NFL free agency was quiet. Then it wasn’t. Russell Wilson reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Giants worth up to $21 million, with $10.5 million guaranteed. Then, a mere 20 minutes later, news broke that Stefon Diggs had reportedly agreed to a deal with the New England Patriots for three years, $69 million, with $26 million guaranteed. Both reports came via ESPN.
So that means it’ll be Wilson and Jameis Winston in the Giants’ QB room, while Drake Maye is about to get a crash course in WR1s with Diggs, who is a four-time Pro Bowler but also not shy about voicing his opinion. The Patriots have waited seemingly forever for a legit top option in the passing game, though, and Mike Vrabel is the kind of coach who can keep the team culture in line. Plus, Diggs will reportedly be ready in time for Week 1 coming off his torn ACL last October.
Elsewhere, J.J. McCarthy said Tuesday he hasn’t been told he’s QB1 for the Minnesota Vikings. It’s March, and that’s not a total surprise, but it sure does leave the door cracked on the biggest name left in NFL free agency.
Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned, and while reports came out a couple weeks ago indicating the Vikings were moving forward with McCarthy as their presumed starter, the whole situation has been too nebulous and non-specific to outright close the door on it. Especially when the only tangible development for Rodgers has been a meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Friday.
The one major thing the Vikings could do to put this to bed, as Yahoo Sports Senior NFL Reporter Charles Robinson wrote, is sign a veteran QB to either compete with McCarthy for the starting job or offer experienced guidance as a backup. That hasn’t happened, and so we wait, both for Rodgers to make a decision and the Vikings to do something to truly indicate he won’t be on the team come this summer.
As for the rest of the league, most of Yahoo Sports Senior NFL Writer Frank Schwab’s top 25 available free agents, and even more throughout his positional rankings, are already off the board. If you missed any news these past couple weeks, don’t worry. We’ve tracked the NFL free-agent deals this month.
And don’t forget: The NFL Draft also isn’t far off. Cam Ward is going first in our latest mock draft, and Yahoo Sports draft expert Nate Tice has written profiles on Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, while fellow draft expert Charles McDonald wrote on Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart last week. Also, check out Tice and McDonald’s consensus big board.
NFL free agency analysis
Live307 updates
Tue, March 25, 2025 at 7:57 PM EDT
Stefon Diggs reportedly on track to return Week 1
That’s part of the reason the New England Patriots felt comfortable signing Diggs to a three-year, $69 million deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
New Patriots WR Stefon Diggs, who’s coming off a torn ACL suffered in Week 8 vs. the Colts, is on track to return for Week 1 of the upcoming season.
It was another reason the Patriots felt comfortable giving Diggs the three-year, $69 million deal that GM Eliot Wolf and Diggs’…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 25, 2025
Tue, March 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM EDT
Stefon Diggs signing three-year deal with the Patriots worth up to $69 million
The New England Patriots have landed a key free agent, signing former Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a three-year deal worth up to $69 million, with $26 million guaranteed, per multiple reports.
BREAKING: WR Stefon Diggs and the New England Patriots have reached agreement on a three-year, $69 million deal including $26 million guaranteed, per Adam Schefter. pic.twitter.com/4d9RizLY1W
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 25, 2025
Diggs, one of the top free agents available this offseason, spent one year in Houston after being traded by the Buffalo Bills. He had 496 yards and three touchdowns in his eight games with the Texans before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Tue, March 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM EDT
Russell Wilson joining the Giants on a one-year deal with $10.5 million guaranteed
Russell Wilson has found a new landing spot: The veteran QB has reportedly agreed to join the New York Giants on a one-year deal worth up to $21 million. The deal includes $10.5 million guaranteed.
Wilson played with the Steelers on a one-year, $1.21 million contract in 2024 while still owed $37.79 million from the Denver Broncos. He said after the season that he wants to play “as long as possible,” reiterating a statement he made in November that he wants to play 5-7 more years.
Tue, March 25, 2025 at 3:50 PM EDT
J.J. McCarthy: Vikings ‘haven’t told me’ I’m QB1
J.J. McCarthy is the presumed starting quarterback for the 2025 Minnesota Vikings, but the specter of Aaron Rodgers remains out there with the veteran signal-caller still unsigned. The Vikings have touched base with Rodgers’ camp, but head coach Kevin O’Connell has yet to announce who will take the first snap in Week 1.
McCarthy, the Vikings’ 2024 first-round draft pick who missed all of last season due to a knee injury, appeared on the “Up and Adams” show Tuesday and was asked by host Kay Adams if he’s been informed that he is the team’s No. 1 quarterback heading into next season.
NFL teams have reportedly contacted Minnesota about McCarthy’s availability
Mon, March 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM EDT
Report: Chargers re-signing S Tony Jefferson
Jefferson retired before the 2023 season but returned to play for the Chargers last season, and will again in 2025, per Fox Sports.
Mon, March 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM EDT
Stefon Diggs posts Instagram story gettin’ them gains on a rehabbing ACL
Diggs tore his ACL on Oct. 27 of last season, but five months later he’s back in the weight room doing squats and other exercises on it. He posted to his Instagram story on Monday with multiple workout clips.
The four-time Pro Bowler reportedly met with the New England Patriots last week as more of an information-gathering affair, and left without a contract.
