Monthly Archive 2025年3月5日

Formerly a dry period for the NFL, springtime has become one of the most exciting periods on the league calendar. Free agency, which began in the early 1990s, has blossomed into a two-week stream of big signings and team-altering acquisitions. And when the dust begins to settle, NFL fans turn their attention to the draft and the subsequent signing of undrafted rookies.

Championships are won in mid-winter, but the seeds of those championships are sewn in the spring. You don’t have to go back too far in history to see the significance of free agency. Just five years ago, the Buccaneers made one of the biggest offseason signings in history when they inked Tom Brady to a two-year contract. Less than a year later, “Tampa Tom” and his new teammates hoisted a celebratory boat parade.

Brady is just one of many examples of free agents who helped change the fortune of their new franchises. With the 2025 free agency season ready to kick off, let’s take a look at the best all-time free agent signing for all 32 teams.

Arizona Cardinals
Best signing: QB Kurt Warner (2005)

After a storybook run with the Rams, Warner inked a one-year deal with the Cardinals following a single season with the Giants. After two so-so seasons in Arizona, Warner replaced Matt Leinart as the starter during the 2007 season. In 2008, Warner threw for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns while helping lead the Cardinals to a division title. He then helped the Cardinals win three playoff games to clinch the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth. Warner led the Cardinals to the divisional round of the 2009 playoffs before retiring during the offseason.

Worst signing: QB Sam Bradford (2018)

Bradford went 0-3 as the Cardinals’ quarterback after receiving $15 million guaranteed. He lost his starting job to then-rookie Josh Rosen, who went 3-10 that season.

2025 NFL All-Free Agent Team: Vikings, Chiefs, Eagles headline best veteran talent on the market
Cody Benjamin
2025 NFL All-Free Agent Team: Vikings, Chiefs, Eagles headline best veteran talent on the market
Atlanta Falcons
Best signing: RB Michael Turner (2008)

It was close, but “Burner” Turner beats out tight end Tony Gonzalez for the top spot. After spending four years as LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup in San Diego, Turner inked a six-year, $34.5 million contract during the 2008 offseason. During his five seasons in Atlanta, Turner rushed for 6,081 yards and 60 touchdowns. He earned All-Pro honors in 2008 after rushing for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns. A two-time Pro Bowler, Turner had consecutive 1,300-yard rushing seasons in 2010 and in 2011. Turner is second all-time on the Falcons’ career rushing list.

Worst signing: OLB Dante Fowler (2020)

Fowler parlayed his career-high 11.5 sacks into a three-year, $45 million deal with the Falcons. He had just 7.5 sacks in two years in Atlanta before resurfacing with the Cowboys in 2022.

Buffalo Bills
Best signing: WR Steve Tasker (1986)

The special teams star edges out former teammates Kent Hull and James Lofton for the Bills’ top spot. A ninth-round pick in the 1985 draft, Tasker was claimed off of waivers by the Bills during the 1986 season. While he was seldom used on offense, Tasker was a force on special teams. He made seven Pro Bowls, including six straight from 1990-95. Tasker’s play helped the Bills win an unprecedented four consecutive AFC titles. His blocked punt set up the first touchdown of Super Bowl XXVII.

Worst signing: G Derrick Dockery (2007)

Buffalo signed the former Washington starter to a seven-year, $49 million deal back in 2007. Dockery struggled in Buffalo, however and he was released just two years into his deal.

Baltimore Ravens
Best signing: DE Michael McCrary (1997)

McCrary beat out former teammates Shannon Sharpe and Rod Woodson for the Ravens’ top spot. A former seventh-round pick, McCrary was a backup in Seattle for three years before breaking out with 13.5 sacks in 1996. McCrary’s big year earned him a three-year contract with the Ravens, who were in the process of putting together a championship defense.

After tallying a career-high 14.5 sacks in 1998, McCrary earned a five-year extension in 1999. The following season, McCrary helped the Ravens win their first Super Bowl. He tallied six sacks during the 2000 playoffs that included two sacks in Super Bowl XXXV. A member of the Ravens’ Ring of Honor, McCrary totaled 51 regular season sacks, 299 tackles and 42 tackles for loss during his six seasons in Baltimore.

Worst signing: S Earl Thomas (2019)

Thomas received a four-year $55 million contract in 2019. He lasted just one season in Baltimore; the Ravens released him after he punched a teammate.

Carolina Panthers
Best signing: LB Sam Mills (1995)

After a highly successful nine-year run in New Orleans, Mills signed a two-year deal with the expansion Panthers despite the Saints matching Carolina’s offer. The 36-year-old made an immediate impact in Carolina. In 1995, Mills tallied 110 tackles, 4.5 sacks, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and four fumble recoveries. Mills earned All-Pro honors in 1996 while helping lead the Panthers to an NFC title game appearance.

A member of the Panthers’ Hall of Honor, Mills’ No. 51 has been retired by the franchise. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

mills.png
At 37, Mills was the oldest defensive player ever selected to a Pro Bowl in 1996. Getty Images
Worst signing: DE Chuck Smith (2000)

Smith had 58.5 sacks in Atlanta, but he had none during his only season in Carolina. He played in just two games for the Panthers before injuries ended his career.

