Free Agency 2025 Preview: QB/RB

Like every year, the 2025 NFL off-season has been madness. Trades, cuts, arrests, and a steadfast refusal to publicly acknowledge the disproportionate chucklefuckery that the zebras on the field and league offices put forward. Cleveland QB comes in, head coach and GM go out.

Yes indeed, the NFL off-season — the season where fans convince themselves their team is one definitely-not-washed signing away from hoisting the Lombardi trophy, and GMs of bad organizations with holes all over the roster start throwing around cash like they are Justin Tucker with a handful of Non-Disclosure Agreements for massage therapists;

The NFL off-season is the official season of cryptic social media posts that consist solely of emojis like the time your dad learned how to use them, blurry airport photos (allegedly) of players spotted in team cities, unsubstantiated rumors from some shithead on Reddit who insists that they have inside information, and wild rumors that somehow always link every big-name free agent to one of the big market teams (Chargers, NYJ, literally anyone in the NFC East) — even, or especially if they play a position said team doesn’t actually need and it would make a mess.

So set yourself up with OverTheCap, delete your Twitter account and your unwavering optimism for good measure— because whether your team is in rebuild mode or just one defensive end away from glory, the NFL’s annual shopping spree is about to begin... and we all know someone’s going to overpay a 32-year-old wide receiver like he's who he was half a decade ago.

Lets dive in.

Quarterbacks:

When I look at the available QB options on the market, I am reminded of a quote from the seminal Major League- I'll paraphrase from memory:

These guys are a couple of has-beens, and a bunch of never-will-bes.

When the most attractive name is Sam Darnold-

-you know it's going to be rough. The Seahawks are likely to end up with him, which turns my party blower enthusiasm into a wimper of a vuvuzela. A one year wonder with tools, I am skeptical of his abilities. Sure, he won 14 games at QB but give me Justin Jefferson and I can probably throw for 2500 yards

Amongst the other interesting options are Aaron "The Only Thing I Don't Think is Toxic is Me" Rodgers, Daniel "How Did He Get A Second Contract" Jones, and Justin "Puts the Sacks in Yakety Sax" Fields.

If you're trying to get fired as a GM and collect a golden parachute, these are all top signings. Otherwise, get in the draft and put on your best We Believe In Hingle McCringleberry from SCLSU As Our Franchise QB face because it's bleak.

Running Backs:

With no disrespect intended, Aaron Jones leads a solid if un-glamorous FA class.

He's been productive in multiple locations and while he's not my cup of tea, I've found him to be excellent out of the backfield as a pass catcher and he's a patient runner.

• Denver: Aaron Jones probably ends up in Denver if since we know Sean Payton values running backs who have good hands. His passing game contributions would
• Los Angeles: Jim Harbaugh loves a good ground game and while he doesn't have the same twitch as JK Dobbins, he'd be an excellent replacement.

Najee Harris is probably the one I'm the most interested in watching more of as a hard mouth football fan.

• New England: A young QB can always benefit from a good running game; while the Patriots would benefit from adding Ashton Jeanty in the draft, going the Najee route would let them give Drake Maye a bellcow back and let New England still add a dynamic player like Travis Hunter in the draft. They can also afford to spend some of that cap money on a "luxury" at running back.
• Los Angeles: Najee Harris is a powerful running back, and Jim Harbaugh got to spend some time in Santa Clara with a back who was also a powerful, bruiser. Luxury? Sure. But there's something I can't shake about pairing the old school coach running the more traditional run-heavy offense with guy-who-might-have-been-designed-in-a-lab-for-it-but-then-knocked-off-on-Temu.

I was torn between talking about Raheem Mostert and Nick Chubb here, and Chubb is younger. And Chubb is who I would love more on the Seahawks for obvious fantasy fulfillment purposes.

He's coming off a broken foot, but I can't imagine him not coming back and being productive for the right offense again. Will Chubb be back to a consistent 80+ YPG? I'm not certain, but in a timeshare or good split I think he could be a rich man's Tyler Allgeier.

Kinda see Chubb and Jamaal Williams in the same group of FAs; likely to resign with their teams.

PT 2 tomorrow!