2025 NFL Free Agency LIVE Deal Grader: Grading and tracking every transaction
2XW54X8 Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) walks to the sideline after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
By
PFF.com
The start of the new NFL season is all but underway, meaning extensions and deals with unrestricted free agents are coming in fast.
PFF will be providing live reactions and analysis on all major transactions, and we’ll give each deal one of four grades: below average, average, above average and elite. These ratings will be updated throughout the week as additional news comes in.
For even more information about the best free agents on the market, monitor PFF’s free-agent rankings, which include contract projections, wins above replacement (PFF WAR), PFF grades and analysis.
Chronological Deal Grades
DI D.J. Jones signs with Denver Broncos
- 2024 PFF Grade: 67.3
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.10
- Contract: 3 years, $39 million, $26 million guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $ 18 million, $ 10 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Average
Jones is a solid player who earned a 67.3 PFF grade last season, 37th among qualifying interior defenders. However, his contract comes with a hefty price tag, placing him just outside the top 20 at the position in terms of average annual value.
WR Davante Adams signs with Los Angeles Rams
- 2024 PFF Grade: 75.8
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.34
- Contract: 2 years, $44million, $26million guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: N/A
- PFF Deal Grade: Good
Although Adams is now 32 years old, he remains productive and proved he could be a solid second option in the Rams offense. He averaged 2.04 yards per route run last season, tying for 27th among all wide receivers in 2024.
T Alaric Jackson re-signs with Los Angeles Rams
- 2024 PFF Grade: 78.3
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.28
- Contract: 3 years, $57.75 million, $30 million guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: 4 years, $58 million, $37,5 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Average
Jackson’s deal is a slight annual overpay, but locking up their starting left tackle for three more years was the right move for the Rams. His 79.2 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked 22nd among all offensive tackles last season.
T Ronnie Stanley re-signs with Baltimore Ravens
- 2024 PFF Grade: 71.0
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.25
- Contract: 3 years, $60 million
- PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $40 million, $27.5 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
The Ravens locked up Stanley for the exact annual amount we projected. The Ravens tackle earned an 80.9 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2024, 16th among offensive tackles, and he has never posted a PFF pass-blocking grade below 75.0 in a season with at least 50 pass-blocking snaps.
- 2024 PFF Grade: 88.2
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.50
- Contract: 1 year, $26.2 million
- PFF Projected Contract: 4 years, $30 million per year, $70 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Average
Higgins is coming off a career year in which he earned an 88.2 PFF grade while averaging 2.05 yards per route run, the second-best mark of his career. Keeping him makes sense for the Bengals, but a long-term deal would be a far better outcome.
TE Mike Gesicki re-signs with Cincinnati Bengals
- 2024 PFF Grade: 73.8
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.28
- Contract: 3 years, $25.5 million
- PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $12 million, $6 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Below Average
Gesicki earned a 73.8 PFF grade last season and secured a sizable contract extension with the Bengals. Cincinnati is clearly prioritizing the tight end position, as three of their top five players in target rate were tight ends, including Gesicki (19.4%). While the deal was an overpay based on our projections, it aligns with their approach in the passing game.
LB Bobby Wagner re-signs with Washington Commanders
- 2024 PFF Grade: 88.3
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.37
- Contract: 1 year, $9.5 million ($6.06 million guaranteed)
- PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $5 million
- PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Wagner continues to defy age. At 34, he posted the highest WAR value of any off-ball linebacker in the NFL in 2024, backed by a 90.9 run-defense grade. While he’s no longer the coverage spy he was seven or eight years ago, his reliability against the run played a key role in Washington bringing him back —despite the slightly higher-than-expected price tag.
RB Aaron Jones re-signs with Minnesota Vikings
- 2024 PFF Grade: 75.4
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.13
- Contract: 2 years, $20 million, $13 million guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $14 million, $8 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Average
Jones’ 75.4 overall grade in 2024 was a career low, but he remains a valuable part of the Vikings‘ backfield thanks to his patience and receiving ability, as he just posted a near-career-high in receiving yards (420). With Minnesota pushing to win now, bringing Jones back is a solid move.
LB Lavonte David re-signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 2024 PFF Grade: 67.9
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.14
- Contract: 1 year, $10 million, $9 million guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $6.5 million
- PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
At 34, David remained one of Tampa’s most reliable and impactful defenders. His 67.9 PFF grade—near a career low—reflects some expected decline with age, but bringing him back for a 14th season (matching Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks) was crucial for a Buccaneers team still thin at linebacker heading into 2025.
