We’re looking at all NFL team’s free agent moves (in and out) and their NFL Draft to see who got better and by how much -- setting the tone for analyzing them for the upcoming season for FF purposes and for betting evaluations on team over/unders, etc.
We had Grok list all the moves and we show them first and then Ross and I (RC) weigh in on what we see with all the roster moves -- how they affect 2025 only. And ultimately we pick a winner.
We’ll do two matchups per day, within each division seeded from the 2024 final standings, for 16 days...then we’ll take the 16 winners and accelerate the matchups after that and advance the best ‘offseason’ moves teams through to the ‘Super Bowl’, declaring a final winner.
Denver Broncos 2025 Free Agency Losses:
RB Javonte Williams (Dallas Cowboys)
ILB Cody Barton (Tennessee Titans)
QB Zach Wilson (Miami Dolphins)
DB Tremon Smith (Houston Texans)
P Riley Dixon (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Denver Broncos 2025 Free Agency Signings/Additions:
LB Dre Greenlaw (3 years, $30M, $15M guaranteed)
S Talanoa Hufanga (3 years, $24M, $12M guaranteed)
WR Trent Sherfield (2 years, $6M, $3M guaranteed)
TE Evan Engram (2 years, $10M, $5M guaranteed)
ILB Justin Strnad (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
QB Jarrett Stidham (2 years, $8M, $4M guaranteed)
OT Matt Peart (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
LS Mitchell Fraboni (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
DL D.J. Jones (3 years, $15M, $7.5M guaranteed)
Denver Broncos 2025 Rookie Draft Picks and Undrafted Free Agents:
CB Jahdae Barron (1st Round, No. 20)
RB RJ Harvey (2nd Round, No. 60)
WR Pat Bryant (3rd Round, No. 74)
EDGE Sai’vion Jones (3rd Round, No. 101)
EDGE Que Robinson (4th Round, No. 134)
P Jeremy Crawshaw (6th Round, No. 216)
TE Caleb Lohner (7th Round, No. 252)
LB J.B. Brown (UDFA)
EDGE Johnny Walker Jr. (UDFA)
G Xavier Truss (UDFA)
C Nick Michalski (UDFA)
OT Jack Webb (UDFA)
C Eli Cox (UDFA)
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Los Angeles Chargers 2025 Free Agency Losses:
WR Joshua Palmer (Buffalo Bills)
CB Kristian Fulton (Kansas City Chiefs)
CB Asante Samuel Jr. (Free Agent)
RB J.K. Dobbins (Free Agent)
WR DJ Chark (Free Agent)
TE Stone Smartt (Free Agent)
DT Poona Ford (Los Angeles Rams)
LB Denzel Perryman (Free Agent)
LB Nick Niemann (Houston Texans)
DT Morgan Fox (Atlanta Falcons)
Los Angeles Chargers 2025 Free Agency Signings/Additions: QB Trey Lance (1 year, $2.5M, $1M guaranteed)
TE Tyler Conklin (1 year, $5M, $2.5M guaranteed)
C Andre James (2 years, $10M, $5M guaranteed)
G Mekhi Becton (2 years, $14M, $7M guaranteed)
S Elijah Molden (3 years, $21M, $10M guaranteed)
CB Donte Jackson (1 year, $6M, $3M guaranteed)
CB Benjamin St-Juste (1 year, $4M, $2M guaranteed)
DT Da’Shawn Hand (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
DT Naquan Jones (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
P J.K. Scott (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
RB Najee Harris (2 years, $10M, $5M guaranteed)
WR Mike Williams (1 years, $3M, $1.5M guaranteed)
Los Angeles Chargers 2025 Rookie Draft Picks and Undrafted Free Agents: RB Omarion Hampton (1st Round, No. 22)
WR Tre Harris (2nd Round, No. 55)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (3rd Round, No. 86)
OLB Kyle Kennard (4th Round, No. 125)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (5th Round, No. 158)
TE Oronde Gadsden II (5th Round, No. 165)
G Branson Taylor (6th Round, No. 199)
S R.J. Mickens (6th Round, No. 214)
S Trikweze Bridges (7th Round, No. 256)
TE Jordan Petaia (UDFA)
DT TeRah Edwards (UDFA)
DT Josh Fuga (UDFA)
CB Kaleb Purchase (UDFA)
LB Garmon Randolph (UDFA)
S Kylan Guidry (UDFA)
RB Raheim Sanders (UDFA)
G Brandon Stewart (UDFA)
S Damarion Reed (UDFA)
CB De’Angelo Rogers (UDFA)
QB D.J. Uiagalelei (UDFA)
S Tyquan Jones (UDFA)
OL Brandon Kaltenberger (UDFA)
OL Jordan Washington (UDFA)
WR Luke Grimm (UDFA)
Ross Jacobs’ analysis...
