The Green Bay Packers finished the 2024 NFL season with injuries plaguing their wide receiver corps. This week they added some reinforcements, signing former Kansas City Chiefs standout Mecole Hardman to a one-year contract, according to ESPN.
The 27-year-old Hardman is coming off his second stint with the Chiefs, with whom he won three different Super Bowls. Originally a second-round draft pick in 2019, the veteran pass catcher primarily served as a special teams role in 2024, accumulating nearly 500 all-purpose yards as a kick and punt returner.
player headshot team logo Mecole Hardman KC • WR • #17 TAR 14 REC 12 REC YDs 90 REC TD 0 FL 0 View Profile Hardman had a larger offensive role earlier in his NFL career, when head coach Andy Reid deployed his speed as part of the Chiefs’ wide receiver rotation. He averaged more than 20 yards per catch as a rookie, when Kansas City went on to win Super Bowl LIV, and secured a career-high 59 catches for 693 yards two seasons later.
The Georgia product joined the New York Jets in 2023 free agency but played a minimal role in just five games before he was traded back to the Chiefs. Hardman went on to haul in Patrick Mahomes’ game-winning touchdown pass in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.
2025 NFL free agency tracker: Updates on top 100 free agents; Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs among best available Cody Benjamin 2025 NFL free agency tracker: Updates on top 100 free agents; Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs among best available He had just 12 catches for 90 yards in Kansas City during the 2024 campaign.
There’s a lot of time between now and the start of the 2025 NFL season, which means there’s a lot of time for all 32 teams to continue tweaking their rosters. The start of free agency tends to bring most of the splashy moves, yes, but sometimes the final ingredients to a championship recipe only arrive deep into the offseason. Underscoring this reality is the fact two of the most accomplished quarterbacks of this year’s veteran market — Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson — still remain without teams for 2025.
A week after the official kickoff of free agency, however, we also have a pretty good idea of how most teams’ lineups will look come September. The heavy lifting of the veteran market is done, and now all eyes are on April’s draft, when remaining roster holes will be plugged even further. So which teams struck gold, in our eyes, during the early stages of offseason activity? Which signings and trades stand out as most likely to pay dividends? Here are 10 of our favorite player moves so far:
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Charvarius Ward to the Colts Contract: 3 years, $54 million
Indianapolis may not be a wellspring of Super Bowl hope with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson set to battle at quarterback, but the defense should be much more respectable defending the pass with Ward in tow as the new No. 1 cover man. Despite a trying finish with the 49ers, he turned in championship-level showings with both San Francisco and the Kansas City Chiefs. Fresh scenery should do him well.
Sam Darnold to the Seahawks Contract: 3 years, $100.5 million
Don’t be too fooled by the money here. In some ways, Darnold feels less like an upgrade and more like a younger version of Geno Smith — gifted and aggressive but intermittently reckless when everything isn’t tidy in front of him. The seven-year age gap isn’t nothing, though, so the longer-term upside is here after Darnold’s 2024 breakout with the Minnesota Vikings. This move isn’t just about Darnold, though; dealing Smith also netted Seattle a third-round pick, and the Seahawks can easily cut ties after 2025 if needed.
Geno Smith to the Raiders Acquired via trade for: 2025 third-round pick
Is Smith, 34, a long-term solution for a longstanding quarterback problem in Las Vegas? Unlikely. Does Geno’s spirited play style and personality mask some of his forced-throw tendencies? Probably. The Raiders needed someone — anyone — under center, though, and Smith offered far more arm talent and on-field zeal than most available veterans. His arrival also shouldn’t preclude them from drafting a successor.
Deebo Samuel to the Commanders Acquired via trade for: 2025 fifth-round pick
Samuel has durability issues, yes, and he may never fully replicate the multipurpose stardom that made him the apple of Kyle Shanahan’s eye with the San Francisco 49ers, but for a single late-rounder, you could do a whole lot worse for a one-year flyer. Especially with Terry McLaurin on the other side and Jayden Daniels airing it out. It’s a perfect marriage with the Commanders in win-now mode.
Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders Acquired via trade for: 2026 second-round pick, 2025 third-round pick
Washington also swapped fourth-rounders with the Houston Texans to land Tunsil, who will be 31 when the season kicks off and has missed multiple games in four of his last six seasons. It’s a relatively steep price, considering Tunsil also commands the NFL’s third-largest left tackle contract. Or is it? Blind-side blocking is vital, and Tunsil’s experience should be a welcome reprieve for 2024 rookie sensation Jayden Daniels. The Commanders are clearly angling for a quick title push, and on paper, this helps.
Zack Baun to the Eagles Contract: 3 years, $51 million
A year after bucking its own trends to lure Saquon Barkley on a lucrative running back deal, Philadelphia followed suit at linebacker, rewarding Baun for his weekly dominance as part of the Super Bowl run. He’ll already be 29 before the end of 2025, but his mileage is also low due to a lesser role with the New Orleans Saints to open his career, and he was a tenacious ball magnet at the heart of coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense. Keeping him in place should alleviate the free agent losses of Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, etc.
Paulson Adebo to the Giants Contract: 3 years, $54 million
New York has big issues still unsolved, but credit where credit is due: Adebo may have been the most underrated cover man in free agency, and his knack for finding the ball should help offset some of the secondary sizzle that left with Xavier McKinney in 2024. Despite missing 10 games in his final season with the New Orleans Saints, Adebo has totaled seven picks and 28 pass breakups since 2023 alone. Ranked 16th among all cornerbacks in forced incompletions since 2021, per PFF, he could be a lockdown No. 1.
Joe Thuney to the Bears Acquired via trade for: 2026 fourth-round pick
Thuney will turn 33 during the 2025 season, but he’s never logged fewer than 97% of his teams’ offensive snaps over the course of his nine-year career. With both the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, he proved durable and versatile. These are all major gets for a Chicago front that hardly let 2024 rookie Caleb Williams take a breath under center. Will Thuney alone bulldoze the Bears into playoff relevance? No. But his reliability should make him a tone-setter for the rest of the rebuilt trenches.
Justin Fields to the Jets Contract: 2 years, $40 million
While other needy teams are still waiting around for old, greying free agents or crapshoot draft picks at quarterback, New York is barely paying starter money for a potential gem in Fields, who is still just 26 despite racking up 44 NFL starts. “Potential” is obviously the key word; Fields has yet to hold a permanent gig and serve as a truly trustworthy passer. But he’s got all the physical tools and flashed better ball control with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is a classic low-risk, high-upside bet for a team in transition.
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Davante Adams to the Rams Contract: 2 years, $44 million
It might not be long before Los Angeles is back in pure rebuild mode, this time on the offensive side, if Matthew Stafford ages ungracefully at 37. As long as Stafford is under center, Sean McVay’s group might as well be aiming for a deep run. And Adams, though also aging, remains the total package out wide, giving Puka Nacua an improved running mate on the perimeter. Even if he’s past his prime, the former Green Bay Packers star should get a boost from escaping his dysfunctional setups of recent years.
The 2025 NFL league year is only a week old, but the vast majority of the big moves have already been made. Among CBS Sports senior NFL writer Pete Prisco’s top 100 free agents, only 19 remain available as of this writing.
Let’s go through just some of the major moves that did go down:
Quarterback Sam Darnold signed with Seattle Seahawks (3 years, $100.5M with $55M guaranteed) Wide receiver Tee Higgins re-signed with Cincinnati Bengals (4 years, $115M) Right guard Trey Smith got franchise-tagged by Kansas City Chiefs Left tackle Ronnie Stanley re-signed with Baltimore Ravens (3 years, $60M with $44M guaranteed) Defensive lineman Milton Williams signed with New England Patriots (4 years, $104M with $63M guaranteed) Center Drew Dalman signed with Chicago Bears (3 years, $42M with $28M guaranteed) Cornerback D.J. Reed signed with Detroit Lions (3 years, $48M with $32M guaranteed) Safety Jevon Holland signed with New York Giants (3 years, $45.3M with $30.3M guaranteed) Linebacker Zack Baun re-signed with Philadelphia Eagles (3 years, $51M with $34M guaranteed) Despite the early flurry of activity, many teams with multiple and/or major needs like the New England Patriots ($73.8 million in effective cap space, most in the NFL) and the Arizona Cardinals ($63.99 million in effective cap space, second most in the NFL) still have plenty of holes to fill. Yes, there’s still the 2025 NFL Draft, but it’s also never too early to look ahead at what could be in free agency next NFL offseason.
