2025 Free Agency – Syndication Server

Cowboys backup predicted to get $10 million contract in free agency

Could Trey Lance parlay the next eight games into a starting job in 2025? A premiere backup?

The Dallas Cowboys might not be able to resuscitate their playoff chances in 2024, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to salvage from the season. Dallas sits at 3-6 and will watch the rest of the league play their Week 11 games before they get a chance to take the field. While there’s still plenty of action left in the season, the Cowboys are likely playing for draft positioning, not playoff positioning.

But playing out the string can benefit individual players. Dallas has a ton of free agents who could be auditioning for either a new coaching staff in Dallas or a new franchise outside of the DFW. That includes quarterback Trey Lance. Sooner or later, the coaching staff is going to give Lance a shot at starting, though it won’t be in Week 11. But when he does, one outlet has confidence he’s going to play pretty well.

Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon identified the fifth-year quarterback as someone on the verge of making a name for himself in the writer’s 5 Bold Predictions for the rest of the 2024 season. Gagnon thinks Lance will take the opportunity afforded with Dak Prescott’s pending surgery, and run with it all the way to a lucrative contract in the offseason.

Right place, right time. The Cowboys have lost Dak Prescott for the remainder of the year, and Cooper Rush has been so bad that Trey Lance is bound to get some serious work down the stretch.

Surrounded by plenty of talent, look for the skilled 24-year-old to put on some shows just as his contract expires.

I’m not saying he’ll salvage his career, but the 2021 No. 3 pick is in the ideal environment to fire up some teams that might be desperate enough to believe he could be a late-blooming answer.

At the very least, Lance will do enough to earn a Sam Darnold-like top-tier backup contract as an insurance policy somewhere.

A Sam Darnold like deal would net Lance around $10 million on a one-year contract to prove himself; that’s what the former Jet was provided to be the backup in Minnesota to a rookie QB. JJ McCarthy was lost for the year to injury and Darnold stepped in and has led the Vikings into the playoff picture, surprising many.

If Lance has that in him, then he will probably lose the Cowboys some draft slot positioning and earn them a 2026 compensatory pick.

49ers All-Pro predicted to cut ties with San Francisco, join Saints

49ers All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga was predicted to cut ties with San Francisco and join the New Orleans Saints in 2025 free agency:

Never say never, but it could be tough for the New Orleans Saints to rationalize some big moves in 2025 free agency. Between needing a new head coach and the salary cap costs of past decisions, they might be better served sitting out another spending cycle to get their books in order.

But that doesn’t mean they won’t sign any new faces. And if they do go after a blue-chip player in free agency, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has a great fit in mind. Knox argues San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga could be just what the Saints defense has been missing:

The Saints—who tapped into the San Francisco pipeline with edge-rusher Chase Young and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak this offseason—could be very interested if Hufanga is available.

“The Saints could use some safety help and Tyrann Mathieu could be another cap casualty this offseason,” Holder wrote.

New Orleans, however, will have to free up a lot of cap space to pursue any marquee free agent. The Saints are projected to be $77 million over the 2025 cap.

The Colts should also be interested in adding a playmaker like Hufanga. Nick Cross has been a tackling machine in Indy this season but has too often been a liability in coverage. Hufanga’s ball skills and versatility would make him a great addition to the Colts’ secondary.

Injuries have limited Hufanga to a dozen games through 2023 and 2024, though he’s expected to return later this season. The 2022 All-Pro makes plays all over the field with 7 interceptions, 14 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and 2 sacks to go with 189 combined tackles (7 tackles for loss). But while he could be a viable replacement for Mathieu as a roving defender who can line up at any depth, he’s played his best football hanging back over the top of the defense. They could coexist.

Still, getting out from under tens of millions of dollars in negative salary cap space will be a challenge. The Saints will need to accomplish that before they can begin looking for help on the free agent market. But when you look at the players they have added recently like Chase Young, Khalen Saunders, and Willie Gay Jr., Hufanga fits the bill as an obviously talented playmaker with a bit of an injury history. Maybe he ends up in New Orleans after all.

