NFL Free Agency 2025: Start Date, Salary Cap, Rumors and Early Predictions
With Super Bowl LIX officially a part of NFL history, the offseason has arrived. However, fans won't truly experience a quiet period until after the 2025 draft in April. Free agency is rapidly approaching, and the rumor mill is already churning.
Teams can begin applying the franchise tag on February 18 and have until March 4 to do so. Impending free agents can be legally contacted on March 10, and the market will officially open at 4 p.m. ET on March 12.
Fans can expect a flurry of early activity this offseason too. Several notable players are expected to become available, and the salary cap is expected to rise to as much as $275 million—which would be a nearly $20 million increase over the 2024 cap.
Let's take a look at what's ahead, dive into some of the latest rumors and make a few early predictions.
2025 NFL Free Agency
Legal Contact Window: March 10-12
Start Date: March 12 at 4 p.m. ET
Projected Salary Cap: $265-275 million
Top 5 Teams by Projected 2025 Cap Space
- New England Patriots: $122.1 million
- Las Vegas Raiders: $92.7 million
- Washington Commanders: $80.5 million
- Chicago Bears: $65.9 million
- Los Angeles Chargers: $64.7 million
Notable Free Agents
Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Jevon Holland, S, Miami Dolphins
Trey Smith, G, Kansas City Chiefs
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Baltimore Ravens
Bleacher Report's post-regular season free agency big board can be found here.
Trey Smith Trending as Top FA Target
Interior offensive linemen don't usually generate hype during free agency, but they're becoming increasingly valued by NFL teams. The league's rushing resurgence, along with the rise of interior pass-rushers, has raised the status of top-tier guards around the NFL.
Within the last year, Robert Hunt, Chris Lindstrom and Landon Dickerson all received deals worth at least $20 million annually.
Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith can expect to see lucrative offers in free agency. He's a star in the running game, didn't allow a sack in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, and will turn just 26 in June.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, "several teams have him as the top overall free agent."
Per Fowler, "some inside the league" are watching the Chicago Bears as a potential landing spot for Smith. The pairing would make perfect sense.
Chicago needs help on the interior and needs to protect second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. New head coach Ben Johnson also enjoyed a powerful and versatile offensive line as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, and he'll likely look to replicate that in Chicago. t
The Bears are also projected to have the fourth-most cap space in the NFL, which means making a play for Smith will be feasible.
The Tennessee Titans are another team to watch. The Titans could also use line help, may take a quarterback early in the draft, and recently hired assistant Kansas City general manager Mike Borgonzi to be their GM.
Prediction: Smith signs with Chicago
Tee Higgins Could Command Deal Worth More Than $30 Million Per Year
For teams that don't view Smith as the top free agent, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins might be the most coveted offensive player in this year's free-agent class. The 26-year-old has flashed No. 1 receiver potential in Cincinnati while filling the No. 2 role opposite Ja'Marr Chase.
The problem for the Bengals is that Higgins is set to hit the market while Chase is extension-eligible. Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin has keeping both pass-catchers will be a significant challenge.
"It's going to be hard," Tobin said, per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "We feel like we have the resources to do it, but it all depends on how the negotiation goes and whether they're willing to accept wanting to come back at a number that makes sense for everybody."
According to Fowler, Higgins is expected to receive a deal north of $30 million annually.
"The over/under on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins' market is $30 million per season, and the majority of team personnel that I spoke with believe he'll hit or clear the over," Fowler wrote.
With Chase expected to surpass Justin Jefferson's $35-million-per-year deal, it's unlikely that the Bengals will pay both receivers. Higgins will probably hit the market and land with the highest bigger.
Tennessee would also make sense for Higgins. If the Titans do take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick, they could support him with a receiving tandem of Higgins and Calvin Ridley. Head coach Brian Callahan also previously coached Higgins as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator.
The New England Patriots, however, lead the league in projected cap space. The Patriots have their quarterback in Drake Maye, but they lack a reliable go-to receiver. Higgins could fill that void.
Prediction: Higgins signs with New England
Davante Adams Hasn't Been in Contact With New Jets Regime
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams isn't currently scheduled to be a free agent. However, there's a non-zero chance that he becomes available on March 12. For the Jets, a lot hinges on the team's cap situation.
New York is projected to have just $8.2 million in cap space. Players like Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner are up for extensions, and the Jets could save a whopping $30 million by releasing Adams at the start of the offseason.
The Jets traded for Adams during the 2024 season in an effort to aid quarterback and former teammate Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers' own future in New York is murky, and Adams reportedly hasn't been in contact with the incoming regime.
"My understanding is the Jets have not been in contact with Davante Adams since the new general manager, Darren Mougey, and since the new head coach, Aaron Glenn, came in and took over," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday.
Unless Glenn believes he can win immediately with New York's current roster, a lot would likely have to happen for Adams to return. The 32-year-old would likely need to restructure his contract, and the Jets would likely need to retain Rodgers.
Rodgers has already been told that the Jets aren't bringing him back, according to Fox Sport's Jay Glazer.
Adams, who had 854 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games with the Jets, could be worth keeping at the right price point and under certain conditions. The prediction here, however, is that the Jets favor a reset, allowing Adams to become one of the bigger names on the 2025 open market.
Prediction: Jets release Adams at the start of free agency.
Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins Could Impact Free-Agent QB Market
Quarterbacks always draw attention in the offseason because there aren't enough starting-caliber signal-callers to go around. Coming off of a Pro Bowl season, Sam Darnold figures to be the top quarterback on the free agent market. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields could also be viewed as potential starting options by QB-needy teams.
Like Adams, though, a couple of quarterbacks could end up hitting the market and skewing how teams view the positional landscape. Rodgers is one of them.
According to Glazer, Rodgers will become available, possibly with a post-June 1 designation.
"Rodgers flew back to New Jersey last week to meet with the Jets about his future with the team, only to be told that the team was moving on from him."
Releasing Rodgers with a post-June 1 designation would save $9.5 million in 2025 cap space, That feels like the most likely outcome, though New York could still pivot until that move is made official.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, now projected to be the backup to 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr., could also become available. Releasing him with a post-June 1 designation would trigger a $40 million dead-cap hit and save no 2025 cap space. Atlanta's only viable alternative, however, might be paying Cousins $40 million to provide depth in 2025.
The Falcons would avoid a $10 million roster bonus by releasing Cousins before March 17. A trade would be more beneficial for the franchises, though it's also unlikely, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport:
"Hard to imagine, with Cousins having a no-trade clause and preferring to be cut."
Neither Rodgers nor Cousins should be viewed as a long-term solution. However. either veteran could be an intriguing bridge option for a team that isn't sold on its other QB options—if they become available.
The Jets' decision appears to be coming soon. The Falcons theoretically, could continue pondering their options through March 16.
Prediction: Rodgers and Cousins both become free agents
*Cap and contract information via Spotrac.