With NFL training camp approaching, now’s a good time to reflect on the best and worst developments of the 2025 offseason.
So, without further ado, let’s recap five good, five bad, and five ugly from the 2025 NFL offseason.
What 2025 NFL offseason moves were great, not so great, and completely ugly?
Good: The Reinforced & Rebuilt Bears
Caleb Williams’ dazzling rookie season was the only positive in a dismal 2024 season in Windy City. The Chicago Bears finished with a 5—and-12 record.
With his job on the line this year, GM Ryan Poles made several big-time win-now moves to try and push his team to contention. The first big move was hiring ex-Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for their head coaching gig. Call it a double-whammy, since Johnson’s offense in Detroit was nightmare fuel for the Bears.
Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times last year. Poles traded for Pro Bowl guard Joe Thuney and veteran guard Jonah Jackson, while also signing star center Drew Dalman to solidify the o-line.
Poles also used his first two draft picks on Michigan tight end Colston Loveland and Missouri wideout Luther Burden III, adding more fuel to a group with DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, and D’Andre Swift.
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And to improve an already-stellar defense, the Bears picked up pass-rushers Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo.
Chicago was the only team in the NFC North to miss the playoffs last year. But the pieces are here now for them to launch into Super Bowl contention.
Bad: “The Decision” Featuring Aaron Rodgers
It was clear from the beginning that after his release from the New York Jets, Rodgers wanted to keep playing football. It had been reported that his preference was to stay with the Jets, so why would getting cut by one of football’s most dysfunctional teams suddenly make him want to retire?
After Rodgers was cut, the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers were the only two logical landing spots. The G-Men signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson, meaning Rodgers got to choose between the Steelers and retirement.
It took Rodgers practically three months to announce a decision before officially signing his contract with the Steelers on June 7.
And of course, the media played into Rodgers’ wish to get nonstop attention and coverage during the three-month wait for a decision. If he was spotted hanging out on a beach, it was front-page news. Yay. We really cared.
Thank you Aaron for doing what everyone expected and signing with the Steelers. Thanks for dragging it on for three months and giving yourself the unnecessary headlines and media coverage.
Ugly: Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Slide
Sanders was the consensus No. 2 QB prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, behind only Miami Hurricanes star Cam Ward. There was a time, however, when many mock drafts initially had Sanders going before Ward, with some projections having Deion Sanders’ kid going first overall.
The Tennessee Titans took Ward with the No. 1 pick, as expected. Sanders was to soon follow and not fall outside the top 10. And at absolute worst, he’d be a top-15 pick.
Nope. When day one wrapped up, Sanders was still on the board. By the end of round two, he was still available. And then Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel were the only QBs selected in round three! Not a single QB was taken in round four, leaving Sanders inexplicably available entering the fifth round.
Finally, the misery ended when the Cleveland Browns took Sanders at No. 144 overall. And even that pick was a surprise, since Cleveland had already used a third-round selection on Gabriel.
Shedeur’s stunning slide was the top story of the 2025 NFL Draft. Even President Donald Trump addressed it, calling NFL owners “stupid” for letting him fall.
Good: Tom Brady & The New-Look Raiders
The arrival of Tom Brady as a minority owner means no more nonsense and being okay with mediocre results.
The greatest player in NFL history didn’t buy a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders to watch his team stink year in and year out. In his first offseason as part-owner, Brady went to work and recruited a future Hall of Fame head coach in Pete Carroll and longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers executive John Spytek for the GM role.
Carroll and Spytek then completed a blockbuster trade for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, who signed a two-year extension. Carroll turned Smith into a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback in Seattle, so this should be a smooth transition for the veteran signal-caller.
And to put a cherry on top of it, the Raiders drafted generational running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick. With Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers also in the fold, the Raiders have the pieces to churn out a top-five offense in 2025.
Brady wasted no time helping reconstruct the Raiders into a capable playoff team. With Carroll calling the shots, this team is suddenly on a path to long-term contention — even in the nightmare that is the AFC West.