Denver Broncos Off-season Grade: B-
The tale of two cities...Denver had arguably the best free agency period of any team in the league, but their draft left a lot to be desired from my perspective. The Broncos got three massive upgrades in free agency, stealing both Greenlaw and Hufanga from the 49ers and picking up Engram from the Jaguars.
The draft on the other hand...Barron is tough and athletic, but is he really a big upgrade on Ja'Quan McMillian? RJ Harvey is respectable, but I feel like guys with his skill set can be had later in the draft. Again, is he a big upgrade over the very similar Jaleel McLaughlin? Both guys play the Darren Sproles 3rd down back role and not much else. And then you have Pat Bryant who almost nobody in the media even knew before Denver took him, and now they are all running to proclaim him the next Michael Thomas. Why? Because Sean Payton picked him so he must be good. I don't see it. Bryant reminds me a lot more of Tre'Quan Smith than Michael Thomas, and Sean Payton picked him too. Payton is good, but every player he takes is not magically a borderline Hall of Famer.
I'm giving Denver a good grade overall because they did improve by quite a bit, but I feel like this easily could have been an A or A+ with a better draft. Missed opportunity.
Los Angeles Chargers Off-season Grade: B
The Chargers subtly improved in free agency I think, but it may not be apparent just seeing it on paper. They continue to jettison players from the last regime and replace them with smart, tough, dedicated players that are willing to buy into the Harbaugh program. The offensive and defensive lines got clear upgrades to me, as did the secondary. And as much as I am not a Najee Harris fan, he's still probably an upgrade over JK Dobbins and his paper mache knees.
Then the Chargers built on their core with another phenomenal draft class to add to last year's. I don't love Hampton, but he's fine and definitely improves the RB room. I am a massive fan of Tre Harris though. He gives the Chargers an instant downfield target for Herbert and should help open up the offense. Caldwell is a mountain in the middle of the defensive line. Kennard has some potential as a pass rusher. Lambert-Smith is underrated and adds yet another receiver for Herbert. Gadsden is very interesting as a former WR to TE convert. And even RJ Mickens in the 6th round wouldn't surprise me if he developed into a decent safety.
Winner: Los Angeles Chargers
I think this might be the closest matchup we've had so far. Both teams made big gains in my opinion, but then so did their division rival and bugbear, the Chiefs. The AFC West is going to be fascinating in 2025. But after all is said and done my money might be on the Chargers in a close race. Harbaugh and Hortiz have already turned this thing around and the Chargers are going to be an AFC power moving forward.
RC’s analysis...
Denver offseason comments:
No real losses for the Broncos in free agency...they let inconsequential players walk, smartly so. But then in replacement they signed several free agent 2025 impact players -- Engram, Hufanga, Greenlaw. Three brilliant signings if you’re focused on 2025. A huge upgrade in net impact talent in free agency.
In the draft...it was ‘OK’. A bit of a letdown. Jahdae Barron is fine. RJ Harvey helps. Then the rest of the draft is OK but mostly reaches, from my vantage point.
Overall, Denver added to/aided the 2025 cause nicely...but mostly from free agency, which is hard to do...but they did it.
LA Chargers offseason comments:
Like Denver, LAC jettisoned mostly unnecessary things in free agency...but the CB loss of Fulton and Samuel is a bit of a hit...a hit they really didn’t make up for in free agency (Donte Jackson, St-Juste) or in the draft (none drafted).
But outside of the CB issue, LAC did add several nice pieces to impact 2025 -- Mehki Becton, Conklin, Elijah Molden, Andre James. It wasn’t amazing but definitely bolstered the O-Line. Free agency was a slight net positive.
The draft was really nice by LAC -- Hampton-Harris-Caldwell all will impact 2025 right away as their first 3 picks in the draft. Kennard, Lambert-Smith, Gadsden, their next 3 picks, all may have some impact on 2025 as well. An excellent draft, arguably the best draft of 2025.
RC’s WINNER: Denver Broncos
Judging it for 2025 impact only, Denver adding Engram, Hufanga, Greenlaw was so massive that I don’t feel the great LAC draft makes up for it/surpasses it. I can see LAC being the real winner here, but right now I give the edge to Denver.
We had a split decision between Ross and I here, but both agree it’s ‘close’ either way. I think that I like Denver’s offseason over LAC more than Ross likes LAC over Denver’s, so we will advance Denver here.
*Officially Moving on in the Tournament* Denver moves on to the AFC Finals to face KC.
