With players and teams making important decisions for themselves and the franchise, free agency gives an opportunity for players and teams to change things up from last year.
NFL free agency is the period that typically changes the way teams view next season and the draft.
With players like Sam Darnold, Tee Higgins, Milton Williams and Stefon Diggs on the table, a lot of teams are interested in this year’s free agency, and are looking to change the layout for the 2025 NFL draft and the 2025-2026 NFL season.
Some teams, like the Philadelphia Eagles, lost a lot in free agency while some teams, like the New England Patriots, gained many.
According to junior Carson Pro, free agency can be unpredictable with many players being traded and cut.
“One of the biggest surprises to me was what happened in Seattle,” Pro said. “Geno [Smith] and [DK] Metcalf, and then they released Tyler Lockett.”
Junior Joe Jones said DK Metcalf was one of the more surprising moves in this period.
“I think DK was a big surprise,” Jones said. “I feel like especially with a newer head coach, they have to move towards the future and he’s a part of that.”
DK Metcalf brings more firepower, as a two-time Pro Bowler, to a Steelers offense that was ranked 23rd in offensive yards per game.
Junior Will Cusano feels that the addition of DK Metcalf allows the Pittsburgh Steelers to improve a lot. “A Pro Bowl-caliber player to fill into a spot that had a mediocre player starting last season, I think will be great for the team,” Cusano said.
According to Cusano, free agency gives teams that didn’t live up to expectations a chance to improve and get ready for next season.
“I believe the Miami Dolphins underperformed last year,” Cusano said. “I think having everyone get healthy improves our team.”
Cusano also believes “having a lot of draft picks could potentially make the Miami Dolphins a standout team next year.”
For Pro, the Philadelphia Eagles are a team that can acquire and make talent thanks to their coaches. “I think that the line in Philly produces, especially the coaches,” Pro said, “they produce great offensive lineman and defensive lineman.”
According to Jones, the New Orleans Saints acquiring Kellen Moore is one of the best moves they made because it can change the future.
“I think a young coach can either change the process and change the history of how we’ve been bad,” Jones said, “I think it’s a good move.”
Jones feels that the Saints are taking “a step in the right direction” to “eventually become good again.”
Cusano feels sometimes organizations make questionable moves.
One of those moves was allowing Jevon Holland to move on from Miami.
“One of the biggest surprising news for my team was not re-signing Jevon Holland,” Cusano said.