2025 NFL free agency grades: Evaluating the major signings, extensions, trades

The start of a new NFL league year is here, and teams are reinforcing their ranks at a dizzying pace. The FOX Sports NFL crew grades the biggest signings of this year's free-agent class — plus evaluations of the most notable contract extensions and trades. 

Free-agent players are listed according to their rank in FOX Sports' top 100 free agent list. Follow every free-agent signing here:

2025 NFL free agency tracker: Signings, updates, best players available

Sam Darnold, QB, Seahawks
2024 stats: 66.2% completion rate for 4,319 yards and 35 TDs against 12 INTs
Reported terms: three years, $110.5 million ($55 million guaranteed)
Previous team: Vikings

Ben Arthur: Darnold feels like a downgrade from Geno Smith, whom the Seahawks traded to the Raiders. But the terms of Darnold’s deal make it a huge win for Seattle, especially considering he was the top quarterback on the free-agent market. Both his APY and guarantees are outside of the top-15 for passers. So to get a 27-year-old Darnold, who can be an above-average starter in spurts (as evident by his work with the Vikings), and the third-round pick from the Smith trade is strong business for the Seahawks. They can still pursue a long-term quarterback, too. What Darnold looks like outside of Kevin O’Connell’s system remains to be seen, but being reunited with Klint Kubiak — whom he worked with in San Francisco — is a plus.

Grade: B

Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs 
2024 stats: 50 catches, 576 yards, 5 TDs in seven games 
Reported terms: three years, $66 million, $44 million guaranteed 
Previous team: Bucs 

Greg Auman: Tampa Bay was able to keep the biggest piece of its offseason puzzle, guaranteeing two years even though Godwin is recovering from a dislocated ankle that cut short his