have already been replaced.
It can be argued that Carolina overpaid for some of those defensive additions, but the “bad team premium” is a thing in free agency. Now Carolina just needs to carry this positive momentum over to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Grade: B
Chicago Bears
6 of 32
Key Signings: OG Joe Thuney (Trade), DT Grady Jarrett, C Drew Dalman
Key Departures: EDGE Darrell Taylor, OG Teven Jenkins, WR Keenan Allen
The Chicago Bears allowed more sacks a year ago than any team in the league, and overhauling that line was clearly a focus for general manager Ryan Poles in the offseason. Trades with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams brought in Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and Chicago handed center Drew Dalman $14 million a season to leave the Atlanta Falcons.
That wasn’t all the Bears did, however. The same day he was released by the Atlanta Falcons, the Bears signed veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Dayo Odeyingbo was brought in to man the edge opposite Montez Sweat, and cornerback Kyler Gordon received a lucrative contract extension.
There are departures that have to be addressed, including the potential loss of veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen, who remains unsigned.
But Chicago’s re-tooled offensive line and the arrival of new head coach Ben Johnson have Bears fans as excited as they have been in quite some while.
Grade: A-
Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 32
Key Signings: WR Ja’Marr Chase (Re-Signed), WR Tee Higgins (Re-Signed), DT B.J. Hill (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: OG Alex Cappa, DT Sheldon Rankins, EDGE Sam Hubbard (Retired)
For the Cincinnati Bengals, the offseason was all about keeping their big-name free agents in-house.
Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league, garnering over $70 million in guarantees and an average salary north of $40 million. Fellow wideout Tee Higgins got over $20 million a season in his own right. And veteran defensive tackle B.J. Hill received a three-year, $33 million extension.
Of course, all that spending meant that there wasn’t cash to retain some other players. An already shaky offensive line lost guard Alex Cappa. Edge-rusher Sam Hubbard surprisingly retired. And with fellow EDGE Trey Hendrickson seeking either a big payday or a trade out of town, both lines in the Queen City could be major question marks.
How Cincinnati addresses those lines in the draft could determine if the Bengals get back in the mix in the AFC North after a disappointing 2024 campaign.
Grade: B
Cleveland Browns
8 of 32
Key Signings: EDGE Myles Garrett (Re-Signed), QB Kenny Pickett (Trade), OT Jack Conklin (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: OT James Hudson, OT Jedrick Wills, QB Jameis Winston
When a team has the single-worst contract in NFL history on the books, it severely limits what that team can do in free agency. It’s called “the hell of Deshaun Watson.”
And the Cleveland Browns are neck-deep in it.
The Browns did manage to placate disgruntled edge-rusher Myles Garrett with a massive contract extension, and a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles brought in a potential starting quarterback for 2025 in Kenny Pickett. But the rest of Cleveland’s signings were mostly modest ones like Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge-rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Tennessee Titans linebacker Jerome Baker and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco.
The Browns managed to also re-up veteran tackle Jack Conklin, but with multiple departures on the offensive line, a position group that was a strength in Cleveland for years is now a question mark.
The Browns are a team that desperately needs a solid draft in 2024—beginning with the second overall pick.
Grade: C
Dallas Cowboys
9 of 32
Key Signings: LB Kenneth Murray (Trade), DT Osa Odighizuwa (Re-Signed), EDGE Dante Fowler Jr.
Key Departures: OG Zack Martin (Retired), RB Rico Dowdle, EDGE Demarcus Lawrence
It has been a rough offseason for the Dallas Cowboys. The team was able to re-sign defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, but outside that most of the team’s additions were an effort to offset personnel losses.
Dante Fowler may be a nominal upgrade over Demarcus Lawrence on the edge. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders were brought in to offset the loss of Rico Dowdle, who topped 1,000 rushing yards in 2024. Kenneth Murray is an OK linebacker, but he isn’t Eric Kendricks. Kaiir Elam was a first-round pick by the Buffalo Bills, but he has disappointed to this point in his career.
