NFL free agency has started to slow down since officially opening last Wednesday, so it’s a good time to take stock of the moves. Some teams have made splash signings, adding standouts like Sam Darnold, Davante Adams, Justin Fields, Josh Sweat and Carlton Davis III to their rosters. Other top free agents — notably Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Stefon Diggs — are still searching for their next team.
What was the best overall signing, re-signing or trade of free agency? And what was the most puzzling move so far? We asked 10 of our NFL experts to weigh in with their picks from the past week or so.
Check back all week, as we will continue to update this file with a new question each day. We will tackle bargain contracts (Wednesday), teams that aced free agency (Thursday) and teams that came up short (Friday).
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Best moves | Head-scratching moves
What was the biggest head-scratcher signing of free agency?
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: The Jaguars signing safety Eric Murray. He can play in split-field coverages, and Murray has the demeanor to operate near the line of scrimmage. Plus, he can contribute to all four core special teams units. But with only three interceptions in 124 career games, the Jags overpaid for the 31-year-old on a three-year, $22.5 million deal.
Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: The Jaguars signing center Robert Hainsey. No other team was paying him $21 million over three years — he wasn’t a starter last season. He has familiarity with coach Liam Coen from Tampa Bay, and you want to see quality veterans get paid. But the Jaguars probably could have gotten him for less.
Pamela Maldonado, sports betting analyst: The Titans signing offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. Giving him a four-year, $82 million contract feels like a massive gamble. Moore is now among the league’s top-paid tackles despite his consistent struggles in pass protection. By committing substantial cap space on potential rather than proven performance, Tennessee risks limiting its ability to address other roster needs. If Moore doesn’t dramatically improve, the Titans will be dealing with the costly consequences of this deal for years.
Eric Moody, fantasy football writer: The Commanders signing defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw. The three-year, $45 million contract was surprising, considering the depth of the 2025 draft class at defensive line. The $30 million in guaranteed money is also concerning because of Kinlaw’s health and statistical production. He has played in just 58 games since being drafted in 2020, with only 9.5 sacks and 74 pressures.
Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst: The Jets signing cornerback Brandon Stephens. Stephens — who got a three-year, $36 million deal — was the clear weakness in Baltimore’s secondary last season. Yes, cornerback stats are inconsistent from year to year, but he ranked 81st out of 92 qualifying cornerbacks in my coverage DVOA metric in 2024.
Ben Solak, NFL analyst: The Commanders signing Kinlaw. It is a big overpay, though it’s not surprising why it happened. Commanders general manager Adam Peters drafted Kinlaw with the 49ers, and he remains one of the most physically impressive defensive tackles. Dan Quinn’s defense is a good fit for his skill set, too — simple, upfield responsibilities. But $15 million per year is a huge number for a player who hasn’t strung together consistent, starting-caliber play.
Mike Tannenbaum, NFL front office insider: The events in Pittsburgh. The DK Metcalf trade and extension is understandable, especially in light of George Pickens going into the final year of his contract. But Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only quarterbacks on the Steelers’ 2025 roster at the moment. Until that position is settled, everything else is irrelevant.
Lindsey Thiry, national NFL reporter: The Jaguars signing Murray. The Jags needed to upgrade their defense, especially at secondary after ranking among the league’s worst against the pass in 2024. However, this three-year, $22.5 million price tag seems steep given Murray’s lack of production. Perhaps first-year general manager James Gladstone and Coen value Murray’s intangibles and versatility more than his ability to make plays on the ball.
Seth Walder, NFL analyst: I will give two here because there have been so many: the Bears signing defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to a deal with $28.5 million fully guaranteed, and the Chiefs signing offensive tackle Jaylon Moore for two years, $30 million. Jarrett’s numbers have been declining for years, bottoming out at a 9% pass rush win rate last season (though he was coming off an ACL tear). As for Moore, there are spots in roster-building where taking risks makes sense. Patrick Mahomes‘ left tackle is not one of them. Moore is somewhat of an unknown, but what we do know isn’t pretty. His 83% career pass block win rate would have ranked 63rd out of 67 tackle qualifiers last season.
