March 31st, 2025
The fury of free agency is now over and it is time to look at the top 15 moves for this year. Even though this free agency class was regarded as weaker, there were still good players out there to sign. Here is a review of some of the moves that went down that are worthy to mention.
Note: This list excludes contract extensions players got while still under contract for future year(s).
1. EDGE Josh Sweat gets his well-deserved cash:He went from the Super Bowl winning Philadelphia Eagles to the Arizona Cardinals, where the team gave him a four-year, $76.4 million deal, with $41 million guaranteed according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. This is an excellent move for Arizona, as they obtain a consistent pass rusher who made huge contributions to one of the best defenses in 2024.
2. CB Byron Murphy feels at home with the Minnesota Vikings:Murphy gets to stay with the team that made him a sought out free agent, signing a three-year deal that has the max value of $66 million according to NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo, Tom Pelissero, and Rapoport. Not only that, but the Vikings have proven themselves to be a winning team.
3. WR Davante Adams heads back out to the west coast:Adams has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that allows him to play with one of the toughest QBs in the business named Matthew Stafford. Adams provides plenty of value to the Rams, despite being older. Not only that, but Adams acquires $46 million over two years, with $26 million guaranteed per Rapoport. That is an amazing deal.
4. Linebacker Zack Baun hangs around with the Eagles for a little bit more:According to Rapoport, Baun is returning to Philadelphia with a deal that is worth $51 over three years, with $34 million guaranteed. The Eagles hold on to one of their top players as they try to run it back. Also, Baun gets his well deserved money.
5. DT Milton Williams gets big-time money with the New England Patriots:ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that Williams has signed a gigantic contract with the Patriots, cashing in on a contract worth $104 million over four years with $51 million guaranteed right as he signs the contract. The Patriots bring a top, young player who is only 26 years old. Overall, it is a very high upside move by the New England Patriots, who try to rebound from last season’s mess.
6. The Bears are ready to win:The Chicago Bears made a flurry of moves, but one of their most notable free agent signings came in the form of Center Drew Dalman. Chicago signed him to a three-year, $42 million deal, with $28 million guaranteed per Rapoport. This is a great move by the Bears, as Dalman is a high-upside signing due to his age and is one of the best Centers per PFF (Pro Football Focus). Both the free agent market and draft class for centers are very poor in terms of talent, so the Bears did what they had to do.
7. Linebacker Nick Bolton likes championships:Rapoport reported that Bolton gets to stay with the only team he has known, re-signing with the Kansas City Chiefs for $45 million over three years, with $30 million of the deal guaranteed. He is one of the Chiefs best players and they decided to keep him there for good reason. Meanwhile, Bolton obtains his money and does not need to worry about finding a new home.
8. Less worries for Linebacker Ernest Jones:Jones finally gets to stay at one place this year after being traded from the Rams, to the Titans, and then to the Seattle Seahawks last year. Seattle is where he showed off his value and revived his career and the team’s defense. As a result, Jones is handsomely rewarded with a new contract worth $33 million over three years with the Seahawks per Rapoport.
9. New England finds CB Christian Gonzalez a sidekick:The Patriots have gotten a CB in Carlton Davis, who they signed to a three-year, $60 million deal per Tom Pelissero. The Patriots keep getting better and better with all the veteran talent they are acquiring. Now, their secondary is even greater.
10. The Detroit Lions jump from one CB to another CB quite rapidly:Since CB Carlton Davis went to the Patriots, Detroit pounced on CB D.J. Reed. They signed him for three years and $48 million per Jordan Schultz from Fox Sports, with $32 million of the deal guaranteed. Reed was a New York Jet and played opposite CB Sauce Gardner. Now Reed gets to prove that he can be a #1 CB on a team, despite the presence of fellow CB Terrion Arnold.
11. OG Mekhi Becton earns valuable money after his performance in Philly:Becton agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers per Adam Schefter. Becton goes to the Chargers, where they run the ball a lot. Becton’s playing style will excel with the Chargers due to his excellent run blocking ability. The Chargers also get a great deal because this is a relatively cheap deal compared to what other OGs got in free agency.
12. The Patriots add another reinforcement in EDGE Harold Landry:The New England Patriots went wild in free agency, as they signed Landry to a three-year, $43.5 million contract with $26 million guaranteed according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Landry is a very good and consistent pass rusher seemingly every single year looking at the stats on ESPN’s website. This is yet another veteran presence for the Patriots, who boast a very young team.
13. The Baltimore Ravens keep their guy:According to Rapoport, the Ravens signed their long-time OT Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60 million contract. Even though Stanley gets hurt a lot of the time, he is superb when healthy and on the field, providing QB Lamar Jackson time to do what he does best.
14. QB Sam Darnold revived his career and now he gets his big payday:After the Seattle Seahawks traded away QB Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders in a surprising move, Seattle went after Darnold, with Adam Schefter reporting that both parties agreed to a three-year, $110.5 million dollar deal with $55 million guaranteed. Seattle is retooling the team and it might backfire, but they are willing to roll the dice, hoping for better results.
15. CB Jourdan Lewis Goes To Jacksonville:As mentioned, Lewis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars for three years and $30 million. The deal contains $20 million guaranteed, and he gets $12.5 million in the first year according to Pelissero, Garofolo, Rapoport and Peter Schrager of NFL Network. Lewis can do it all as a CB, and contributes to many facets for the defense. Overall, it is a good deal and is a smart move by the Jaguars.