sam-darnold-cbs-2.jpg
USATSI

The 2025 NFL offseason is firing on all cylinders now. A day after several teams agreed to blockbuster deals, including the Buffalo Bills giving Josh Allen a new $330 million contract, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquiring DK Metcalf and the Los Angeles Rams signing Davante Adams, the league's free agent negotiating period kicked off Monday. And while most signings and trades can't be finalized until Wednesday, dozens of big names have already found new homes or inked new deals.

The biggest needle-movers: Sam Darnold put unofficial pen to paper on a deal to leave the Minnesota Vikings and become the new quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, Justin Fields followed suit by leaving the Steelers to replace Aaron Rodgers as the New York Jets' signal-caller, and a couple of Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles cashed in with new landing spots.

Which of Monday's moves are most encouraging? And which ones have us scratching our head? Here's how we'd grade the biggest reported signings and trades of Day 1, ahead of free agency's official start on Wednesday:

Seahawks signing Sam Darnold

Darnold folded in crunch time to close his otherwise explosive 2024 season, and now he'll be without the Minnesota Vikings' all-star skill group. But by dealing Geno Smith, Seattle essentially traded one gifted but mercurial passer for a younger one, while picking up a third-round pick and projected cap savings. It's a slightly higher-upside dart throw at a critical position.

Grade: B

Sam Darnold signing with Seahawks: Former Vikings QB agrees to three-year, $100.5 million contract, per report
Jordan Dajani
Sam Darnold signing with Seahawks: Former Vikings QB agrees to three-year, $100.5 million contract, per report

Jets signing Justin Fields

What better way to pivot from the Aaron Rodgers era than by going all in on youthful upside? Fields is still just 26, and his deal -- two years for $40 million -- is borderline backup money in this era. In other words, New York isn't necessarily boxing itself in by prying the former first-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Grade: A-

Jets signing Justin Fields: Former Steelers QB getting two-year, $40M deal with $30M guaranteed, per report
Garrett Podell
Jets signing Justin Fields: Former Steelers QB getting two-year, $40M deal with $30M guaranteed, per report

Buccaneers re-signing Chris Godwin

Godwin is a proven safety valve for Baker Mayfield, so keeping him in town alongside Mike Evans is a net positive. The only downside is that he's now earning even more than Evans, despite missing multiple games in four of the last five seasons.

Grade: B-

Buccaneers re-signing Chris Godwin: Star WR back in Tampa Bay on three-year deal worth up to $72 million
Garrett Podell
Buccaneers re-signing Chris Godwin: Star WR back in Tampa Bay on three-year deal worth up to $72 million

Commanders acquiring Laremy Tunsil

Any fortification of Jayden Daniels' front should be considered a victory for Washington. The Commanders are paying a relative premium, including a second- and fourth-rounder, for an aging tackle, however. This is clearly a "win-now" endeavor.

Grade: B

Commanders trading for Laremy Tunsil: Washington acquiring star left tackle from Texans in blockbuster deal
Jordan Dajani
Commanders trading for Laremy Tunsil: Washington acquiring star left tackle from Texans in blockbuster deal

Titans signing Dan Moore Jr.

It's important to shore up the tackle spots. And Tennessee had money to spend. The Steelers let him walk without a second thought, however, and now the Titans are paying him borderline top-five left tackle money. This spells possible trouble.

Grade: C-

2025 NFL free agency: Titans signing ex-Steelers LT Dan Moore Jr. to four-year, $82 million deal, per report
Jordan Dajani
2025 NFL free agency: Titans signing ex-Steelers LT Dan Moore Jr. to four-year, $82 million deal, per report

Packers signing Aaron Banks

This is a projection signing for Green Bay, because while Banks has been solid on the interior for the San Francisco 49ers, a $19 million annual payday makes him one of the game's top six highest-paid guards.

Grade: B-

Packers free agency: Green Bay invests in protecting Jordan Love by signing one of top interior OL, per report
Garrett Podell
Packers free agency: Green Bay invests in protecting Jordan Love by signing one of top interior OL, per report

Bears signing Drew Dalman

Chicago hasn't shied away from addressing Caleb Williams' front, adding Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs and Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams. Dalman might have the most upside of them all as an up-and-coming anchor.

