NFL 2025 Offseason: Who's Next to Make Moves?
Examining recent NFL moves and which teams are likely to be active in making moves to become cap compliant in the coming days.
We're about a week away from the time when NFL teams are legally allowed to negotiate contracts with pending free agents (the so-called "legal tampering" period) and, thus, you're about to see the wheels turn when it comes to decisions teams are going to have to make.
It won't surprise me to see a lot of moves made by the time you read this, or even by the time I have finished writing this latest piece.
The Rams have already made two significant moves, the first being a restructure of Matthew Stafford's contract (though the specific details of how that worked aren't known as I write this) and the second a three-year contract with left tackle Alaric Jackson. The Rams are also attempting to trade offensive guard Jonah Jackson, though it remains to be seen if such a trade will take place.
The Commanders have also made their first significant move, agreeing to send a fifth-round pick to the 49ers for wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The Niners will take a significant cap charge, losing $15.2M in cap space but saving a significant amount of cash. Jason Fitzgerald at Over the Cap broke down the details of what the trade means.
A brief point on the Niners: They are a team that has signaled it’s reassessing its position rather than try to reload for another deep run in the playoffs. They still have other decisions to make, particularly what quarterback Brock Purdy should get in an extension. Though there's now talk about them trading Brandon Aiyuk (and this coming after they were reportedly close to trading him before the start of the 2024 regular season, but then extending him instead), it remains to be seen if they go through with that. Though they would save cash as with Samuel, they would lose $7.65M in cap space and might need a better offer than what they got for Samuel.
We also have the Chiefs using the franchise tag on offensive guard Trey Smith, a move that I don't believe makes sense because Smith can now use the franchise tag as his negotiating point. The tag is based on all offensive linemen, making the cost $23.403M. If Smith were to agree to a long-term deal at $23M APY, he would become the highest-paid guard in the NFL in that aspect, surpassing Landon Dickerson's $21M APY.
I'm not sure about the Chiefs' strategy here, though it's possible they could trade Smith just as they traded L'Jarius Sneed last season. However, if a team does trade for Smith, he can still use the tag as the negotiating point and, thus, put him into position to re-set the market by a fair amount.
When it comes to the Chiefs, though, the fact they decided to use the tag means they have other items to address to get under the cap. They did structure Patrick Mahomes' contract to allow them to gain cap space, but that's not the only thing they'll need to do. They will need to get the cap numbers for Travis Kelce and Joe Thuney lowered through short-term extensions. All indications are Kelce will be back for 2025 and, given Thuney played very well in 2024, there is no reason for the Chiefs to part ways with him.
The Chiefs are not the only team that will likely make key decisions in the coming days before the start of the NFL 2025 league year on March 12. Here are other teams who still have some decisions to make to become cap compliant for 2025.
Saints: I need not repeat myself when it comes to the Saints' salary cap situation. They are currently $47.4M above the cap with 62 players under contract. They won't be able to get there simply by cutting players, given how they have restructured contracts many seasons ago when they were still chasing a Super Bowl.
The Saints have already renegotiated Ryan Ramcyzk's contract so he can be placed on the retired list after June 1. They could use a post-June 1 designation on Taysom Hill if they wish, but Hill has no guaranteed money due and they might just wait until after June 1 to cut him then. Otherwise, they only have a handful of players they can cut to free cap space but will have to restructure or renegotiate deals to gain cap space. Expect a flurry of moves from the Saints in the weeks to come to get to that point.
Browns: Projected to be $22.8M above the cap, the Browns have structured multiple contracts with option bonuses due closer to the start of the NFL regular season. That doesn't give them much wiggle room to restructure deals to become cap compliant. On top of that, Myles Garrett has made known his desire to be traded.
Whether Garrett is traded is another question, but if the Browns decide to do that, it's in their best interest to trade him before the NFL draft and get 2025 picks in a trade package. The problem, though, is a trade completed before June 1 means the Browns lose cap space when they are already above the cap. Again, it's not a given Garrett will be traded, but the Browns will certainly make other moves to get their cap situation addressed.
Bills: They are currently $10.3M above the cap, so it's likely you'll see them either restructures or releases — and perhaps trade a player away — before the start of the 2025 league year.
It wouldn't surprise me if they part ways with Von Miller, for whom they would not need to use the post-June 1 designation. An extension for Gregory Rosseau would also give them cap room but it remains to be seen if they get it done before the start of free agency. But you should expect to see a little movement from the Bulls as they work to become cap compliant.
Seahawks: The Seahawks don't have a lot of work to do to become cap compliant but they need to make a move or two. This is a team to watch as far as a potential trade, because they will likely have to decide between keeping either DK Metcalf of Tyler Lockett while parting ways with the other.
Metcalf is a player who has some trade value because he's still in his prime, while Lockett doesn't have much trade value. While it might make sense to cut Lockett, the Seahawks might see him as somebody who they would like to have finish his career with the team. If the Seahawks opt to keep both players, they will have to look at moves elsewhere, given that they are $6.8M above the cap.
Falcons: The obvious move that is coming is the release of quarterback Kirk Cousins. While it wouldn't surprise me if the Falcons are talking to teams to see if a trade is possible, Cousins has a no-trade clause and, furthermore, teams will be hesitant to trade for a player who has a $10M roster bonus due in 2026 that becomes fully guaranteed if his contract is still in effect on March 17.
Cutting Cousins, though, won't give the Falcons immediate cap relief, because a post-June 1 designation means his full cap charge stays in effect until June 1. Therefore, the Falcons have other moves they'll have to make, because they are currently $5.2M above the cap with 53 players under contract.
Other teams that one should expect to make moves before the start of the league year.
Dolphins: Though they are currently under the cap, they have $422,955 in space with 47 players under contract. They need to add four players to get to 51 total, so other cuts, restructures or renegotiations are coming.
Cowboys: They have about $3.9M in cap space but need more wiggle room to add depth or to retain free agents. Zack Martin's contract voids at the start of the league year, but as I understand it, the Cowboys can wait to place him on the retired list until after June 1 and get some cap relief at that time.
Texans: With $4.65M in cap space, the Texans are likely to make at least one move before the start of the league year to get some breathing room and at least allow them to add depth.
Buccaneers: At $8.1M in cap space, the Bucs are another team that should make at least one move to free up additional space so they can at least sign players for depth.