Tremendous Bowl LIX and the 2024 season are within the books, so it is time to flip the web page to the 2025 offseason.
Listed here are 10 questions (and solutions) concerning the subsequent few months.
1. When does the 2025 NFL league 12 months start?
March 12 at 4 p.m. ET. That is when free brokers can formally signal contracts and trades may be permitted.
2. What are some participant deadlines to look at?
Saints quarterback Derek Carr’s $30M wage turns into totally assured on the third league day, Might 14. (h/t Spotrac)
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has a $10M 2025 roster bonus that turns into assured Might 16.
On that very same day, Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett, who requested a commerce on Feb. 3, will receive a $5M roster bonus.
Longtime Seahawks broad receiver Tyler Lockett, who acknowledged his murky outlook in Seattle following the regular season, may even obtain a good-looking payday Might 16, when his $5.3M roster bonus prompts.
3. Who’re essentially the most notable free brokers?
Bengals broad receiver Tee Higgins is arguably one of the best participant available on the market. In 2024, he averaged 75.9 receiving yards per recreation, the second most in his five-year profession, and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns.
Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, Chargers outdoors linebacker Khalil Mack and Eagles defensive finish Josh Sweat are among the many finest defenders.
Sam Darnold (Vikings) is essentially the most noteworthy quarterback, adopted by Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
4. What’s the anticipated 2025 wage cap?
In December, NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that teams were budgeting for the wage cap to be from $265M to $275M. That low-end estimate could possibly be conservative primarily based on salary- cap development developments.
• 2021: $182.5 million
• 2022: $208.2 million (+14.1%)
• 2023: $224.8 million (+8%)
• 2024: $255.4 million (+13.6%)
Over the previous three years, 2023’s eight p.c wage cap spike has been the league’s most minor. If the cap will increase eight p.c once more this season, that may put the 2025 cap at $275.8 million.
5. When and the place is the 2025 NFL Draft?
April 24-26 in Inexperienced Bay. After being in Detroit final April, the draft is on the street for the tenth time after going down in New York from 1965-2014. It would occur over three nights, with the primary spherical on Thursday, April 24.
The 2026 draft is scheduled for Pittsburgh from April 23-25.
6. Who’re this 12 months’s prime prospects?
2024 Heisman winner Colorado cornerback and broad receiver Travis Hunter is the highest participant on most draft huge boards, with Penn State defensive finish Abdul Carter additionally receiving consideration.
Hunter’s Colorado teammate, Shedeur Sanders, and Miami’s Cam Ward are the clear prime two quarterbacks and, per many draft consultants, the one ones with first-round grades coming into the pre-draft course of.
7. When will the 2025 schedule be launched?
Since 2020, the league has pushed again the date from mid-April to after the NFL Draft.
This is when the schedule was launched the previous 5 seasons:
• 2020: Thursday, May 7
• 2021: Wednesday, May 12
• 2022: Thursday, May 12
• 2023: Thursday, May 11
• 2024: Wednesday, May 15
Count on the schedule to be unveiled across the similar time, with Wednesday, Might 14 or Thursday, Might 15 being the most definitely dates.
8. Who’re Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia’s potential residence opponents for the season’s first recreation?
Whereas we do not know particular recreation occasions, the Eagles’ 2025 opponents have been confirmed.
Philadelphia will performs its three NFC East rivals, with the Cowboys and Commanders the most definitely choices for the Thursday season opener.
The Lions additionally journey to Lincoln Monetary Subject, making that an attractive choice for the season’s first recreation.
A divisional-round rematch towards the Rams could be subsequent on our checklist, adopted by the Broncos and Bears.
Lots can change earlier than the schedule is finalized. Nonetheless, as at present constructed, Philadelphia’s two different residence opponents, the Giants and Raiders, aren’t enticing sufficient to placed on an enormous stage.
9. What potential trades ought to we anticipate?
Garrett is the largest identify after demanding to be traded to a contender. If a commerce occurs, it will possible be a post-June 1 transaction, when the Browns would save almost $5M towards the 2025 cap.
Rams broad receiver Cooper Kupp confirmed Los Angeles plans to trade him this offseason.
On Sunday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported the 49ers have permitted broad receiver Deebo Samuel to hunt a commerce.
Cousins can be a candidate to observe earlier than his $10M roster bonus turns into assured.
On Saturday, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano reported the Titans might commerce the No. 1 choose of the 2025 NFL Draft and pursue a younger, veteran quarterback in free company.
10. What are different important dates?
The NFL Scouting Mix is Feb. 25-March 3. The deadline for groups to use the franchise or transition tag is the day following the mix (March 4).
Groups might start negotiating with brokers when the authorized tampering interval begins on March 10, with the annual league assembly three weeks later, from March 30-April 2.
2022 first-round picks have till Might 1 for groups to choose up their 2026 fifth-year choices, whereas July 15 is the deadline for franchise-tagged gamers to comply with a long-term extension.
