How does a team “win” or “lose” in NFL free agency 2025 when no games are being played? Simple: It comes down to maintaining and improving its roster in the best way possible in relation to available resources.
Did a franchise in a great salary-cap situation spend all its money wisely? Did a team struggling with the cap do all it could? In some cases, not spending was fine and overspending was bad. There are always a few trades to consider, too.
Looking at the big picture across all 32 teams, a few stood out as acing the early part of free agency, while a handful came out with a whimper. Some players at certain positions also made out better than others.
Here’s breaking down the best and worst from the initial open market deals.
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NFL free agency winners & losers 2025
Winners: New England Patriots
Not surprisingly, New England got aggressive with its ample money to spend under the salary cap. With new defensive-minded coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots overhauled that side of the ball with four splash starters: tackle Milton Williams, edge rusher Harold Landry, linebacker Robert Spillane, and cornerback Carlton Davis. They all figure to be part of their adjusted, rebuilding winning formula that leans more on the defense and the running game.
The Patriots have been rather quiet with their minor offensive moves with second-year first-round QB Drake Maye in mind, but expect their smarter swings for personnel upgrades for the offensive line and receiving corps to come in the draft.
Losers: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are set to have 25 players not to return to San Francisco, including traded wide receiver Deebo Samuel, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, guard Aaron Banks, offensive tackle Jaylon Moore, backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, backup running back Elijah Mitchell, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Charvarius Ward, and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
In relation to who’s gone, they have made only some minor replacement additions in the offseason. The Niners still can get some positive defensive changes, but they are positioned to slide as contenders even if they extend Brock Purdy and get a lot healthier in 2025.
Winners: Las Vegas Raiders
With Geno Smith, the Raiders got a QB who’s very familiar with Pete Caroll’s personality and Chip Kelly’s offense. He’s a big upgrade over the recent revolving mess after his breakout play in Seattle for Carroll and then Mike Macdonald in multiple offenses. Smith can be either a solid starter for a few years or a valuable shorter-term bridge.
Smith is well-seasoned at 34 and gives the team a much-needed restoration of stability and leadership at the most important position. The Raiders also were wise to extend Maxx Crosby and keep complementary pass rusher Malcolm Koonce, while safety Jeremy Chinn is a sneaky-good addition to the secondary.
MORE: Geno Smith trade grades
Losers: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks put their big offensive changes under OC Klint Kubiak in motion with the release of venerable Tyler Lockett before trading fellow wide receiver DK Metcalf and QB Geno Smith. But then they used the saved future money on Metcalf to overspend on Sam Darnold. Although he’s seven years younger than Smith, it doesn’t feel like a true upgrade, even with Darnold having his 49ers familiarity with Kubiak’s offense.
Plus, Darnold now has only one reliable receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He’s not set up for the same type of success he had during his one season with Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota. The Seahawks appeared to be ready to hasten a rebuild, but instead, they are banking a lot on a retread.
Winners: Sam Darnold and Justin Fields
No one can fault Darnold for taking his best deal, getting $100.5 million over three years in a guaranteed starting situation in Seattle with Smith gone. Getting above $33 million per season with $55 million guaranteed is a coup for not returning to Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Fields also got slotted in as a first-round starting quarterback again with the Jets, where Darnold and Smith once struggled. Getting $40 million from the Jets with $30 million guaranteed is a also significant raise from his rookie deal.
Losers: Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson
Rodgers and Wilson saw Smith, Darnold, and Fields get new homes in NFL free agency quickly, whittling the few appealing landing spots down to the Steelers and Giants. The Jets replaced Rodgers with Fields to go in a different direction at QB in terms of youth and playing style. The Seahawks and Raiders then fell apart as potential destinations for him.
Now, Wilson and Rodgers are in direct competition with each other and potentially the Falcons’ Kirk Cousins to avoid a “mentorship” role vs. a guaranteed starting one.
Winners: Washington Commanders
The Commanders took care of key in-house business by keeping their special teams stars intact and then returning important leaders Zach Ertz and Bobby Wagner. But Jayden Daniels has to be totally ecstatic about getting ace left tackle Laremy Tunsil and dangerous complementary weapon Deebo Samuel. Washington is indeed trying to go all in to win a Super Bowl on Daniels’ rookie contract.
MORE: Laremy Tunsil trade grades
Losers: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have been a bit handcuffed in free agency with their bigger contracts and also needing to worry about a lucrative extension for Micah Parsons. The results have been meh, standing out by keeping Osa Odighizuwa for the defense and adding a dynamic flier at running back in Javonte Williams.
MORE: Breaking down the Cowboys 2025 free agency
Winners: Chicago Bears
The Bears started with a bang by trading for guard upgrades Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and then rounded a whole new interior blocking line for Caleb Williams and the running game with former Falcon Drew Dalman, the best center on the market. They still managed to make two shrewd defensive additions in former Cowboys pass rusher Dayo Odeyingbo and long-time Falcons stalwart tackle Grady Jarrett.
Losers: Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers
The Lions did score cornerback D.J. Reed, but it’s less effective given the team also couldn’t keep cornerback Carlton Davis. Detroit also has been limited in trying to get pass-rush help for the edge or inside. The Packers may have spent too much on the combination of guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs without getting all that much better.
Winners: Denver Broncos
The Broncos needed to come away with two key positional upgrades for their defense this offseason: Linebacker and safety. They got it done by signing former 49ers teammates Greenlaw and Hufanga to help them clean up much better in the back seven.
Losers: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars addressed the offensive line a couple of times and got some mishmash backup help for their roster, but again, their massive facelift under Liam Coen will take more effect during the draft after moving on from Christian Kirk and Evan Engram.
Winners: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are getting the most attention for bringing in Daniel Jones as worthy competition for Anthony Richardson, but they actually did even better defensively by adding playmaking stars Charvarius Ward and Cameron Bynum to fill huge holes in the secondary.
Losers: Houston Texans
Christian Kirk is a meh intradivison move given Stefon Diggs looks like he’s gone and Kirk isn’t good enough to replace Tank Dell at this stage in his career. But Houston’s bigger issue around C.J. Stroud was moving on from key offensive linemen, stamped by the head-scratching deal of Tunsil in his prime to Washington. Houston should be looking for big results right now, but instead, it’s looking too much into the future and Stroud’s much more expensive second deal.
Winners: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs surprised many by being able to retain wide receiver Chris Godwin and linebacker Lavonte Davis for their key leading veteran roles. But don’t forget about how Haason Reddick could have another big pass-rush year in Todd Bowles’ scheme.
Losers: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons lost interior line stars Dalman and Jarrett and haven’t done much to upgrade their pass rush (Leonard Floyd, meh) or any other key weakness. They also have messed around with the Kirk Cousins roster decision too much. Atlanta looks shaky with moves in relation to what Tampa Bay, Carolina, and even New Orleans (with its major cap issues) were able to do in free agency as division rivals.
