A look at 2025 NFL Free Agency - Aaron Rodgers, and others

March 13, 2025 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

For the first time in his (mostly) illustrious, four-time MVP, 20-year career, Aaron Rodgers is a free agent after he and the New York Jets officially parted ways yesterday.

Of course, Rodgers is just one member of a long list of transactions released yesterday the mostly contained newly designated free agents, but also indicated many signings of unrestricted free agents. Naturally, that list has led to NFL odds movement

As for Rodgers, his NFL life has been rough since leaving Green Bay. His much anticipated debut with the New York Jets in 2023 turned disastrous when Rodgers tore his Achilles on just the fourth play of the opening night game. The injury occurred in a sack by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd.

The Jets would somehow manage to go 7-10 that year and Rodgers managed to return to start the 2024 season, but the team stepped back to a 5-12 campaign despite 3,897 yards passing, a 63% completion percentage, a 90.5 QB rating, and he somehow managed 107 yards rushing. Unfortunately, he was sacked 40 times so an escape to somewhere new - preferably with a decent running game and a solid pass blocking offensive line - could offer some health insurance for him.

Many, if not most, on a consensus list of top 50 free agents have been signed, including top-ranked free agent, tackle Ronnie Stanley of the Ravens, being retained on a three year deal for $60 million. Stanley has been a career Raven after being selected with the No. 6 over-all pick out of Notre Dame in 2016.

The No. 2 player on the list, QB Sam Darnold, moves from Minnesota to Seattle with a 3-year contract worth $100.5 million.

In a move of pure dedication, Chris Godwin signed an undervalued contract extension with his lifelong team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Godwins' 3-year deal is worth $22 million each season with $44 million total guaranteed. Many believed his value to be closer to $30 mil a year and the cap-rich New England Patriots were apparently willing to pony-up something close to that amount. But the 2017 third round pick by the Bucs out of Penn State has put together a respected 8-year career on The Bay with four 1,000-yard seasons and 39 touchdowns. During the 2020 Super Bowl season with Tom Brady, Godwin had 232 yards in the playoffs, though just 2 catches for 9 yards in the big game.

The defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles will be without the No. 4 player on the list after Edge rusher Josh Sweat signed for four years with Arizona for $76 million. Sweat, a 4th round pick out of Florida State in the 2018 draft, spent his first seven seasons in the City of Brotherly Love amassing 43 sacks.

Going back to the Jets, cornerback DJ Reed was fifth on the list and he has moved on to the Detroit Lions for 3 years for $48 million for the 5th round 2018 draft product of the San Francisco 49ers out of Kansas State. Davante Adams has moved on to the LA Rams who signed the 6-time pro bowler and 2-time NFL leader in receiving touchdowns for two years and $46 million. Adams was hoping to rekindle the magical connection he had with Rodgers in Green Bay where they connected for 69 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, NYJ edge rusher Haason Reddick got a $14 million deal for one year with Tampa Bay, but linebacker and team MVP Jamien Sherwood has re-upped with the Jets for $45 million over 3 years. Sherwood was a 4th round pick of Auburn in 2021.