NFL Analysis
3/17/25
5 min read
2025 NFL Free Agency: Ranking The Best Value Signings
There's nothing quite like finding a bargain in free agency.
While other teams won intense bidding wars to give out massive contracts, others found productive but unheralded playmakers for great deals. These could be veterans nearing the end of their careers or players who simply were overlooked in favor of veterans with better name recognition.
There were plenty of great deals made by teams this offseason, but let's take a look at five of the best values from this year's free agency period.
All contract information is provided by Over the Cap.
Best NFL Free agent value signings
Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Detroit Lions 
1 year, $4 million ($3.5 million guaranteed)
A ton of defensive linemen were released ahead of a 2025 NFL Draft class that is loaded with talent in the trenches. That left some players waiting patiently to get paid, and the Detroit Lions were able to bring back one of their more promising interior defenders for next to nothing.
A second-round pick in 2021, Levi Onwuzurike was a late bloomer, rarely seeing the field until injuries forced him onto it this past season. He made the most of his opportunities, becoming a breakout star in the middle of Detroit's defense, generating 47 pressures.
That felt like just the beginning of Onwuzurike's upside in the NFL. At 27 years old, he could continue to be a disruptive interior pass rusher on a bargain deal for the Lions in 2025 before earning a big payday next offseason.
Charvarius Ward, CB, Indianapolis Colts
3 years, $54 million ($27 million guaranteed)
The Indianapolis Colts shelled out big money to land Charvarius Ward, but compared to the rest of the cornerback market, this is a great value for a star at the position.
Ward had a down season in 2024, and so did the rest of the San Francisco 49ers. However, in 2023, Ward looked like one of the best cornerbacks in the league, allowing a passer rating of just 63.7 when targeted with five interceptions and 23 pass breakups, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
Chris Ballard is expecting the 2023 version of Ward over the 2024 version, and that's a safe bet with surprisingly good value on the deal. Ward's deal ranks 13th among cornerbacks in average annual value, and that was before Derek Stingley reset the market with a three-year, $90 million extension on Monday morning.
Cornerback market value is about to skyrocket after that Stingley extension, making Ward's deal seem like an even bigger bargain for the Colts.
Poona Ford, dt, los angeles rams
3 years, $27.6 million ($11.85 million guaranteed)
Despite having such a young and exciting defensive front seven, the Los Angeles Rams desperately needed a veteran who could stop the run in the trenches. They got exactly that in Poona Ford and on a great deal.
Ford doesn't rank close to the top of the market among interior defensive linemen with just more than $9 million per year average annual value. He was a decent pass rusher with 25 pressures last season but thrived with the Los Angeles Chargers on early downs as a run-stopper, generating 23 defensive stops in 2024.
That's exactly the kind of player the Rams needed on their defensive line, with so many young pass-rushing options but few players who could reliably stop the run. Ford will be a major contributor on early downs, and for less than $10 million a year, he's an absolute steal for Les Snead.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 years, $66 million ($44 million guaranteed)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to get a hometown discount to keep Chris Godwin in the building.
After signing his new deal, Godwin admitted that other teams offered him more money, up to $20 million more, but he opted to stay with the team that drafted him. That's terrific value for the Buccaneers, who keep one of the most valuable slot receivers in the NFL.
Prior to his season-ending ankle injury, Godwin was having the most efficient season of his career. He caught 50-of-60 targets and was averaging an outstanding 2.36 yards per route run. On top of his receiving ability, Godwin is also a willing blocker in the slot to help spring explosive plays in the run game.
That's a complete package for a 29-year-old receiver who pairs perfectly with Mike Evans. The wide receiver market continues to climb, but the Bucs were able to keep a key part of their offense on a more than reasonable deal.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers
1 year, $2.75 million (Fully guaranteed)
The Carolina Panthers cut ties with Miles Sanders at the start of free agency, saving more than $5 million in cap space for the 2025 season. They then upgraded the RB2 position by signing Rico Dowdle for almost half of those cap savings.
That's a terrific move for a team that finally showed signs of life in the second half of last season. Dowdle is a major upgrade over Sanders from an on-field perspective, rushing for 1,079 yards and 4.6 yards per carry for the Dallas Cowboys last season. He even averaged a solid 3.28 yards after contact per rush and forced 45 missed tackles.
That's a legitimately good backup running back to Chuba Hubbard and on a deal that costs next to nothing for Carolina. It's a net positive on the cap space side after replacing Sanders while also getting another legitimate playmaker for the offense.
