2025 NFL Free Agents: Predictions for Top Stars Amid Super Wild Card Bracket Playoffs

The NFL offseason is once again setting up to be one of the busiest in recent memory, with a plethora of headline-making free agents who will not only set the bar for others at the position but also potentially force their incumbent teams to spend via the franchise tag.

Two such players are Sam Darnold of Minnesota and Tee Higgins in Cincinnati.

Both were essential to their teams in 2024 and, on paper, should be the first players either of those franchises talk to.

Will they get tagged and continue with their current squads or will they move on, taking their talents to the highest bidder? And where do other, veteran competitors continue their careers amid expiring contracts?

Find out with these early predictions for NFL free agency.

There is no way the Minnesota Vikings let Sam Darnold walk this offseason.

The former No. 3 overall pick had an extraordinary season for the NFC North runners-up, compiling 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while leading his team to a 14-win season that would have guaranteed a division title in any other year.

With renewed confidence and a system under head coach Kevin O'Connell that suits his strengths, Darnold reminded everyone why he was considered such a hot prospect coming out of USC.

While the Vikings did select Michigan's JJ McCarthy 10th overall in last spring's NFL Draft, there is plenty of opportunity for the former Wolverine to learn behind Darnold so that when his time comes to be the unquestioned starter, he can step in and be more prepared than he may have been otherwise.

Or the team can explore a trade with a quarterback-hungry club.

Whatever the case, expect the Vikings to exercise the franchise tag that OverTheCap.com estimates could land Darnold just over $41 million in 2025, which is far from a bad number for the organization if he can repeat his level of play from 2024.

Prediction: Vikings tag Darnold

Joe Burrow sent a message to the Bengals front office with regards to wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, telling reporters after a Week 18 win over Pittsburgh, "That's why you gotta do everything you can to get those deals done early."

Higgins played 2024 on a franchise tag after the team failed to ink the dynamic wideout last offseason. Now, he is a free agent and Burrow has made it abundantly clear he wants to see him return to the team.

After a season that saw him play in just 12 games due to injury while still amassing 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, it is not surprising to see why.

The Bengals can, and likely will, tag Higgins for a second year, a move that will cost the team approximately $26 million.

The question is whether the team can get a deal done before it has to apply the tag, potentially structuring it in a way that saves it some money in 2025 and allows the team to add necessary pieces to build on the momentum it had at the end of this season.

Regardless of how it plays out, both because he makes the team's offense better and Burrow has been vocal about wanting to keep him with the team, Higgins feels like someone destined to wear the orange and black against next season.

Russell Wilson is an interesting case in that he played well enough to get another look from Pittsburgh in 2025 but not great enough to make anyone who supports the black and yellow believe he is the guy to get them over the hump and back to the Super Bowl.

The veteran QB hurled 16 TDs and five interceptions for the team this season, hardly numbers that are going to generate excitement. He played well enough to guide the team to the playoffs but could not be the catalyst in reversing a four-game skid to end the regular season, nor in winning the team's first playoff game since 2016.

The team can apply a transition tag to Wilson, which gives it the right to match any offer that comes his way. It is cheaper than applying a traditional franchise tag and allows the Steelers to explore other quarterback options.

Especially with Justin Fields also hitting free agency this year.

With no other obvious suitor for Wilson, the former Seattle Seahawk and Denver Bronco may be best off staying with Pittsburgh as the team at least has the look and feel of a playoff contender again next season.

Prediction: Wilson stays in Pittsburgh on a transition tag

Chris Godwin is a beloved member of the Buccaneers locker room and one of the team's most popular players among fans, but he will hit free agency this offseason and could be one of the most coveted wide receivers available as long as his injured ankle heals.

Godwin was in the middle of one of his best seasons to date, a potential Pro Bowl season that saw him catch 50 balls for 576 yards and five touchdowns before he suffered a devastating dislocated ankle on a Monday night against Baltimore.

Tampa Bay has the money to pay Godwin ($22.6 million market value according to Spotrac) but one has to wonder if big contracts for Tristan Wirfs, Baker Mayfield, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Vita Vea have the team in a situation where they opt to let Godwin walk in hopes of freeing up space to address other needs.

That could very well be the case and if so, Godwin will have no shortage of teams looking to add his talent. The Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, and Green Bay Packers are just the playoff teams that could utilize a receiver of his caliber.

Godwin doesn't drop the ball (just 22 since 2018) and was well on his way to his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season.

Imagine what the Bills, a Super Bowl-contending team without him, could do with a stud receiver like the veteran wideout.

Prediction: Godwin continues his career with a contender, but not in Tampa Bay