NFL team free agency grades

As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches quickly, it’s nice to be aware of free agent acquisitions.

Here’s a look at the offseason grades for each team, including trades.

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills: B

Extending young players through their prime and sprinkling in veteran players is how to effectively go about free agency.

Notable Signings:

QB Josh Allen re-signed with the Bills on a six-year, $330 million contract, DE Joey Bosa signed a one-year, $12.6 million contract and DT Larry Ogunjobi signed a one-year, $8.3 million deal.

Miami Dolphins: C

The Dolphins haven’t done enough to protect Tua this free agency.

Notable Signings:

OG James Daniels signed a three-year, $24 million contract, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract and QB Zach Wilson signed a one-year, $6 million deal.

New England Patriots: A-

It’s all about Drake Maye, and that’s how it should be. Protect him and give him weapons. My only concern is Stefon Diggs complaining that he’s now getting too many targets.

Notable Signings:

WR Stefon Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract, OT Morgan Moses signed a three-year, $24 million contract and DT Milton Williams signed a four-year, $104 million deal.

New York Jets: C+

The Jets signed a multitude of role players, but they’re taking a real swing on Brandon Stephens at cornerback. Fields is the 20th highest-paid quarterback yearly, which is reasonable.

Notable Signings:

QB Justin Fields signed a contract for two years, $40 million, and former Ravens CB Brandon Stephens signed a contract for three years, $36 million.

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens: C-

Re-signing Ronnie Stanley helps, but that’s it.

Notable Signings:

OT Ronnie Stanley re-signed on a contract for three years, $60 million, and WR DeAndre Hopkins signed a one-year, $5 million contract.

Cincinnati Bengals: A-

Keeping your best two receivers for the next four years earns you an A. However, that comes with a cost, as the Bengals' defense is still lacking.

Notable Signings:

Standout WR Ja’Marr Chase signed a four-year, $161 million extension, and WR Tee Higgins re-signed, also on a four-year contract.

Cleveland Browns: C

The defense looks great with acquisitions Devin White, Jerome Baker and Maliek Collins. The offensive side of the football, however, is a massive question mark.

Notable Signings:

Edge Myles Garrett signed a four-year extension worth $160 million.

QB Kenny Pickett was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers: B+

So far, so good. It’s up to the quarterback now. This team looks scary on both sides of the ball.

Notable Signings:

WR DK Metcalf was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick and a pick swap in the last two rounds of the draft.

Cornerbacks Brandin Echols (two-year deal) and Darius Slay (fully guaranteed one-year deal) signed as well.

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans: F

How did the offensive line get worse?

Notable Signings:

The Texans agreed to extensions to DE Danielle Hunter (one-year, worth $35.6 million) and CB Derek Stingley Jr. (three-year, worth $90 million).

Indianapolis Colts: D

This team is lacking playmakers. The Colts also need to address the holes on their O-Line with the departure of Ryan Kelly and Will Fries.

Notable Signings:

QB Daniel Jones signed a one-year, max value $17.7 million contract. CB Charvarious signed a three-year, $60 million contract.

Jacksonville Jaguars: B

Solid offensive line signings to protect Trevor Lawrence. Nothing splashy, but you’re going to find that with a first-year head coach and general manager.

Notable Signings:

OG Patrick Mekari signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract. They also signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Robert Hainsey to a three-year contract worth $30 million.

Tennessee Titans: D

I don’t like these signings. Dan Moore Jr. might’ve been the largest overpay I’ve seen.

Notable Signings:

OT Dan Moore Jr. signed a four-year, $82 million contract, and LB Cody Barton signed a three-year, $21 million deal.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos: A

These signings scream Sean Payton. And this defense … watch out.

Notable Signings:

Former 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw and S Talanoa Hufanga both signed three-year contracts.

The Broncos acquired TE Evan Engram to a two-year, $23 million contract.

Kansas City Chiefs: B

Almost the same as the Bills. They both kept good and young players, but they didn’t sign a flashy veteran, and that’s not a horrible thing.

Notable Signings:

LB Nick Bolton re-signed to a three-year contract worth $45 million, OG Trey Smith was hit with the non-exclusive franchise tag worth $23.4 million and the Chiefs tagged CB Kristian Fulton to a two-year, $20 million deal.

Las Vegas Raiders: B+

They had some under-the-radar signings. CB Eric Stokes, S Jeremy Chinn and OG Alex Cappa are all good players to start with in Las Vegas with this new regime.

Notable Signings:

Geno Smith was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.

Edge Mason Crosby re-signed with the Raiders on a three-year, $106.5 million extension.