The Cowboys lack a No. 2 wide receiver after Brandin Cooks bailed for the Big Easy. Robert Jones was signed to replace the retired Zack Martin, but that’s like replacing Jim Brown with Charlie Brown.
The Cowboys no doubt have lofty expectations for 2025. But there’s zero chance they reach them with this Swiss cheese roster.
Grade: F
Denver Broncos
10 of 32
Key Signings: S Talanoa Hufanga, LB Dre Greenlaw, TE Evan Engram
Key Departures: LB Cody Barton, QB Zach Wilson, RB Javonte Williams
The Denver Broncos were a surprise playoff team last year—and one of 2025’s most aggressive teams in free agency.
The Broncos double-dipped defenders from San Francisco, adding a pair of potential impact defenders (if they can stay healthy) in linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga. Denver re-upped defensive tackle D.J. Jones at $13 million a season. And tight end Evan Engram gives young quarterback Bo Nix a badly needed weapon in the passing game.
There also weren’t many losses of note. The arrival of Greenlaw made veteran linebacker Cody Barton expendable. And while the departure of running back Javonte Williams leaves Denver thin at running back, the 2025 draft is deep in the offensive backfield.
There are no guarantees in the NFL. But if Nix can build on his play from a year ago and the team can shore up a few weak spots in the draft, Denver has a realistic chance to give the Kansas City Chiefs a run for their money in the AFC West.
Grade: A-
Detroit Lions
11 of 32
Key Signings: CB D.J. Reed, LB Derrick Barnes (Re-Signed), WR Tim Patrick (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: CB Carlton Davis, OG Kevin Zeitler, S Ifeatu Melifonwu
The Detroit Lions are fresh off the best regular season in team history. But to date, the team hasn’t done a lot to improve for the season to come.
This isn’t to say the Lions haven’t done anything—the pass defense was a weakness last year, and D.J. Reed is a slight upgrade over Carlton Davis at cornerback. But outside that and a couple of marginal re-signings (including overpaying linebacker Derrick Barnes) this year’s Lions look a lot like last year’s Lions.
The team also lost a couple of significant pieces. Guard Kevin Zeitler isn’t getting any younger, but he was an important part of one of the NFL’s best offensive lines in 2024. If Detroit suffers an injury at safety this season, the depth Ifeatu Melifonwu afforded the Lions will be missed.
Some will say the Lions are taking a measured approach. But with the second-most cap space in the league, we may see substantial activity from Lions general manager Brad Holmes after the draft.
Grade: C
Green Bay Packers
12 of 32
Key Signings: CB Nate Hobbs, OG Aaron Banks, LB Isaiah McDuffie (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: DT Tedarrell Slaton, CB Eric Stokes, LB Eric Wilson
The Green Bay Packers may have had the most successful free agency of any team in the NFL back in 2024. But this year, things have been much more quiet.
The Packers have spent some cash to be sure—cornerback Nate Hobbs received $12 million a season, while guard Aaron Banks got over $19 million a season to leave the San Francisco 49ers.
However, while Hobbs and Banks are capable players, it can be argued that paying the pair over $30 million a season is an overpay.
Those overpays may be born of Green Bay’s situation—the Packers play in a division where three teams made the postseason last year and the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings combined to win 29 games.
Fortunately, Green Bay didn’t suffer any major personnel losses this year. But the Pack will still need a solid draft to survive their gauntlet of a division.
Grade: C
Houston Texans
13 of 32
Key Signings: EDGE Danielle Hunter (Re-Signed), CB Derek Stingley Jr. (Re-Signed), WR Christian Kirk (Trade)
Key Departures: OT Laremy Tunsil (Trade), WR Stefon Diggs, S Eric Murray
Had we listed every significant move the Texans made this offseason, there would be no room for commentary—Houston has been busy.