Bad: Team Without A Plan: The New Orleans Saints Edition
Saints owner Gayle Benson and GM Mickey Loomis have inexplicably condoned a mediocre football product in the post-Drew Brees and Sean Payton era. It’s a shame. Fans in the Big Easy deserve better.
We loved the hiring of ex-Philadelphia Eagles OC Kellen Moore as the head coach. But how exactly are they setting him up for success here?
Derek Carr stunned everyone by announcing his retirement at age 34. Too bad the Saints made win-now moves to affect their tank job, such as overpaying Chase Young by giving him a three-year extension worth $51 million.
Or giving veteran safety Justin Reid a $31.5 million deal in NFL free agency. Or giving tight end Juwan Johnson an overly-generous $30.75 million extension. Or bringing back past-his-prime wideout Brandin Cooks.
The Saints had a chance to draft a prized QB like Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart, but they reached for Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9 overall. With Sanders still on the board in round two, they reached for Louisville QB Tyler Shough at No. 40 overall.
The Saints could have also traded veterans like Cam Jordan, Tyrann Mathieu, and Demario Davis to kick-start their rebuild. But nope. Again, mediocrity is Mickey Loomis’ middle name.
If anyone can figure out what the long-term plan is in New Orleans, let us know. Tanking for the No. 1 pick in 2026 isn’t a bad play, but the moves for Reid, Johnson, Cooks, and Young suggest they’re still hoping to win now. Comical, with Shough and Spencer Rattler making up their QB room.
Ugly: 49ers’ Mass Exodus Of Star Players
For a team in win-now mode, the 49ers sure let a lot of game-changing talents leave in the offseason.
All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga, top cornerback Charvarius Ward, star linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and starting guard Aaron Banks all left in free agency. Two of their top pass-rushers, Leonard Floyd and Javon Hargrave, were released in cap-saving moves.
Jordan Mason, the ideal understudy to Christian McCaffrey last year, was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. Speaking of trades, how about giving away former All-Pro wideout Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for pennies?
Ah, well, at least the 49ers cleared up room to give system QB Brock Purdy a $265 million extension. Who needs all those game-wrecking talents that they let go of anyway?
Good: Fresh Starts For Veteran QBs
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are shining recent examples of how it’s never too late for a quarterback to reach his ceiling if he finds the right team. So, excuse us for being awfully excited about the number of quarterbacks who got fresh starts this NFL offseason.
As much as we hated the dragged-out decision, Aaron Rodgers makes sense for a Steelers team in win-now mode. The Vikings were never going to choose Darnold over JJ McCarthy, so good on him to cash in a $100.5 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency.
Justin Fields flashed his potential in a six-game audition with the Steelers and turned that into a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Jets. Daniel Jones took a one-year pact with the Indianapolis Colts and will get the chance to revive his career if Anthony Richardson doesn’t cut it in a make-or-break year.
The New York Giants have nothing to lose with their one-year bet on Russell Wilson, who could revive his career with a superstar like Malik Nabers as his top target.
And hey, it doesn’t hurt Mac Jones to learn behind QB guru Kyle Shanahan for a year in San Fran. Hey, Sam Darnold backed up Brock Purdy for a year before reviving his career in Minnesota.
Bad: Jerry Jones’ 2025 Version Of “All-In”
In January 2024, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stated that his team would have an “all-in” approach to the offseason. For the second straight year, Jones did very little to show he’s in it to win it.
Hiring Brian Schottenheimer as your new head coach after finally moving on from Mike McCarthy? Or don’t go after Ben Johnson or Bill Belichick. Sure, dude.
All-Pro guard Zack Martin retired. Pro Bowl defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence left for Seattle. 1,000-yard rusher Dico Dowdle went to the Carolina Panthers. And really, is the trade for George Pickens really gonna do much? How long until he implodes because he’s the No. 2 over CeeDee Lamb?
Way to close the gap with the Eagles and Commanders, Jerry!