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Cowboys 9x All-Pro predicted to cut ties with Dallas, join Bears

A look at a likely suitor for Zack Martin if he hits free agency in 2025.

The Dallas Cowboys’ season is spiraling to an inglorious finish. Losers of four consecutive games, Dallas has two top teams coming up on their pre-Thanksgiving schedule. The Houston Texans travel up the highway this Sunday and already are installed as over a touchdown favorites. Behind them is Dan Quinn’s new look Washington Commanders in a road contest.

3-8 could easily be staring the team in the face and that doesn’t bode well for Mike McCarthy and his lame-duck staff. What’s even worse is the lost season could end the 11-year career of nine-time All-Pro Zack Martin.

A surefire Hall of Famer, Martin has spent his entire career in Dallas, but he’s going to hit unrestricted free agency in March; and that’s if he doesn’t retire. Martin’s hinted at it, but that could be a level of frustration with having spent two years in Mike Solari’s failed blocking system. A fresh start could be intriguing and that’s where the latest bold prediction comes in.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently took a look at where the top free agents could land in 2025, and Knox identified two potential suitors for Martin; the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Bears should have a ton of interest in Martin, as their inconsistent offensive line has been a massive challenge this season. Assuming Chicago can re-sign Teven Jenkins, adding Martin would give Chicago a top-tier guard tandem to block for Caleb Williams.

The Chargers may also want to consider Martin as an upgrade over Trey Pipkins III at right guard. Los Angeles has a terrific pair of tackles in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but the interior line leaves something to be desired.

Knox ranked Martin as the 13th-highest rated free agent for 2025.

Cowboys predicted to replace 9-time Pro Bowler with this AFC veteran

The Cowboys front office needs to begin thinking about the future at several positions, including RG where Zack Martin could retire or leave the org. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys season is not going the way they planned, but the way many predicted. Sitting at 3-5 through what used to be the midpoint of the season, things are looking bleak considering the schedule they will face. Dallas is now without quarterback Dak Prescott for the foreseeable future, and the foreseeable future has them taking on the 6-2 Philadelphia Eagles, 6-3 Houston Texans and 7-2 Washington Commanders over the next three weeks.

So fans who were already disgruntled are becoming apathetic towards the 2024 season and have already started looking ahead. That vision probably needs to include an offensive line without staple Zack Martin, who is a 2025 unrestricted free agent and has already hinted at retirement this past offseason. Recently Bleacher Report tried to predict who could take Martin’s place, and they landed on current Miami Dolphins starter Robert Jones.

While it will be almost impossible to fill a future Hall of Famer’s shoes, the organization should at least be looking into this year’s free-agent class at guard. Jones is a decent option as he’s been solid so far this season, posting a 64.9 grade from Pro Football Focus and allowing just seven pressures heading into this past weekend.

Jones was an undrafted free agent from the 2021 draft class out of Middle Tennessee. He’s 6-foot-4 and weighs 321 pounds. Dallas has a handful of internal candidates as well, most notably T.J. Bass, a 2023 undrafted free agent out of Oregon.

The Cowboys have nine games remaining in their season to see if any additional options emerge.

2025 NBA free agent rankings: The best players available next summer

HoopsHype ranks the top NBA free agents set to b available in the summer of 2025, including LeBron James, Jimmy Butler and more.

The 2025 free agent class was hyped as potentially the strongest since 2019, thanks to a speculated salary cap surge from a new TV rights deal. However, the NBA and the players’ union capped salary increases at 10 percent annually to avoid a drastic spike like in 2016. Additionally, players can now earn more through extensions, narrowing the financial difference between extending and testing free agency. This change has seen players favor extensions to avoid market uncertainties.

Still, some elite names are going to be free agents, proven stars like LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Brandon Ingram and more. Check out the full list of top 2025 NBA free agents below.