Cincinnati Bengals
Best signing: DE Trey Hendrickson (2021)

Hendrickson only needed one season in Cincinnati to claim this spot. Acquired during the 2021 offseason, the former Saints pass-rusher recorded a career-high 14 sacks during the regular season while helping the Bengals capture the AFC North division crown. He had 3.5 more sacks in the playoffs while helping lead the Bengals to an AFC title. Hendrickson was named to a second straight Pro Bowl in 2022 and recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks in 2023.

Worst signing: CB Trae Waynes (2020)

The former Vikings first-round pick signed with the Bengals in 2020. He missed that entire season because of a torn pectoral. Waynes was released after a hamstring issue limited him to just five games in 2021.

Cleveland Browns
Best signing: OL/K Lou Groza (1946)

An undrafted rookie out of Ohio State, Groza spent a whopping 21 seasons with the Browns. A member of all eight of the Browns’ championship teams, Groza was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro during the 1950s. After a one-year retirement, Groza returned to the Browns as a kicker in 1961. He led the NFL in field goal percentage twice while helping the Browns win the 1964 NFL title. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.

Worst signing: Jeff Garcia (2004)

The Browns were hoping that Garcia would continue to build on the success that made him a three-time Pro Bowler in San Francisco. That didn’t happen, however, as Cleveland went 3-7 during their lone season with Garcia under center. He spent just one season in Cleveland after signing a four-year deal ahead of the 2004 season.

Chicago Bears
Best signing: DT Steve McMichael (1981)

The man known as “Mongo” beat out future Hall of Fame pass rusher Julius Peppers. After just one season in New England, McMichael was cut by the Patriots and was signed by the Bears in 1981.

McMichael broke into the starting lineup in 1983 and remained there for the next decade. During that span, McMichael tallied 92.5 sacks and was a two-time All-Pro. He was also a valuable member of Chicago’s vaunted “46” defense, a unit that overwhelmed nearly everyone in 1985 en route to the franchise’s first Super Bowl win, a 46-10 romp of the Patriots.

McMichael was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

Worst signing: QB Mike Glennon (2017)

Glennon signed a three-year, $45 million deal after making just five starts during his first three seasons (all in Tampa). He was benched in favor of Mitch Trubisky after just four games. He went 1-3 with four touchdowns and five picks during his brief Bears tenure.

A day after parting ways with Super Bowl champion Darius Slay, the Philadelphia Eagles are cutting ties with another top cornerback, informing former starter James Bradberry that he will be designated a post-June 1 release at the start of 2025 free agency, as ESPN reported.

Bradberry’s release will save the Eagles $2.1 million against the 2025 salary cap, per Jeremy Fowler, while the veteran’s agent has received permission to engage with other teams ahead of free agency.

The 31-year-old Bradberry was widely expected to be cut or traded ahead of the 2024 season, but a preseason Achilles tear sent him to injured reserve, where he remained throughout the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. Slay and other Eagles defensive backs credited him for his mentorship behind the scenes.

Darius Slay landing spots: Best fits for veteran CB with Eagles releasing him after Super Bowl win
Tyler Sullivan
Darius Slay landing spots: Best fits for veteran CB with Eagles releasing him after Super Bowl win
Prior to the injury, Bradberry endured a roller coaster of a two-year stint in the Eagles’ starting lineup. Signed in May 2022 after his surprise release by the rival New York Giants, he turned in a career-best performance opposite Slay in his Philadelphia debut, logging 17 pass breakups en route to a Super Bowl LVII appearance. Bradberry’s play declined mightily in 2023, however, and he was benched in the playoffs.

Before joining the Eagles, Bradberry split his first six NFL seasons between the Giants and Carolina Panthers. He’s one of several accomplished cover men set to be available this offseason, with Slay also released and Green Bay Packers standout Jaire Alexander reportedly on the trade block.

The NFL’s version of March Madness is on the horizon with free agency kicking off next week. That said, there’s already been some action that has unfolded across the league. Those moves have the potential to have a ripple effect that alters how these next few weeks and months will play out for an array of teams. Because one club decides to retain or let them go, that may force other teams to pivot and change their focus.

That’s what we’ll be focusing on here as we comb through some of the more notable moves that have already gone down in the NFL and detail the impact they could have before the start of the legal tampering period on March 10 at noon ET and the start of the new league year on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.

Matthew Stafford stays in L.A.
player headshot
team logo
Matthew Stafford
LAR • QB • #9
CMP%
65.8
YDS
3762
TD
20
INT
8
YD/ATT
7.28
View Profile
One of the biggest early storylines of the offseason revolved around Matthew Stafford and a potential divorce with the Los Angeles Rams. The team allowed Stafford to speak with other teams to gauge his market and it momentarily felt like the quarterback was on the brink of being traded out of the organization. However, the two sides have since reunited and agreed to move forward together on a revamped contract.

