With 2025 NFL Free Agency right around the corner, let's predict where five of the biggest names will sign this offseason. One of the most exciting and active times of the NFL year is when free agency opens, and it will begin about one month from now. Yet again there is a strong free agency class for teams to use.
And in recent years, teams have been using free agency to try and cap-off their team builds. However, there is not a secret formula in free agency, and teams that usually always spend a lot in FA do not see that type of success.
Free agency is also a time where some players do get overpaid, and that's kind of where certain NFL teams can get themselves in trouble. There is going to be a ton of money thrown around in free agency this cycle. Let's try to predict where some of the top free agents of the 2025 cycle will sign.
2025 NFL Offseason: Predicting where big-name free agents will sign
Tee Higgins - Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers need a consistent target like Tee Higgins to match up nicely with Ladd McConkey, their stud rookie wide receiver from the 2024 NFL Season. At the moment, it might seem hard for the Cincinnati Bengals to retain Higgins given how cheap they are. And while that sounds crass, it's true.
Tee Higgins may find a much stronger offer from another team. The LA Chargers could be the perfect fit for Higgins in terms of the contract and the actual skill level of the team he wants to be on. I am sure Higgins isn't just going to take the highest deal, because what if it comes from a terrible team? He may have to balance out the money and the type of team he signs with.
Let's predict that Tee Higgins signs with the Los Angeles Chargers.
This would close the gap that much more in the AFC West between the Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs, who got blown out in the Super Bowl.
Trey Smith - Minnesota Vikings
Trey Smith is one of the top free agents along the offensive line. He has spent the first four years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and is a two-time Super Bowl champion in 2022 and 2023. The main issue with Smith returning to the Chiefs is that KC is only projected to have around $11 million in cap space in 2025.
They would have to get creative with some of their contracts to free up some space. Moreover, Trey Smith may not receive a competitive enough offer to warrant returning to the Chiefs. Additionally, he's won multiple Super Bowls, so at this stage of his career while he is still in his prime, he now may want to focus on his earnings.
The Minnesota Vikings have a huge need along their iOL and money to spend. Trey Smith may end up protecting de-facto rookie QB JJ McCarthy in the 2025 NFL Season, but this team should still be good even with McCarthy under center. They won 14 games in 2024 and are a well-oiled machine overall.
Trey Smith would be a great fit on the Vikings.
Sam Darnold - Las Vegas Raiders
With the old-school Pete Carroll in the building, it does kind of feel like the Las Vegas Raiders could make a silly move to hand Sam Darnold a $100 million contract. Darnold was playing at an MVP level for much of the 2024 NFL Season, but the personnel and coaching around him was top-notch.
The Las Vegas Raiders simply do not have that kind of situation right now, so both the franchise and Darnold himself would be taking a huge risk. It's not likely that Sam Darnold would enjoy the same type of success in 2025 with the Raiders that he did in 2024 with the Vikings, but Carroll probably sees a scenario where, like he did in Seattle, they play sound defense, run the ball, and ask their QB to manage the game.
That isn't going to win a Super Bowl in today's NFL, but I am not sure you can tell Pete Carroll that at the moment.
Chris Godwin - Pittsburgh Steelers
Chris Godwin dislocated his ankle during the 2024 NFL Season, and it's truly a shame as he was on pace to have an insane season. Godwin could re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but what if there is another team that simply makes too strong of an offer for Godwin to pass up? It could be the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that has been searching for a second wide receiver for some time now.
However, with the ongoing uncertainty that always seem to surround George Pickens, it's not clear if the Steelers are willing to keep that relationship going. Chris Godwin might then see an avenue in Pittsburgh to get a ton of looks in the passing game.
Pittsburgh has a need for a wide receiver, and Chris Godwin is one of the top free agents on the market.
Aaron Jones - Denver Broncos
Aaron Jones would fit right in with the Denver Broncos, as he would give them immediate production and become a focal point of the offense for a year. Jones is a very good pass-catching back and rushed for over 1,100 yards on 4.5 yards per carry in 2024 with the Vikings. He may not cost more than five or six million on a one-year deal.
And for the Broncos, a one-year rental of Aaron Jones may fall right in line with what they need, as they could still target a RB in the 2025 NFL Draft and allow him time to get up to speed in the NFL. Aaron Jones may also be at his best when there is someone to take the load off from time to time.
A running back room that features Aaron Jones, a rookie, Audric Estime, and Jaleel McLaughlin would be a scary sight for opposing defenses. There might not be a reason for the Broncos to not sign Aaron Jones. It just makes a ton of sense when you think about it.