NFL Analysis
10/11/24
6 min read
2025 NFL Free Agency: 5 Players Making Themselves Money This Season
We're already in Week 6 of the NFL season, which means we have a good idea of who has played well through one-third of games. It might seem too early to look ahead to next offseason, but the NFL trade deadline is an opportunity for contenders to hit the market for free-agents-to-be. Trading for a pending free agent who is playing well can be good for all parties.
The 2025 free agent class isn't the strongest, and the majority of the big names are in their 30s. Looking beyond obvious veterans who are entering the back-end of their careers and focusing on up-and-comers and others in their prime, we have five players who are playing well enough to make more money than expected.
Whether it's via an in-season extension or a deal next spring, these five 2025 free agents have boosted their stock and salary demands.
2025 NFL Free Agents Improving Their Stock
We've used a blend of production, age considerations, and recent contracts to project a new deal for these five 2025 NFL free agents.
The Lions could certainly plenty of this against the Bucs this week. In week 1, the Rams got rid of the ball quickly into the flats & short areas of the field consistently. Here's Chris Godwin bunched with Mike Evans and Baker hits Godwin the quick out. pic.twitter.com/R7FjoAhJEW
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) September 12, 2024
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
Projected contract: 3 years, $63 million
Already finishing out a three-year, $60 million deal, it might not seem like a big deal for Chris Godwin to get a similar contract next offseason. However, Godwin has come a long way since signing his contract at 26. Most notably, Godwin tore his ACL at the end of 2021, and his efficiency and explosiveness tanked in 2022 and 2023, even if his cumulative numbers were still solid.
However, the quickness and reliability that made Godwin a special slot receiver are back. Turning 29 in February, Godwin is on track to tie his career-high in touchdowns, set new highs in first downs, success rate and catch rate by a wide margin, and finish with his third-best yards per target margin.
Meanwhile, other 2025 free-agent receivers are struggling. None of Keenan Allen, Tee Higgins, Diontae Johnson, or Amari Cooper have been as good as Godwin through five games. Even Stefon Diggs is trailing Godwin's efficiency.
Alaric Jackson, LT, Los Angeles Rams 
Projected contract: 5 years, $100 million
Ten players who have logged at least 59 percent of their team's snaps at left tackle in 2024 are free agents in 2025, and Alaric Jackson has been the best of the bunch. He's also one of four tackles under the age of 28, so there's actual long-term value to be had on his next deal. With salaries rising across the board, Jackson can become one of the highest-paid players at tackle.
After dealing with an injury that kept him out of Week 1 and 2 and seemed to drag his performance down in his season debut, Jackson has been tremendous in the last two weeks. The massive 6-foot-7 blocker is one of the best run-blocking presences in the league, and his pass protection has been consistently good since 2022.
Only in his second full season at left tackle, Jackson continues to trend upward with his play. Allowing only one sack in 2023 and cutting down on the pressures allowed so far in 2024, Jackson has the athleticism and intelligence to reach his peak in the coming years. With so much need for help across the league, Jackson will be handsomely rewarded.
Drill Sargent Mike Hughes at your service pic.twitter.com/gON1elcgLm
— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) September 30, 2024
Mike Hughes, CB, Atlanta Falcons 
Projected contract: 3 years, $39 million
It might be strange to see a cornerback who has played on more teams (four) than career interceptions (three), but Mike Hughes has been a great cover defender in 2024. Still only 27 until February, Hughes might've finally solved the balance of staying in position and anticipating routes. Hughes can become a solid mid-tier starting cornerback for the next few years if he has.
Playing in Atlanta's zone-heavy scheme has allowed Hughes to keep everything in front of him more effectively. Thus far, he's allowed 12 receptions on 18 targets for only 112 yards and has avoided a penalty call. The disastrous plays in coverage are gone, and he's been a steadying force.
The concern with Hughes is whether his tackling can get back to its 2021 and 2022 levels, as his missed tackle rates in those seasons were three times better than what he produced in 2020, 2023, and 2024. He also must find some level of playmaking, as he has only 23 pass breakups in 1,725 coverage snaps.
Tershawn Wharton, DT, Kansas City Chiefs 
Projected contract: 2 years, $22 million
One of the better subpackage pass-rushers along the interior defensive line in the league, Tershawn Wharton, is playing his best football in a contract year. Still only 26, Wharton has only created 8.5 sacks across 60 games played. However, now starting, he's third among all defensive tackles with a 16.1 percent pass-rush win rate.
He's consistently graded as an above-average pass-rusher, even if he's not finishing sacks. The Chiefs have benefitted from his 79 career quarterback hurries next to Chris Jones. He's already logged 12 hurries in 2024 already.
Wharton has been graded poorly as a run defender until this season, and that will limit his ultimate contract upside. The defensive tackle market is a difficult one to project, but Wharton is good enough to justify spending Maliek Collins-type money on.
Paulson Adebo with our THIRD pick today 🔥
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 10, 2023
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/AQ5URJZ6Hq
Paulson Adebo, CB, New Orleans Saints 
Projected contract: 4 years, $80 million
There's a huge gap in the cornerback contract market, as zero players earn more than an average of $14.8 million and less than $19 million. Someone like Paulson Adebo would've been the perfect individual to set the middle market had he stayed in the slot, as All-Pro candidates would be above him, but he's playing great on the outside. Only 25 and thriving as a slot and left cornerback, Adebo is an up-and-comer.
Adebo solidified his status as an elite slot defender last year, but we're seeing slight evolutions to his game in 2024 as he plays more on the outside. His missed tackle rate is down, and he's more involved as a blitzer and primary run-stopper. His completion rate allowed and yards per reception numbers are down. He's on pace to set a career-high in pass breakups and interceptions.
The $20 million number would have him below only Jalen Ramsey, Patrick Surtain II, Jaire Alexander, A.J. Terrell, and Denzel Ward. It would put him above Marshon Lattimore, but his teammate is up for a new deal as well.
The cornerback market is closet to getting a lot of new deals that reset the market, so look for Adebo to benefit.