In addition to re-upping Hunter and Stingley and trading for Kirk, the Texans also acquired veteran safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Signed offensive tackle Cam Robinson to replace Laremy Tunsil, who was traded to Washington. Extended safety Jalen Pitre at $13 million a season. Brought in veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. And signed linebacker E.J. Speed.
However, the trade of Tunsil was a hard one to make sense of—Robinson is OK, but he’s a clear downgrade for a team whose offensive line was perhaps their greatest need. He also wasn’t the only starter Houston sent packing—guard Kenyon Green will give way to veteran Laken Tomlinson after the former was traded to Philly.
There was a flurry of activity in Houston this offseason. But whether it made the Texans any better is debatable.
Grade: C
Indianapolis Colts
14 of 32
Key Signings: QB Daniel Jones, S Camryn Bynum, CB Charvarius Ward
Key Departures: OG Will Fries, EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, C Ryan Kelly
There’s little question what the most impactful signing of 2025 is for the Indianapolis Colts—for better or worse. The Colts have stated that Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson will have an open competition to start at quarterback. If that truly is the case, Jones is going to be Indy’s Week 1 starter under center.
The Colts also took major steps to upgrade a secondary that ranked 26th in the league a year ago. Those upgrades didn’t come cheaply though—safety Camryn Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward have a combined average annual salary of $33 million.
Whoever starts under center for the Colts this year could be dodging more pressure up the gut in 2025. Indianapolis was able to retain right tackle Braden Smith, but guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly both signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
The team also lost edge-rusher Day Odeyingbo, which could pose a problem unless 2024 first-rounder Laiatu Latu takes a step forward in his second professional season.
Grade: C-
Jacksonville Jaguars
15 of 32
Key Signings: OG Patrick Mekari, WR Dyami Brown, CB Jourdan Lewis
Key Departures: WR Christian Kirk (Trade), TE Evan Engram, OG Brandon Scherff
It’s been an up-and-down offseason for the Jacksonville Jaguars as they try to wash off the stink of last season’s faceplant. And unfortunately for the team, it seems that for every hole that was filled, another was created.
To be fair. Patrick Mekari is at least an adequate replacement for veteran Brandon Scherff at guard, even if he was a rather pricy one. But the loss of both wide receiver Christian Kirk (who was traded) and tight end Evan Engram left a sizable hole in the passing attack—a hole that Dyami Brown isn’t going to fill.
Jourdan Lewis is an upgrade over departed veteran cornerback Ronald Darby, but the league’s worst pass defense in 2024 also watched its starting deep safety (Andre Cisco) walk out the door. The Jags brought in Eric Murray as a replacement, but at $6.5 million a season the team overpaid to do it.
The Jaguars have a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
It’s a good thing—they need it.
Grade: C-
Kansas City Chiefs
16 of 32
Key Signings: OG Trey Smith (Franchise Tag), OT Jaylon Moore, LB Nick Bolton (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: OG Joe Thuney (Trade), DT Tershawn Wharton, S Justin Reid
The Kansas City Chiefs are in a tricky spot—one made all the trickier by the $23.4 million that offensive guard Trey Smith currently costs against the team’s salary cap. Still, that didn’t stop Kansas City general manager Brett Veach from inking one of the more bizarre deals of free agency--$15 million a season to a tackle in Jaylon Moore who has never been a full-time starter in the NFL.
The Chiefs were just that desperate to upgrade the offensive line.
Keeping linebacker Nick Bolton in the fold was a big get for the Chiefs, and the team signed cornerback Kristian Fulton to bolster the secondary. But that secondary also suffered a major hit with the departure of safety Justin Reid. Add in the departure of a pair of interior linemen in Tershawn Wharton and Derrick Nnadi, and it’s hard to view the AFC champions as a team that got better in free agency.
Veach gets some benefit of the doubt for consistently keeping the Chiefs atop the conference. But there’s work to do in the draft, and if the Moore signing turns out to be a boondoggle this grade is going to look optimistic at best and just flat-out busted at worst.
