Free agency is a big test for NFL teams all over the league trying to piece together their rosters heading into the following season—and while most teams come out of the period thinking that they’ve nailed it—the reality is that there will always be teams that come out on top, while others sink to the bottom!

Let’s take a look around the NFL and do a who’s who of the winners and losers!

Which teams are the winners and losers in the NFL free agency?

Winners: Arizona Cardinals

Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona Cardinals helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Cardinals made a couple of big moves this offseason that should bode well for them heading into 2025—the headliner being the addition of edge rusher Josh Sweat, who played for Jonathan Gannon when he was the defensive coordinator with the Eagles.

This was part of a major reinvestment in their defensive line that also included defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, who recorded four sacks last year for Cleveland, and resigning LJ Collier to a team-friendly, one-year, $4 million dollar deal.

Arizona needed to get better at chasing down the opposing quarterback and plugging up the run game—so these moves should really pay dividends for the Cardinals this season, who really need to make a statement.

They also made a wise choice investing in depth at the quarterback position with Jacoby Brissett, who will be reuniting with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, his former quarterbacks coach in Cleveland, in 2022.

Having a vet like Brissett at their disposal to help foster some growth in Kyler Murray and fill in should he get dinged up with an injury will be huge.

Losers: Atlanta Falcons

Nov 10, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Atlanta Falcons helmet against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Considering the Falcons failed to find a home for Kirk Cousins—the most expensive backup quarterback to ever play the game—it is hard to view them as anything other than losers so far this offseason.

It wasn’t just the Cousins saga dragging their grade down, though… The move to bring in Leonard Floyd, despite two straight subpar seasons, one for the 49ers and one for the Bills, was puzzling as well—especially when you see how many eggs they are really putting in that basket from a pass rush perspective.

Same with linebacker Divine Deablo, who they signed away from the Raiders… In 2024, he earned a 59.6 run-defense grade from PFF, recording 17 stops and seven missed tackles while also allowing a 103.4 passer rating when targeted in coverage. Not exactly a world-beater.

The best move that Atlanta made was bringing in cornerback Mike Hughes, who was coming off one of his best years as a pro on a flexible deal…

But all things considered, this does not look like it is shaping up to be a good NFL offseason for this team.

Winners: Washington Commanders

Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Washington Commanders helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Commanders wasted no time making major moves this offseason, overhauling their roster with a blend of veteran leadership and high-upside talent to support new franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels.

While the biggest splashes, landing Laremy Tunsil, one of the league’s premier left tackles to anchor an offensive line that desperately needed stability and wide receiver Deebo Samuel—came via trade…

They have also been wheeling and dealing with the free agent market. In addition to resigning Bobby Wagner, who, even at 34, was the best for them last season, Washington also brought in defensive linemen Deatrich Wise Jr. and Javon Kinlaw, who should be major value adds.

Washington clearly has a plan, and with a franchise quarterback in place and a roster significantly improved from last season, they’re positioning themselves to be a real factor in 2025.

Losers: Seattle Seahawks

Dec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Seattle Seahawks helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
It’s hard to look at what Seattle did this offseason and feel anything other than confused—and nervous for the good people of the Pacific Northwest. Sam Darnold for three years and $100.5 million doesn’t feel like a real contract number.

The Seahawks are betting big on a guy who was drafted No. 3 overall back in 2018, flamed out in New York, fizzled in Carolina, and played sparingly in San Francisco before finally catching fire in Minnesota last year.

And now they suddenly want to treat him like a franchise quarterback—all without addressing the other holes on their roster? That’s… bold.

Then there’s the equally bizarre decision to bring in an aging Cooper Kupp on a three-year deal. Kupp is still a technician at the position, but he hasn’t been fully healthy since his 2021 Offensive Player of the Year campaign. At 31, coming off multiple lower-body injuries, how much of that elite route-running is left is a very legitimate question.

This doesn’t feel like an NFL team with a clear plan—it feels like a team desperately throwing darts and hoping one hits the bullseye.

Winners: Detroit Lions

Helmet of Detroit Lions place kicker Jake Bates (not in the photo) before the NFC divisional round between Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders] at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, and the Lions front office just keep proving they get it. After already handing out a combined $541 million in extensions last year to Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Alim McNeill, and Jared Goff, the Lions are proving they can build for the now while keeping an eye on the future.

They didn’t have the cap space to make splashy, headline-grabbing moves, with a couple more large extensions potentially looming for Aidan Hutchinson and Kebry Joseph, but they didn’t need to.

They played it smart money for that rainy day—and made some rather strategic moves in the process.

Perhaps none more so than landing D.J. Reed on a team-friendly deal that many in the NFL media couldn’t believe… Contract aside, this move instantly upgrades their secondary in a way that they desperately need.

They also kept key defensive pieces in place, bringing back Derrick Barnes, Marcus Davenport, and Levi Onwuzurike to maintain continuity.

On the offensive side of the ball, they were a little bit quiet, but considering how impressive that group was last year, status quo is a good thing… And resigning Tim Patrick to a low-cost deal should pay huge dividends, as he was really starting to come alive in this Lions offense.

Detroit also made a couple of nice depth signings like Roy Lopez, Grant Stuard, Kenny Yeboah, and Kyle Allen which, sure, won’t move the needle much, they’re the kind of under-the-radar additions that help round out a contender.

Losers: San Francisco 49ers

Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a San Francisco 49ers helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The 49ers still have Kyle Shanahan, and they are continuing to play hardball with Brock Purdy on that rookie deal. But people around the league are starting to wonder if they still have enough high-end talent to be a problem in the NFC.

