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NFL Free Agency 2025: The Trenches Take Center Stage in Free Agency Spending

NFL Free Agency 2025: Breaking Down Team Spending Trends and Priorities

NFL teams have made their priorities clear in 2025 Free Agency, spending heavily in the trenches to solidify both offensive and defensive lines. The emphasis on EDGE rushers, interior defensive linemen (DL), offensive tackles (T), and interior offensive linemen (IOL) underscores the league-wide recognition that controlling the line of scrimmage remains essential for success.


NFL Free Agency 2025: The Trenches Take Center Stage in Free Agency Spending

At the core of Super Bowl-winning teams, a dominant offensive and defensive line combination provides flexibility to dictate the game on both sides of the ball. Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles have mastered this strategy in recent years, proving that even if a team lacks an elite quarterback, a dominant line can elevate the entire roster.


With over $2.1 billion spent so far on the trenches, let’s break down how teams invested their cap space and which positions garnered the most attention.


Total Spending by Position in Free Agency

The table below summarizes total spending, number of players signed, and average annual value (AAV) per position.

Position

Players Signed

Total Spending ($M)

Avg. Yrs

AAV ($M)

EDGE

25

787.7

2.0

12.5

DL

29

722.2

2.1

9.7

CB

21

634.8

2.4

10.8

QB

13

557.8

2.0

13.3

WR

24

544.0

1.9

9.5

LB

26

449.1

2.1

7.0

IOL

17

411.5

2.2

9.4

S

17

341.0

2.1

8.1

T

11

333.1

2.3

11.4

TE

9

137.3

2.1

6.8

RB

8

87.3

1.5

6.5

NFL’s Heavy Investment in the Trenches

NFL teams allocated a combined $2.1 billion toward offensive and defensive linemen (EDGE, DL, IOL, T), reinforcing the belief that controlling the line of scrimmage remains crucial to building a championship-caliber roster.


Key Takeaways:

  • EDGE rushers led the spending spree with $787.7M in contracts, averaging $12.5M AAV.

  • Defensive linemen (IDL) followed closely with $722.2M spent, a reflection of how valuable interior disruptors have become in modern defenses.

  • Offensive linemen were not far behind, with offensive tackles (T) earning $333.1M and interior linemen (IOL) receiving $411.5M.

  • Cornerbacks ranked third in total spending, highlighting the continued arms race in pass defense.


NFL Free Agency Spend

Top 5 Teams by Spending on EDGE, DL, IOL, and OT

Here’s a look at the biggest spenders in the trenches during Free Agency.


Top 5 Teams in IDL Spending

Team

DL (%)

Dallas Cowboys

57.1%

Houston Texans

34.1%

Chicago Bears

30.9%

New England Patriots

29.7%

Minnesota Vikings

29.3%

Top 5 Teams in EDGE Spending

Team

EDGE (%)

Cleveland Browns

71.0%

Las Vegas Raiders

61.1%

New Orleans Saints

45.0%

Arizona Cardinals

39.9%

Chicago Bears

34.0%

Top 5 Teams in IOL Spending

Team

IOL (%)

Green Bay Packers

53.0%

Jacksonville Jaguars

33.1%

Kansas City Chiefs

30.4%

Chicago Bears

29.8%

Minnesota Vikings

22.3%

Top 5 Teams in Offensive Tackle Spending

Team

T (%)

Baltimore Ravens

73.4%

Atlanta Falcons

44.6%

Tennessee Titans

34.7%

Los Angeles Rams

26.0%

Kansas City Chiefs

19.5%

Biggest Free Agent Signings in the Trenches

NFL teams prioritized premium talent at key positions in the trenches. Here are the largest signings by position group:


Top Defensive Line (DL) Contracts in Free Agency

NFL teams prioritized elite interior defensive linemen in 2025 free agency, investing heavily in players who can stop the run and collapse the pocket in today's evolving defensive schemes. Here are the top 15 DL signings based on total contract value and AAV:


  • Milton Williams (Patriots) – 4 years, $104M ($26M AAV)

  • Osa Odighizuwa (Cowboys) – 4 years, $80M ($20M AAV)

  • Jonathan Allen (Vikings) – 3 years, $60M ($20M AAV)

  • Tershawn Wharton (Panthers) – 3 years, $54M ($18M AAV)

  • Javon Kinlaw (Commanders) – 3 years, $45M ($15M AAV)

  • Javon Hargrave (Vikings) – 2 years, $30M ($15M AAV)

  • Grady Jarrett (Bears) – 3 years, $43.5M ($14.5M AAV)

  • Dalvin Tomlinson (Cardinals) – 2 years, $29M ($14.5M AAV)

  • D.J. Jones (Broncos) – 3 years, $39M ($13M AAV)

  • B.J. Hill (Bengals) – 3 years, $33M ($11M AAV)

  • Poona Ford (Rams) – 3 years, $30M ($10M AAV)