Grade: C
Las Vegas Raiders
17 of 32
Key Signings: QB Geno Smith (Trade), EDGE Maxx Crosby (Re-Signed), S Jeremy Chinn
Key Departures: S Tre’von Moehrig, CB Nate Hobbs, LB Robert Spillane
The Las Vegas Raiders had one need this offseason that towered above all others. And to the credit of new general manager John Spytek, the team addressed it, sending a Day 2 pick to Seattle for quarterback Geno Smith and then extending the 34-year-old.
The Raiders also gave over $35 million to star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby, although those whopper deals left the team somewhat short on resources to sign outside free agents—the biggest deals in that regard were likely safety Jeremy Chinn and guard Alex Cappa.
The former was brought in to compensate for the loss of safety Tre’von Moehrig, who signed a fat deal with the Carolina Panthers. He wasn’t the only Raiders defender who bolted for the big bucks in the offseason—cornerback Nate Hobbs (Green Bay Packers) and linebacker Robert Spillane (New England Patriots) both got deals north of $10 million a season.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Chargers
18 of 32
Key Signings: EDGE Khalil Mack (Re-Signed), OG Mekhi Becton, RB Najee Harris
Key Departures: EDGE Joey Bosa, WR Josh Palmer, CB Kristian Fulton
The trenches have been a focus of head coach Jim Harbaugh since his arrival in Los Angeles, so it should come as no surprise that the team’s two biggest additions were linemen—edge-rusher Khalil Mack was re-signed, while the Bolts bolstered the offensive front with the addition of guard Mekhi Becton.
Most of the rest of the team’s activity was compensation for player losses. The Chargers reunited with wide receiver Mike Williams after Joshua Palmer bolted for Buffalo, added cornerback Donte Jackson to compensate for the loss of Kristian Fulton and swapped out JK Dobbins for Najee Harris in the backfield.
Add in the departure of veteran edge-rusher Joey Bosa, and as a whole the Chargers have essentially treaded water in the offseason, Los Angeles is a good team, but the Bolts will need a good draft to close the gap with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
Grade: C
Los Angeles Rams
19 of 32
Key Signings: WR Davante Adams, OT Alaric Jackson (Re-Signed), DT Poona Ford
Key Departures: OG Jonah Jackson, WR Cooper Kupp, OG Mekhi Becton, EDGE Michael Hoecht
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead has developed a reputation as one of the NFL’s best general managers, and Snead made some major moves in the offseason.
There was a changing of the guard on offense—the team released veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp, replacing him with another big name at the position in Davante Adams. The Rams gave left tackle Alaric Jackson over $19 million a season to stick around, and defensive tackle Poona Ford came over from the other side of SoFi Stadium.
Of course, there were losses as well. Offensive guard Jonah Jackson got $17.5 million a season from the Chicago Bears. Edge-rusher Michael Hoecht and 2024 leading tackler Christian Rozeboom also found new homes in Buffalo and Carolina respectively.
Acquiring a new inside linebacker will be a priority in the draft, but all in all the Rams should be well-positioned to contend once again in a murky NFC West in 2025.
Grade: C+
Miami Dolphins
20 of 32
Key Signings: OG James Daniels, CB Kader Kohou (Re-Signed), S Ifeatu Melifonwu
Key Departures: S Jevon Holland, DT Calais Campbell, OG Robert Jones
There was good news and bad news for the Miami Dolphins in the offseason.
The good news is that a Miami offensive line that badly needed an upgrade got one in offensive guard James Daniels.
The bad news is—everything else.
The Dolphins signed safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, but that was only after Jevon Holland got over $15 million a season from the New York Giants. Defensive tackle Calais Campbell is one of the NFL’s older players, but his loss still leaves a hole on the interior of the defensive line. As of this writing, veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller also remains unsigned.
This was a Miami team that needed to get better in the offseason. If anything, the team got slightly worse, and entering a critical year for the current regime the gap between Miami and Buffalo in the AFC East remains relatively wide.
