As expected, it has been quite the week for transactions across the NFL; whether it be free agent signings, re-signings or trades. Here are some of my thoughts as we move towards the end of the first week of the new league year.
1. Darnold move gets mixed reviews
There are plenty of Seattle Seahawks fans who worry they have just seen their team pay $100.5 million over the next three seasons for a player who clearly struggled in the final two games of 2024. But we should not overlook the fact that Sam Darnold enjoyed a career year with the Vikings and it was not just a case of him throwing up jump balls to Justin Jefferson. Sure, it was a great situation for Darnold and one that has led to this opportunity in Seattle, but he made big-time throws for much of the year and grew as a leader in the locker room. Seattle need to upgrade their front, but I do believe this is also a decent situation for Darnold and I think he represents a leap forward when compared to the now-departed Geno Smith. I’m excited to see how this pans out.
2. Bears re-make their offensive line
Caleb Williams has all the tools to be an NFL superstar, but such success cannot be achieved while lying flat on your back! Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times on the NFL’s worst offense. There is so much talent at quarterback and surrounding Williams that the line simply had to be fixed. The Bears have done just that – on paper, at least – by trading for a pair of guards in Joe Thuney (Kansas City) and Jonah Jackson (LA Rams). They further shored up the line by signing the best center on the market in Atlanta’s Drew Dalman. The Bears also addressed their defensive line with the signing of Indianapolis edge rusher Dayo Odeyingo, but this could prove to be the classic free agency overpay at $48 million over three years. Odeyingo had just three sacks last season and just five and a half in his first two seasons in the league. His best campaign came in 2023 with eight sacks, but even then three of those came in one game against the Patriots in Frankfurt. Will consistent production come in Chicago?
3. Patriots load up
Coming into free agency, the Patriots were among the most cash-rich and talent-deficient teams in the league. So, it made perfect sense for them to spend big this week. I think they might have over-paid in signing edge rusher Harold Landry to a three-year deal worth $43.5 million. But Mike Vrabel has kept things simple and added some tough, productive football players. Defensive tackle Milton Williams (Philadelphia) could be a rising star ready to take his game to another level with more snaps, Robert Spillane is an established middle linebacker who recorded more than 130 tackles in each of his previous two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders and cornerback Carlton Davis (Detroit) should be an ideal man coverage corner for New England. Morgan Moses (NY Jets) brings a veteran presence to a massive area of need at tackle. Mack Hollins is a nice addition at receiver, but this team is still crying out for skill-position difference-makers and they should come via the NFL Draft. In terms of offseason roster building, the Patriots have a lot of work to be done but they’re off to a good start.
4. Jets roll the QB dice (again)
With considerably less hoopla this time around, the Jets are taking a punt on another free agent quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is gone and former first-rounder Justin Fields is on board to lead one of the league’s worst offenses. While he cannot read the field or deliver passes like the Hall of Famer
who came – and failed to deliver a playoff berth – before him, Fields adds a new dimension rarely seen among Jets quarterbacks. He can run! But the Jets are guaranteeing $30 million to Fields over the next two seasons. That doesn’t sound like a lot in today’s NFL, but it is when you consider Fields was run out of Chicago and benched for Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh. This is a gamble, but the Jets have no option but to take another chance at the quarterback position. The running aspect of Fields’ game makes me think this could work, but he still has much growth to undertake as a passer and a field general. Reuniting with college teammate Garrett Wilson should help the aerial attack.
5. QB competition in Indy?
At the NFL Combine, the Colts made it clear they were looking at bringing in veteran competition for young quarterback Anthony Richardson. It appears that competition is going to be Daniel Jones. Despite Jones becoming the butt of a lot of NFL jokes in recent years, I don’t hate this move and I wonder what Shane Steichen can unlock in the former first round pick? It’s worth kicking over that particular stone for one year at $14 million. Also, if you look at the move purely in terms of the number two spot, Jones is likely an upgrade on Joe Flacco. Ultimately, the hope is that Jones never has to be more than the reserve and Richardson shows significant growth in 2025. What fascinated me more with the Colts was the addition of two very appealing defensive backs in cornerback Charvarius Ward (San Francisco) and safety Cam Bynum (Minnesota). The latter did a lot of dancing that went viral with the Vikings in 2024, but only because he made so many big plays with 96 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
6. The champs get raided
This should come as no surprise, but the Super Bowl champions always lose key players and that has now happened to the Philadelphia Eagles. But some of it is of their own doing and their number one-ranked defense is going to look very different indeed come 2025. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was traded to Houston, fellow defensive backs Darius Slay and James Bradberry were cut, cornerback Isaiah Rodgers joined Minnesota; and defensive linemen Josh Sweat and Milton Williams went to Arizona and New England respectively. That pair combined for 4 ½ sacks in the Super Bowl win over Kansas City. Philly’s best piece of business was to re-sign All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun to a three-year deal.
