2025 NFL Free Agency: The Five Most Intriguing Teams To Watch This Offseason

The NFL never sleeps. With Super Bowl LIX in the rearview mirror, teams are now shifting focus to 2025 NFL free agency and the draft. The new league year officially begins on March 12 at noon ET, and over the next few weeks, franchises will be making huge decisions that could define their future.

Some teams are in better shape than others, but a handful stand out as the most interesting to watch this offseason. Whether it’s contract negotiations, trade drama, or coaching changes, these five teams have big moves to make—and plenty of storylines to follow.

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Can They Keep Their Stars?

The Bengals are loaded with talent, but keeping their core together won’t be easy.

Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and he’s expected to reset the market for wideouts. He could command close to $40 million per year, making him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history.

Then there’s Tee Higgins, who is set to hit free agency. Quarterback Joe Burrow and Chase both want him back, but with only $46 million in cap space, Cincinnati has some tough choices to make.

One option is to franchise tag Higgins, which would cost them about $26 million for 2025. But they could also tag and trade him, getting assets in return while avoiding the cap hit.

Meanwhile, pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who led the league in sacks last season, is unhappy with his contract. He requested a trade last year, and unless the Bengals extend him, things could get ugly.

This is a crucial offseason for Cincinnati. How they handle these contracts will determine whether they can stay competitive for years—or take a step back.

2. Cleveland Browns: A Quarterback Dilemma and Myles Garrett Drama

The Browns already had questions at quarterback, but now their best defensive player wants out.

Myles Garrett, the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, has requested a trade. The team had hoped to calm things down with a new contract, but Garrett seems more interested in winning a Super Bowl than getting a raise.

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Meanwhile, quarterback Deshaun Watson is dealing with a ruptured Achilles, and there’s a real chance he misses the entire 2025 season. That puts Cleveland in a tough spot because they hold the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. Do they select a new quarterback to replace Watson? Or do they use that pick to improve other areas?

General manager Andrew Berry has said the Browns won’t trade Garrett, but if he pushes hard enough, the team might have no choice.

Between the quarterback situation and Garrett’s future, the Browns have major decisions ahead.

3. New Orleans Saints: New Coach, No Money

The Saints are about to hire Kellen Moore as their next head coach, but he’s walking into a financial mess.

New Orleans is $60 million over the salary cap, one of the worst situations in the league. That means they can’t make many moves in free agency unless they start cutting players or restructuring contracts.

The biggest challenge? Derek Carr’s contract. The Saints still owe him $10 million guaranteed for 2025, with another $30 million set to become guaranteed by March 15. Even if they wanted to move on from him, they wouldn’t save much money, meaning he’s likely their starting QB for another season.

Before they do anything major, they need to finalize Moore’s coaching staff. After that, they’ll have to get creative to fix their roster without much cap flexibility.

New Orleans was a big talking point during Super Bowl week, and that won’t change anytime soon. This offseason will test just how good their front office really is.

Source: 2025 NFL free agency, draft: Offseason’s most interesting teams

4. New England Patriots: A New Coach and a Boatload of Cash

The Patriots have a new head coach, Mike Vrabel, and the good news for him? He has more money to work with than anyone else in the NFL.

New England has a league-high $110 million in cap space, giving them the ability to make serious upgrades. They could go after top free agents, including someone like Tee Higgins, or use that money to rebuild their offensive line.

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They also have a promising young quarterback, Drake Maye, who many believe could become a franchise player. Plus, they own the No. 4 overall pick, which gives them another chance to land a game-changing talent.

The Patriots have been stuck in mediocrity since Tom Brady left. But with a new coach, a young QB, and tons of cap space, this offseason could be the start of their comeback.

5. New York Jets: What Happens With Aaron Rodgers?

The Jets are entering a new era with Aaron Glenn as their head coach and Darren Mougey as general manager. But before they do anything, they need to figure out what to do with Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers, now 41 years old, has one year left on his deal, but reports suggest he won’t be back in 2025. The Jets could cut him after June 1, which would spread out his $49 million dead cap hit over two seasons.

If Rodgers leaves, that could impact Davante Adams’ future. The receiver might not want to stay if his longtime QB is gone.

On top of that, the Jets have to decide what to do with their young stars—Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Sauce Gardner, and Jermaine Johnson are all eligible for contract extensions.

With only $21 million in cap space, New York will have to make some big moves. A roster shakeup is coming, but the question is: how drastic will it be?

Final Thoughts

The NFL offseason is never boring, and this year is no exception. These five teams stand out because they have huge decisions to make—from star players wanting new contracts to teams navigating tight cap situations.

With coaching changes, big-name players possibly on the move, and franchises shaping their futures, the next few months could change the league’s landscape.

One thing’s for sure: the drama is far from over.