2025 NFL free agency tracker: Updates on top 100 free agents; Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs among best available Cody Benjamin 2025 NFL free agency tracker: Updates on top 100 free agents; Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs among best available Let’s take at some of the notable, potential NFL free agents next offseason, but keep in mind that some of these guys who are still on the rookie contracts could have their fifth-year option picked up or could be extended well before next offseason.
Quarterbacks player headshot team logo Brock Purdy SF • QB • #13 View Profile player headshot team logo Geno Smith LV • QB • #7 View Profile player headshot team logo Daniel Jones IND • QB • #8 View Profile player headshot team logo Zach Wilson MIA • QB • #4 View Profile player headshot team logo Kenny Pickett CLE • QB • #7 View Profile It would seem like new Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith would get an extension in the near future this offseason since a disagreement on financials is why Smith became available in the first place. New Raiders head coach Pete Carroll certainly doesn’t want to enter his first season with his quarterback already disgruntled.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and his second contract is a polarizing topic. On the one hand, he has the highest yards per pass attempt (8.9) and passer rating (104.9) in NFL history among those with at least 1,000 career pass attempts. On the other hand, San Francisco is 10-11 including the playoffs in Purdy’s starts when even one of running back Christian McCaffrey, left tackle Trent Williams, wide receiver Deebo Samuel (now on the Washington Commanders), wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and tight George Kittle don’t play.
Purdy also has nine career touchdown passes to 15 career interceptions including the postseason when tied or trailing in the second half of a game. Will he hit the open market? Unlikely, but after the 49ers signed former first-round pick quarterback Mac Jones to a two-year, $7 million contract, they at least banked themselves some Purdy insurance.
Running backs player headshot team logo Derrick Henry BAL • RB • #22 View Profile player headshot team logo James Cook BUF • RB • #4 View Profile player headshot team logo Breece Hall NYJ • RB • #20 View Profile player headshot team logo Kenneth Walker III SEA • RB • #9 View Profile player headshot team logo Kyren Williams LAR • RB • #23 View Profile player headshot team logo Rico Dowdle CAR • RB • #23 View Profile player headshot team logo Rachaad White TB • RB • #1 View Profile player headshot team logo Najee Harris LAC • RB • #22 View Profile player headshot team logo Travis Etienne JAC • RB • #1 View Profile This potential running back class could be incredible given the high-end depth. Derrick Henry just totaled the most rushing yards ever in a season (1,921) by a player aged 30 or older in 2024. James Cook co-led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs last season. Kyren WIlliams is tied with Gibbs for the most touchdowns from scrimmage the last two seasons with 31. The 2025 NFL Draft has one of the deeper running back draft classes in recent memory, and the 2026 offseason could have one of the deepest free agency running back classes in recent memory.
However, Schultz noted that Brown is going to do everything he can to take the field in a game the Bengals must win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. Cincinnati also needs the Broncos and Miami Dolphins to lose.
Here’s the latest injury update on Brown, which comes from Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.
Chase Brown injury update According to the Cincinnati Inquirer’s Kelsey Conway, head coach Zac Taylor says that Brown will be a game-time decision and said “we’ll see” when asked if Brown would be able to play. Right tackle Amarius Mims is in the same boat.
Per the team’s official injury report, Brown has not practiced over the first two days of the week. Cincinnati has not released its final injury report of the week yet, so it remains to be seen if Brown will be able to get any work in on Thursday. As of now, we would expect the Bengals running back to draw a questionable tag.
