The player who had the biggest impact on last season was a 2024 free agent who switched teams.
Saquon Barkley moved from the New York Giants to Philadelphia Eagles, ran for 2,000 yards, won NFL Offensive Player of the Year and helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl. He immediately went on the list of the greatest free agent signings of all time.
It’s unlikely any player who changed teams this offseason will have that kind of impact, but each team that added a big-name player is hoping for it. Here are some of the biggest names among veterans to switch teams this offseason.
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QB Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s not unusual for a legend to end his career in a strange uniform. It is rare to see an all-time great have two weird stops near the end. Rodgers goes from an unsuccessful two-year stay with the New York Jets to the Steelers. The signing seemingly took forever, as Rodgers waited to join the team, but neither side had much choice. The Steelers needed a quarterback and Rodgers needed a team to play for. Rodgers has indicated this will be his last season, which adds to the intrigue.
QB Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
The Seahawks practically swapped quarterbacks. They traded Smith to the Raiders and then landed Sam Darnold. For the Raiders, it’s a huge upgrade over last season’s Gardner Minshew II/Aidan O’Connell tandem. The Raiders have made moves to show improvement now, and Smith was the biggest one.
QB Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Darnold was considered a stopgap at best this time last season. But he had a very good season with the Vikings, though two losses to end the season dampened the enthusiasm. The Vikings decided to move on with J.J. McCarthy, and the Seahawks paid Darnold a three-year, $100.5 million contract.
WR Deebo Samuel and OT Laremy Tunsil, Washington Commanders
The Commanders were busy after a surprising run to the NFC championship game last season. They made two big trades, getting Samuel from the 49ers and Tunsil from the Texans. Tunsil steps right in at left tackle and upgrades the line, and if Samuel can rebound he adds a much-needed playmaker to the offense for Jayden Daniels.
WR DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
Metcalf and the Seahawks didn’t agree on a contract extension, so Seattle traded him to Pittsburgh. Metcalf then signed a five-year, $150 million deal with his new team. The Steelers needed a No. 1 receiver, especially after souring on George Pickens, and Metcalf gives Aaron Rodgers a legitimate downfield target. The Steelers were busy this offseason.
WR Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
Adams is on his third team since the beginning of last season. He started last season on the Raiders, was traded to the Jets, then this offseason he was cut by the Jets and landed with the Rams. It’s a great landing spot for Adams, who forms a dangerous duo at receiver with Puka Nacua.
WR George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys needed some help at receiver to go alongside CeeDee Lamb, and gambled on a trade for the talented Pickens from the Steelers. Pickens has been a productive receiver, albeit a bit inconsistent, but the big issue has been that he wasn’t a great teammate. There’s a reason the Steelers traded him. The Cowboys are hoping they get a player motivated to play well and earn a big contract extension.
WR Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
Diggs’ lone season with the Texans didn’t go well. He was performing well enough but tore his ACL. As a free agent he landed with the Patriots, who needed some veteran help at receiver. There should be some worry about a 31-year-old receiver coming off a torn ACL who has shown signs of decline, but the Patriots needed to get young quarterback Drake Maye some help.
WR Cooper Kupp, Seattle Seahawks
Kupp is a franchise icon for the Rams. But time moves on, and the Rams released him this offseason. He landed with the division rival Seahawks in his home state of Washington. Kupp is 32, has dealt with plenty of injuries and the Rams were fine releasing him, but at his best he is an unguardable receiver, and the Seahawks don’t have much depth there.
TE Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
The Broncos haven’t had an impact player at tight end in many years, and they grabbed Engram to fix that problem. Engram had some productive seasons with the Jaguars, and the Broncos signed him to a two-year, $23 million deal. Broncos head coach Sean Payton knows how to deploy tight ends, so this might be a great fit for both sides.
OG Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears
It was a bit surprising the Chiefs traded Thuney, an All-Pro each of the last two seasons. But the Bears were happy to acquire the 32-year-old guard, who can help an offensive line that allowed way too much pressure in Caleb Williams’ rookie season.
DT Milton Williams, New England Patriots
The free agent who got the largest contract, in terms of total value, to switch teams this offseason was Williams. Williams has immense talent and was coming off a strong Super Bowl performance with the Eagles. He’ll join a rebuilding Patriots defense that needed a lot of help, and now has new coach Mike Vrabel guiding it.
DE Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals
Sweat was another Super Bowl hero for the Eagles who cashed in elsewhere. He got $76.4 million over four years to go to the Cardinals, where he reunites with his old Eagles defensive coordinator and current Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon. Sweat has 33 sacks over the last four seasons, and that pass rush is needed in Arizona.
CB Jalen Ramsey, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ramsey was part of a big trade in which he and tight end Jonnu Smith landed with Pittsburgh via a trade from the Dolphins. The Steelers obviously factored in the positional value of Ramsey, who has been one of the best cornerbacks of the past decade and still is a very good player. He should fit well on a very good defense.
S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins
Fitzpatrick started his career with the Dolphins, was traded to the Steelers, had a very good run there and now is back with the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick is just 28 years old, so he should have a few prime years left for Miami on his second stint with the team.
Others: QB Russell Wilson, New York Giants; QB Justin Fields, New York Jets; RB JK Dobbins, LB Dre Greenlaw and S Talanoa Hufanga, Denver Broncos; Denver Broncos; RB Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings; RB Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys; TE Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers; G Will Fries, Minnesota Vikings; OLB Joey Bosa, Buffalo Bills; S Jevon Holland and CB Paulson Adebo, New York Giants; CB D.J. Reed, Detroit Lions; CB Carlton Davis III, New England Patriots
