Inside: Nine things you should know about the first wave of free-agent signings, plus the best short-term rentals still available. Let’s jump in.
This article is from Scoop City, The Athletic’s NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox.
Free agency: What we learned on day one
The top 20 signings prior to today, according to The Athletic’s Top 150 (grades by Mike Jones):
By now, you’ve heard that Sam Darnold joined the Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5 million deal. It’s one of eight moves that foreshadow what’s to come in 2025. The full list:
1. The Seahawks now have to keep Darnold upright. The 27-year-old Darnold, seven years Geno Smith’s junior, signed a team-friendly deal that is essentially a two-year contract with a team option. His average pay accounts for just 12 percent of this year’s cap, one of the lowest rates among veteran starting quarterbacks.
Advertisement
Darnold’s also a great fit for new OC Klint Kubiak’s play-action-heavy scheme (the pair worked together in SF in 2023).
Michael-Shawn Dugar explains how the Seahawks can support Darnold, and it starts with improving their line. In 2024, when under pressure, Darnold’s EPA per dropback fell from 0.21 (would rank fourth among 47 QBs’ season-long averages) to -0.32 (46th of 47). Last year, PFF graded Darnold’s Minnesota offensive line as middling, while the Seahawks’ ranked 31st. Here’s one of the 50 sacks they gave up along the way:
Keep an eye on FA G Kevin Zeitler today, as Seattle should be bidding.
2. Chicago wins the offseason, again. Yesterday, optimism grew as Ben Johnson’s Bears upgraded their biggest weaknesses by signing the best center available, Drew Dalman (PFF’s No. 4 at his position in 2024), along with defensive linemen Dayo Adeyingbo and Grady Jarrett, both of whom help their pass rush. And they still have the No. 10 pick, along with three others in the top 75. Another offseason banner before an eventual 8-9 season? Maybe not. Jon Greenberg explains why this time looks different.
3. The Patriots hand out $283.6 million. As of March 9, the Eagles were paying 12 players over $10 million each. New England? Three, the fewest in the NFL.
Mike Vrabel quickly fixed that, making yearly commitments of $26 million to DT Milton Williams (The Athletic’s No. 1 free agent), $14.5 million to OLB Harold Landry, $12 million to LB Robert Spillane and $20 million to CB Carlton Davis. Even 34-year-old RT Morgan Moses got $8 million.
Despite the spending, Drake Maye still needs a left tackle and someone to throw to. That hints to their draft strategy. For more, Chad Graff explains why the Patriots took such big risks.
4. The Jets enter their Justin Fields era. Fields’ Madden 25 rating is just 73, yet New York signed him to a two-year deal worth $40 million. Brick Johnson is no longer in charge.
Advertisement
New OC Tanner Engstrand, who worked with Jared Goff in Detroit, is tasked with tailoring the offense to Fields’ strengths — the incoming RPOs and heavy dose of play-action should help players like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. Fields, who has shown flashes of elite athleticism and arm talent (see the below completion against Pat Surtain II), is expected to start Week 1.
Zack Rosenblatt has more on what this means for the Jets.
5. The Steelers really don’t know how to find a quarterback. Earlier this offseason, team owner Art Rooney II said his “priority” was to re-sign either Fields or Russell Wilson. Among the two, the younger, higher-ceiling Fields was the obvious choice. With that door closed, Steelers beat reporter Mike DeFabo writes that “it seems the most likely marriage is with Aaron Rodgers,” though Wilson remains available. Good luck, Pittsburgh.
6. The Lions are comfortable running it back. Losing their starting cornerback (Carlton Davis) hurt, but GM Brad Holmes continued to impress by immediately finding a replacement who is both an upgrade and $4 million per year cheaper: 28-year-old CB D.J. Reed.
The former Jet was the second-highest rated corner in The Athletic’s top 150 free agents and will be a consistent starter on the outside, while his $16 million average pay is the largest for a free agent of this Lions era.
After the Lions addressed their biggest need, Colton Pouncy noted depth remains a priority. Given last year’s injury disasters, releasing edge Za’Darius Smith felt like a mistake, but Holmes knows more than I do.
7. The 49ers and Eagles lost valuable depth. Two of the NFC’s largest talent pools saw players exit on big-money deals. That hurts in the short term, but does provide potential compensatory picks, determined by the size of the contracts signed with other teams. (Over the Cap explains it all here.)
Advertisement
Philly is scheduled to receive a third-, fourth- and sixth-round pick in 2026, while the 49ers are scheduled to get two fourths and a fifth, which could change if they sign edge Joey Bosa to bookend his brother. But for the 49ers, the losses still hurt.
In that light, the Jets’ 2024 trade for Haason Reddick (sending a third to the Eagles) doesn’t look as bad, since they may receive a fourth due to his signing in Tampa Bay this week.
8. The Commanders are all in. They made headlines by acquiring Houston’s Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil (and a fourth-round pick in 2025) for two 2025 picks (third and seventh) and two 2026 picks (second and fourth). It’s a major upgrade for Jayden Daniels’ blindside, as the 31-year-old Tunsil replaces rookie Brandon Coleman, who struggled.
The Texans offensive line couldn’t afford to get worse, so this must have been cap-related; C.J. Stroud’s due for an extension next year, and Tunsil has no guaranteed money past 2025. Washington can afford to pay him, which is one reason Jeff Howe gave them an A-. The Texans got a B, thanks to GM Nick Caserio’s drafting prowess.
9. The Vikings build around J.J. McCarthy. Beat reporter Alec Lewis has written that Minnesota wanted to construct a roster around a rookie quarterback contract. With McCarthy, they finally can.
They didn’t wait long to cash in. Minnesota signed highly rated DT Jonathan Allen to a three-year, $60 million deal and improved their interior OL with C Ryan Kelly on a cost-effective contract and his former Colts teammate G Will Fries on a five-year, $88 million deal. They also brought back Pro Bowl CB Byron Murphy Jr. for $22 million per year.
Bonus: The Broncos are dangerous. Adding two standout defensive players in S Talanoa Hufanga and LB Dre Greenlaw improves Denver’s defensive weakness: the middle of the field. If both play to their potential, the Broncos defense will have “difference-makers at every level,” writes Nick Kosmider in his explainer on why these are risks worth taking.
Advertisement
For more:
Now let’s talk about who’s left.
Talented rentals available
In the NFL, a rental is an aging veteran who offers valuable short-term production, but is certainly gone after that. This strategy went poorly for the Jets (see Rodgers, Aaron), but worked for the Buccaneers (see Brady, Tom).
While no one in the 2025 class will have an impact like those two, the players below could be strong additions for teams in need (age as of 2025’s Week 1):
WR Stefon Diggs (31). The Cowboys need a win with their fans, and Diggs could give them that, but the Patriots offer a No. 1 role — and loads of money.
DT Javon Hargrave (32). Injuries limited him to three games in 2024, but he could offer intriguing upside for Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon, who worked with Hargrave in Philly.
Edge Za’Darius Smith (32). One of the league’s most productive pass rushers since 2019, he must be one of the Panthers’ top targets after they were outbid on Milton Williams (but still bolstered their defensive line with two bargain signings).
This newsletter’s FA predictions so far: 6/6 after Najee Harris signed with the Chargers. For more, read the site’s full list of the best available free agents.
Yesterday’s most-clicked: Nick Baumgardner’s pre-free agency mock, which holds up well despite a busy first day. Check out the full mock here.
Stay tuned to the live blog for all the latest. See you tomorrow.
📫 Enjoyed this read? Sign up here to receive The Athletic’s free daily NFL newsletter in your inbox.
Also, check out our other newsletters.
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
