Grading the biggest signings of NFL free agency.
The NFL just would not wait.
It used to be that the start of the league’s legal tampering period would kick free agency into high gear, but that has not been the case with the 2025 offseason. With several intriguing players granted an outright release ahead of free agency, some additions were made even before the legal tampering window opened.
Now that some big names have agreed to terms on new deals, it is time to start handing out some grades. Of course, we will keep grading deals as the legal tampering window opens, and well into the start of the official league year.
Let’s have some fun.
Chris Godwin back to the Buccaneers on a three-year deal worth $66M: A-
If you have a good pass catcher with chemistry in place with your quarterback, pay them.
Jaylon Moore to the Chiefs on a two-year deal worth $30M: C-
I mean, woof. $15M per year for a guy who might be more of an outside zone fit and a guy who wasn’t really that great in an offense designed to hide him. Now, he goes to Kansas City on a deal that puts him in the range of guys like Orlando Brown Jr with the hopes he can help get this team back to a title.
I’m just not sure about this one at all.
Haason Reddick to the Bucs on a one-year deal worth $14M: B-
This is all contingent on if Reddick decides to show up (both metaphorically and literally), but I think that this is a low risk, high reward deal for the Bucs. They desperately need pass rush and the ability to win up front without blitzing. Reddick has shown he can do that, although the $12M guaranteed is steep at this point in his career. Let’s see if it works.
Evan Brown back to the Cardinals on a two-year deal worth up to $11.5M: B+
Brown getting this sort of deal when Bredeson got even more money is great value for the Cardinals. Brown is another borderline starting caliber player for Arizona, who keeps continuity up front. Love the value here.
Ben Bredeson back to the Bucs on three-year deal deal worth $22M, $12M guaranteed: B-
I think this deal is just…fine? Bredeson is a borderline starting-caliber guard for Tampa, who keeps the continuity of the front line as the offensive coordinator job changes hands again. The $12M guaranteed is a little scary to give to a guy that isn’t exactly a top flight guy, but getting him for around $7M per year is a fine deal for he and Tampa Bay. I just wonder if this money could’ve been spent somewhere else and the Bucs address guard in the draft instead of strapping themselves to Bredeson, but continuity is king.
Khalil Mack back to the Chargers on one-year deal worth $18M fully guaranteed: A
I’ve always been a fan of Khalil Mack’s game, but he’s aged gracefully into a hammer of an edge defender for the Chargers. He’s definitely aging, which is why he doesn’t get a bigger deal, but for a guy with his stature in the league and productive play in this defense, an $18M fully guaranteed deal to stay around is really smart by the Chargers.
Harold Landry to the Patriots on a three-year deal worth up to $48 million: B-
Yes, the Patriots needed some help with their pass rush, and Harold Landry certainly offers that. Landry recorded 31.5 sacks over his past three seasons, while missing the 2022 campaign with a torn ACL. The move reunites him with his former coach in Mike Vrabel and is something of a homecoming, as Landry played his college football at Boston College, just 30 minutes away from his new home in Foxborough.
However, this is perhaps more than expected for Landry, and a sign that when a team needs some help — and has the most cap space in the league — the contracts they hand out will be on the higher side.
Davante Adams to the Rams on a two-year deal worth $46M: B
The structure of this deal is going to be everything, because otherwise the Rams spend all their available cap space in one shot. There’s no doubt that Adams is still one of the better quick separators in the NFL, and this move likely means that Puka Nacua will transition into more of a Cooper Kupp role, but it’s still fair to have questions about this deal.
The Rams are giving big money for a 32-year-old receiver when they had myriad issues at other positions. That’s the biggest reason to critique this deal. It’s clear the organization is lining up for one more big playoff push — perhaps even a Super Bowl run. Is an overwhelming air offense enough? Time will tell.
At the very least this will be a big bounce back season for Adams on good football teams. Something he’s lacked for a while now.
Ronnie Stanley back to the Ravens on a three-year deal worth $60M: A
This was always the most logical step for Stanley and the Ravens. Finally bouncing back from injury, the Ravens’ left tackle was at his highest form in 2024 for a high-powered Baltimore offense. The tackle market is extremely dry and the tackle class, while promising, has a lot of question marks. No reason to create a hole when there’s no reason to, especially when Staley is a very good tackle.
$60M over three years is a great deal for the Ravens, putting Stanley behind Broncos’ tackle Garrett Bolles and on par with the Lions’ Taylor Decker. I think Stanley is better than both guys, and if he puts together another year like his 2024, this will look like a bargain.
