NFL free agency for 2025 is upon us -- sorta. The madness has already started. But it’s also technically not started yet.
So where do Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf and the New England Patriots fit in?
The chaos of the NFL offseason is in peak form as we enter Day 1 of the Legal Tampering period. The 2025 league year (and the official start of free agency) isn’t set to start until Wednesday. However, Monday marks the first time NFL teams can officially talk to impending free agents (known as the “Legal Tampering Period”).
Deals aren’t supposed to be done until Wednesday. However, there’s always news that comes out during this time. Here’s a rundown of all the major rumors, signings and trades across the league -- plus everything the Patriots are doing.
NFL Legal Tampering Day 1: Everything we’re hearing
TRADE: Patriots deal Davon Godchaux to the Saints - New England is moving on from one of its defensive starters, sending Godchaux to New Orleans in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Godchaux wasn’t considered a good fit in the Patriots' new defensive scheme under Mike Vrabel.
RUMOR: Aaron Rodgers is in the mix for the Steelers QB job -- Pittsburgh appears to be at a QB crossroads with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Well, now you can reportedly add Rodgers to the mix. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that “idea of Rodgers playing for Mike Tomlin is in play.”
RE-SIGNED: Former Patriots DL Adam Butler staying with Raiders -- Butler, who started out as a UDFA in New England, is re-signing with Tom Brady’s Raiders on a three-year deal, per NFL Network.
Big trades and signings that have already happened
There has been a flurry of signings and trades in recent days that saw some big names changing teams -- and other sticking with their current franchise. Here’s a rundown of the biggest moves we’ve seen in the lead-up to free agency:
PATRIOTS FREE AGENT SIGNING: New England lands Harold Landry -- The Patriots finally made a splash by signing Pro Bowl pass rusher Harold Landry to a 3-year contract worth $43.5 million, MassLive’s Mark Daniels reports.
The 28-year-old Landry flourished under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee. Now the two will reunite in New England.
PATRIOTS RE-SIGNING: TE Austin Hooper is staying in New England -- As MassLive’s Mark Daniels reported Sunday, the Patriots are bringing back Hooper on a one-year, $5 million deal that can be worth up to $7 million.
FREE AGENT: CB Jonathan Jones is hitting the market -- The longest-tenured player on the Patriots roster will not re-sign before the start of free agency. Instead, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent, MassLive’s Karen Guregian reports.
SIGNING: WR Davante Adams lands with Rams -- After being cut by the Jets, Adams heads out west to L.A.
TRADE: Seahawks deal WR D.K. Metcalf to the Steelers -- This news, which broke Sunday night, took an appealing target off the board New England. Pittsburgh gave up a second-round pick and gave Metcalf a whopping five-year, $150 million contract.
RE-SIGNED: OT Ronnie Stanley re-signs with the Ravens -- This one stings for the Patriots. Stanley was the top tackle on the market and it was no secret that New England valued him. Now, they’ll have to look elsewhere to rebuild the O-line.
RE-SIGNED: Myles Garrett is NOT traded. Instead, he’s sticking with the Browns -- Garrett made some waves by requesting a trade earlier this offseason. But instead of being dealt, the pass rusher signed a deal that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
TRADE: Seahawks deal QB Geno Smith to Las Vegas -- Tom Brady’s Raiders team lands a veteran quarterback in the form of Smith. Meanwhile, Seattle is now set to start over at quarterback.
TRADE: Jaguars deal WR Christian Kirk to Texans -- Instead of cutting Kirk, Jacksonville opted to trade the veteran receiver to Houston in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick.
