The NFL’s annual free agency and trade bonanza is here for 2025 with the open negotiations (aka “legal tampering” period) starting on Monday, March 10, and the new league year going into effect on Wednesday, March 12.
Like every year, several potential free agents are staying off the market, either re-signed or franchise-tagged by their teams, but many others are set to change clubs by either agreeing to terms with another team or being traded.
Sporting News will once again provide the latest analysis of the most significant moves around the NFL. Keep track of all the key signings and trades during 2025 NFL free-agency below:
NFL FREE AGENCY 2025: Live tracker | Trade grades | Top 75 available
NFL free agency grades 2025: The latest key signings and trades
BEST FREE AGENTS AVAILABLE: QBs | RBs | WRs | Defense
Grading 75 overall free agent signings
Chargers re-sign EDGE Khalil Mack to 1 year, $18M
Grade: A — They made the right choice to keep Mack, the future Hall of Fame disruptor still playing at a high level into his 30s, over Joey Bosa.
Eagles re-sign LB Zack Baun for 3 years, $51M with $34M guaranteed
Grade: A — Philadelphia keeps its breakout defensive star with a considerable raise, but he was too important vs. the pass for Vic Fangio to let walk out his ideal scheme.
Patriots sign EDGE Harold Landry for 3 years, $43.5M
Grade: A — Landry reunites with former Titans coach Mike Vrabel to boost a totally dormant pass rush. He should stay very productive to fill a huge need.
Buccaneers re-sign WR Chris Godwin for 3 years, $66M
Grade A- — Tampa Bay got Godwin at a decent price even thought it might have been the right time to move on in their latest new passing game. He keeps the passing game rolling with Mike Evans and Jalen McMillman for Baker Mayfield.
Ravens re-sign OT Ronnie Stanley for 3 years, $60M
Grade: A — The Ravens kept their left tackle intact after a strong, healthy season in front of Lamar Jackson for a very nice price.
Patriots sign CB Carlton Davis for 3 years, $60M with $34.5M guaranteed
Grade: A — The former Buccaneer and Lion big corner is a good get for a rebuilding secondary under Mike Vrabel.
Rams sign WR Davante Adams for 2 years, $46M
Grade: A+ — With Cooper Kupp on the trading block, the Rams were wise to think about former Packer, Raider and Jet Adams as the ideal complement outside for Puka Nacua all the way through his prolific red zone scoring. Matthew Stafford is also a great QB choice for Adams’ downfield skill set.
Bears sign C Drew Dalman for 3 years, $42M
Grade: A+ — The Bears traded for new guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and this rounds out their overhaul of the interior offensive line to much better protect Caleb Williams and upgrade the run blocking.
Vikings re-sign RB Aaron Jones for 2 years, $20M
Grade: A — This was a solid deal for Jones as the Vikings realized he’s the ideal veteran back to all the little and big things right in Kevin O’Connell’s offense and that type is difficult to find elsewhere.
Buccaneers sign EDGE Haasan Reddick for 1 year, $14M
Grade: B — Tampa Bay paid a decent price for the one-trick pass-rush mercenary.
Commanders re-sign LB Bobby Wagner for 1 year, $9.5M
Grade: A — Wagner continued to play at a high level cleaning up things as a future Hall of Famer and is key locker-room leader for a young playoff team.
Cardinals re-sign EDGE Baron Browning for 2 years, $15M
Grade: B — Browning been rather productive as a pure pass rusher for Jonathan Gannon so keeping him around was key at a good price.
Panthers sign DT Milton Williams
Grade: A — The Eagles lose a key sack figure from the Super Bowl as the Panthers make a shrewd move to bolster inside next to returning Derrick Brown.
Chiefs re-sign LB Nick Bolton for 3 years, $45M
Grade: B — The Chiefs may be could have considered a bit of upgrade, but he’s a still a valuable anchor as a run and coverage player for them.
Rams re-sign OT Alaric Jackson for 3 years, $57M
Grade: B — The Rams spent some good change here to keep their rising young left tackle in pass protection for Matthew Stafford and beyond for years to come.
Chiefs re-sign WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown for 1 year, $11M
Grade: B — They kept some veteran depth and are hopefully he’ll back to full speed to stretch the field for Patrick Mahomes.
