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.
Arizona Cardinals 2025 Free Agency Losses:
DT Roy Lopez (Detroit Lions)
WR Zay Jones (Free Agent)
OLB Dennis Gardeck (Free Agent)
CB Antonio Hamilton Sr. (Free Agent)
LB Kyzir White (Free Agent)
OL Trystan Colon (Free Agent)
K Matt Prater (Free Agent)
Arizona Cardinals 2025 Free Agency Signings/Additions:
QB Jacoby Brissett (2 years, $14M, $7M guaranteed)
WR Zay Jones (1 year, $4.5M, $2M guaranteed)
OT Jonah Williams (2 years, $15M, $8M guaranteed)
G Will Brown (2 years, $10M, $5M guaranteed)
DL L.J. Collier (1 year, $3M, $1.5M guaranteed)
DL Justin Jones (3 years, $30M, $15M guaranteed)
DL Dalvin Tomlinson (2 years, $20M, $10M guaranteed)
DL Calais Campbell (1 year, $5M, $2M guaranteed)
DL Josh Sweat (3 years, $36M, $18M guaranteed)
Arizona Cardinals 2025 Rookie Draft Picks and Undrafted Free Agents:
DT Walter Nolen (1st Round, No. 16)
CB Will Johnson (2nd Round, No. 47)
DE Jordan Burch (3rd Round, No. 78)
LB Cody Simon (4th Round, No. 115)
CB Denzel Burke (5th Round, No. 174)
G Hayden Conner (6th Round, No. 211)
S Kitan Crawford (7th Round, No. 225)
OT Josh Fryar (UDFA)
OT Valentin Senn (UDFA)
TE Oscar Cardenas (UDFA)
WR Quincy Skinner Jr. (UDFA)
DL Simeon Barrow Jr. (UDFA)
DB Daryl Porter Jr. (UDFA)
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Seattle Seahawks 2025 Free Agency Losses:
QB Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders via trade)
WR DK Metcalf (Pittsburgh Steelers via trade)
WR Tyler Lockett (Tennessee Titans)
OT Stone Forsythe (New York Giants)
OT George Fant (Still a free agent)
OG Laken Tomlinson (Houston Texans)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris (New York Giants)
DE Dre’Mont Jones (Tennessee Titans)
S Rayshawn Jenkins (Cleveland)
S K’Von Wallace (Still a free agent)
CB Tre Brown (San Francisco 49ers)
CB Artie Burns (Miami Dolphins)
Seattle Seahawks 2025 Free Agency Signings/Additions:
QB Sam Darnold (3 years, $100.5M, $55M guaranteed)
QB Drew Lock (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
WR Cooper Kupp (2 years, $45M, $20M guaranteed)
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (1 year, $3.5M, $1.5M guaranteed)
WR Steven Sims (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
WR River Cracraft (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
TE Eric Saubert (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
DE DeMarcus Lawrence (2 years, $20M, $10M guaranteed)
OL Josh Jones (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
Seattle Seahawks 2025 Rookie Draft Picks and Undrafted Free Agents:
G Grey Zabel (1st Round, No. 16)
S Nick Emmanwori (2nd Round, No. 52)
TE Elijah Arroyo (3rd Round, No. 81)
QB Jalen Milroe (4th Round, No. 92)
FB Robbie Ouzts (5th Round, No. 141)
G Bryce Cabeldue (6th Round, No. 185)
RB Damien Martinez (7th Round, No. 223)
G Mason Richman (7th Round, No. 224)
WR Tory Horton (7th Round, No. 225)
WR Ricky White III (7th Round, No. 226)
LB Jackson Woodard (7th Round, No. 227)
DE T.J. Jackson (UDFA)
NT J.R. Singleton (UDFA)
TE Nick Kallerup (UDFA)
DT Demeco Roland (UDFA)
EDGE Jared Ivey (UDFA)
CB Zy Alexander (UDFA)
WR Quincy Skinner Jr. (UDFA)
DL Simeon Barrow Jr. (UDFA)
DB Daryl Porter Jr. (UDFA)
DB Mike Smith Jr. (UDFA)
EDGE Johnny Walker Jr. (UDFA)
DL Keith Cooper Jr. (UDFA)
OL J.J. Lippe (UDFA)
WR J.J. Jones (UDFA)
DB Melvin Smith Jr. (UDFA)
DL Anthony Booker Jr. (UDFA)
Ross Jacobs’ analysis...
Arizona Cardinals Off-season Grade: B
Arizona lost a few decent players in free agency, but the additions of Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Baron Browning more than make up for that along with several other depth moves.