Grade: D+
Minnesota Vikings
21 of 32
Key Signings: DT Jonathan Allen, DT Javon Hargrave, OG Will Fries
Key Departures: QB Sam Darnold, S Camryn Bynum, OT Cam Robinson
It has been a wild offseason in the Twin Cities. The headline, of course, was the departure of quarterback Sam Darnold after his breakout season. It’s J.J. McCarthy’s show now.
The offensive line in front of McCarthy saw a shakeup as well—Ryan Kelly is an upgrade at center and Will Fries is an improvement beside him at guard, but Minnesota watched tackle Cam Robinson bolt for the Houston Texans.
After spending big bucks on both Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the Vikings have a pair of imposing defensive tackles and maybe one of the best defensive lines in the league. But a secondary that was the team’s weakest link defensively remains an issue—cornerback Byron Murphy was retained, but the loss of up-and-coming safety Camryn Bynum stings.
How the team’s young quarterback and pass defense fares in 2025 will determine whether the Vikings can build on last year’s 14-win season. But letting Darnold walk afforded the team resources to insure that the Vikings didn’t spring any major leaks elsewhere this offseason.
Grade: B-
New England Patriots
22 of 32
Key Signings: DT Milton Williams, WR Stefon Diggs, EDGE Harold Landry
Key Departures: DT Davon Godchaux, CB Jonathan Jones, QB Jacoby Brissett
The New England Patriots headed into free agency with more cap space than any team in the league—and the team wasn’t even a little bit shy about spending it.
Defensive tackle Milton Williams was the only defender who changed teams this offseason who received a contract in excess of $100 million. The Patriots added a new top edge-rusher in Harold Landry and a new No. 1 cornerback in Carlton Davis—both on deals that averaged over $14 million a season. The Pats have a new inside linebacker in Robert Spillane, and while wide receiver Stefon Diggs may not be the player he once was he’s still a major upgrade for young quarterback Drake Maye in the passing game.
There weren’t any major losses to speak of, and while the argument can be made that the Patriots may have overpaid for some of these players, bad teams sometimes have to do that.
The Patriots were arguably the most talent-deficient team in the league in 2025. The flurry of additions they made are welcome.
Grade: A-
New Orleans Saints
23 of 32
Key Signings: EDGE Chase Young (Re-Signed), S Justin Reid, TE Juwan Johnson (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: CB Paulson Adebo, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, S Will Harris
The New Orleans Saints headed into free agency with the worst salary-cap situation in the league—and for whatever reason decided to make it worse.
The Saints gave edge-rusher Chase Young $17 million a season despite just 5.5 sacks a year ago. Inking Chiefs safety Justin Reid just over $10 million a season wasn’t a bad signing, but giving tight end Juwan Johnson a similar average annual salary didn’t make much more sense than the Young deal.
It wasn’t all terrible—the team retained long-term defenders like edge-rusher Cameron Jordan and safety Tyrann Mathieu on reasonable deals, but overpaying for average talents like Young and Johnson isn’t going to fix the Saints’ whacked-out cap situation.
With a messy divorce with quarterback Derek Carr looming on the horizon, it could be a long year in the Big Easy. And general manager Mickey Loomis may finally have to do what he should have years ago.
Tear things down and rebuild from the studs.
Grade: F
New York Giants
24 of 32
Key Signings: CB Paulson Adebo, QB Russell Wilson, S Jevon Holland
Key Departures: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, S Jason Pinnock, CB Adoree Jackson
For New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, the 2025 season is must-win territory. It showed in free agency—the Giants weren’t playing around.
In signing first Jameis Winston and then Russell Wilson, the Giants appear to have resolved their quarterback issues—at least in the short-term. Jevon Holland is a welcome upgrade at safety, although he’s also a reminder that the team let Xavier McKinney walk the year before. Cornerback Paulson Adebo should help a New York secondary that was quietly eighth against the pass a year ago.
The Giants also managed to avoid any major losses. Edge-rusher Azeez Ojulari’s defection to Philadelphia stings a little, but with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns on the roster and Penn State’s Abdul Carter potentially headed to New York with the third overall pick, it’s a loss they could afford.
