The 2025 NFL free agency class has plenty of recognizable players with free agency set to officially kick off on Wednesday, March 12.
However, one AFC executive described the market as a whole, saying, “It’s a really bad group overall.”
What Makes the 2025 NFL Free Agency Class So Bad?
In a recent article for Sports Illustrated, Albert Breer went in depth on what makes free agency an undesirable task for NFL front offices in 2025.
“Rapid growth has left teams with every resource they need to keep the players they want,” Breer wrote. “Forget about just the quarterbacks. If you have a left tackle, receiver, corner, or pass rusher you want to retain, there’s almost no chance he gets to free agency. And if there’s even a hint it could happen? He’ll be traded ahead of time.”
With the salary cap exploding to a record $279.2 million for the 2025 season, teams can afford to keep more of their own players, even ones that previously wanted out.
Myles Garrett, who seemed ready to sit out unless his trade request was granted, became the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback with a three-year extension worth $40 million in annual average value (AAV).
This came on the heels of Maxx Crosby, another rumored trade candidate, signing a contract extension worth over $35 million AAV for the next three seasons.
READ MORE: Top 100 NFL Free Agent Rankings
Breer pointed out that some players will still land big deals — Sam Darnold for his resurgent season with the Minnesota Vikings, Josh Sweat for his dominant performance in the Super Bowl, and big-name wide receivers like Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, and Chris Godwin.
However, another AFC executive said, “Receiver is ridiculously weak — though that’s been supplemented with some veteran releases, so it’s gotten better [this week],” referring to Adams’ release and Christian Kirk’s reported release before being traded to the Houston Texans. After Adams, Diggs, Godwin, and Keenan Allen, the talent level drops off.
Amari Cooper, Diontae Johnson, and soon-to-be 33-year-old DeAndre Hopkins — all players who didn’t exactly thrive in new situations — aren’t the kind of guys who will have front offices scrambling to sign them.
“Tackle’s not very good, but guard’s OK, center is OK, and corner, safety, and linebacker are all pretty good,” said that same executive.
From trade to truce and beyond: the Browns and Myles Garrett reached agreement today on a record contract extension that averages $40 million per year and includes $123.5 million in guaranteed money and now makes him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, sources tell ESPN.… pic.twitter.com/scNWJH2vFX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2025
The best tackle on the market, Ronnie Stanley, already agreed to return to the Baltimore Ravens; beyond that, the market is full of journeymen.
At guard, a few big names stand out. Mekhi Becton, fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Philadelphia Eagles, steady veteran Brandon Scherff, who could be lured away from the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars, and Will Fries, who was off to a strong start with the Indianapolis Colts before missing Week 6 through the rest of the season due to injury.
At center, Drew Dalman from the Atlanta Falcons and Ryan Kelly from Indy are intriguing options for teams looking for established centers.
Why Are Big Name Players Not Hitting the Free Agent Market?
Players entering the final years of their contracts while teams plan ahead for 2026 is the other side of the coin before free agency begins.
“Forget about just the quarterbacks,” Breer said. “If you have a left tackle, receiver, corner, or pass rusher you want to retain, there’s almost no chance he gets to free agency. And if there’s even a hint it could happen? He’ll be traded ahead of time.”
Stanley: re-signed; Crosby: re-signed; Garrett: re-signed; Matthew Stafford: new deal; all without the chance of hitting the open market.
Even Saquon Barkley was given a raise by the Eagles, who also re-signed All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun before he could hit the open market. Teams are keeping their premium players. But with some front offices looking ahead to 2026 and the salary cap expected to keep growing, we’ve already seen big trades: Deebo Samuel Sr. to the Washington Commanders, Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears.
Often, these trades come with contract extensions, and while Samuel, Smith, and Thuney haven’t signed new deals yet, most teams won’t trade for players without the intention of keeping them long-term unless they know they’re getting a rental.
This is likely the Seattle Seahawks’ strategy when asking for a first- and third-round pick for DK Metcalf, per The Athletic. Seattle is pricing Metcalf as a premium wide receiver despite being under contract for just 2025, likely knowing that whatever team is potentially trading for him wants him for the next three to five years.
Whether Seattle lowers its asking price, keeps Metcalf until the trade deadline, or extends him remains to be seen. But one thing is clear — they’re not likely to let him walk in free agency while getting nothing in return.
Free agency is quickly coming to a point where it will be looked at as a bargain bin like the $5 DVD bin at Walmart. You might find something good every once in a while, but more often it will either be old or something you could’ve gotten for a better price when it was newer.