Field Yates, NFL analyst: The Jaguars signing Murray. He was very solid for the Texans last season and will help remake the Jaguars’ secondary, but it’s surprising Jacksonville filled two secondary gaps with players who will be 30 or older when the season begins (former Cowboys nickel corner Jourdan Lewis being the other). A lower-tier value like this isn’t crippling, but I thought Jacksonville might lean younger under new leadership.
What was the best overall move from free agency week?
Bowen: The Rams signing wide receiver Davante Adams. He’s an upgrade over Cooper Kupp on his new two-year deal, as Adams can get loose against press coverage and create separation to the ball. Opposite Puka Nacua, Adams can win one-on-one as the “X” receiver, plus he will be schemed to attack zone voids off motion and in play-action. This is a really good fit for Sean McVay’s offense.
Fowler: The Bucs signing defensive end Haason Reddick. Tampa Bay got out of its draft-and-develop comfort zone and invested $14 million in a one-year deal with Reddick, who had four consecutive double-digit-sack seasons before last year’s holdout sabotaged his 2024 campaign with the Jets. With a full offseason, he should get back on track. And the Bucs know they are at their best with an elite pass rush, as they proved during their 2020 Super Bowl run.
Maldonado: The Vikings signing defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. Minnesota’s defense desperately needed disruption and toughness, especially against the run. Landing Allen at three years, $60 million instantly fixes that. He can stop plays cold and send quarterbacks scrambling. It’s a move that reshapes the Vikings’ defensive identity and significantly elevates their competitiveness in the NFC North.
Moody: The Chargers signing running back Najee Harris. The union of Harris and offensive coordinator Greg Roman bodes well for his 2025 season outlook, regardless of whether Los Angeles adds a running back in the draft. Harris — who signed for one year and up to $9.25 million — has had four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and more touches than any player in the league since his rookie year in 2021. He’s a great fit behind an offensive line the Chargers have heavily invested in.
Schatz: The Bills signing edge rusher Joey Bosa. Buffalo signed Bosa to a one-year, $12.6 million contract, which is a swing for the fences on a player who constantly battles injuries. But big swings are necessary for a team that is on the edge of winning a Super Bowl. The Bills wanted to load up on the pass rush so they can take down Patrick Mahomes, and if this move works out, it will be a big step toward doing that. If it doesn’t work out, they’re out of it in a year.
Solak: The Ravens re-signing offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. Right before free agency, Baltimore kept one of the best possible free agents in the building when it re-signed Stanley to a three-year, $60 million extension — far less than he would have made on the open market. The Ravens remain in a competing window given the MVP-caliber play of quarterback Lamar Jackson and could not let a franchise left tackle leave without a succession plan in place.
Tannenbaum: The Patriots signing defensive tackle Milton Williams. While $26 million per year for Williams is extremely high, it’s rare to get someone so young (26 next month) with outstanding interior pass rush ability. His production has been modest (11.5 sacks in 67 games), but look for his game to reach the next level in Mike Vrabel’s system with the Patriots. He will become a frontline staple for years to come.
Thiry: The Rams signing Adams. After retaining Matthew Stafford with a reworked contract, the addition of Adams provides Stafford a 1-2 punch along with Nacua. For a team that missed the NFC Championship Game by a mere play last season, the addition of Adams should be enough to help bring another deep playoff run.
Walder: The Lions signing cornerback D.J. Reed. He has been consistently good at a volatile position, allowing less than 1.1 yards per coverage snap (the average for an outside corner) in four consecutive seasons, per NFL Next Gen Stats. I also think he was the best corner in this free agency class, making him an upgrade over Carlton Davis III. The Patriots are now paying Davis $20 million per year, while the Lions are paying Reed only $16 million. So not only did the Lions get a great player to fill a crucial need, but they did it for a good value.
Yates: The Raiders trading for quarterback Geno Smith. This happened a few days before free agency kicked off, but I really like this move. For a team searching for quarterback certainty, there may not have been a better available option than Smith. The Raiders still have plenty of work to do to compete in the AFC West, but securing a starter at the most important position for just a third-round pick was too good to pass up. Familiarity with coach Pete Carroll only emboldens my confidence in this acquisition.
