Initial NFL Free Agent Field Thoughts: Offense
What does the 2025 offseason have to offer as far as free agents on offense?
As I put together my lists of top NFL free agents for the 2025 offseason (at least, before teams start cutting players or re-signing their own), I realized that this isn't a particularly strong group of players.
While you will find notable names among the players, you don't find much in the way of players who teams would be quick to give the franchise tag, unless that team thinks it can tag a player and trade him.
That's not to say there aren't any players available who can help teams in need, but in most cases, you won't find that player that can transform your franchise.
But there are players who, if in the right situation, could do a lot to help a team get to the next level. That's particularly true if the team has a quarterback it can build around.
I'll be doing my free agent rankings by position for Mile High Huddle this month (which will have an emphasis on how important it is for the Broncos to consider each position), but in the meantime, here is the first part of my general thoughts about the free agent field and what teams can expect in terms of finding help.
The first part will cover offense and we'll go into the defense in the next part.
Quarterback: The punditry will talk a lot about the available quarterbacks simply because that's the most important position. However, your free agent field will feature multiple former first-round picks and several players who have experienced playoff success in the past.
There will be a lot of talk about where Russell Wilson will go next, but Wilson's best bet is probably to go to a team that has a lot of quality players in place but needs more consistent play at quarterback.
There will also be a lot of buzz about Sam Darnold, but he's the QB who gets the dreaded "system quarterback" label because his best work depends on coaching. And there will be talk about the "reclamation projects" such as Justin Fields, Mac Jones and Daniel Jones, with speculation about who has a Darnold-type season in 2025.
But as for the overall field, I'd best describe it as the place to possibly find a bridge QB to one a team drafts and develops, but more likely the spot to find a good backup.
Running backs: Much fuss was made about the contracts handed out to running backs last offseason. Two of them (Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry) did a lot to help the teams they signed with.
This offseason, though, you'll be hard pressed to find a back like that. Maybe you think Aaron Jones has enough left in the tank. Maybe you think J.K. Dobbins is just waiting to break out. Maybe you even think Najee Harris can turn it around.
But this isn't a free agent field that strikes me as one in which a team will find a back that can revitalize its offense. You can find good role players but not a featured player.
Wide receivers: It won't surprise me if there's lots of talk about the future of Tee Higgins. Do the Bengals franchise him again, do they get a deal done, will he get a massive deal elsewhere... I think you get the picture.
But then there's the rest of the field. You have some notable names but they are all exiting the prime of their careers or already past their prime. And then you have a few younger players who show promise but have never shown they are game changers.
Thus, once Higgins signs, you have to ask yourself if you think an older receiver like DeAndre Hopkins, a mere red-zone threat like Nick Westbrook-Ikhine or a "will he finally reach his potential" type like Elijah Moore is worth signing, go ahead with it. Just don't get your expectations too high.
Tight ends: Here you have two options: Good players who are past the age of 30 or younger players who might be better as depth than as a starter.
Don't get me wrong — teams can find help here. But with the likes of Mike Gesicki, Zach Etz and Austin Hooper, you're asking yourself how much longer these players have.
And when it comes to somebody like Tommy Tremble, you have a younger player who has shown he can quality depth but not a starter. Therefore, if you're looking to "move the needle," you probably aren't going to do that with a free agent tight end.
Offensive tackles: This might be the best free agent group when it comes to the offense — and that might be a good thing, given that the draft doesn't appear to be the place to go to find an offensive tackle.
I don't see any of the free agents re-setting the market at the position. However, the likes of Ronnie Stanley, Cam Robinson, Alaric Jackson and Dan Moore Jr. could find themselves getting deals that are comparable to Garett Bolles, who got a four-year, $82M contract with nearly $42M in total guarantees.
After that are multiple offensive tackles who have proven to be solid options, though probably not players who approach the Bolles contract. Still, it won't surprise me if this is the position where teams spend a lot of money to fill holes.
Interior offensive line: The guard and center market got pretty crazy in 2024. Will the 2025 market follow the trend? Maybe with the top option at guard and center, but beyond that, I'm not seeing it.
Trey Smith could be in line for a big payday and it's possible Evan Brown could cash in. But when it comes to other players, you have older players who have ranked among the best at their positions but it's anyone's guess as to how much they have left in the tank.
It's possible Smith hits the top of the market for guards, while Brown might be in position to get into the top 10 for centers. But while players like Brandon Scherff and Kevin Zeitler can help teams out, they aren't the types poised to break the bank.