7. Commanders boost their line
The Washington Commanders put a giant anchor at left tackle in trading for Laremy Tunsil, who can still play at a high level despite drawing more penalties than he and the Houston Texans would have liked in 2024. Tunsil turns 31 just before the start of the new season but the five-time Pro Bowler upgrades a Washington team looking to take that final step to the Super Bowl. The aggressive move makes sense given how close Washington are and how much they have been revitalised by the addition of quarterback Jayden Daniels. But I don’t quite understand Houston’s thinking here. C.J. Stroud was one of the most pressured, hit and sacked quarterbacks in the league in 2024. How has that situation improved with the removal of Tunsil? Houston have to bolster their offensive line in the Draft now, surely?
8. Vikings address their lines
Maybe the other key contenders in the NFC have seen how successful the Eagles were in 2024 due to being strong on both lines. The Vikings bolstered their offense – which will now be led by J.J. McCarthy at quarterback – with the signings of center Ryan Kelly (Indianapolis) and guard Will Fries (Indianapolis). And while neither Javon Hargrave (San Francisco) nor Jonathan Allen (Washington) appear to be in their prime, they can team to become an interior force… providing their snap count is
managed efficiently. The change at quarterback – which was the original plan for 2024 – will be vital but it does appear as if the Vikings will remain strong and a true contender in the NFC. Oh, and I love the fact we get to watch safety Harrison Smith do his thing as an NFL star for at least another season.
9. Broncos do some good business
This time last year it felt as if the Denver Broncos were having a fire sale and settling in for a long and painful rebuild. But after being led to the playoffs by rookie quarterback Box Nix, things are very different in 2025. The Broncos started their offseason by taking care of their own with the key re-signing of veteran nose tackle D.J. Jones. Then they rolled the dice on a couple of injury-risk 49ers in linebacker Dre Greenlaw and All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga. Both are high-level performers when healthy. A brief sidebar on San Francisco, by the way. They have now lost 11 of their 22 starters from the team that lost to Kansas City in Super Bowl 58. It is a reminder that when your Super Bowl window is open and you’re up by 10 in the big game (twice), you’d better find a way to win it… because things can change in a hurry in the NFL. The Broncos are a positive example of that and I really liked their addition of Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram (Jacksonville). He plays like a third receiver, adding more talent for Nix to work with in 2025.
10. Najee becomes a Charger
Under the leadership of head coach Jim Harbaugh, who delivered a playoff berth in his first season in charge in 2024, it was clear that the Chargers were going to run the football. Of course, the NFL Draft needs to bring further help for Justin Herbert at quarterback; but the early days of free agency were about the run game. Najee Harris is a player I think Harbaugh is going to love. We already know this is the case because Harbaugh tried – and failed – to recruit Harris to Michigan during their days in college. Harris, who starred at Alabama in college, has never missed a game in his first four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and he has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each campaign. He’s going to shine in L.A. The Chargers also made the decision to re-sign Khalil Mack. He may never match his 17-sack total of 2023 again, but the 34-year-old is a great leader and a key component on what was one of the league’s tougher defenses in 2024.
Bonus… Quarterback watch!
Things move quickly in the NFL so this might have dated by the time you read this column. But I’m watching two veteran quarterbacks very closely indeed. Will Aaron Rodgers choose the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants or retirement? Or will he and the Vikings shock the world as he continues to follow in the footsteps of Brett Favre? And what about Kirk Cousins? He is surely too expensive to keep as a backup in Atlanta? But who will trade for him? And at what price? There are not many quarterback spots still open and the NFL Draft is still to come. For what it’s worth, I still think a healthy Kirk Cousins is worth having on board to lead your team for 2025 if you’re the Giants or the Tennessee Titans.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
