Blockbuster trades. Mega free agent signings. Future Hall of Famers swapping teams. Draft week stunners. Indeed, the 2025 NFL offseason had it all.
With the 2025 NFL campaign approaching, let’s enter report card season and grade the 20 biggest moves of the offseason.
What are the top 20 best transactions of the 2025 NFL offseason?
Steelers Sign Aaron Rodgers: A
From a pure football standpoint, this was a brilliant move by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers haven’t had above-average QB play since Ben Roethlisberger’s last healthy year in 2018. They went to the NFL playoffs in 2023 with a joint QB room of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitch Trubisky. They went to the playoffs in 2024 with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields combining for 21 touchdown passes.
On a lousy Jets team last year, Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Steelers will welcome similar production, especially with the defense doing most of the heavy lifting anyway.
If Rodgers plays a game-manager role, the Steelers will be title contenders.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Jaguars Trade Up For Travis Hunter: B+
Just when everyone assumed the Cleveland Browns would take the two-way phenom with the No. 2 pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars submitted an offer that GM Andrew Berry couldn’t refuse: The No. 5, 36, and 126 picks plus a 2026 first-rounder in exchange for the No. 2, No. 104, and No. 200 picks.
It’s a LOT for the Jaguars to give up, yes. But it’s hard not to get excited about an offense featuring Trevor Lawrence, the Heisman Trophy winner and rising superstar Brian Thomas Jr., with new head coach Liam Coen calling the shots.
With pressure mounting on T-Law to finally put it all together, the Hunter addition boosts the chances of maximizing his potential.
Cleveland gets a B+ from us as well. Taking Mason Graham at No. 5 added another cornerstone to the Myles Garrett-led defense, and they may have found their new No. 1 running back with Quinshon Judkins with the 36th pick. Oh, and they have another first-rounder next year.
Titans Take Cam Ward First Overall: A
The 2025 NFL Draft wasn’t deep for QB prospects, but Ward is a compelling dual-threat talent who’s drawn comparisons to Jayden Daniels. And we saw how JD fared last year.
Ultimately, Tennessee had to take a QB. Nobody moves the needle more than a signal-caller. It will take some time to build a winner around him, but Ward at least gives Titans fans reason for long-term optimism after a third straight losing season.
Steelers Pull Off Blockbuster For D.K. Metcalf: A
Three months before Rodgers came aboard, the Steelers secured a new No. 1 receiver by acquiring DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks for a 2025 second-round pick and a swap of late-round selections. Metcalf then signed a four-year extension worth $132 million.
Metcalf is still in his prime at age 27 and should do wonders with Rodgers throwing him the football. He’s a safe bet for 1,000 yards when healthy and will be a greater impact player than George Pickens, who never truly filled that No. 1 receiver role.
We’ll give the Seahawks a B here. We didn’t love the contract they gave Cooper Kupp, but Jaxson Smith-Njigba asserted himself as the WR1 over Metcalf. Seattle couldn’t pay Metcalf top dollar to be a No. 2, and Seattle used the pick from Pittsburgh to trade up for promising South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori.
Seahawks Swap Geno Smith For Sam Darnold: B
We’ll pair the two separate moves into one year. Geno Smith turned down a contract extension from Seattle and requested a trade, a tidbit that wasn’t revealed until after he was sent to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Seattle got the No. 92 pick in exchange for Smith, which they used on Alabama QB Jalen Milroe. After trading Smith, the Seahawks picked up Darnold on a three-year deal worth $100.5 million.
It’s a calculated risk for a QB with one great NFL season under his belt, considering how much star power Darnold had in Minnesota. But if Seattle could turn a journeyman backup like Smith into a Pro Bowler, we’re sure they’ll get enough out of Darnold. And if he doesn’t pan out, Milroe is an enticing prospect worth a look down the line.
