Free Agency 2025 Preview: TE/WR
Ah, NFL free agency — where front offices scour the market for game-changing talent but collude, players have no idea why their agent would say something disrespectful about a destination, and fans desperate for news reload their favorite blogs like the fate. This year's crop of FA wide receivers and tight ends has a lot of intrigue — from washed-up pass catchers seeking new homes to JAGs somehow resetting the market for WRs.
Whether your squad needs a bonafide playmaker or just someone who looks dangerous in warmups, this offseason circus will deliver. Fingers crossed my Seahawks don't let our friends in Santa Clara learn what the meaning of the word schadenfreude is.
If you missed my thoughts on some QB/RB options, check out the first part.
Tight Ends
There's some interesting names here; but without the Seahawks moving off Noah Fant, I don't see how any of these top names would shake out for them.
Evan Engram is the biggest name and has been a very productive target at the TE spot. He was overpaid by the Jaguars (shocking) and only played in nine games in 2024. I think he's closer to washed than ready to contribute in a meaningful way, but as a TE2 he could still be a nice set of hands.
- Kansas City: With Travis Kelce having flirted with the idea of retirement, and deciding to return it becomes less likely but any weapon with Mahomes seems good. Engram is not a TE1 anymore but in KC he wouldn't need to be - even if Kelce retired to marry a crimson lipped goddess.
- New England: Young QBs love security blankets and organizations love tight ends for that purpose. There's been evidence for years that having a reliable, experienced safety valve can prop up even a struggling quarterback. Engram isn't a top 5 weapon at the position anymore, but Russell Wilson benefited immensely from having Zach Miller early in his career and Drake Maye could also benefit the same way.
- Chicago: Kind of a wild card but I could see this happening. Similar situation to New England with the young Caleb Williams, but instead of having to replace Cole Kmet, Evan Engram would be a complementary piece. With Shane Waldron not running the offense there, both players could see improved years. And let's be honest, that division is going to be tough and anyone trying to keep up with Detroit or Green Bay will need as much help as they can get.
Tyler Conklin is the next name that comes to mind and the one that I like as a fan. I watch his game and can't help but love it. Conklin isn't the kind of guy who can take over from the position the way a Kelce, a Gronk or those kind of dudes can. What he can do is block effectively, convert third downs when you need em, and be a steady force in the locker room. You might rather have a Ferrari (Kelce), but you can get a hell of a lot done with an old F150 (Conklin) outside of just the race track.
- Indianapolis: Anthony Richardson may be out as QB for the Colts, but if I'm Jim Irsay, getting a proven leader at the TE spot to help try to add some stability is worth the price. Colts will still have Jonathan Taylor to run the offense through, but adding a versatile TE would give AR-15 proven talent at every skill position.
- Baltimore: I have no inside information about this (as this is a vibe-based blog) but I keep having a gut feeling that given how Mark Andrews finished the year in Baltimore the team will be preparing for alternatives. Moving from Andrews to Conklin sets up the Ravens to transition back to a running-focused game after they cost themselves a shot at a Super Bowl by going pass heavy in the playoffs.
- Los Angeles: There's no way the Chargers want to roll out Uncle Will Dissly at TE1 again, and in that division to do so would be foolish. Conklin is one of the easiest drop in upgrades and lets Dissly go back to being a supplemental piece- the role he's best in. Conklin in the run game also is a plus which adds more weight to the identity of old school run the ball offense that Jim Harbaugh loves.
If Baltimore cuts Andrews, he could end up in LA with the Chargers since he also has experience in a run-focused offense and doesn't have the baggage of failed expectations and wasted playoff runs on the west coast.
Juwan Johnson is probably not the sexiest name but I could actually make a case for him joining the Seahawks and I think it would make a lot of sense. He's an ascending talent who just passed 50 catches and finished around 550 yards- even with the up and down offensive performances of New Orleans. With all the chaos, Johnson still provided value at the spot as a TE2 / Not-Taysom-Hill spot.
- Seattle: The Clint Kubiak connection from New Orleans is the obvious piece, and he's proven his productivity in the Shanahan tree style offense. Without moving on from Noah Fant, it's harder to project, but he can move has some decent hands. Would give a veteran presence without costing top of the market money like it's rumored Fant wants.
