For all intents and purposes, NFL free agency opened on Monday with the league's legal tampering period. Unsurprisingly, teams went wild addressing some of their biggest needs approximately a month-and-a-half away from the 2025 NFL Draft. While building your roster through the draft is often the strategy employed by the smartest teams in the league, free agency offers a quicker fix for franchises in dire situations.
As per usual, teams spent recklessly mere hours into the league's legal tampering window. Some GMs are better equipped to navigate free agency than others. We've identified some instant winners and losers.
Winner: Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears were aggressive to improve the interior offensive line in front of quarterback Caleb Williams before free agency even began, trading for two new starting guards in Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney. When the legal tampering window opened, general manager Ryan Poles completed the interior rehaul by signing Drew Dalman, the top center on the market. Poles has paid a premium to upgrade the offensive line, but it was a necessity given that Williams' development is at stake.
Defensively, the Bears also signed defensive tackle Grady Jarrett shortly after his surprising release from the Atlanta Falcons. Jarrett is an aging asset, but he'll pair well with ascending third-year player Gervon Dexter Sr. Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo was also added to add more pass-rushing juice opposite Montez Sweat. The Bears overpaid, but they're giving first-year head coach Ben Johnson pieces to work with.
Loser: Dallas Cowboys
It's been a peculiar offseason for the Dallas Cowboys and that didn't change during the first day of NFL free agency. While competing teams were adding difference makers, the Cowboys re-signed long snapper Trent Sieg to a three-year contract worth $4.45 million. Signing a long snapper was borderline poetic torture for Dallas faithful who complain about a lack of free-agency action on an annual basis.
The Cowboys are equipped with approximately $52.7 million in cap space. Jerry Jones is routinely hesitant to partake in free agency, but the Cowboys are coming off a disappointing 7-10 campaign, having captured five fewer wins than the previous season. The Cowboys are understandably focused on a Micah Parsons extension, but they possess enough financial freedom to deal in more than the long-snapper market.
Winner: New England Patriots
The New England Patriots entered free agency with a league-leading amount of cap space and were extremely aggressive. It's occasionally a dangerous game to play, but it makes sense with an affordable franchise quarterback in Drake Maye on his rookie contract. Head coach Mike Vrabel inherited a terrible roster around Maye, so paying a premium for instant upgrades is wise to take advantage of having a quarterback on a team-friendly deal.
Defensive line upgrades arrived via Harold Landry on Sunday and Milton Williams on Monday. Landry has been a three-down defender in Vrabel's defense, and Williams should play the three-tech role, given his massive four-year, $104 million price tag. Cornerback Carlton Davis inked a three-year deal worth a sizable $60 million, and linebacker Robert Spillane will better support the defense. On offense, veteran right tackle Morgan Moses (three years, $24 million) will better protect Maye in the pocket. The Patriots are setting up for instant improvement in 2025.
Loser: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars may have a new general manager in James Gladstone, but their strategy in free agency looked familiar. Needing to upgrade the offensive line, they made a mixed bag of signings. Offensive tackle Chuma Edoga struggled in limited action last season but was signed to a two-year deal. In a better move, Gladstone signed veteran lineman Patrick Mekari to a three-year contract worth $37.5 million.
Two tight ends were also signed—Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt—to replace the more dynamic Evan Engram, who was released from his contract. Wide receiver Dyami Brown somehow landed a one-year agreement worth up to $12 million despite never surpassing 308 yards in a single season (in four attempts!). In better news, safety Eric Murray and cornerback Jourdan Lewis should help improve a secondary that ranked dead-last against the pass last season.