Mon, March 24, 2025 at 3:40 PM EDT
Most of NFL free agency is, practically speaking, done. It has been done for more than a week.
There are some veteran receivers still deciding on their next team and a few other veterans who can contribute, but there’s not much left among the top free agents. Teams executed their plans, players signed and most of the league is on to draft preparation.
And then there’s Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers is taking his time making a decision. That gets more curious or obnoxious, depending on your perspective, because he doesn’t have many options left.
But there are still teams and players that need to hear what Rodgers’ decision is before mapping out their next moves. And there hasn’t been much indication of what Rodgers will do. Like it or not though, it’s not like a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers has a lot of choice but to wait.
Aaron Rodgers’ options
Fri, March 21, 2025 at 8:04 PM EDT
Report: Giants, Jameis Winston agree on 2-year deal
Fri, March 21, 2025 at 5:24 PM EDT
Report: TE Tyler Conklin signs with Chargers
The Chargers are signing former Jets TE Tyler Conklin to a one-year deal, per his agent Mike McCartney.
A new weapon for Justin Herbert ⚡ pic.twitter.com/uYTDNQ2Rlq
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 21, 2025
Fri, March 21, 2025 at 3:51 PM EDT
Aaron Rodgers wraps up visit with Steelers
The Steelers’ meeting with Aaron Rodgers ended about a half-hour ago. He spent time with GM Omar Khan, coach Mike Tomlin and OC Arthur Smith. No deal, but there was no expectation that would happen today.
The sides will keep talking.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 21, 2025
Fri, March 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM EDT
WR Brandin Cooks, Saints agree on deal
Fri, March 21, 2025 at 12:55 PM EDT
Aaron Rodgers spotted at Steelers’ practice facility. Deal reportedly not imminent.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reports that Aaron Rodgers is at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ facility, but that is not an indication a deal is close or coming.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network says that Rodgers is just meeting with coaches as he contemplates his next stop.
Rodgers’ landing spots are dwindling with Wednesday’s news that the Minnesota Vikings are all-in on J.J. McCarthy for next season. That would leave the Steelers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans as potential destinations as those are teams who are seeking help at quarterback.
Are the Steelers now the frontrunner to land Aaron Rodgers? (AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
Thu, March 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM EDT
Report: Stefon Diggs’ Patriots visit ends without deal
But this sounds more like the beginning of something than the end, per The MMQB’s Albert Breer.
Stefon Diggs is on his way home now after a good visit with the Patriots. New England able to gather some info, and Diggs got a chance to take his first visit.
They’ll keep talking. https://t.co/0zMPIevz3h
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 20, 2025
Thu, March 20, 2025 at 1:58 PM EDT
WR Michael Gallup unretires, signs 1-year deal with Commanders
Receiver Michael Gallup has officially come out of retirement and signed with the Commanders, the team announced. He agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum, which could pay him up to $1.335 million.
Gallup, 29, retired from the NFL before the 2024 season. After six seasons with the Cowboys, he signed a one-year deal with the Raiders. He took part in OTAs and minicamps but decided to retire before training camp and Las Vegas put him on the reserve/retired list.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Gallup said he wasn’t “in the right head space” after leaving Dallas.
He tore the ACL in his left knee during Week 17 of the 2021-22 season and came back to play the next two years with the Cowboys. However, Gallup’s production during those two seasons slipped noticeably, averaging 36 receptions and 421 yards.
Wed, March 19, 2025 at 8:15 PM EDT
Stefon Diggs visiting Patriots, per report
Stefon Diggs is one of the top NFL free agents left on the market, and he’s visiting the New England Patriots, per The Athletic’s Chad Graff.
Diggs was traded to the Texans last spring but tore his ACL on October 29 and is still in the recovery process.
NFL draft evaluators don’t view this wide receiver class as particularly strong, so adding established talent whether through free agency (like Cooper Kupp) or extensions (like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins) has taken on extra importance. The Patriots need weapons for Drake Maye, and Diggs might be their man.
Wed, March 19, 2025 at 8:04 PM EDT
Report: Texans make Danielle Hunter NFL’s second-highest paid DE
Houston and Hunter have agreed to a one-year, $35.6 million extension, per NFL Network.
Wed, March 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM EDT
LB Willie Gay Jr. signing with Dolphins, per report
It’s a one-year deal for Gay, per ESPN. The former Chief, who won back-to-back Super Bowls in Kansas City, played last season with the Saints.
Wed, March 19, 2025 at 3:37 PM EDT
Report: Texans signing LT Cam Robinson
Houston’s offensive line reshaping has been one of the stories of free agency.
Now they’re adding a big piece, with Cam Robinson agreeing to a one-year deal worth up to $14.5 million, per Fox Sports.
C.J. Stroud has a new blindside protector in Cam Robinson. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Wed, March 19, 2025 at 3:34 PM EDT
Commanders reportedly rework Deebo Samuel’s deal
Washington will guarantee $17 million of Samuel’s salary this season, per ESPN, and is adding $3 million in incentives.
Wed, March 19, 2025 at 2:11 PM EDT
S Jordan Fuller reportedly signing with Falcons
The former Ram and Panther is reuniting with his old defensive coordinator in Los Angeles, Raheem Morris, who is now the Falcons’ head coach, according to NFL Network.
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