Most impactful 2025 NFL free agency moves: These teams, players feel ripple effect
Every NFL team at least attempts to make an impact during free agency. Some teams are more successful than others. All clubs are confined to salary cap constraints. The NFL set the 2025 salary cap to $279.2 million per team.
The first wave of free agency featured highlights such as Davante Adams joining the Los Angeles Rams, Chris Godwin staying home in Tampa Bay, Jevon Holland going to the Big Apple and Josh Sweat moving west to the desert.
I previously examined my favorite and least favorite free agency moves. Now, it’s time to explore the most impactful free agency decisions thus far.
Most impactful NFL free agency moves
Evan Engram gives Broncos tight end room some life
Engram should drastically uplift a meager Broncos tight end group. The pass-catching tight end gives Sean Payton’s offense virtually another wide receiver.
Lucas Krull led all Broncos tight ends with a modest 19 catches in 2024. Denver tight ends accounted for 90 receptions and 845 receiving yards in the past two seasons. Engram compiled 161 receptions and 1,328 receiving yards in Jacksonville over that span.
Engram has never had a season with less than 44 catches. He tallied 47 receptions before a season-ending shoulder injury limited him to just nine games.
The addition of Engram should help Bo Nix in his sophomore season. A total of 199 of Nix’s 376 completions were between the hashes, per Pro Football Focus. Engram does most of his damage in the middle of the field, so it shouldn't take long for the veteran tight end to get acclimated to his new team.
Vikings QB decision has a ripple effect
Sam Darnold’s departure from the Vikings had a domino effect on teams in each conference. It changed the quarterback landscape in Las Vegas, Seattle and paved the way for J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota.
McCarthy completed 11-of-17 passes for 188 yards and had two touchdowns to just one interception in a promising preseason debut before a knee injury robbed him of his rookie year.
The Vikings are enthusiastic about the Michigan product as he enters his second season.
“He’s conversational in our language, in our offensive language, understanding the why, the intent behind things. You want to be able to go out there and play free and let his talent take over, so all these steps, all the learning he’s done this past year is going to allow him to be able to do that,” Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said at the NFL combine. “We’re excited about the makeup of him, he’s been everything we want him to be, and we’re excited about his future.”
Last year, Darnold’s 4,319 passing yards were the third most in franchise history and his 35 touchdown passes were tied for the second-most in team history. It’s unfair to expect McCarthy to replicate Darnold’s career season, but the team doesn’t want to see a substantial drop-off either.
Bengals back up the Brinks truck for wide receivers
The Bengals franchise tagged Tee Higgins for the second straight season before agreeing to sign him to a four-year, $115 million deal and Ja’Marr Chase to a record-breaking four-year, $161 million contract. Chase’s extension makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, netting an annual average of $40.25 million per season.
Higgins and Chase are the highest-paid receiving duo in the NFL in terms of average annual value. Furthermore, Higgins ($28.7 million per year), Chase ($40.25 million per year) and Joe Burrow ($55 million per year) are three of the highest-paid players in the NFL at their positions.
The Bengals will join the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins as the only three teams in the NFL with two receivers averaging an annual salary of at least $25 million.
Higgins, Chase and Burrow’s huge contracts mean the Bengals are allocating approximately $125 million per year for three players. Cincinnati’s investment in the trio impacts what they can do surrounding them, particularly on defense.
The Bengals defense ranked 25th in total defense and points allowed in 2024. It’s paramount for the Bengals to capitalize in future NFL drafts while Higgins, Chase and Burrow take up a large chunk of Cincinnati’s salary cap.
Chiefs' decision to franchise tag RG Trey Smith significantly impacts two teams
The Chiefs prioritized Trey Smith by placing him under the franchise tag and subsequently traded veteran left guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears. The Chiefs and Smith still plan on negotiating a long-term extension before the July 15 deadline for tagged players to sign a long-term deal, a person close to the situation told Paste BN Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Smith’s one-year contract worth about $23.4 million currently makes him the top-earning guard in the NFL.
While Thuney headlines Chicago’s O-line restructure, his departure creates an opening at left guard in Kansas City. The plan is for Kingsley Suamataia to get an opportunity at the spot after a rough rookie year at left tackle. Speaking of left tackle, the Chiefs choose to take a calculated gamble at the position with the addition of Jaylon Moore in free agency.
In totality, the Chiefs will have a revamped offensive line this year. It’s a bold decision for a franchise that’s won nine straight AFC West titles and appeared in the Super Bowl five times in the past six seasons. It is warranted, though, after Patrick Mahomes was sacked a career-high six times in Super Bowl 59.
Smith’s franchise tag was the genesis of the Chiefs offensive line makeover.
Follow Paste BN Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.