DI Osa Odighizuwa re-signs with Dallas Cowboys
- 2024 PFF Grade: 68.1
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.23
- Contract: 4 years, $80 million, $52 million guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: 4 years, $85 million, $50 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Good
Even if the raw sack totals don’t reflect it, Odighizuwa has been one of the league’s top pass-rushing defensive tackles over the past two seasons. Since 2023, the UCLA product ranks among the top 10 interior defenders in pass-rush grade, pass-rush win rate and pressure rate. Dallas doesn’t have to break the bank for him — a key advantage given the likely massive payday ahead for Micah Parsons.
Kansas City Chiefs franchise tag G Trey Smith
- 2024 PFF Grade: 76.3
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.25
- Contract: 1 year, $23.4 million fully guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: 4 years, $86 million, $52 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Good
Despite perceptions of a down year, Smith’s 76.3 overall grade in 2024 was actually a career-high. With little variance between his best and worst seasons, he has proven to be a consistently good player. The Chiefs prioritized Smith over Thuney, trading the veteran to Chicago. While the franchise tag exceeds our projected average, Smith could be in line to reset the guard market again next year.
Edge rusher Harold Landry III signs with New England Patriots
- 2024 PFF Grade: 70.5
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.02
- Contract: 3 years, $43.5 million, $26 million guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: N/A
- PFF Deal Grade: Below average
Landry reunites with his former head coach, Mike Vrabel, in New England, though the Patriots had to pay a premium to get him. While the former Titan tallied nine sacks last year, his 4.7% pass-rush win rate was the lowest in the league among 86 qualifying edge defenders.
LB Nick Bolton re-signs with Kansas City Chiefs
- 2024 PFF Grade: 64.0
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.07
- Contract: 3 years, $45 million, $30 million guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: 4 years, $60 million, $40 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Good
PFF’s contract projection for Bolton was spot on, matching his $15 million average annual value and $10 million in guaranteed money per year. While his last two seasons haven’t been as efficient as his first two, he remains a key piece of Kansas City’s defense and just turned 25. A second-level defender who fully understands the defensive scheme and responsibilities holds significant value.
Raiders trade for Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith
- 2024 PFF Grade: 83.2
- 2024 PFF WAR: 3.00
- Contract: Final year of a 3-year, $75 million deal
- PFF Projected Contract: N/A
- PFF Deal Grade: Good
Smith’s 3.00 WAR ranked fifth among all NFL players last season, making the Raiders’ acquisition of him for a third-round pick a steal. With limited free-agent options and no control over a top quarterback selection at No. 6 in the draft, this move fills a key need. Smith, now 34 and turning 35 next season, reunites with Pete Carroll and should hit the ground running.
LB Zack Baun re-signs with Philadelphia Eagles
- 2024 PFF Grade: 90.1
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.32
- Contract: 3 years, $51 million, $34 million guaranteed
- PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $45 million, $29.25 million guaranteed
- PFF Deal Grade: Above average
Baun capitalized on his breakout season with a deal that makes him one of the five highest-paid linebackers in the NFL. In New Orleans, he often looked lost transitioning from edge rusher to linebacker, but he found his footing in Philadelphia as an off-ball player, finishing as the league’s highest-graded linebacker last season. Now, he stays with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio as he and the Eagles aim to defend their Super Bowl title.
Pittsburgh Steelers trade for WR D.K. Metcalf
- 2024 PFF Grade: 74.3
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.32
- Contract: Five years, $150 million
- PFF Projected Contract: N/A
- PFF Deal Grade: Average
The Steelers made a significant investment in Metcalf, trading the No. 52 overall pick to acquire him from Seattle and signing him to a five-year, $150 million deal—making him the latest receiver to earn $30 million per year. While Metcalf is a talented player, his skill set closely mirrors that of George Pickens, potentially creating redundancies if Pickens isn’t traded. Since entering the league in 2019, Metcalf has more than doubled the next closest receiver in accepted penalties (17)—ironically, that next closest receiver is Pickens with eight.
Washington Commanders trade for WR Deebo Samuel
- 2024 PFF Grade: 71.3
- 2024 PFF WAR: 0.19
- Contract: Final year of a three-year, $71.5 million deal
- PFF Projected Contract: N/A
- PFF Deal Grade: Good
Since his breakout 2021 season, Samuel has been regarded as one of the league’s most versatile offensive weapons. However, injuries and other factors have impacted his availability and production. He earned a career-low 71.3 overall grade in 2024, which, combined with his price tag, led to him being traded for just a third-round pick. Despite his recent decline, he’s a worthwhile gamble for the Commanders in terms of draft capital, cap space and scheme fit.
Team-By-Team Deal Grades
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