- New England: An immediate upgrade over Austin Hooper but without necessarily costing the top tier amounts that an Engram or Conklin might cost. New England has roughly $100m in cap space and going after Johnson would let them keep more money for higher impact spots (pass rush, defensive backfield).
- Denver: A big, athletic, and explosive tight end with Sean Payton? Where have I seen this before? Nix is still on a rookie deal and there's an edge to Juwan Johnson that I feel like could help bring a little attitude to the Broncos.
Wide Receivers
There is a ton of "names" in free agency at the wide receiver spot. With Tee Higgins having been franchised in Cincinnati, there's no top of the market appeal, though potentially a DK Metcalf trade would be appealing for a team who thinks they can fix their bad boy and turn him into an established gentleman.
Chris Godwin is the most appealing name, and if you trust him to come back from a horrifying ankle injury, Rod God still has WR1 upside though he'll be most effective with another viable WR opposite him.
- Tampa Bay: Re-signing in TB to try to run it back with a revitalized Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans seems like the obvious solution. He was extremely productive last year before his injury, and finishing his career out in west Florida would make a ton of a sense.
- Washington: Moving up the East coast to give a second legit wideout to Jayden Daniels is another move that makes sense. Scary Terry would still be king of the receiver room there, but adding Godwin to the room would maximize the weapons that Daniels can use while still on his cheap rookie deal.
- Literally any team that thinks they can just add a WR and take a big step forward: If you have a QB on a rookie deal or just otherwise have cap space burning a hole in your pocket, you're going to make the calls. Chicago, Vegas, Arizona, Seattle (if DK moves on)...all could use a WR1 to try to improve their standing or productivity.
Stefon Diggs is a year removed from almost 1200 yards and 8 touchdowns with a rookie CJ Stroud. I don't know if I see him repeating that level of production given his ankle and that Father Time seems to always be unbeaten at bringing down explosive receivers. It definitely seems that way given his regression in yards per game (from 89.3 in down to 69.6 in 2023 further falling to 62.0 in 2024 before injury) and his 19 game drought without a 100 yards.
- Houston: I think this is maybe the most obvious spot; he might not make top money ($10m+ APY) but if he's got the sense of pride that I've ascribed to him (again, vibes-based blog) trying to get back to a better ending than he had in 2024.
- Los Angeles: The Rams are moving on from Cooper Kupp, and what better way to replace a productive but aging WR who can be productive than with another aging WR who can be productive. With Nakua and Atwell still being the central pieces, and having a Stafford (if hes closer to his playoff form than he was during the regular reason) might let Diggs make a legit run to the playoffs from the NFC.
- New England: Maybe Diggs just wants to get a bag ($15m+) and says forget winning, my legacy is a Brinks truck full of cash. In 9 games against New England since November of 2020, he's notched 8 touchdowns and its possible Robert Kraft wants to tug himself watching Diggs produce for them.
I don't care about Amari Cooper or DeAndre Hopkins so I'll skip over them. To summarize:
Darius Slayton is the most attractive big name FA I haven't mentioned yet, and that he's still so attractive despite having played with such legendary powerhouse QBs as.... <checks notes> washed Eli Manning, Daniel Jones, and Todd DeVito.
He's got a career yards per catch average around 15 so Slayton is a downfield threat. Decent hands, vibes of a locker room vet- he didn't beat Brian Daboll's ass which is more than most of us could say. I think he's going to be an attractive piece to a downfield passing team. My thoughts on landing spots are below:
- New York: They don't have a legitimate QB at the moment, but assuming they go with a Cam Ward or similar in the draft, keeping a guy in the system who is productive and still on the right side of 30 years old feels like a no brainer.
- Washington: If they don't even up getting Chris Godwin, I could see Slayton staying in division like Saquon did last year. I don't think Slayton has a Saquon level impact anywhere he goes, but as a high end WR2 opposite Scary Terry, that's a damn scary offense, and one that will need to be in order to overcome the Eagles. Plus, two revenge games a year is always a fun storyline.
- Pittsburgh: With both Russ and Justin Fields as free agents, the Steelers are in a very similar QB situation to the Giants, but they need the help regardless of whether George Pickens ever pays off the way he seemed like he might have. A proven WR to help give a young QB support is the kind of thing I can easily see. His vibes scream Steelers WR.
PT 3 coming later where I'll take a look at OL.