While we’re on the Smith trail, let’s give the Raiders a B as well. Smith reunites with Pete Carroll, who revived his career in Seattle. It should be a smooth transition, and he’ll certainly be an upgrade over Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew.
Patriots Sign Milton Williams For $104 Million: B-
A four-year deal worth $104 million — including $63 million in guarantees — is a ton of cash for a player with 11.5 sacks in four seasons.
But Williams’ elite performance in the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominance of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 showed that he has the ability to take over a game at any given moment.
His 90.4 pass-rushing grade at Pro Football Focus was second among defensive tackles, though, proving that sacks don’t tell the whole story. And at the end of the day, the New England Patriots had a lot of money to spend. So we condone the risk here.
Vikings Sign Interior Offensive Linemen Will Fries & Ryan Kelly: A
After getting crushed by the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round, the Vikings moved quickly to bolster their pass protection. Four-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly was handed a two-year deal worth a modest $18 million, while standout guard Will Fries signed a lucrative five-year deal worth $88 million.
Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw are already as good a bookend tandem as it gets. If both come as advertised, Minnesota could very well have the NFL’s best offensive line in 2025.
Commanders Snag Deebo Samuel From 49ers: A
If the Washington Commanders’ offense had one weakness last season, it was the lack of a No. 2 receiver to complement Terry McLaurin. Problem solved, as the Commanders got Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers for the laughably low price of a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Samuel hasn’t come close to the All-Pro numbers he put up in 2021, when he racked up 1,770 yards of offense. But he’s a consistent threat for 1K yards, and should be a fun weapon in the Daniels and McLaurin-led offense.
The 49ers get a D from us because keeping Samuel for one more year made better sense than giving him away for peanuts.
Bears Pick Up Joe Thuney: A+
The Bears signed Drew Dalman and traded for Jonah Jackson to bolster their woeful o-line, but the acquisition of ex-Kansas City Chiefs star Joe Thuney was really the best move by GM Ryan Poles.
The four-time Super Bowl champion was acquired for the low price of a 2026 fourth-round pick. What a deal to secure an all-pro guard for QB Caleb Williams, who should truly pop off with three new starters on the o-line.
The Chiefs get a D, because trading one of your best offensive linemen for pennies is hard to comprehend. How exactly did the unit get better after the destruction in Super Bowl 59?
Seahawks Bring Cooper Kupp Home: C-
After terrifying the Seahawks for eight seasons, Kupp signed a three-year deal worth $45 million with his home state NFL team. It’s a nice sentimental story, but the dollars and contract length don’t make sense.
Kupp is 32 and has missed 18 games over the last three years. If they think he can replace DK Metcalf’s production, well, they’re setting themselves up for disappointment. Way too much money for an injury-prone receiver at his age.
Cardinals Sign Josh Sweat: A
After helping the Eagles to a Super Bowl championship, Sweat cashed in and signed a four-year deal worth $76.4 million with the Arizona Cardinals.
Sweat has posted 6-plus sacks in five consecutive years and had eight in 16 games last season. The Cardinals haven’t had an elite pass-rusher since Chandler Jones left in 2022, so signing Sweat was necessary as a way to rebuild their weak front seven.
Giants Trade Up For Jaxson Dart: C+
After signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston as bridge QB options, the New York Giants acquired the No. 26 pick from the Texans in exchange for the 34th and 99 picks plus a 2026 third-rounder.
It’s a lot to give up for a talented-but-unproven quarterback, but you also miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take. The G-Men had to secure a QB of the future, and it doesn’t hurt to learn behind Wilson for a year or two before taking over.
Houston gets an A because they turned that return into two potential day one starters in wideout Jayden Higgins and offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery.
Bills Sign Joey Bosa: A
After he was cut by the Los Angeles Chargers, Bosa signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills worth $12.6 million. We know Bosa has a long injury history, but this could be the steal of the 2025 NFL free agency if he stays healthy.