Grade: A-

Bears sign Drew Dalman to three-year, $42M deal with $28M guaranteed to keep Caleb Williams upright
Garrett Podell
Bears sign Drew Dalman to three-year, $42M deal with $28M guaranteed to keep Caleb Williams upright

Patriots signing Milton Williams

New England may have overpaid for some other defenders (see below), and Williams is commanding a pretty penny at $26 million per year, but he showed game-changing strength as part of the Eagles' front-four rotation over the last four seasons.

Grade: B+

2025 NFL free agency: Milton Williams, Patriots reach deal worth reported $104 million over four years
Tyler Sullivan
2025 NFL free agency: Milton Williams, Patriots reach deal worth reported $104 million over four years

Cardinals signing Josh Sweat

Jonathan Gannon sorely needed pass rushing help, and now he gets some thanks to a reunion with his old Eagles pal. Sweat has been more solid and streaky than spectacular, but at 27, he could help change the face of Arizona's front for years to come.

Grade: C+

Cardinals signing Josh Sweat to 4-year, $76.4M deal as ex-Eagles DE reunites with Jonathan Gannon, per report
Garrett Podell
Cardinals signing Josh Sweat to 4-year, $76.4M deal as ex-Eagles DE reunites with Jonathan Gannon, per report

Buccaneers signing Haason Reddick

Todd Bowles has gotten elite production from his off-ball linebackers, but Tampa Bay has needed a bona fide quarterback hunter for a while. Reddick was a non-factor in 2024 amid a contract dispute, but he's thrived as a sack artist for hire in the past.

Grade: A-

2025 NFL free agency: Haason Reddick, Buccaneers agree to one-year, $14 million deal, per report
Jordan Dajani
2025 NFL free agency: Haason Reddick, Buccaneers agree to one-year, $14 million deal, per report

Patriots signing Carlton Davis

Well, Mike Vrabel is certainly getting himself a feisty defense. Davis brings attitude to New England's secondary after a battle-tested run with the Detroit Lions. The $20 million annual price tag is a lot for a guy who's often banged up, however.

Grade: C+

2025 NFL free agency: Patriots signing Carlton Davis to a three-year, $60 million deal
Shanna McCarriston
2025 NFL free agency: Patriots signing Carlton Davis to a three-year, $60 million deal

Colts signing Charvarius Ward

The former San Francisco 49ers standout was eyeing a fresh start, and he gets one in Indianapolis thanks to a three-year deal reportedly worth up to $60 million. It's a fair price if the former lockdown starter can stay on the field in his new digs.

Grade: A-

Giants signing Paulson Adebo

Looking for some playmaking spunk to offset 2024's loss of Xavier McKinney, New York is adding one of the most underrated cover men on the market here. Adebo has been a ball magnet when healthy, and he only turns 26 this summer.

Grade: A

Giants signing Paulson Adebo: New York strengthens secondary by adding former Saints CB
Garrett Podell
Giants signing Paulson Adebo: New York strengthens secondary by adding former Saints CB

Lions signing D.J. Reed

With Carlton Davis leaving town for a bigger payday, Detroit gets a solid consolation prize in Reed, who was sturdy, if un-splashy, for both the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets. It's a classic plug-and-play option on the perimeter.

Grade: B-

Packers signing Nate Hobbs

Green Bay needed secondary help with Jaire Alexander on the trade block, and Hobbs has been feisty when active, but he's also missed extensive action in each of the last three years and primarily manned the slot in Las Vegas.

Grade: C+

Vikings signing Isaiah Rodgers

Basically all of the Minnesota secondary is hitting the market, so Rodgers represents a low-risk, high-reward bet after a rotational stint with the Eagles. He's still young, and he's proven capable of stepping in at multiple spots on a pinch.

Grade: A-

Panthers signing Tre'von Moehrig

After reportedly nearing a deal with Milton Williams, then missing out on the Eagles lineman, Carolina instead added youth to its secondary in Moehrig, who registers as the total package on the back end. He should help steady the entire defense.

Grade: B-

Broncos signing Talanoa Hufanga

The former San Francisco 49ers prospect has the kind of old-school tenacity that coach Sean Payton will adore, and when healthy, he's proven All-Pro-caliber. The issue has been durability. And Denver is paying him to be annually elite.

Grade: C

2025 NFL free agency tracker: Updates on top 100 free agents, offensive linemen among best available
Cody Benjamin
2025 NFL free agency tracker: Updates on top 100 free agents, offensive linemen among best available