9 winners and losers from NFL free agency 2025: The Steelers are going all-in on mediocrity

The opening salvos of this year's NFL free agency period are officially behind us. Which, is actually kind of funny since free agency doesn't (officially) start until Tuesday afternoon. Though, honestly, I can't blame NFL teams for not waiting until the last minute. Early birds get the worm, you snooze and you lose ... oh, you get it.

The start of this year's legal tampering period saw several popular NFL squads, like the one in Chicago, give themselves a higher floor. Elsewhere, it's confusing trying to parse through whatever the heck is happening in Pittsburgh and Seattle. All told, most of the free agency class, especially a majority of the big fish, are already off the board.

While understanding there could be a still big shock or two coming down the pipe, let's unpack the biggest winners and losers from the meat of 2025 NFL free agency.

Winner: The Chicago Bears, for completely overhauling their OL and DL

If Ben Johnson's Bears were going to start maximizing Caleb Williams on his rookie contract, they needed more credibility up front on both sides of the ball. In this regard, Chicago didn't mess around in free agency (and technically, in trades before free agency began). On offense, the Bears now have one of the league's stronger interior offensive lines after trading for former Pro Bowler Jonah Jackson and All-Pro Joe Thuney and signing solid starter Drew Dalman. On defense, Dayo Odeyingbo should be a competent starter at defensive end, while former Atlanta Falcons stalwart Grady Jarrett gives Chicago much-needed beef in the middle.

For what feels like the umpteenth straight season, the Bears have won another March. In the past, this has mostly amounted to nothing for the league's charter franchise. This time around, though, the Bears raised their floor with non-flashy additions in the trenches that should help their bona fide field-tilters like Williams excel when they have to.

Loser: The Seattle Seahawks, after blowing up their offense for, uh ... Sam Darnold?

In my mind, Geno Smith has been one of the NFL's more underrated quarterbacks in recent years. His efficient resurgence with the Seattle Seahawks was an absolute treat to watch. But he is older at 34, and without any other context, I understand a team like Seattle trading him away if it wanted to start an earnest rebuild.

That is not what the Seahawks did. Instead, after moving on from Smith following a 10-win campaign, Seattle turned around and gave Sam Darnold $55 million guaranteed. You know, the same guy that crumbled when he finally faced competent, well-coached defenses at the end of last season. I don't understand this move or what the Seahawks are aiming for at all. It's as if they don't understand how much Smith papered over their mostly lackluster pass protection with his fleet-foot pocket manipulation. By direct contrast, Darnold crumbles at the first sign of pressure and clearly needs all-worldly weapons to succeed as a passer.

Maybe this works out for the Seahawks. Maybe Darnold will finally become a franchise quarterback who doesn't need everything to be perfect to shine. But haphazardly swapping Smith out for Darnold screams of an organization that doesn't understand what it actually has to address to take the next step toward NFC playoff contention.

Winner: Sam Darnold and Justin Fields, for taking advantage of QB-needy teams

On the flip side of Seattle's nonsensical planning: congratulations to both Darnold AND Justin Fields for getting their respective bags. Few things make NFL teams more desperate and antsy than needing a quarterback, and Darnold and Fields have taken advantage of that reality. And good for them, really.

I, personally, would not have given Darnold $55 million. I also wouldn't have given Fields $30 million. I don't think these two gentlemen have the capacity to be the leaders and faces of a franchise. Their limitations are painfully clear. But hey, sometimes they throw stunning lasers and have some general starting experience, which makes them enticing enough for squads like the Seahawks and New York Jets.

This is a good lesson for every NFL free agent. Know your worth. Or, rather, know what other teams think you're worth. That's a huge distinction.

Loser: The Pittsburgh Steelers, for seemingly going all-in on mediocrity for the foreseeable future

After trading and paying (a lot) for a high-end WR2 like DK Metcalf and seemingly showing interest in a washed-up Aaron Rodgers as their next starting quarterback, here's the Steelers' likely 2025 script.

(Hint: It's mostly the same script it's been for the last half-decade)

The worst part? Given the Steelers' mind-boggling early approach to this offseason, it seems like this is the script they want to follow. They are content with running it back, giving their fans false hope, and resetting every January while professing that next year will be different because ... reasons. The bar is really low for a marquee franchise. How the mighty have fallen.

Winner: The New England Patriots, for getting some adults in the room

Mike Vrabel's Patriots said they would be major spenders during this free agency. They wasted no time fulfilling their promise.

