2025 NFL Free Agency Grades: All 16 AFC Teams

March 20, 2025

Mike's Free Agency grades for all 16 of the AFC teams after the first round of free agency. His assessment of the AFC teams who won and lost 2025 free agency.

The 2025 NFL offseason is underway. Free agency started last week, with several big-name players, including Chris Godwin, Ronnie Stanley, and Osa Odighizuwa, re-signing with their own team.

However, teams have handed out billions of dollars in new contracts this offseason, including several big-money deals for players to change teams. Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Davante Adams, and Milton Williams joined new teams with a contract paying them at least $20 million a year on average.

Let’s grade all 16 AFC teams on what they’ve done so far through free agency. These grades are based on free-agent moves only. They will not include any trades.

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AFC East

Buffalo Bills: A

The Bills haven’t made any blockbuster additions but added several impact veterans. They replaced Mack Hollins with Joshua Palmer, giving Josh Allen an improved deep threat on the outside. Furthermore, Buffalo signed Allen to a massive extension, lowering his cap hit for 2025. Meanwhile, the Bills added multiple players on the defensive line, signing Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht, and Larry Ogunjobi.

Bills signing DE Joey Bosa to one-year, $12.6M deal. (via @rapsheet, @tompelissero) pic.twitter.com/Axug02IqNF

— NFL (@NFL) March 12, 2025

Miami Dolphins: C-

It’s been a quiet offseason in Miami. The Dolphins allowed Jevon Holland to hit the open market instead of using the franchise tag. The star safety signed a three-year deal with the New York Giants. Meanwhile, Robert Jones played nearly 95% of the snaps last season. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys, leaving Miami with more questions along the offensive line than answers.

New England Patriots: B+

New England would earn an A grade from me if they signed a big-name wide receiver. Reportedly, they had Stefon Diggs in for a visit at the time of writing. Adding the former superstar would be massive for Drake Maye’s development. Defensively, the Patriots made several excellent additions, including signing Milton Williams to a massive contract.

New York Jets: C

While the Jets signed Justin Fields, they didn’t make any other massive additions. The team moved on from Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams after last season’s debacle. More importantly, New York lost multiple defensive linemen, with Haason Reddick joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Javon Kinlaw signing with the Washington Commanders.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: A

Free agency got off to a good start for Baltimore, with the Ravens keeping Ronnie Stanley off the open market. They lost Brandon Stephens to the New York Jets and Patrick Mekari to the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, the team held onto Ben Cleveland while improving their wide receiver with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins.

Cincinnati Bengals: A+

Cincinnati hasn’t lost any significant free agents. However, they’ve done an excellent job adding smart veteran players from the open market. The Bengals brought back Samaje Perine after spending the past few years with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. More importantly, they signed Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term extensions.

BREAKING: The #Bengals have agreed to a 4-year, $161M extension with WR Ja’Marr Chase and a 4-year, $115M extension with WR Tee Higgins, per @Schultz_Report.

Chase is the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, while Higgins becomes the highest-paid WR2. pic.twitter.com/1G5vFa6Ait

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 17, 2025

Cleveland Browns: C-

It’s been a quiet offseason in Cleveland outside the Myles Garrett situation. The future Hall of Famer signed a massive contract extension after months of public trade demands and comments from the team. Keeping Garrett in town is the only reason the Browns earned a C- instead of a D grade.

Pittsburgh Steelers: C-

The Steelers’ biggest move this offseason was trading a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft for DK Metcalf. However, they’ve been quiet in free agency. Larry Ogunjobi joined the Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh lost multiple players on the offensive line, including Dan Moore Jr. to the Tennessee Titans and James Daniels to the Miami Dolphins.

AFC South

Houston Texans: C

Houston has made multiple trades this offseason, acquiring Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars and sending Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders. They’ve added several players to their offensive line, signing Laken Tomlinson and Cam Robinson. Meanwhile, the Texans’ biggest move was signing Derek Stingley Jr. to a long-term extension.

Indianapolis Colts: C-

I hate the Daniel Jones signing. The veteran was kicked to the curb by the New York Giants less than a year ago. Yet, the Colts thought giving him a one-year deal starting at $14 million despite not playing a snap since getting released was a smart move. The only reason why they don’t get an F grade from me is because Indianapolis significantly improved their secondary by signing Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum.

Colts expected to sign QB Daniel Jones to one-year deal. (via @rapsheet, @tompelissero) pic.twitter.com/dbEBo9eDu0

— NFL (@NFL) March 11, 2025

Jacksonville Jaguars: B-

While the Jaguars haven’t made a blockbuster signing this offseason, they added a few solid veterans. They improved their offensive line, signing Robert Hainsey from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Patrick Mekari from the Baltimore Ravens. Jacksonville also made Jourdan Lewis the highest-paid nickel cornerback in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans: B-

The Titans made a few significant signings in free agency. They signed Dan Moore Jr. to a massive contract early in free agency to play left tackle, allowing last year’s first-round NFL Draft pick, JC Latham, to move to the right side. Tennessee also added Kevin Zeitler from the Detroit Lions, adding two impact players to their offensive line.

AFC West

Denver Broncos: A+

Denver has had arguably the top offseason of any team in the NFL. The only meaningful free agent they’ve lost is Cody Barton, who signed with the Tennessee Titans. However, the Broncos replaced him with Dre Greenlaw. Furthermore, Denver added Talanoa Hufanga and Evan Engram, giving them three new starters added from free agency.

Broncos expected to sign LB Dre Greenlaw to 3-year, $35M deal. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/LBZYpNhpTA

— NFL (@NFL) March 10, 2025

Kansas City Chiefs: B-

Unfortunately, the Chiefs had to trade away Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears after placing the franchise tag on Trey Smith. They also lost Tershawn Wharton to the Carolina Panthers and Justin Reid to the New Orleans Saints in free agency. However, the team added Jaylon Moore from the San Francisco 49ers, giving Patrick Mahomes a new blindside protector.

Las Vegas Raiders: C-

The Raiders surprised everyone by trading for Geno Smith before the start of free agency. They’ve made some solid moves, adding Jeremy Chinn and Lonnie Johnson Jr. to the secondary. However, they also lost Tre'von Moehrig and Nate Hobbs in free agency, with the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers offering the former Raiders massive contracts.

Los Angeles Chargers: C

While the Chargers were considered a likely landing spot for DK Metcalf, the team didn’t make an aggressive offer for the star wide receiver. Instead, they swapped out Joshua Palmer for Mike Williams. Los Angeles also replaced J.K. Dobbins with Najee Harris. More importantly, the team released Joey Bosa without signing an adequate replacement.

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