Tyson Campbell’s Jaguars extension is a big deal for Paulson Adebo

Tyson Campbell’s Jaguars extension is a big deal for Paulson Adebo. The Saints cornerback can point to a very similar resume as a free agent next year:

Whew: Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell earned a big bag this week by signing a four-year, $76.5 million extension. That made him the highest-paid corner in the league who hasn’t yet been recognized with a Pro Bowl nod. And it’s a big deal for Paulson Adebo. The New Orleans Saints cornerback is next in line for a new contract with free agency on the horizon in 2025.

Campbell, 24, has a lot in common with Adebo, 25. They were both picked on the second day of the 2021 NFL draft, with Adebo going off the board 43 slots after the Jaguars made Campbell the first selection of the second round. The two cornerbacks have posted strikingly similar numbers since then:

Adebo: 7 interceptions and 33 passes defensed, with 202 tackles (166 solo, 6 tackles for loss), 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries on 2,611 snaps across 45 games. 24 missed tackles
Campbell: 6 interceptions and 30 passes defensed, with 203 tackles (145 solo, 6 tackles for loss), 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries on 2,591 snaps across 43 games. 22 missed tackles

That’s close. Very close. Let’s take it a step further and look into their coverage stats from Pro Football Reference:

Adebo: 160 completions on 265 targets (60.4%) for 2,053 yards, or 12.8 yards per catch, with 12 touchdowns allowed
Campbell: 142 completions on 226 targets (62.8%) for 1,632 yards, or 11.5 yards per catch, with 17 touchdowns allowed

That has Adebo giving up more catches for more yards, at slightly more yards per completion and while being targeted much more often, but with Campbell being more of a vulnerability in scoring position. How do the numbers at Pro Football Focus compare to those from PFR?

Adebo: 150 completions on 237 targets (63.3%) for 2,138 yards, or 14.3 yards per catch, with 10 touchdowns allowed
Campbell: 148 completions on 226 targets (65.5%) for 1,696 yards, or 11.5 yards per catch, with 18 touchdowns allowed

PFF’s charting charged more completions to Adebo’s teammates than that from PFR, but they also dinged him for allowing more big plays. While it’s tough to overlook the 400-plus-yard gap in yards allowed between them, Adebo giving up so many fewer touchdown passes might balance things out.

But where they separate — unfavorably for Adebo — is in penalties. Adebo has been fouled 20 times for 276 yards through three years (with three more penalties declined by the offense). He’s drawn a dozen infractions for defensive pass interference and been flagged nine times for defensive holding. Adebo had his best season in the NFL last year and he still forfeited 92 yards by penalty.

How does Campbell compare? He’s been one of the cleanest defenders in pro football. He wasn’t fouled once during his rookie year, and he’s only had four penalties accepted in his NFL career (for 68 yards). Sure, he’s also had three penalties declined, but Adebo has allowed more than 200 penalty yards in the same period of time.

How great a difference will that make when Adebo’s up for a new deal? It says a lot that the Saints haven’t extended him yet, whereas the Jaguars have seen enough from Campbell to believe an extension is a wise investment. But with salaries on the rise and other corners from the same draft class with very similar production earning top dollar, it sure looks like Adebo may cash in next offseason. Will the Saints be the ones to pay him?

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2025 NBA free agent rankings: Early look at the top potential available players

Still, there may be a bunch of good free agents available next year. Below is a ranking of every player currently able to become a free agent by then.

D.J. Reed focused on season, not stressing potential extension, says ball is in Jets’ court

D.J. Reed is focused on helping the defense in 2024 and isn’t sweating a new contract just yet with free agency looming.

Jets safety D.J. Reed has been something the team hasn’t been fully used to having in recent years: a successful free-agent signing. Reed joined the Jets in 2022 as a free agent from the Seattle Seahawks, signing a three-year deal. He is now entering the final year of that contract but says “it’s been chill vibes” when it comes to either getting an extension or testing the free-agent waters in 2025, saying: “Quite honestly, the ball is in the Jets’ court.”

