Impactful NFL Free Agency Moves Shaping the 2025 Season
The annual NFL free agency period is a whirlwind of activity, with all 32 teams vying to bolster their rosters and address weaknesses. While some teams navigate this period more effectively than others, the common thread is the ever-present constraint of the salary cap. In 2025, each team operates under a salary cap of $279.2 million, forcing strategic decision-making and prioritization.
The early stages of free agency saw several high-profile moves, including Davante Adams landing with the Los Angeles Rams, Chris Godwin re-signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jevon Holland joining the New York Jets, and Josh Sweat heading to the Arizona Cardinals. However, beyond these attention-grabbing signings, several decisions have the potential to significantly impact team performance and the league landscape.
One such move is the Denver Broncos’ acquisition of tight end Evan Engram. The Broncos, desperately seeking to upgrade their tight end production, have added a dynamic pass-catching weapon that could revitalize their offense under head coach Sean Payton. In 2024, Lucas Krull led all Broncos tight ends with a mere 19 receptions. Overall, Denver tight ends accounted for just 90 receptions and 845 receiving yards over the past two seasons. Engram, in contrast, amassed 161 receptions and 1,328 receiving yards during his time in Jacksonville over that same period.
Engram’s consistent production is undeniable. He has never recorded a season with fewer than 44 catches, even tallying 47 receptions in a shortened season marred by a shoulder injury. His arrival should provide a significant boost to quarterback Bo Nix, especially given Nix’s tendency to target the middle of the field. According to Pro Football Focus, 199 of Nix’s 376 completions were between the hashes. Engram thrives in this area of the field, suggesting a quick and seamless integration into the Broncos’ offensive scheme.
Another impactful development stems from Sam Darnold’s departure from the Minnesota Vikings. This seemingly isolated move has triggered a ripple effect across the league, influencing quarterback situations in Las Vegas, Seattle, and, of course, Minnesota itself, paving the way for J.J. McCarthy to take the reins.
McCarthy, drafted out of Michigan, is viewed as the Vikings’ quarterback of the future. He showed flashes of potential in his preseason debut, completing 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception, before a knee injury sidelined him for his rookie season. The Vikings remain optimistic about McCarthy’s development as he enters his second year.
"He’s conversational in our language, in our offensive language, understanding the why, the intent behind things," Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said at the NFL combine. "You want to be able to go out there and play free and let his talent take over, so all these steps, all the learning he’s done this past year is going to allow him to be able to do that. We’re excited about the makeup of him, he’s been everything we want him to be, and we’re excited about his future."
The Vikings are hoping McCarthy can eventually reach the level of performance Darnold displayed last season. While it’s unrealistic to expect McCarthy to replicate Darnold’s impressive 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdown passes (third and second most in franchise history respectively), the team is aiming for a smooth transition and continued offensive production.
The Cincinnati Bengals made a significant commitment to their star wide receiver duo, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. After franchise tagging Higgins for the second consecutive year, the Bengals ultimately signed him to a four-year, $115 million deal and extended Chase to a record-breaking four-year, $161 million contract. Chase’s extension makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, with an annual average of $40.25 million.
This investment establishes Higgins and Chase as the highest-paid receiving duo in the NFL in terms of average annual value. When coupled with Joe Burrow’s $55 million per year contract, the Bengals are allocating a substantial portion of their salary cap to these three players.
In fact, the Bengals will join the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins as the only teams with two receivers averaging an annual salary of at least $25 million. This financial commitment, approximately $125 million per year for Higgins, Chase, and Burrow, will inevitably impact the Bengals’ ability to invest in other areas, particularly on defense.
The Bengals defense struggled in 2024, ranking 25th in both total defense and points allowed. It is crucial for the Bengals to excel in future NFL drafts to supplement their roster while Higgins, Chase, and Burrow consume a significant portion of the salary cap.
Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs are undertaking a significant offensive line overhaul. The genesis of this transformation was the franchise tag placed on guard Trey Smith. Subsequently, the Chiefs traded veteran left guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears. While the Chiefs and Smith intend to negotiate a long-term extension before the July 15 deadline for tagged players, Smith’s current one-year contract, worth approximately $23.4 million, makes him the top-earning guard in the NFL.
While Thuney’s addition headlines Chicago’s offensive line restructure, his departure creates an opening at left guard in Kansas City. The Chiefs plan to give Kingsley Suamataia an opportunity to fill that role, hoping he can bounce back after a challenging rookie year at left tackle. Speaking of left tackle, the Chiefs are also taking a calculated risk by adding Jaylon Moore in free agency.
In totality, the Chiefs will field a significantly revamped offensive line this year. This is a bold move for a franchise that has dominated the AFC West for nearly a decade and consistently contended for Super Bowl titles. However, it is warranted, especially considering Patrick Mahomes was sacked a career-high six times in Super Bowl 59.
These free agency decisions, from the Engram acquisition in Denver to the Bengals’ investment in their star receivers and the Chiefs’ offensive line overhaul, are poised to shape the competitive landscape of the 2025 NFL season. Each move carries both potential and risk, and the coming months will reveal whether these decisions ultimately prove to be shrewd investments or costly mistakes.
