NFL Analysis
3/14/25
8 min read
2025 NFL Free Agency: Ranking 9 Best Early Moves
NFL free agency is the most bittersweet part of the league's calendar. There's excitement every time your team signs a new player to replace someone who might've been struggling, but there's also the reality that most big deals fail to work out. Some franchises also continually struggle to open their wallets to land impactful additions, causing fans pain.
The 2025 class of free agents wasn't an especially strong group, but that doesn't mean everyone signed will be a wasted investment. In fact, there were at least a dozen deals that passed the initial sniff test of value and fit. We've whittled that list down to nine of my favorites.
These are the best nine NFL free agent signings thus far. The dust is still settling in the aftermath of Wednesday's opening bell, but the first wave of talent is already off the board.
Ranking 9 Best 2025 NFL Free Agency Moves
9. Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Contract: 2 years, $46 million, $26 million guaranteed
You don't have to squint to see some comparisons to their whiff on Allen Robinson with the Rams' decision to sign Davante Adams. However, with Cooper Kupp now off the roster, the Rams made a calculated bet that Adams will age as gracefully as we've always expected.
If nothing else, he'll benefit from playing under Sean McVay and with Matthew Stafford compared to Aaron Rodgers and Robert Salah.
Now 32, Adams was still an explosive threat last year despite dealing with subpar quarterback play in Las Vegas and New York. He's no longer a threat to hit 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns in one season, but pairing him with Puka Nacua in a well-designed offense is the right recipe for him to ball out in the next two seasons.
The Rams also limited their risk by only giving him a two-year deal at a fair market price.
8. Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets
Contract: 2 years, $40 million, $30 million guaranteed
It's hard to call the New York Jets an amazing situation for any quarterback, given their history at the position, but handing Justin Fields the keys to an offense with quality young talent and little competition looking over his shoulder is exciting.
A tremendous dual-threat who has shown tangible growth as a pocket passer over his career, 2025 is Fields' best chance to plant roots as a long-term option.
The physical gifts are there, and his improvement in sack rate and accuracy in 2024 was marked enough to believe he can lead a quality offense. If the Jets whiffed, then they can easily get out of the deal for a modest cost next year and be in a position to draft someone in the 2026 NFL Draft.
7. Charvarius Ward, CB, Indianapolis Colts
Contract: 3 years, up to $60 million, $35 million guaranteed
So much went wrong with the 2024 San Francisco 49ers that it's hard to pin too much on individual players.
Charvarius Ward's production was at a career-worst rate, including missed tackles and completion rates allowed, but watching him didn't reveal a lost player or someone unable to play at a high level. He's consistently in a good position and is one of the better deterrents for targets in the league.
Given the Colts' struggles finding a sustained impact corner over the last decade and having some faith that Ward still has plenty left in the tank as he turns 29 in May, this is a great fit. The Colts will be able to be less reliant on zone coverages and have more of a playmaker on the unit while only guaranteeing 1.5 seasons' worth of money.
6. Dan Moore Jr., OT, Tennessee Titans
Contract: 4 years, $82 million, $50 million guaranteed
Speaking of a less-talented tackle who scored more than Jackson, Dan Moore Jr.'s deal with Tennessee is an eye-opener. The advanced numbers for Moore aren't overly encouraging at face value, as he allowed 16.5 sacks per ESPN's charting.
However, accounting for the tendencies of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields makes a big caveat to those numbers, as he allowed only 14 "quick pressures."
We don't know who will be under center yet for the Titans to start the 2025 season, but Moore is a good blocker coming off his best season and still entering his prime.
The team's offensive line will be dramatically improved, with Moore, Year 2 of JC Latham, and Year 3 of Peter Skoronski as building blocks. Moore's play has to improve, but there's nothing in his resume to suggest he'll suddenly plateau and make this deal a disastrous one.
5. Alaric Jackson, OT, Los Angeles Rams
Contract: 3 years, $57 million, $35 million guaranteed
Alaric Jackson should've gotten overpaid by someone other than his incumbent team. Instead of chasing the biggest check, the Rams were able to bring Jackson back on an incredibly favorable deal. Jackson, turning 27 this summer, is coming off his best season yet and produced a top-20 overall pass-blocking efficiency rate between both tackle spots.
While he's not elite, the desperation for impact-starting left tackles is at an all-time high. Given what teams spent on inferior guards and average tackles elsewhere, Jackson could've demanded $25 million a year and had interest.
4. Tre'Von Moehrig, SAF, Carolina Panthers
Contract: 3 years, $51 million
Carolina's huge investment in its defense comes as no surprise. It was the bottom-ranked unit in 2024 in passing efficiency, and it lacked star power. Bringing in 25-year-old Tre'Von Moehrig will be part of the solution to their woes. He emerged as the best safety free agent in the class after he played more roles closer to the line of scrimmage than as a single-high defender in 2024.
An A-plus run defender, versatile presence, and capable coverage option, Moehrig single-handidly makes everyone else's job easier in Carolina. The Panthers paid him near the top of the market but did well to utilize a short-term deal.
3. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Contract: 3 years, $66 million, $44 million guaranteed
One of the most surprising early outcomes of free agency was that Chris Godwin never saw the open market. With Tee Higgins on the franchise tag and a dearth of other options, Godwin was in line to get a sizeable pay raise despite being 29 years old, limited to the slot, and coming off two season-ending injuries since 2021.
There was so much money in the market and playmaker-needy offenses that Godwin could've pushed for a bigger payday for more years.
Instead, Godwin stayed in Tampa Bay for a solid number and reasonable duration. The Buccaneers avoided overpaying him relative to his upside, and won't be stuck with a huge guaranteed salary beyond 2026. Plus, he's perfect for Baker Mayfield and the offense, so this was a home run.
2. D.J. Reed, CB, Detroit Lions
Contract: 3 years, $48 million, $32 million guaranteed
Swapping out Carlton Davis for D.J. Reed isn't a major talent difference for Detroit, but the Lions are getting a more reliable and well-rounded presence at the position.
While Davis plays the ball better and has a higher upside, he's missed at least four games in each of the last four years. That's hard to bank on as a team looking to make a Super Bowl run.
Reed is more scheme-versatile and will play the run more effectively despite weighing 20 pounds less. Detroit also did well to guarantee only the first two years of the contract, allowing them to get out after he turns 30.
1. Milton Williams, DT, New England Patriots
Contract: 4 years, $104 million, $63 million guaranteed
If you're going to swing big on a position, a young defensive tackle is the best risk you can take because of the reward of hitting on one.
The New England Patriots spent a lot of money, and Milton Williams was the crown jewel of their haul. Turning 26 next month and coming off the best year of his career, the Patriots now have a stellar interior duo with him and Christian Barmore.
An elite pass-rusher who has improved every season, the biggest question for Williams is whether he can remain highly efficient with a bigger workload. He played only 47 percent of snaps in 2024 but will be relied upon to be the foundational piece of the unit in New England. He'll be worth this deal even if he takes a minor dip in per-play effectiveness but increases his time on the field over 60 percent.