The five-time Pro Bowler is on a low-risk one-year deal to bolster the pass rush of a team that’s knocking on the door of a Super Bowl title. If he can stay on the field, Bosa will get a greater payout next year.
Packers Sign Aaron Banks: B
The Green Bay Packers don’t usually go crazy in free agency, but perhaps the home run signings of Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney from a year ago convinced them to find another big fish this year.
Ex-49ers guard Aaron Banks joined the Pack on a four-year deal worth $77 million. Banks allowed just one sack last year, per Pro Football Focus. His main strength is run-blocking, so he’ll be welcomed with open arms by Mr. Jacobs.
Vikings Double Dip On The D-Line: A
As if bolstering the o-line wasn’t enough of a big deal, the Vikings added two stud defensive linemen in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to three-year, $51 million and two-year, $30 million pacts, respectively.
You can’t have too many stud pass rushers in today’s NFL, and the Vikings just got two of the league’s best interior defensive linemen on reasonable deals to complement the pass-rushing tandem of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel.
Cowboys Make “All-In” Move For George Pickens: B+
Say what you want about Jerry Jones’ failures to live up to this “all-in” promise from a year ago, but the Pickens move was a tidy piece of work by the Dallas Cowboys’ owner.
Dallas got the polarizing wide receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick from Pittsburgh in exchange for third and fifth-round picks. Just like that, the Cowboys finally have their No. 2 receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb.
This isn’t an “A” grade for two reasons: Pickens is in a contract year, and he carries a lot of baggage as a diva. So it remains to be seen what he’ll bring to the table in Dallas, but Pickens the player is a worthwhile gamble for at least a year.
And since Pittsburgh replaced him with Metcalf, we’ll give them a B+ grade as well, though they now lack a No. 2 receiver to help DK.
Jets Sign Justin Fields To Replace Aaron Rodgers: B
After releasing Rodgers, the Jets signed ex-Steeler Justin Fields to a two-year deal worth $40 million. It was the next big move in Operation Cleanhouse for the Jets, who have a new GM-head coach tandem in Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn.
Fields showed flashes in the six games he started for Pittsburgh last year. The Jets are A QB graveyard, but we’re optimistic Fields can get something going in their revamped offense – especially if Glenn proves to be the culture-building head coach this team envisioned.
A two-year deal at $20 million annually is a good deal for a starting QB in this day and age, too.
Commanders Acquire Laremy Tunsil From Texans: A
In a real NFL blockbuster trade stunner, the Washington Commanders acquired five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and a fourth-round pick from the Houston Texans in exchange for 2025 third and seventh-round picks plus 2026 second and fourth-round picks.
Love it for Washington. They went to the NFC title game last year with a mediocre offensive line, and now they have one of football’s premier tackles to protect Jayden Daniels.
Houston got a good haul, but their already-atrocious offensive line lost its best piece. How does this help CJ Stroud in the short term? The Texans get a C, because we’re afraid of how many hits Stroud’s about to take.
Patriots Sign Stefon Diggs: B+
The Pats continued their free agent shopping spree by signing the veteran receiver to a three-year deal worth $63.5 million.
It’s a lot of money for another so-called “diva”, who’s 31 and coming off a season-ending ACL tear. But again, New England had the free money to spend. And they haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. The Pats had to load up for Drake Maye, so why not a chance on Diggs returning to his all-world form?
Rams Sign Davante Adams: A+
After his release from the Jets, Adams returned to the NFC and signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams worth $44 million.
It’s a fair term for a six-time Pro Bowler who turns 33 at the end of the year. Adams had 67 receptions for 854 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games with the Jets — a pace of over 1,300 yards in a full season.
Puka Nacua is the Rams’ top receiver, but Adams will be an upgrade over the injury-prone and past-his-prime Cooper Kupp, who was cut in a cap-saving move. The Rams are an annual Super Bowl contender with Sean McVay calling the shots, and Adams feels like the final piece that could get this team over the top once again.