“I love being here, but I’m not really stressing about it,” Reed said this week regarding his contract during minicamp. “I’m here, I’m gonna be here in training camp.”

Reed added: “I signed a three-year deal, so I expect to play the three years here and go into free agency. But, I do love New York, I love playing here, love the coaches and the organization. Woody [Johnson] took care of me last time. And, yeah, I love my teammates, so we’ll see.”

While Reed isn’t worried about his contract, he is focused on helping the Jets continue boasting one of the top defenses in the NFL as they enter an important season for the franchise.

“We definitely have an identity, we definitely have a standard,” Reed said, via Yahoo Sports. “And it’s just holding each other accountable every day to that standard. That’s what I expect,” he said, adding that the standard is getting all 11 players on defense “running to the ball” and bringing a level of physicality to the opposition.

“But not just running to the ball just to be running to the ball, it’s like a deliberate making sure that you’re tracking, so, if it’s a cutback that you’re able to tackle the running back or the ball carrier. And also just that physical tenacity that we play with in all phases from the d-line to the linebackers to the secondary.”

In two seasons with the Jets, Reed has started 32 games and recorded 21 passes defended and two interceptions, forming arguably the best duo and even trio of cornerbacks in the NFL with Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II. He is still just 27 years old — he doesn’t turn 28 until November.

Reed is, very arguably, the top pending free agent for the Jets for 2025. Per Over the Cap, the Jets are sitting with almost $60 million in salary cap space for next year. Should the Jets want to work something out with Reed, they’ll have the cap space next year to do so. They are somewhat cap-strapped heading into this summer with about $6 million in space. Reed is set to make $10.5 million this season, so an extension (and thus, lowering Reed’s 2024 cap number) could dual-purpose for the Jets and Reed.

30 Cowboys players set to be free agents in 2025

The Dallas Cowboys are getting the band back together for one last attempt at glory. Or at least, that’s how things seem at the moment from the outside. Dallas has, at least to this point, not been able to work out a long-term arrangement with either quarterback Dak Prescott or wideout CeeDee Lamb. Combined with the coaching staff all being on the final year of their deals, and there seems to be real pressure from the front office to win now or disband.

And the rest of the Cowboys’ roster feels in a similar situation. Prescott and Lamb aren’t the only ones on the final years of their deals. Each year, teams are allowed to have 90 men on their offseason roster. Currently, Dallas is using 87 of those spots and of those, there are 30 Cowboys who will be free agents in 2025, barring an extension between now and next spring.

Without an extension, Prescott will cost $40 million in dead money on Dallas’ 2025 cap, monies that were already paid to him but didn’t count against the cap in the years he received it.

The future first-ballot Hall of Famer will have $27M of dead money spread across 2025 ($10M) and 2026 ($17M) if he isn’t extended beyond this next campaign.

The 32-year old, 10-year vet will have $7.5 million in dead cap hit in 2025 unless he returns to the team.

Cooks’ will count against the 2025 cap as well, $4 million, due to his void year that was used to stash cap hit.

With the top of the WR market now hovering around $32 million annually, it will be interesting to see if Dallas signs on for a player they convinced to don the iconic 88 jersey.

He’s still yet to break out statistically, but a strong 2024 could lead to untold riches that Dallas may not be willing to offer in 2025.

There was no way Dallas considered Lance’s fifth-year option for over $20 million in 2025 salary, but it does leave them without any QB under contract for next season.

Rush left the team for a short stint, but his entire career has basically been Prescott’s backup and sounding board and he, too, is scheduled to hit the open market.

Anger is a much-heralded special teamer who Dallas has paid well. Will they look elsewhere next offseason?

Lewis returned on a one-year deal to continue his career in Dallas. Will he return with a fourth Cowboys’ contract?

Kendricks’ familiarity with new DC Mike Zimmer’s scheme made him a perfect one-year add at this stage of his career.

