Heading into the 2025 NFL season, clubs around the league are preparing for one of the wildest and most chaotic offseasons in recent memory: free agency. This is an important time for teams wanting to enhance their rosters and also for players looking for new chances. While big-name players might switch teams and major salary cap maneuvers loom, 2025 could be a fun one for NFL fans. Here’s everything you need to know as the NFL free-agency period unfolds — key deadlines, the biggest free agents, and which teams you should be watching closely.
Important Dates For 2025 NFL Free Agency
Fans and teams alike must come to grips with key deadlines in the NFL free-agency cycle. These dates will govern the moves that teams can make and the timeline in which deals are completed.
Franchise Tag Deadline: March 3, 2025
The deadline for using the franchise tag is one of the biggest moments of the NFL offseason. This is also the last date teams can use the franchise tag on important free agent players. A franchise tag is a one-year offer for a player’s deal that guarantees a team keeps him for another season. This can do for the league’s best players to ensure they come to terms and stay put, often for about the cost of top five salaries at their respective positions.
Legal Tampering Period Begins: March 10, 2025
While contracts can’t technically be signed yet, the legal tampering period begins March 10. This time period teams are permitted to start negotiating with free agents, which often means “reported” signings before free agency officially begins. It’s a time when rumors fly thick and fast as teams grind behind the scenes to get deals done.
Official Start of Free Agency: Mar. 12, 2025
This is when everything becomes official: free agents are allowed to sign contracts with new teams. It’s the beginning of the madness, as some of the largest deals of the offseason go down. For teams with cap space and obvious holes, this is when they get tight and lock in their targets ahead of the draft.
NFL Draft: April 24-26, 2025
While not directly related to free agency, the NFL Draft due shortly following free agency frequently has a massive influence on roster decisions. Many teams will turn to free agency to fill immediate holes on their roster, then the draft to build for the future. This two-pronged approach is crucial to building a well-rounded team.
Five of 2025’s Most Coveted Free Agents
The 2025 free-agent pool is loaded with heavy hitters, including veteran superstars and bone-fide youngsters who could shape the power dynamics in the NFL. Reams of free agents will hit the market, and here’s a selection of the most high-profile names you’ll need to watch.
Lamar Jackson (QB) — Baltimore Ravens
Ever since winning an M.V.P. award, Lamar Jackson has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and he has been in the spotlight for his contract situation with the Ravens for nearly as long. If Jackson and the Ravens can’t work out a long-term deal, he could reach the open market, and his potential availability would send shock waves through the NFL. Teams hungry for a franchise quarterback will be ready to present him a massive contract.
- Why he’s a top free agent: Jackson is one of the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks in history, with the potential to flip the outcome of any game. His dual-threat ability as both a passer and rusher puts him among the league’s most feared players.
- Top suitors: The New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts are the two teams we could very well see lining up to acquire him as both look to add a quarterback that can take them to the next level.
WR – DeAndre Hopkins – Arizona Cardinals
Hopkins is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, point to his ridiculous hands and playmaking ability. The Arizona Cardinals are rebuilding and that could lead to the Cardinals trading Hopkins, particularly if they can get value back.
- Why he’s a top free agent: With 11,254 receiving yards and 71 touchdown catches in his career, Hopkins still ranks among the top targets for teams needing to fortify their passing game.
- Likely candidates: The New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers are two of the most receiver-needy teams around, and both would be expected to go after him hard.
Jalen Ramsey (CB) — Los Angeles Rams
Ramsey is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, and his ability to lock down opposing elite wide receivers makes him one of the most sought-after free agents. And if the Rams choose to release him to clear cap room or initiate a rebuild, plenty of teams will be interested in giving their secondary a dose of his elite coverage ability.
- Why he’s a premium free agent: Ramsey has long been one of the best cornerbacks in football, a perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro.
- Top suitors: Teams in contention, such as the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins, which need a shutdown corner, should be strong players.
Aaron Donald (DT) — Los Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald can play multiple positions on the defensive line, but he’s best on the inside, where he quickly forces quarterbacks into tight space to get rid of the ball — one of the most dominant defensive players of his generation. Although he remains under contract, there are already some whispers that he could be made available, especially if the Rams choose to take a step back and start tinkering with their roster in favor of reloading.
- Why he’s a top free agent: Donald is a game-changing force on defense, able to create problems for offenses and wreak havoc in backfields.
- Potential suitors: The Chicago Bears or Cleveland Browns could aim to bolster their defensive lines.
Mike Evans (WR) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans is one of the league’s more steady, reliable receivers. Regardless of how the Buccaneers’ quarterback situation shakes out, Evans has proved one of the league’s most consistent downfield threats.
- Why he’s a top free agent: Evans has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each season of his career and would be a coveted piece for any team seeking a steady playmaker.
- Ideal teams: Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens
What Teams Should Be Watching in 2025 NFL Free Agency
Some teams we can expect to be especially active in free agency, whether because of available cap space or major needs on their roster. These are the teams most likely to be players in the 2025 free-agent frenzy.
Miami Dolphins
Expect the Dolphins to be one of the most aggressive teams in free agency in 2025. They are built well on both sides of the ball and are primed to snag another star player to help catapult them into Super Bowl contention.
- Primary needs: Wide receiver, running back, linebacker
- Why they’ll be active: Miami has truckloads of cap space and a playoff-quality roster, making it a likely destination for free agents.
New York Jets
One of the Jets’ biggest needs has come at the quarterback position and they now are positioned to be one of the biggest free agent players. Having a ton of cap room and a young team in place, they are in prime position to land a franchise QB to lead the organization.
- Top priorities: Quarterback, offensive line, cornerback
- Why they’ll be active: The Jets have the cap space and are a quarterback away from being serious contenders in the AFC East.
Chicago Bears
The Bears are in a rebuilding mode but have tons of cap space to take some calculated roster-gaining moves. With quarterback Justin Fields blossoming into a star, the Bears will try to place weapons around him and also fortify their defense.
- Primary needs: Receiver, edge rusher, offensive line
- Why they’ll be busy: The Bears will be looking at players who can provide immediate help, all while continuing to build for the future.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas always has a shot, but they’re going to have to make a move (or two) in free agency to keep the team in the conversation. With some key players set to hit free agency and some speculative needs in a few positions, the Cowboys should be active.
- Top needs: Cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker
- Why they’ll be aggressive: Dallas is constructed to win right now and will try to address pressing areas on their roster to stay in contention for a Super Bowl.
New England Patriots
With head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots are always movers and shakers in free agency. After addressing an impressive defense but plenty of holes on offense, New England figures to be at least temporarily focused on improving their attack.
- Needs: WR, TE, OT
- Why they’ll be aggressive: The Patriots’ offensive weapons need to be upgraded, and free agency is the best avenue to do so.
Conclusion
The upcoming 2025 **NFL free-ag