They clearly had their sights set on improving the front seven and continued to add to it in the draft with Walter Nolen and Jordan Burch. Nolen certainly wasn't my favorite player in this class, but I do see the potential. He's athletic and was very productive in the SEC. That's usually a good formula. It wouldn't surprise me though if Burch ended up the better player. He's a freak athlete at 6'4"/280 with the ability to bend and play any spot up and down the line. They also nabbed Will Johnson in the 2nd round and if he gets a clean bill of health he'll be an absolute steal.
No one addition really stands out as amazing, but all together Arizona has really added some good players to their defense. They are one to keep an eye on in 2025.
Seattle Seahawks Off-season Grade: B-
The national media has mostly killed Seattle for their moves so far. They see Geno and Metcalf as far superior to Darnold and Kupp which makes absolutely no sense to me. Geno had one great season 3 years ago with Pete Carroll and has been just mid since and Metcalf has consistently failed to live up to the hype ever since he was drafted. Is he huge and ridiculously fast? Yes. But since when has he ever been a truly dominant receiver? Even his occasional big games are somewhat offset by repeatedly leading the league in penalties at his position. And as for the Darnold hate, I'll admit I led that charge early in his career, but it's bizarre to me that the media that once screamed he was a hidden star is now down on him one year after he led a near MVP level campaign, as if he was just "made" by Kevin O'Connell and Justin Jefferson. Yes, having good surroundings helps, but Darnold was playing very well. He's younger and has a higher ceiling than Geno. Clear upgrade. Kupp and Metcalf are basically a wash. Kupp has actually been more productive than DKM the past couple years despite being older. He just needs to stay healthy.
Then you add in a very solid draft of Grey Zabel, the best center in the draft, along with Emmanwori (who has potential but also some questions), Elijah Arroyo (also needs to stay healthy), Jalen Milroe (who needs time to develop), and even Damien Martinez and Ricky White in the 7th round (both developmental guys that could be starters in a few years).
Winner: Arizona Cardinals
I really love what Seattle did this off-season. I think they really set themselves up well for the next 2-3 years. However, this tournament is about who helped themselves most for 2025, so I have to stay objective and give Arizona the win. They probably helped themselves more in the immediate future with a very good free agent group.
RC’s analysis...
Arizona offseason comments:
Minor losses in free agency...nothing too impactful lost. But they did add defensive talent in free agency -- they had money, and they spent it. Maybe not spent well, but spent...and some talent brought in. They overpaid for Josh Sweat and Dalvin Tomlinson and Akeem Davis-Gaither and Baron Browning and Justin Jones -- but those guys help 2025, which is what we’re here to judge. Head coaches who were former defensive coordinators...this is what happens...money thrown out the window on pass rushers and others.
And then what did they do in the draft, after spending all their money of defense in free agency? Why...they drafted almost all defense! Of course!! If Walter Nolen flops and Will Johnson can’t ‘get right’ then this current Cardinals regime is in danger of getting on the hot seat by midseason. But if those two prospects hit their potential+ and if Jordan Burch comes through, then Arizona has a top defensive group about to pop in 2025.
About $150M in contracts to ‘name’ defensive players and then used six of 7 draft picks on defense.
Seattle offseason comments:
Credit Mike Macdonald, an ex-defensive coordinator...he only went half defensive crazy in the offseason.
Seattle decided to flush their system of the backbone of their offensive weaponry this offseason -- trading Geno and DK Metcalf, letting Lockett leave headlining a number of players they moved on from. In their places they seemed to butcher it...
Out is Geno, in is Darnold...a downgrade, to me. Best case, no change.
Out DKM + Lockett, in fading Kupp and MVS...another downgrade.
Their money spent on defense, with problematic players DeMarcus Lawrence and bringing back Ernest Jones...over $100M+ spent on those two.
Just when you think ‘Seattle has lost their marbles’...then they had a solid draft to help the cause. Grey Zabel was a top 3-5 prospect in this draft, for us...a great pick. Nick Emmanwori is a solid add...to the defense, of course. And Elijah Arroyo at TE was a smart move. Ricky White and Tory Horton late are decent.
RC’s WINNER: Arizona Cardinals
Seattle probably got worse for 2025, with all their moves (but good setup for 2026+). So, by default and improved (but overspent) Arizona gets the win.
Seattle kinda is lowkey rebuilding while Arizona is going for it in 2025 by trying to have the first 53-man roster of all defensive players. It’s a bold move: https://youtu.be/9HVejEB5uVk?si=wcAQxK9doykBW9GR
*Officially Moving on in the Tournament* Arizona moves on to the NFC West finals.