Ugly: Bengals' Decisions On Defense
Good on the Bengals to lock up star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins long-term. If only they remembered that the atrocious defense destroyed their NFL playoff chances last year.
The Bengals are refusing to pay Trey Hendrickson, who led the league in sacks last year. The time has passed to get the maximum value for him in the trade market. First-round pick Shemar Stewart is in a contract standoff. Do-it-all linebacker Germaine Pratt was cut to save money.
Just pay your guys, Mike Brown, and give your team a freaking chance at a Super Bowl. It’s not hard, dude.
Good: Trade Drama!
If you’re all for blockbuster trades like the rest of us, it’s hard to complain about the 2025 NFL offseason!
Aside from the aforementioned Deebo Samuel and George Pickens, superstar wideout DK Metcalf was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nobody saw the Geno Smith trade coming to Las Vegas until it was announced. The Bears got Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson to beef up their o-line. And the NFC runner-up Commanders got a Pro Bowl offensive tackle in Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans to protect Jayden Daniels.
At the draft, how about the Jacksonville Jaguars trading up for Travis Hunter at No. 2? The Giants moving up for Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart? Yes sir.
Trade drama, baby. Gotta love it.
Bad: Texans’ Protection Plan For C.J. Stroud
Houston’s star QB led the team to the postseason despite playing behind a horrible offensive line that surrendered 52 sacks on him last year. The Texans’ plan to get better? Uh, subtraction by subtraction, we suppose.
They traded their best offensive lineman, Laremy Tunsil, to Washington. Veteran mainstay Shaq Mason was released to save money. Their replacements were veterans Cam Robinson and Laken Tomlinson, who allowed a combined 13 sacks last year, per Pro Football Focus.
Sorry, CJ, but your team forgot the memo about the importance of protecting a franchise QB.
Ugly: The AFC South
The Colts lost two elite offensive linemen in Will Fries and Ryan Kelly, who both left for Minnesota in free agency. How is the injury-prone Anthony Richardson going to survive behind this O-line again?
The Texans made their weak offensive line WORSE and lost star wideout Stefon Diggs in free agency. Not seeing how they closed the gap with the top AFC dogs here.
The Jaguars gave up a ransom for Travis Hunter, which is interesting since they’re far from contention. Their defense is still a mess, and they’re one Pro Bowl tight end short after cutting Evan Engram.
Tennessee’s big move to help No. 1 pick Cam Ward was signing past-his-prime receiver Tyler Lockett. They lost star edge rusher Harold Landry in NFL free agency, yet threw $82 million at an average offensive lineman in Dan Moore. Make it make sense!
So to recap: This is the worst division in football. It got worse this offseason. Yippee…
Good: Long Overdue Rule Changes
-The chain gang is finally gone and will be replaced with more efficient and accurate Sony Hawk-Eye technology.
-Both teams will now be guaranteed one possession in regular-season overtime games, too, adopting the playoff OT rule format.
-Expanded replay assistance for fouls like facemask, hits on a defenseless player, horse-collar tackle, roughing the kicker, and tripping.
FINALLY. Rule changes to make the game better and erase officiating controversy!
Bad: Love For Big-Named Veteran WRs
Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen have combined for 11 Pro Bowl nods. Both were still without a contract by the time mandatory minicamp arrived.
Cooper Kupp and Stefon Diggs got paid, but what are the odds of posting elite numbers in Seattle and New England, respectively?
Perennial Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins had to take a cheap one-year deal from the Baltimore Ravens. Four-time 1,000-yard receiver Tyler Lockett accepted a one-year offer from the Tennessee Titans.
Ugly: The Kirk Cousins-Falcons Fiasco
The first season of Cousins’ four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons couldn’t have gone much worse. His awful production in the second half prompted head coach Raheem Morris to bench him in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Despite his age and hefty contract, Cousins should have been attractive to several QB-needy NFL teams. But the Falcons never found a taker, so they’re carrying his atrocious $40 million cap hit for 2025. Did we mention he’s a backup now?
There’s simply no winner here with Cousins returning to Atlanta as one expensive backup.