Because man, this roster took a beating this offseason.

They shipped Deebo Samuel to Washington, which—fine, tough cap decisions had to be made—and it seemed like the two sides were really growing apart…

But then they watched key pieces like Dre Greenlaw, Aaron Banks, Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarius Ward, Javon Hargrave, Leonard Floyd, and Maliek Collins all walk out the door with almost nothing in the way of replacements. That’s not just a few losses; that’s core talent at multiple positions gone overnight.

San Francisco can try to reload through the draft, but unless they hit every single pick, it’s hard to see them staying in that Super Bowl-or-bust tier they’ve been living in for the last few years.

Winners: Baltimore Ravens

Jan 11, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; A view of Baltimore Ravens players’ helmets on a heated bench against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC wild card game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Sometimes, the rich just get richer. The Ravens didn’t have a ton of cap space heading into free agency, but when has that ever stopped them from making smart, calculated moves?

I’ll answer that one for you—in the last decade… Pretty much never.

They locked up Ronnie Stanley—because keeping Lamar Jackson upright and happy is always a priority—brought back Patrick Ricard and Tylan Wallace, and then made their biggest splash by landing DeAndre Hopkins.

Sure, Hopkins isn’t a prime D-Hop anymore, but in an offense that desperately needed another reliable target—especially a vet like Hopkins, who can run routes underneath while Zay Flowers stretches the field—that’s a huge get.

There was also some addition by subtracting, losing Patrick Mekari and Brandon Stephens to bigger paydays elsewhere, and cutting ties with Marcus Williams and Arthur Maulet—I have to think that these were the right calls—this is one of those NFL teams that just keep finding ways to stay ahead of the curve.

Losers: Dallas Cowboys

Jan 7, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; A view of Dallas Cowboys players’ helmets on the bench against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Another offseason, another masterclass in doing just enough to keep Cowboys fans perpetually frustrated—the folks in Dallas are having a hard time even pretending they are legit contenders anymore!

Sure, they made some moves—Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in the backfield, Kenneth Murray and Solomon Thomas on defense—but let’s be real, none of those are needle-movers. Williams has flashed talent but has never stayed healthy, Sanders is fresh off a disastrous stint in Carolina, Murray has never lived up to his first-round billing, and Thomas has been bouncing around the league for years. This is what Jerry Jones considers “going for it”?

What a far cry from the Jerry Jones of yesteryear when he led the Cowboys to NFC supremacy!

Winners: New York Jets

Aug 17, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New York Jets helmets during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
The Jets are making it very clear that this is a new era. With GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn running the show, it’s been a full-scale roster overhaul—one that feels like a necessary reset for an NFL team that’s been stuck in neutral for far too long.

The Jets finally swung for a quarterback with upside, and while Fields still has plenty to prove, this is the kind of move that at least gives them a shot at breaking out of QB purgatory.

They didn’t stop there either, reuniting Fields with his former Ohio State teammate, center Josh Myers, to help stabilize the offensive line—and instill some continuity.

Brandon Stephens is a solid replacement for D.J. Reed, who set sails for Detroit, as well.

New York may not be setting up for a Super Bowl run in 2025, but they are finally laying a new foundation on which the organization can actually grow.

Losers: Houston Texans

Aug 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; A Houston Texans helmet sits on the sidelines during the 4th quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports
Houston… we have a problem!

The problem is that they seem determined to squander the opportunity to contend while C.J. Stroud is still on his rookie contract.

They added yet another eternally injured receiver in Christian Kirk and then traded away Stroud’s best protector on their embattled offensive line, Laremy Tunsil, to Washington.

That’s not exactly the blueprint for developing a superstar quarterback. Sure, they added Laken Tomlinson and Ed Ingram at guard, but expecting those moves to somehow offset the loss of an elite left tackle is wishful thinking at best.

It could be another season of regression for the Houston Texans after things looked so promising during C.J. Stroud’s rookie year!

Winners: Indianapolis Colts

Dec 1, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; An Indianapolis Colts helmet sits on an equipment case during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Rolling the dice on a Daniel Jones reclamation project isn’t about replacing Anthony Richardson—it’s about giving him real competition and a safety net in case his development stalls out entirely.

And considering his NFL resume to date, getting a competent pro in the building in Daniel Jones, who still has some upside, is not the worst idea.

Indy was also sharp, having an eye on the future choosing not to retain defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and guard Will Fries, who were going to pull bigger price tags than were worth paying for the Colts with where they are at as an organization.

It’s not a flashy offseason, but it’s a smart one. If competition pushes Richardson to make a leap or Jones rises to the occasion, this NFL team could be live in the AFC South.

Losers: Buffalo Bills

Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; A detailed view of the Buffalo Bills helmet before the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Buffalo’s been knocking on the door for years now, but after yet another playoff heartbreak at the hands of Kansas City, they’ve responded with… some truly head-scratching moves.

For starters, they’ve decided to run back the whole—sign an ageing star pass rusher that can stay on the field play—by inking Joey Bosa to a deal.

Yes, if healthy, he is a game-wrecker—but that’s a big if at this point…

Throw in Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi—who, by the way, is already suspended for the first six games—and the Bills are banking on a lot of things going just right. If this defense stumbles out of the gate, these signings are going to look even worse in hindsight.

The big move on the offensive side of the ball was offering a multi-year deal to Josh Palmer, which… why?

Palmer has the explosiveness to stretch the field, but he has been woefully inconsistent and is not worth that price tag.