NFL Offseason News & Football Isn’t Over Just Yet

By David Thatcher, Clarion staff reporter

The 2024-2025 NFL Season has concluded for roughly over a month now with the Philadelphia Eagles being crowned the Super Bowl LIX champions. Teams have all now transitioned into the offseason phase as the start of the official new league year had begun March 12th, 2025. 

Franchise Tags 

The franchise tag window for the NFL opened February 18th and closed on March 4th. Only two franchise tags were utilized this offseason by the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs.

There are three types of franchise tags: exclusive, non-exclusive, and transition tags. An exclusive tag guarantees the player a salary of the average of the top five highest salaries at their position or 120% of their previous year’s salary (whichever is higher) and prevents the player from negotiating with other teams.

Non-exclusive tags have the same value of an exclusive tag, but the player is allowed to negotiate with other teams while also giving their current team the opportunity to match an opposing team’s offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation if the player elects to sign with another organization.

Transitional tags have the value of the top 10 contracts of a player’s position. The player is allowed to negotiate with other teams but their current organization is given the opportunity to match an opposing team’s offer. However, if the player elects to sign with another organization their original team receives no draft compensation. 

Cincinnati did place a non-exclusive franchise tag on 26-year-old receiver Tee Higgins. In 2024, Higgins in 12 games posted 73 receptions, 911 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. The value of his franchise tag was at $26.2 million, but Higgins recently signed a huge four year extension worth $115 million to stay in Cincinnati and keep the dynamic receiver duo between him and Ja’Marr Chase (the current highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history) intact. (NFL)

Kansas City used their franchise tag (non-exclusive) on pro-bowl guard Trey Smith. His tag is valued at $23.4 million and is also allowed to negotiate contracts with other teams. Smith has been an integral part of Kansas City’s offensive lineman and has started 77 games for Kansas City since he was drafted in 2021. The Chiefs hope to work out a long term deal for Smith. (NFL)

”Pro-bowl” added to a player’s position title signifies that a player has been selected for and given pro-bowl honors. 

2025-2026 League Year Offseason Kicks Off

Throughout the offseason, teams have been making many moves consisting of resigning players, releasing players, and trading players. The start to the official 2025-2026 league year began March 12th, but some of the moves below were made during the legal tampering period which opened March 10th. 

Below are some of the notable moves that have occurred throughout free agency. (Note: these are not all of the moves that have occurred throughout free agency)

• Jets release WR Davante Adams, signed with Los Angeles Rams on a two-year deal worth $46 million (Adam Schefter). 

• Jaguars trade WR Christian Kirk to divisional rival, Houston Texans (JPAFootball)

• Bengals granted DL Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade partner (JPAFootball).

• The Los Angeles Rams granted WR Cooper Kupp permission to seek a trade partner (JPAFootball). 

• Seattle WR DK Metcalf traded to Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for 2025 second-round pick (JPAFootball)

• Pittsburgh Steelers extend WR DK Metcalf on a five-year deal worth $150 million (Adam Schefter)

• Buffalo Bills extend MVP QB Josh Allen on a 6-year deal worth $330 million with $250 million guaranteed (Adam Schefter)

• Carolina Panthers re-signed CB Jaycee Horn on a 4-year deal worth $100 million (Jordan Schultz)

• Seattle Seahawks sign QB Sam Darnold to a 3-year deal worth $110 million (Rapsheet)

• New York Jets sign QB Justin Fields to a 2-year deal worth $40 million (Rapsheet)

• Patriots signing DT Milton Williams to a deal worth $26 million a year (Rapsheet)

• Denver Broncos sign S Talanoa Hufanaga to a 3-year deal worth $45 million (Jordan Schultz)

• CB DJ Reed signs with Detroit Lions on a 3-year deal worth $48 million (Jordan Schultz)

• Washington Commanders sign DT Javon Kinlaw on a 3-year deal worth $45 million (Adam Schefter)

• Cincinnati Bengals resign DT BJ Hill to 3-year deal worth $33 million (Adam Schefter)

• WR Chris Godwin re-signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a 3-year deal worth $66 million (Rapsheet)

• OLB Hassan Reddick signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a 1-year deal worth $14 million (Adam Schefter)

• Chargers re-sign OLB Khalil Mack on 1-year deal worth $18 million (Jordan Schultz)

• Jets re-sign LB Jamien Sherwood on 3-year deal worth $45 million (Adam Schefter)

• Texans trade LT Laremy Tunsil and 2025 4th Round Pick in exchange for Washington Commanders’ 2025 third and seventh round picks, and 2026 second and fourth round picks (JPAFootball)

• LB Dre Greenlaw signs a 3-yr deal with the Denver Broncos worth $35 million (Diana Russini)

• TE Evan Engram signs 2-yr deal with Denver Broncos worth $23 million (ZacStevensDNVR) 

• Ja’Marr Chase signs a four year extension with the Cincinnati Bengals worth $161 million, he becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history (NFL)

2025 NFL Draft 

The 2025 NFL Draft is set to take place in Green Bay at Lambeau Field from April 26th to April 28th. The yearly event brings in an influx of new players drafted out of college to begin their careers in the NFL.

This year's draft features QB Cam Ward (Miami), QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), WR/CB Travis Hunter (Colorado), EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State), RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise St.), and many other intriguing prospects.

The running back, tight end, and edge rusher classes this year seem to have some good depth, especially the running backs. Teams in the market for these positions may be able to find quality players in the later rounds of the draft or may just go ahead and take the top talent at these positions in the earlier rounds.  

Overall, the class seems to feature some top-end or “blue-chip” talent but not to the extent of previous drafts or even in comparison to last year’s draft. Although, there seems to be a lot of good players and a plethora of good depth pieces as the draft gets to the latter rounds.

Spring League Football On The Way 

Football isn’t officially over, beginning March 28th the United Football League (UFL) will kick off to start the spring football season that will last into June. 

The UFL, which is the new spring league that was formed after the 2024 merger between the XFL and USFL (United States Football League), is set to continue their second season.

The League will feature some notable names such as former Alabama star QB A.J. McCarron, Ole Miss standout QB Matt Corral, former NFL WR Cody Latimer, and some other former NFL or notable college players. 

The UFL has also proved to be a developmental or feeder league of sorts as players have been signed to NFL teams after playing for some time in a spring league. The Dallas Cowboys All-Pro kick returner KaVonte Turpin played in the USFL in 2022 for the New Jersey Generals, Dondrea Tillman after playing for the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL’s inaugural season was signed by the Denver Broncos after being a standout player, Jake Bates after showcasing his ability to kick 60+ yard field goals was signed to the Detroit Lions, and quite a few others. 

Considering many of the names may be familiar to NFL and College football fans along with the entertaining and quality of play the UFL produces I would highly encourage any football fan to tune into this year’s UFL season.