  • Maliek Collins (Browns) – 2 years, $20M ($10M AAV)

  • Dre’Mont Jones (Titans) – 1 year, $10M ($10M AAV)

  • T.J. Slaton (Bengals) – 2 years, $15M ($7.5M AAV)

  • Sebastian Joseph-Day (Titans) – 1 year, $7.5M ($7.5M AAV)


Top Edge Rusher (EDGE) Contracts in Free Agency

NFL teams heavily prioritized pass rushers in 2025 free agency, recognizing the premium value of disrupting opposing quarterbacks. Here are the top 15 EDGE signings based on total contract value and AAV:


  • Myles Garrett (Browns) – 4 years, $160M ($40M AAV)

  • Maxx Crosby (Raiders) – 3 years, $106.5M ($35.5M AAV)

  • Gregory Rousseau (Bills) – 4 years, $80M ($20M AAV)

  • Josh Sweat (Cardinals) – 4 years, $76.4M ($19.1M AAV)

  • Khalil Mack (Chargers) – 1 year, $18M ($18M AAV)

  • Chase Young (Saints) – 3 years, $51M ($17M AAV)

  • Dayo Odeyingbo (Bears) – 3 years, $48M ($16M AAV)

  • Harold Landry III (Patriots) – 3 years, $43.5M ($14.5M AAV)

  • Haason Reddick (Buccaneers) – 1 year, $14M ($14M AAV)

  • Joey Bosa (Bills) – 1 year, $12.6M ($12.6M AAV)

  • Malcolm Koonce (Raiders) – 1 year, $12M ($12M AAV)

  • DeMarcus Lawrence (Seahawks) – 3 years, $32.49M ($10.83M AAV)

  • Patrick Jones II (Panthers) – 2 years, $20M ($10M AAV)

  • Leonard Floyd (Falcons) – 1 year, $10M ($10M AAV)

  • Michael Hoecht (Bills) – 3 years, $24M ($8M AAV)


Top Interior Offensive Line (IOL) Contracts in Free Agency

With defenses increasingly prioritizing interior pass rush, NFL teams made significant investments in their interior offensive lines to counteract this trend. Here are the top 15 IOL signings based on total contract value and AAV:


  • Trey Smith (Chiefs) – Franchise Tag, 1 year, $23.4M ($23.4M AAV)

  • Aaron Banks (Packers) – 4 years, $77M ($19.25M AAV)

  • Will Fries (Vikings) – 5 years, $88M ($17.6M AAV)

  • Drew Dalman (Bears) – 3 years, $42M ($14M AAV)

  • Patrick Mekari (Jaguars) – 3 years, $37.5M ($12.5M AAV)

  • Ryan Kelly (Vikings) – 2 years, $18M ($9M AAV)

  • Kevin Zeitler (Titans) – 1 year, $9M ($9M AAV)

  • James Daniels (Dolphins) – 3 years, $24M ($8M AAV)

  • Ben Bredeson (Buccaneers) – 3 years, $22M ($7.33M AAV)

  • Robert Hainsey (Jaguars) – 3 years, $21M ($7M AAV)

  • Bradley Bozeman (Chargers) – 2 years, $12M ($6M AAV)

  • Evan Brown (Cardinals) – 2 years, $11.5M ($5.75M AAV)

  • Alex Cappa (Raiders) – 2 years, $11M ($5.5M AAV)

  • Robert Jones (Cowboys) – 1 year, $4.5M ($4.5M AAV)

  • Laken Tomlinson (Texans) – 1 year, $4.25M ($4.25M AAV)


Top Offensive Tackle (OT) Contracts in Free Agency

NFL teams continued their investment in the trenches, with offensive tackles securing significant deals to protect quarterbacks and solidify the edge in both pass protection and run blocking. Here are the top 10 OT signings based on total contract value and AAV:


  • Jake Matthews (Falcons) – Re-sign (Extended), 2 years, $45M ($22.5M AAV)

  • Dan Moore Jr. (Titans) – Free Agent, 4 years, $82M ($20.5M AAV)

  • Ronnie Stanley (Ravens) – Re-sign, 3 years, $60M ($20M AAV)

  • Alaric Jackson (Rams) – Re-sign, 3 years, $57M ($19M AAV)

  • Jaylon Moore (Chiefs) – Free Agent, 2 years, $30M ($15M AAV)

  • Morgan Moses (Patriots) – Free Agent, 3 years, $24M ($8M AAV)

  • James Hudson III (Giants) – Free Agent, 2 years, $12M ($6M AAV)

  • Cornelius Lucas (Browns) – Free Agent, 2 years, $10M ($5M AAV)

  • Chuma Edoga (Jaguars) – Free Agent, 2 years, $7M ($3.5M AAV)

  • Josh Jones (Seahawks) – Free Agent, 1 year, $4.75M ($4.75M AAV)

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