The Giants still have issues on both sides of the ball. But the team is better than it was before.
Grade: A-
New York Jets
25 of 32
Key Signings: QB Justin Fields, LB Jamien Sherwood (Re-Signed), CB Brandon Stephens
Key Departures: WR Davante Adams, CB D.J. Reed, DT Javon Kinlaw
After a disastrous end to the Aaron Rodgers “era” in New York, the Jets once again found themselves on the market for a quarterback. The Jets went the veteran route again under center, agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with quarterback Justin Fields.
That deal was the highlight of New York’s offseason. The problem is that outside linebacker Jamien Sherwood, there aren’t many other highlights—at all.
Wide receiver Davante Adams headed west to join the Los Angeles Rams. Cornerback D.J. Reed is in Detroit, and free agent-signee Brandon Stephens is a clear downgrade. The team took hits on both lines with the loss of players like defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and offensive tackle Morgan Moses.
The Jets may have their quarterback in Fields. But there’s not enough around him to offer much optimism about the team’s chances of contending in the AFC East in 2025.
Grade: D+
Philadelphia Eagles
26 of 32
Key Signings: OT Lane Johnson (Re-Signed), LB Zack Baun (Re-Signed), OG Kenyon Green
Key Departures: DT Milton Williams, EDGE Josh Sweat, OG Mekhi Becton
In the NFL, staying on top can be harder than getting there—a challenge that the Super Bowl Eagles faced this season. But as he usually does, general manager Howie Roseman did a good job setting the team up for another Super Bowl run.
Roseman started off by keeping in-house talent in Philadelphia, re-upping offensive tackle Lane Johnson and linebacker Zack Baun. The Eagles also plugged a hole up front, trading for Kenyon Green after guard Mekhi Becton joined the Los Angeles Chargers.
Roseman couldn’t keep the band completely together—defensive tackle Milton Williams and edge-rusher Josh Sweat got massive deals from the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals. But the team added a pair of inexpensive reinforcements on the edge in Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche.
The secondary also took a hit when safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was traded, but given the reality of Philly’s situation, Roseman did well to stem the roster attrition that often follows a Super Bowl run.
Grade: C+
Pittsburgh Steelers
27 of 32
Key Signings: WR DK Metcalf (Trade), QB Mason Rudolph, RB Jaylen Warren (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: QB Russell Wilson, QB Justin Fields, OT Dan Moore
This grade could change significantly if Aaron Rodgers returns from Narnia and signs with the Steelers, but right now Pittsburgh’s offseason looks all kinds of rough.
The Steelers added a No. 1 wide receiver when they acquired DK Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. But as things stand today, it will be Mason Rudolph who will be throwing passes to him this year after both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson signed elsewhere.
It’s hard to find a position group in Pittsburgh that didn’t take a hit this offseason. Offensive tackle Dan Moore is gone. So is veteran cornerback Donte Jackson. And running back Najee Harris.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have never had a losing season under head coach Mike Tomlin. But given the state of the roster in the Steel City right now, that streak could be in serious jeopardy.
Grade: F
San Francisco 49ers
28 of 32
Key Signings: TE Luke Farrell, WR Demarcus Robinson, FB Kyle Juszczyk (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: WR Deebo Samuel (Trade), OG Aaron Banks, CB Charvarius Ward
There’s no sugar-coating things in San Francisco—the offseason has been a disaster. Departure after departure. Loss after loss.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders for what amounts to pennies on the dollar. Two offensive linemen (guard Aaron Banks and tackle Jaylon Moore) signed fat deals elsewhere. Cornerback Charvarius Ward. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. Safety Talanoa Hufanga. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Cornerback Isaac Yiadom.
All are gone.
Granted, the financial realities in Santa Clara (especially the looming extension for quarterback Brock Purdy) have left the Niners in something of a bind. But fresh off a miserable six-win season, the Niners have hemorrhaged talent on both sides of the ball.