Impacted team: New York Giants. New York was one of the teams that spoke with Stafford about possibly acquiring him and inking him to a lucrative extension. This appeared to be the organization’s first choice to revamp its quarterback position, but now the Giants need to look elsewhere. Instead of Stafford, the Giants will need to pivot either to the free agent market or the 2025 NFL Draft where they possess the No. 3 overall pick.

Impacted team: Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders were the other team that was named as a suitor for Stafford and despite run-ins with the Super Bowl-winning quarterback in the mountains of Montana, they are now back to square one as they try to rectify the position. Because they hold the No. 6 overall pick at the upcoming draft, Las Vegas would likely need to strike a trade to get within range of taking a quarterback. If the Raiders are unable or unwilling to do that, it may make more sense to dip into free agency.

Impacted player: Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers may have been a sneaky candidate to replace Stafford as a stop-gap quarterback option for the Rams had they decided to trade him. Instead, the former Jets quarterback is reportedly now turning his attention to the New York Giants, reportedly making calls to the organization to see if they are interested.

Ranking NFL teams with best free agent crop: Eagles, Vikings have key starters set to hit open market
Tyler Sullivan
Ranking NFL teams with best free agent crop: Eagles, Vikings have key starters set to hit open market
Deebo Samuel traded to Commanders
player headshot
team logo
Deebo Samuel
SF • WR • #1
TAR
81
REC
51
REC YDS
670
REC TD
3
FL
1
View Profile
The San Francisco 49ers granted Deebo Samuel’s trade request and have agreed in principle to send the star wideout to the Washington Commanders. In return, the team is set to receive a 2025 fifth-round pick. This trade now fills a massive need on the Commanders depth chart, as they were due for an upgrade at the receiver position opposite of Terry McLaurin. It now allows the organization to use its remaining cap space on other needs in free agency.

Impacted player: Brandon Aiyuk. Along with Samuel, Aiyuk has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason and GM John Lynch even acknowledged at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team is listening to calls. Now that the team has traded Samuel, however, could that result in the Niners keeping Aiyuk in the fold? The pass catcher is coming off a torn ACL, so his market could be depleted. With Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings the other receivers on the roster, it may now make the most sense to retain Aiyuk to keep the position group robust.

Impacted team: Pittsburgh Steelers. Once again, the Steelers have swung and missed on trying to land another receiver. They were reportedly one of the teams in the mix for Samuel, but San Francisco ultimately decided to send him to Washington. On top of trying to identify who’ll be their starting quarterback going forward, the Steelers will again need to pivot in their hunt for another pass catcher.

Bengals place franchise tag on Tee Higgins
player headshot
team logo
Tee Higgins
CIN • WR • #5
TAR
109
REC
73
REC YDS
911
REC TD
10
FL
1
View Profile
For the second season in a row, the Cincinnati Bengals have deployed the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins. That means he’s currently under team control for the 2025 season for $26.2 million, which is fully guaranteed. While announcing that they are tagging Higgins, the team also noted that it’s with the hopes of reaching a long-term contract.

Impacted player: Trey Hendrickson. In a perfect world, Higgins getting tagged shouldn’t have anything to do with Hendrickson. However, it will be interesting to see how the financials, as they relate to Higgins, bleed into Hendrickson’s current negotiations with the organization. After all, on top of Higgins’ $26.2 million salary on the tag being fully guaranteed, that entire sum will also hit Cincinnati’s salary cap. At the moment, the team has $43.6 million in space. With the club also negotiating with Ja’Marr Chase on what is expected to be a market-shattering extension, something may need to give.

Impacted team: New England Patriots. While it’s truly unclear if the Patriots would’ve been a legit suitor for Higgins, the organization has a clear need for a top-tier pass catcher and possesses the most amount of cap space by far at $127.6 million. Given that need and cash to burn, the Patriots were looked at as one of the favorites to land Higgins. Now, they’ll need to spend that money elsewhere and look in a different direction to boost their receiver room.

Vikings unlikely to use franchise tag on Sam Darnold
player headshot
team logo
Sam Darnold
MIN • QB • #14
CMP%
66.2
YDS
4319
TD
35
INT
12
YD/ATT
7.92
View Profile
The Minnesota Vikings are unlikely to use the franchise tag on quarterback Sam Darnold, which will then set up the veteran to reach unrestricted free agency. While the tag would’ve guaranteed Darnold $40.2 million for the 2025 season, he now gets to search for a long-term deal that could pay him similar figures, if not slightly more.

Impacted player: J.J. McCarthy. With Darnold possibly leaving town, that paves the way for McCarthy to take the reins in Minnesota. The Michigan product with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but was sidelined for the year due to a torn meniscus. If the Vikings are comfortable letting Darnold walk, that could signal their confidence in McCarthy not only being healthy for the start of 2025 but assuming the role of QB1 after a rookie year behind the scenes rehabbing and learning the ways of the NFL.

Impacted team: Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders make sense as a possible Darnold landing spot. The team has a clear need for the position and owns the second-highest amount of cap space in the league at $96.3 million. That’s enough to lock in Darnold and add other pieces to the roster.