Zack Baun back to the Eagles on a three-year deal worth $51M: A
Much like the Ravens’ deal with Ronnie Stanley, it made much more sense for Baun and the Eagles to reunite rather than let him walk. It’s HARD playing off-ball LB in Vic Fangio’s defense, and Baun’s versatility allowed for the Eagles to shift into multiple fronts without sacrificing their personnel to do it. With LB Nakobe Dean more than likely not being ready until the middle of next season, having some experience for the long haul at the linebacker position is going to be huge going forward. GM Howie Roseman’s ability to recognize his faults is the reason that the Eagles won the Super Bowl, and in order to stay at the top he has to continue the self-scouting, starting with Baun.
$17M per year is no small deal for an off-ball linebacker, and sure there might be some reservations about paying that much money to an off-ball linebacker who just had his best year last year, but with how important off-ball linebackers are becoming in the modern NFL and how hard it is to find veterans that can maximize a defense like Baun did, I feel fine with paying him that kind of money.
Osa Odighizuwa back to the Cowboys on a four-year deal worth $80M: B+
The Cowboys needed to keep their defensive talent in place, and they started with Odighizuwa, signing the DT to a $20M per year deal to keep him around for the future. I think Odighizuwa is a good player, fit more for being a three-technique in a one gap, upfield style of defense that the Cowboys want to run. The raw sack production isn’t there, but if you watch a Cowboys game you’ll see how impactful he is against the run and pass–when he has a proper one-technique DT next to him.
On one hand, the $20M per year mark is a little steep, especially considering what other guys at the position make. Bills’ DT Ed Oliver is at $17M per year, and Broncos’ DT Zach Allen is at $15M/year, both are guys in the range of Odighizuwa. On the other hand, getting more pricey would be a mistake for the Cowboys, and this puts him right in that sweet spot between guys like Oliver and guys like Leonard Williams, who is getting $21M/year. A fair deal for both sides, for a good player. I’m a fan of it.
Nick Bolton back to the Chiefs on a three-year deal worth $45M: B
I might be one of the few Nick Bolton fans left. While limited athletically, Bolton is an instinctive MIKE LB who can unlock some things that DC Steve Spagnuolo wants to do on defense. However, those athletic limitations hold him back in ways that most top LBs aren’t–most LBs who get paid in the way that Bolton just did. I’m a fan of the player, and he still comes in at less than Baun on his deal. A good deal for a good player, one critical to the Chiefs’ defensive success.
Jamien Sherwood back to the Jets on a three-year deal worth $45M: B+
I like Sherwood, more of a WILL LB than a true MIKE, he plays with a lot of urgency and speed at the second level. In new head coach Aaron Glenn’s (and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks) defense, having rangy linebackers who can wear a lot of hats is crucial. Sherwood is 25 and has his best years of football ahead of him, which makes this $45 million deal make sense for the most part. Investing in the players that have been developed is a good thing.
Alaric Jackson back to the Rams on a three-year deal worth $57M: B
I think this is a pretty fair deal for Jackson given his high caliber play last season. His 2.5% Blown Block Rate is really low for a left tackle with a high volume of snaps, but his pass protection could improve. I’m giving this a B because Jackson has a lot of upside, but $19M per year is steep for a guy who hasn’t had consecutive high tier seasons. I’m always willing to bet on the upside, though.
Ernest Jones back to the Seahawks on a three-year deal worth $33M: A
I love this deal for Jones and the Seahawks. This is great value for a guy that I think is really good (while also being limited) and keeps the middle of the defense humming with continuity. Jones isn’t the most athletic guy, but the Seahawks defense started trending upward with a true MIKE LB. This will allow Seattle to address…whatever is going on with their offense.
Aaron Jones back to the Vikings on a two-year deal worth $20M: B
Solid deal for Jones and Minnesota. When he was in the lineup, Jones was such a massive factor as a runner and receiver. But being 30 was going to drive down his value, especially in a loaded RB draft class. Getting him for $10M per year is good for Minnesota and Jones, who gets to keep his spot in a nice offense for him, while allowing the Vikings to still go get a young guy in the draft on a later day.
Mike Gesicki back to the Bengals on a three-year deal worth $25M: C
Look, I get what Gesicki might be able to add as a receiver, but for a Bengals team that’s trying to become more versatile and have the ability to run the football, this feels like a bad decision. Gesicki adds nothing as a blocker and his value as a receiver can be matched by a guy like WR Andrei Iosivas, who might be a better blocker than Gesicki. Just confusing process.