John Lynch has a reputation as one of the league’s best general managers. But to say he has his work cut out for him in 2025 is an understatement.
Grade: F
Seattle Seahawks
29 of 32
Key Signings: QB Sam Darnold, WR Cooper Kupp, EDGE Demarcus Lawrence
Key Departures: QB Geno Smith (Traded), WR DK Metcalf (Traded), DT Dre’Mont Jones
Well, it has certainly been an interesting offseason in the Pacific Northwest.
The Seahawks made seismic changes at both quarterback and wide receiver, trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers before replacing them with Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp. The former could be an upgrade if Darnold can back up last year’s success in Minnesota, but the latter has to be viewed as a step back.
Seattle attempted to upgrade the pass rush with the addition of Demarcus Lawrence, but he’s an aging player whose last big season came several seasons ago. Seattle’s issues along the interior of both lines are still there—especially after defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones joined the Tennessee Titans.
All told, the Seahawks are neither markedly better nor markedly worse than they were in 2024. But that’s not necessarily a good thing given the shaky status of the offensive line in the Emerald City.
Grade: C
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30 of 32
Key Signings: WR Chris Godwin (Re-Signed), EDGE Haason Reddick, LB Lavonte David (Re-Signed)
Key Departures: C Robert Hainsey, EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, OT Justin Skule
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the NFC South each of the past four seasons, with playoff victories in two of those years. Apparently, general manager Jason Licht decided that maintaining the status quo as much as possible was the way to go.
This isn’t to say that Licht didn’t bring in some outside talent—edge-rusher Haason Reddick was signed to a “prove it” deal after a disastrous 2024 season with the New York Jets. But otherwise, the team’s most impactful signings were re-upping veteran wideout Chris Godwin and bringing back franchise stalwart Lavonte David.
There may not have been many splash additions in 2025, but there also weren’t many major subtractions. For the most part, this year’s iteration of the Buccaneers will look largely like last season’s team.
And that squad won 10 games and the division.
Grade: B-
Tennessee Titans
31 of 32
Key Signings: OT Dan Moore, OG Kevin Zeitler, DT Dre’Mont Jones
Key Departures: EDGE Harold Landry, LB Kenneth Murray (Trade), WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
From all indications, the Tennessee Titans will select Miami quarterback Cam Ward first overall in the 2025 draft. And the team made improving the offensive line in front of Ward a priority in free agency.
Veteran guard Kevin Zeitler was one of the best deals in all of free agency. But Dan Moore’s massive contract was one of the worst—over $20 million a season for an average (at best) tackle is just bad business.
The switch from Kenneth Murray to Cody Barton at inside linebacker is essentially a lateral move, but the team has a substantial hole on the edge after the departure of edge-rusher Harold Landry.
It hasn’t been a bad offseason so far for the Titans. But this was a bad team with a lot of needs, and so far the team’s needle just hasn’t really moved that much.
Grade: C-
Washington Commanders
32 of 32
Key Signings: WR Deebo Samuel (Trade), OT Laremy Tunsil (Trade), DT Javon Kinlaw
Key Departures: DT Jonathan Allen, S Jeremy Chinn, EDGE Dante Fowler Jr.
The Washington Commanders made a surprise run to the NFC Championship game last year, and the team has pushed its chips into the center of the table. The team made a pair of big-time trades on offense adding both wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.
The team didn’t stop there. Javon Kinlaw was a curious signing after the Commanders released Jonathan Allen—the team paid a similar price for an inferior player. Bobby Wagner was brought back as the team’s defensive play-caller. And Will Harris was signed as an inexpensive potential replacement for safety Jeremy Chinn, who left for Las Vegas.
Washington’s losses on defense could come back to haunt the team—especially if Dorrance Armstrong doesn’t rebound on the edge. And the Commanders have just five draft picks now after the Samuel and Tunsil deals.
But Washington has made it clear that they believe their time is now.
Grade: B
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