Mims’ outlook appears to be a bit more positive because he was at least able to log limited sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mims is dealing with hand and ankle injuries.
If Brown can’t go, trade deadline acquisition Khalil Herbert figures to serve as the lead back after he handled all of the work upon Brown’s exit last week. The only other healthy running back on the active roster is Trayveon Williams. Cincinnati has Gary Brightwell and Kendall Milton on the practice squad, also.
At least, in the eyes of CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, the Colts could afford to bring in a three-time Pro Bowler to compete with the former No. 4 overall pick.
Benjamin predicted the Colts will sign New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr to a one-year $15 million deal after a projected release this offseason.
“After playing through multiple injuries in 2023, the former Raiders veteran succumbed to them in Year 2 with New Orleans, appearing in just 10 contests as the Saints made a long-awaited coaching shift. Going on 34, with a long but inconsistent resume, his release would save the team up to $30 million,” Benjamin wrote.
This would be a massive shock to the Colts offense. While Richardson has some questions to answer as the potential franchise quarterback, Carr would be yet another retread veteran to don the horseshoe.
Signing Carr to a $15 million wouldn’t guarantee he is the starter over Richardson, but that’s not insignificant money. It would signal the Colts are seriously preparing for the event that Richardson fails.
While Carr’s 40 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 27 games over the last two seasons may seem like an improvement, his low-ceiling production has been seen before in Indy.
It’s difficult to imagine Chris Ballard doing this type of deal if he remains the general manager, but anything can happen in the NFL, especially if a new regime comes in.
This is Jacobs’ third career Pro Bowl nod, but it is his first time representing the Packers and resultingly his first time representing the NFC. He has 1,285 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. He has 340 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown as well.
When Jordan Love was injured the Packers leaned heavily on Jacobs. He has been worth every penny and will be a big reason the Packers will be able to compete with any team in the playoffs. Jacobs, Rashan Gary and Xavier McKinney were all named to the Pro Bowl this year. Unlike Jacobs, McKinney and Gary are first-time selections.
The Packers’ first-round opponent is yet to be decided, but it will be either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles or Los Angeles Rams. The Packers have not played the Buccaneers this year, but Jacobs found success against the Rams and Eagles this year. Jacobs had 104 total yards against the Eagles in week one in Brazil. He had 94 total yards and a touchdown in Los Angeles.
Jacobs has seemingly gotten better as the temperature drops. Playing in Philadelphia in January could be a good matchup for him.
Then, there’s the Pro Football Focus numbers: Joseph ranks first in overall and coverage grade, and 13th in run defense grade. Joseph’s completion rate allowed (59.3%) and passer rating (74.8) rank second and seventh, respectively, among safeties who have played at least 80% of their team’s coverage snaps.
Joseph’s snub didn’t even come from the fans, as he ranked first in voting among free safeties in that portion of the vote, which counts as one-third. Where Joseph fell short was in the players and coaches portion, each of which counts as one-third, also.
So, that begs the question: how did the people who are supposed to know ball the most not vote for Joseph, who is clearly having an elite season? Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn knows the answer.
“I think we all know that, but it is what it is,” Glenn said, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic.
As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press points out, Glenn is referring to the idea that Joseph is considered a dirty player, a label he has been given by some after injuring tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Tyler Higbee last season.
Joseph was also labeled a dirty player by former Lions and current Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who called the safety “dirty as [expletive]” right after the hit on Higbee.
Hockenson, who was once teammates with Joseph in 2022, has since stated that he doesn’t believe Joseph was intentionally trying to hurt him.
“I know Kerby pretty well. I’ve played with him. I don’t necessarily think it was [intended to injure],” he said back in April. “You go back on the tape and you see what happened. I don’t think it was [intentional]. I just want to make sure it wasn’t and that’s why I’m using my voice here. Players protect players. That’s in any facet of the league. You don’t want a defensive guy head-hunting or knee- hunting, and the same thing for an offensive guy.”