Cowboys re-sign DT Osa Odighizuwa for 4 years, $80M
Grade: A- — Odighizuwa was a key inside pass-rush presence for Dallas last season and will continue to have impact in the new front scheme of Matt Eberflus.
Seahawks re-sign LB Ernest Jones for 3 years, $33M
Grade: B — Jones, the former Ram and Titan, bailed out Seattle a bit with his coverage and run-playing skills after Tyrel Dodson didn’t pan out. The ‘Hawks bring him back on a very reasonable deal.
Bengals re-sign DT B.J. Hill for 3 years, $33M
Grade: A — Hill was a key linchpin for their defense under Lou Anarumo and can be good all-around again for the new scheme.
Buccaneers re-sign LB Lavonte David for 1 year, $10M
Grade: A- — David keeps getting retained despite his age and losing a few steps, but he just means so much as the glue for Todd Bowles’ defense.
Seahawks re-sign DT Jarran Reed for 3 years
Grade: B — The former and current Seahawk has continue to plug, play and produce as an inside pass rusher for them no matter what the scheme.
Patriots sign LB Robert Spillane
Grade: B — The former Raider can be a busy active leader of the defense under Vrabel.
Grading other key free agent signings
Chiefs sign OT Jaylon Moore for 2 years, $30M
Grade: B — This was an interesting splurge for a solid well-rounded player as the Cheifs plug a key hole.
Commanders re-sign Zach Ertz for 1 year, $6.25M
Grade: A — He was another essential veteran to Washington’s turnaround and Jayden Daniels will be happy to have his reliable target back.
Broncos re-sign D.J Jones for 3 years, $39M
Grade: C — Jones is a decent inside pass-rush presence but his limitations vs. the run makes this about an average move.
Titans sign OT Dan Moore Jr. for 4 years, $82M
Grade: C — The former average Steelers starter can continue be that kind of blocker in Nashville.
Commanders sign DT Javon Kinlaw for 3 years, $45M
Grade: B — The former 49er and Jet has some inside pass-rush upside in trying to replace released Jonathan Allen.
Rams re-sign QB Jimmy Garoppolo for 1 year, $11M
Grade: B — Los Angeles keeps its QB room intact with Matthew Stafford and his seasoned top backup.
Grading notable player trades
Raiders trade third-round draft pick to Seahawks for QB Geno Smith
Grade: B — The Raiders decided to reunite Smith with Pete Carroll in their ideal move for a veteran bridge QB but let’s hope they still go after a franchise passer in the draft. It’s also notable that Smith also made the most sense operating the new offense of Chip Kelly.
Commanders trade fifth-round draft pick to 49ers for WR Deebo Samuel
Grade: A — Washington gave up little to get a seasoned option to help Jayden Daniels and lift up its younger receivers. Kliff Kingsbury will scheme up Samuel well to extract what he has left at 29.
Bears trade fourth-round draft pick to Chiefs for G Joe Thuney
Grade: A —Thuney is past his prime and was a misfit filling in at left tackle last season, but with Kansas City needing to move him for salary purposes, the Bears get a top veteran left guard. Ben Johnson is smartly going to work to upgrade the overall blocking in front of Caleb Williams.
Bears trade sixth-round draft pick to Rams for G Jonah Jackson
Grade: A- — The Bears took care of both starting guards by landing Jackson, a former top Lions starter under Johnson, for the right side. They will keep thinking about that offensive line overhaul at tackle and center in free agency and the draft.
Texans trade seventh-round draft pick to Jaguars for WR Christian Kirk
Grade: C — This rare intradivision deal doesn’t inspire much, as the Texans add the oft-injured Kirk, coming off a broken collarbone, for depth purposes with Tank Dell’s slow knee injury recovery and free agent Stefon Diggs set to walk following his torn ACL. Houston didn’t give up much, but it also didn’t get much for its passing offense.
Saints trade seventh-round draft pick to Patriots for DT Davon Godchaux
Grade: C — Godchaux gives New Orleans some average rotational depth at best.
Franchise-tagged players
The Chiefs wisely chose to keep Smith, only 25, as the co-anchor of their interior offensive line with Creed Humphrey over Thuney, who just turned 32. He would have had plenty of outside interest on the market and he signed not long after to lock in for 2025.
There’s a chance the Bengals can still trade Higgins after tagging him, but it’s more likely they will sort out a long-term deal for him while also extending top wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase this offseason.
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