There are multiple reasons why Ezekiel Elliott may have been a good fit to return to Dallas, but “getting the band back together for one last go” feels like a strong factor with so many on this list.

A relatively unknown player, he’s to serve as Mazi Smith’s understudy at NT.

Goodwin’s been in Dallas on one-year contracts for a very long time and he’ll likely be around as long as Bones Fassell runs the ST unit.

Long snappers only matter when they mess up, but Sieg has been good at what he’s asked to do and as long as he’s cheap, he’s welcome.

The offseason addition isn’t even guaranteed to make this year’s team; no point in thinking about 2025 yet.

Chuma Edoga didn’t play well in Tyron Smith’s absence in 2023 but he’s back for another go round this season.

Dowdle is probably RB1 right now for Dallas and while the run-game expectations are low, no player stands a better chance to rise from anonymity on the NFL scene than him.

Yet to make any discernible impact for the team, Golston enters his walk year buried as rotational depth despite third-round pedigree.

After several years away from Dallas he was grabbed towards the end of last season as depth and returns on a look-and-see deal for 2024.

Another third rounder from the 2021 draft class who has yet to make a tangible impact on the club.

The selection of Ball rubbed many the wrong way based on off-field things during his college years and he has done nothing on the field to change anyone’s thoughts about his presence.

It felt like there was a big role waiting for him after the way he played down the stretch of 2022, but there weren’t any steps forward in 2023 and now he faces a walk year.

Turpin was technically a UDFA when signed in 2022 and his three-year contract is coming to an end after this season unless an extension is signed. Yet to become an integral part of the offense, his special teams value has been tremendous.

The Florida A&M star returns to the safety position after being a do-whatever teammate and moving to fill the LB void in 2023. A strong breakout candidate that will hit free agency with a ton of suitors if all goes well.

Seemed to have fallen out of favor with the coaching staff after an enticing rookie season as a UDFA. Make or break year in 2024.

Another breakout candidate who saw a lot more snaps than most realize in 2023, Thomas has endeared himself to the fanbase who are almost all rooting for him to take a bigger piece of the pie in ’24.

Saints decline to pick up Payton Turner’s fifth year option

The New Orleans Saints declined to pick up Payton Turner’s fifth year option, meaning he’ll become a free agent in 2025 — if he lasts that long:

The NFL deadline for teams to pick up the fifth-year options for 2025 on their first round picks in the 2021 draft came and went on Thursday, without any movement from the New Orleans Saints. This means that defensive end Payton Turner is entering a contract year in 2024, and that he’ll be a free agent in 2025 unless he earns an extension.

It would have cost the Saints more than $13 million in 2025 to exercise Turner’s option, so it’s easy to understand why they declined to do so. Just 18 of the 32 first-round picks in 2021 had those options picked up by their teams, suggesting a hit rate of about 56% — with the Saints among 14 teams on the wrong side of that percentage.

What’s frustrating is that all three of the players at Turner’s position, who were picked immediately after him in Round 1, have outplayed him:

Payton Turner: 3 sacks, 8 hits, 8 tackles for loss in 15 games
Gregory Rousseau: 17 sacks, 42 hits, 30 TFL in 46 games
Odafe Oweh: 13 sacks, 38 hits, 16 TFL in 45 games
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka: 13 sacks, 31 hits, 18 TFL in 51 games

Of that group, only Turner and Tryon-Shoyinka did not have their options picked up for 2025, which goes to show how each team feels about those players. There’s still time for Turner to change the narrative surrounding his career, but that time is running out.

Injuries and inconsistent play have been the story of his career so far. Last season it was just bad luck — Turner enjoyed the best summer of his career and didn’t miss a single practice during training camp, only to go down with a serious turf toe injury early in the season opener. He underwent surgery and didn’t return until the regular season finale. With everyone on last year’s depth chart returning and Chase Young added to the mix, Turner needs to step up and earn his roster spot. There’s a real possibility he gets let go during cuts in September.

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