Can we totally confirm that Joseph did not make the Pro Bowl because of the label he has seemingly picked up? No, but with his snub being so egregious, and with the view coming from Glenn, it certainly holds at least some weight.
Las Vegas seemed destined to select a signal caller in the 2025 NFL Draft, but after winning the last two games, their draft position has plummeted to the No.8 overall pick heading into Week 18 after holding the No.2 pick just a few weeks ago. There are a plethora of quarterback-needy teams ahead of them in the current draft order, including the New York Giants (Pick 4) and Tennessee Titans (Pick 2).
The draft is still months away, so there is still a chance the Raiders will be in a position to select a signal caller. But CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin believes Las Vegas will go down the veteran quarterback route once again and sign Pittsburgh Steelers backup Justin Fields in 2025 free agency. Benjamin projects Fields’ contract with the Raiders will be for one year at $11 million.
“Summoned to open the Steelers’ season under center as Wilson recovered from injury, the former Chicago Bears first-rounder has been equally dynamic as erratic when asked to win through the air, though his Pittsburgh debut was more efficient,” Benjamin wrote. “He remains something of a high-upside unknown.”
If Las Vegas can’t land one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft, who many believe is Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward, signing Fields to an affordable one-year deal to serve as a bridge would be a savvy move by the team.
Fields started the first six weeks of the season for the Steelers while Russell Wilson dealt with a calf injury. The 2021 No.11 overall pick posted a 4-2 record and totaled ten touchdowns to just two turnovers. Fields showed a ton of promise and has grown as a passer, completing 65.8% of his passes during that six-game stretch to begin the year.
Selecting a quarterback would be the ideal scenario for Las Vegas, but if the team knows they will not be in a position to select a signal caller in April, signing Justin Fields in free agency in March would be a nice move.
Only three tackles make the initial Pro Bowl roster from each conference, and it’s hard to argue against the likes of Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles, Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions and Tristan Wirfs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but O’Neill doesn’t get the respect he deserves for locking down the right side of Minnesota’s offensive line.
He’s allowed just two sacks and 18 total pressures this season, per PFF’s advanced stats. That includes a herculean stretch midseason that saw him allow zero QB pressures or hurries in four consecutive games. It’s no coincidence, either, that that stretch started in Week 9, which was Minnesota’s first game with Cam Robinson replacing the injured Christian Darrisaw on the left side.
Darnold has been sacked 46 times this season, fourth most in the NFL. Maybe that worked against Minnesota’s offensive linemen this season. But Vikings fans have a legitimate gripe with O’Neill missing the cut. He’s been a stabilizing force this season and was the team’s top Pro Bowl snub.
LB Blake Cashman The hometown kid — Cashman went to Eden Prairie High School — has been a boon for Minnesota’s defense. He would likely be a lock for this year’s Pro Bowl had he not missed three games with a toe injury.
Still, in 13 games, he’s racked up 104 total tackles, and his 4.5 sacks over that span is an elite number among interior linebackers. Only Lavonte David of the Bucs has comparable stats in terms of both tackles (113) and sacks (5.5), but it took him 16 games to get there.
One of the most impactful free agent additions in the NFL this season, Cashman is a lesser-known player fully deserving of Pro Bowl recognition.
S Josh Metellus Shoutout to Vikings Nation, as Metellus ranked first at his position in the fan voting. That’s awesome, considering your average NFL fan has probably never heard his name before. That could soon change after Metellus doubled down on what was a breakout 2023 season.
Working against Metellus when it comes to the Pro Bowl is his position, as he’s not deployed by Flores like a traditional strong safety. He’s a hybrid player who spends most of his time in the box, more like a linebacker or even a slot corner. His PFF grade of 87.7 in run defense would rank top-five among safeties, but this player does it all, entering Week 18 with 98 total tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Unfortunately for Metellus, the fan vote is only part of the voting process. A player listed as a safety, on a team that deploys Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum as their starters at that position, probably makes it hard to justify giving Metellus the nod. He’s more than deserving, though, as one of the most versatile defensive backs in football.