Los Angeles Chargers: B+

This offensive line looks unreal.

Notable Signings:

OG Mehki Becton signed a two-year, $20 million contract and re-signed C Bradley Bozeman to a two-year, $6.5 million deal.

They also retained Edge Khalil Mack on a fully guaranteed, one-year, $18 million contract.

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys: D+

The Cowboys have signed over six one-year contracts this offseason. This isn’t typical for a regime, especially if the one-year contracts are given to players expected to compete for starting jobs.

Notable Signings:

Running backs Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams both signed to one-year deals.

The Cowboys also retained DL Osa Odighizuwa on a four-year, $80 million contract.

New York Giants: C-

Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston will only take you so far. Wilson can’t escape the pocket like he used to, and this offensive line is in no shape to protect him.

Notable Signings:

The Giants signed QBs Russell Wilson (one-year, $10.5 million, that could skyrocket to $21 million) and Jameis Winston (two-year, $8 million).

They also signed former Dolphins S Jevon Holland to a three-year, $45.3 million contract.

Philadelphia Eagles: B

The Eagles stayed afloat with all the losses in free agency. This could have been way worse.

Notable Signings:

LB Zach Baun re-signed with the Eagles on a three-year, $51 million contract, and RB Saquon Barkley signed a two-year, $41.2 million extension.

Washington Commanders: B

Overpay on Javon Kinlaw but I’m a believer in Deebo.

Notable Signings:

WR Deebo Samuel was acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

DL Javon Kinlaw signed a three-year, $45 million contract.

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears: A+

Doing everything you can to protect your young quarterback earns you an A+.

Notable Signings:

The Bears acquired two offensive linemen in trades. OG Jonah Jackson with the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, and OG Joe Thuney with the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Detroit Lions: B

The D.J. Reed signing is sneaky good. He is going to pair up very well with Dan Campbell’s personality.

Notable Signings:

LB Derrick Barnes signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract, $16 million guaranteed.

Former Seahawk and Jet CB D.J. Reed signed a three-year, $48 million contract.

Green Bay Packers: D-

They need to sign more than four new players.

Notable Signings:

OG Aaron Banks signed a four-year, $77 million contract, and CB Nate Hobbs signed a four-year, $48 million deal.

Minnesota Vikings: A

They are surrounding J.J. McCarthy similarly to the Bears and Caleb Williams.

Notable Signings:

Former Colt teammates, OG Will Fries and C Ryan Kelly, signed with the Vikings. Fries signed a five-year contract and Kelly a two-year deal.

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons: C

Honestly, nothing excites me.

Notable Signings:

LB Divine Deablo signed a two-year, $14 million contract, and CB Mike Hughes re-signed with the Falcons on a three-year, $18 million contract.

Carolina Panthers: B+

Heavy defensive free agency, I like the way this team is headed.

Notable Signings:

Jaycee Horn signed a four-year extension worth $100 million.

Former Las Vegas Raider S Tre’von Moehrig agreed to a three-year, $50 million deal.

New Orleans Saints: D-

One three-year deal to a TE and another to a safety. This team has larger needs.

Notable Signings:

Edge Chase Young signed a three-year, $51 million deal, and S Justin Reid signed a three-year deal, but it is worth $31.5 million.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B-

This team could’ve gotten a lot worse.

Notable Signings:

WR Chris Godwin re-signed with the Buccaneers on a three-year, $66 million deal, and Edge Haason Reddick signed a one-year, $14 million deal.

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals: B+

They keep building the team very slowly and efficiently, through young, high-upside players.

Notable Signings:

Edge Josh Sweat signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract, Veteran QB Jacoby Brissett signed a two-year deal worth $12.5 million.

Los Angeles Rams: B+

The Rams have a scary offense with Davante Adams.

Notable Signings:

WR Davante Adams signed a two-year, $46 million contract, and OT Alaric Jackson re-signed with the Rams on a three-year, $57 million contract.

San Francisco 49ers: F

It’s bad when your notable signing is a fullback.

Notable Signings:

FB Kyle Juszczyk re-signed with the 49ers on a two-year contract, and they also signed TE Luke Farrell to a three-year deal worth up to $20.25 million.

Seattle Seahawks: A-

The Seahawks have surrounded Sam Darnold with plenty of talent.

Notable Signings:

QB Sam Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract, 55 million of which is guaranteed.

The Seahawks continued and added WR Cooper Kupp and Edge Demarcus Lawrence to three-year contracts.

Vinny Jones is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email vtj5006@psu.edu