The early part of free agency saw New England add competent pass-rusher Harold Landry, respectable starting offensive tackle Morgan Moses, an experienced starting linebacker in Robert Spillane, mammoth defensive tackle Milton Williams, and cornerback Carlton Davis, who is perhaps the ideal No. 2 partner to the elite Christian Gonzalez.

The Patriots' aggressiveness on the open market makes clear where this organization believes it stands in the AFC. New England is no longer content straddling the line of relevance after the end of the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era. It genuinely believes that Drake Maye, who still needs some weapons, is the quarterback to usher in a new age of consistent success. Making some prudent veteran free-agent additions like this is the sign of a franchise that wants to go toe-to-toe with the AFC's heavyweights again very soon. It's time to get serious.

I'm inclined to think the Patriots' ascent to contention might only be a matter of time.

Loser: The Houston Texans, for leaving C.J. Stroud without a paddle

C.J. Stroud was pressured on 37.8 percent of his dropbacks in 2024, good for fifth-worst in the NFL. In what was also a rhythmless Houston offense, he was sacked 54 times, which was good for third-worst in the NFL. This offseason would've been the time for the Texans to retool and make every effort to give Stroud better protection moving forward. That's not what they did.

Rather than help make Stroud more comfortable, the Texans traded starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil, a perennial Pro Bowler, to the Washington Commanders. The Texans do not have a ready-made replacement in place of Tunsil. Sure, I could see the idea of selling high on an older veteran like Tunsil, who will be 31 in August. When the performance of an older NFL player drops off, it's never gradual. It's almost always off a cliff. Still, I don't think the Texans were in any position to say goodbye to Tunsil, given where they are in their development of Stroud.

This was a big-picture move that might come at the potential expense of Stroud rebuilding his confidence in the near term. That's not a gamble I would've taken if I were general manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans.

Winner: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for keeping the band together

Liam Coen might be gone to coach the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that doesn't mean the Buccaneers are going to roll over. This is a team that definitely still expects to be the class of the NFC South and an NFC power player overall. Tampa Bay's proactive moves to start free agency say as much.

The Buccaneers began the legal tampering period by bringing back steady playmaker Chris Godwin. Yes, Godwin is coming off the second significant lower-body injury of his career. Yes, he's getting up there in age. But when he's at his best, the veteran receiver has shown off a borderline All-Pro ceiling. He stretches the field, and he understands how to make himself available against zone coverage. Few receivers can say they know how to excel at both skills. He's the kind of pass-catcher a quarterback like Baker Mayfield, who is coming off a career season, really appreciates.

The Buccaneers have won four straight NFC South division titles. I've seen the sorry state of their closest competitors. At this rate, count on their mini-dynasty continuing on the strength of internal continuity and chemistry.

Loser: The Dallas Cowboys for dawdling around with Micah Parsons

I understand they've been a meme for the better part of three decades, but the Cowboys do have an illustrious history of superstars. And Micah Parsons is one of the most talented players Dallas has ever rostered. Full stop. For the life of me, I do not understand their hesitation to give him the blank check he's clearly earned. The worst part is they're already paying for waffling with the Defensive Player of the Year-caliber talisman.

The timing of Myles Garrett's new monster, market-resetting contract with nearly $123 million guaranteed could not have come at a worse time for Dallas and Jerry Jones. That's because this is the kind of absurd payday Parsons, who is entering the last year of his rookie contract, will want in the coming weeks. If they want to keep him around, the Cowboys will not be able to tell Parsons he can't have this sort of money, either, because he is assuredly in the same elite pass-rushing class as Garrett.

Dallas could've avoided this entire mess in the first place and paid Parsons significantly less last offseason. That ship has sailed for a rudderless franchise that doesn't seem to know what it wants.

Winner: The Los Angeles Rams, for extending their Super Bowl window with Davante Adams

No one came closer to defeating the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last postseason than the Rams. After adding perennial All-Pro Davante Adams in free agency, I'd venture to guess that the Rams might remain the No. 1 contender again to Philadelphia's supremacy.

Adams doesn't have the same juice he used to. You probably can't expressly run your offense through him the way the Green Bay Packers once did. That's what happens with age. But now he'll be in Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford's hands — a top-five coach and quarterback duo. If there's anyone who knows how to optimize an older but still gifted Adams, it's the genius McVay and the wily Stafford. I shudder to consider how defenses will be able to account for Puka Nacua and Adams downfield at the same time.

Adams gives the Rams enough of an explosive offensive element to paint them as the clear favorite in the NFC West and a genuine contender for a top-two seed in the NFC postseason. Over the next couple of years, he might present just enough to help the Rams win their second Super Bowl under McVay.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL free agency 2025: 9 winners (Bears!) and losers (Cowboys)