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.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 Free Agency Losses:
C Robert Hainsey (Jacksonville Jaguars)
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (Cleveland Browns)
T Justin Skule (Minnesota Vikings)
ILB K.J. Britt (Miami Dolphins)
CB Tavierre Thomas (Minnesota Vikings)
G Royce Newman (Arizona Cardinals)
LB J.J. Russell (Free Agent)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 Free Agency Signings/Additions:
G Ben Bredeson (3 years, $22M, $12M guaranteed)
OLB Haason Reddick (1 year, $14M, $12M guaranteed)
CB Bryce Hall (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
S Kaevon Merriweather (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
DL C.J. Brewer (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
CB Kindle Vildor (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
P Riley Dixon (1 year, $1.5M, $0.5M guaranteed)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 Rookie Draft Picks and Undrafted Free Agents:
WR Emeka Egbuka (1st Round, No. 19)
CB Benjamin Morrison (2nd Round, No. 50)
CB Jacob Parrish (3rd Round, No. 84)
OLB David Walker (4th Round, No. 121)
DL Elijah Roberts (5th Round, No. 157)
WR Tez Johnson (7th Round, No. 235)
S Shilo Sanders (UDFA)
S J.J. Roberts (UDFA)
DT Desmond Watson (UDFA)
WR Will Sheppard (UDFA)
C Jake Majors (UDFA)
T Ben Chukwuma (UDFA)
C Ben Scott (UDFA)
WR Garrett Greene (UDFA)
QB Connor Bazelak (UDFA)
RB Josh Williams (UDFA)
LB John Bullock (UDFA)
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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)
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)
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.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Off-season Grade: B-
Tampa had a relatively quiet free agency period with their only major move in or out being the addition of Haason Reddick. If they get a full, motivated season out of him that will be a win. If they don't, oh well, it's a 1-year contract. He could/should be a big boost to their pass rush. Anthony Walker is a pretty good addition at inside linebacker as well.
Many people didn't see the point of the team drafting Emeka Egbuka, but it makes total sense. First, he's just a good player with excellent character. He'll be with the team for 10+ years and should be a captain sooner rather than later. Second, Chris Godwin is coming off another major injury and Mike Evans is probably playing his last year. Jalen McMillan is just ok. The cupboard was essentially bare outside that. Egbuka is a phenomenal 3rd receiver this year as Tampa tries to make a Superbowl push, he's insurance in case of an injury to one of the two stars, and he's the future #1.
After Egbuka, Tampa stacked back-to-back corners to restock the secondary, and Benjamin Morrison is one of my favorites from this class when healthy. He's not the most athletic but boy is he smooth and competitive. Parrish is very interesting as well and they should make a nice tandem. It wasn't a super splashy off-season for Tampa, but they definitely got better and are hoping to make a run at a title this year.
Winner: Arizona Cardinals
Similar-ish drafts in that the 1st rounder was solid, they gambled on an injured 2nd round corner, and there's intrigue/hope with some of the later picks. But Arizona added more in free agency, and even if they overpaid big-picture, they are better for 2025.
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.
Tampa Bay offseason comments:
The Bucs really didn’t lose anything in free agency of note. OC Hainsey was a mild hit to the O-Line, but they added OG Bredeson to kinda even it out. Outside of that, they spent money on Haason Reddick, which is a waste of money to me...but fine, he’s there now...he’ll help 2025.
Not the greatest draft for Tampa. Egbuka is solid but not a 1st-rounder, to me. They drafted a 1st-round human but not a 1st-round WR. But regardless, Egbuka will help/not hurt 2025. Benjamin Morrison is my favorite pick by them. Day three of the draft may be an issue unless Elijah Roberts comes through like he might be able to.
Great UDFA period. I think Shilo Sanders is a possible contributor, but I think SAF J.J. Roberts was a top 5 SAF talent and they got him for free, essentially. I like the gamble on 450+ pounder DT Desmond Watson as well.
RC’s WINNER: Arizona Cardinals
The Bucs ‘netted’ (adds vs. lost) 2-3 starters from free agency and the draft...maybe 4 starters at the most...guys who will impact 2025 season, which is what we are here to judge. And the starters include Haason Reddick, who I think is vastly overrated.
The Cardinals added six impact defensive linemen. They can’t all start, but they essentially are all starters with the rotation they will smartly use. A whole new front line with reinforcements/depth + a possible top level steal in the draft in CB Will Johnson.
The Bucs did fine, but the Cardinals really added/bulked up their team in a purposed, unique way on defense.
*Officially Moving on in the Tournament* Arizona moves on to the NFC Finals to face the Bears.
