The start of the new NFL season is all but underway, meaning extensions and deals with unrestricted free agents are coming in fast.
PFF will be providing live reactions and analysis for all major transactions, and we'll give each deal one of four grades: below average, average, above average, good, very good and elite. These ratings will be updated throughout the week as additional news comes in.
For even more information about the best free agents on the market, monitor PFF's free-agent rankings, which include contract projections, wins above replacement (PFF WAR), PFF grades and analysis.
Chronological Deal Grades
Click here to jump to team-by-team deal grades
TE Isaiah Likely signs with New York Giants
2025 PFF Grade: 56.4
2025 PFF WAR: 0.17
Contract: 3 years, $40 million
PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $28 million
PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Likely stays with John Harbaugh, who became the Giants‘ head coach after his time in Baltimore ended in January. Likely could have commanded an even bigger deal if not for a down year after an injury, but he has averaged at least 1.29 yards per route run in each of his four NFL seasons.
QB Malik Willis signs with Miami Dolphins
2025 PFF Grade: 92.3
2025 PFF WAR: 0.44
Contract: 3 years, $67.5 million
PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $40 million
PFF Deal Grade: Good
After announcing that they will release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins made their big move at quarterback by adding Malik Willis. He produced a 92.3 PFF overall grade in 2025, but it came on just 97 snaps. This likely locks him in as the starter for the next two seasons, giving Miami a young quarterback who can become a franchise player.
EDGE Jaelan Phillips signs with Carolina Panthers
2025 PFF Grade: 74.2
2025 PFF WAR: 0.09
Contract: 4 years, $120 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $15 million
PFF Deal Grade: Below Average
This deal grade could change depending on the guarantees, but the contract is a big risk for the Panthers, given how much time Phillips has missed in his career because of injuries. At his best, he can be a top-15 to top-20 edge defender in the NFL. He ranked tied for 26th in PFF overall grade at the position last year but played fewer than 500 snaps in each of the previous two years.
CB Jaylen Watson signs with Los Angeles Rams
2025 PFF Grade: 74.1
2025 PFF Grade: 0.31
Contract: 3 years, $51 million
PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $45 million
PFF Deal Grade: Good
The Rams add a cornerback from the Chiefs for the second time in the past few days. A seventh-round draft pick in 2022, Watson has played 500 or more snaps in every season as an NFL player. He has also earned PFF coverage grades above 65.0 in each of the past three campaigns. The Rams have already taken huge steps to improve their defense this offseason.
RB Kenneth Walker III signs with Kansas City Chiefs
2025 PFF Grade: 91.4
2025 PFF WAR: 0.16
Contract: 3 years, $43 million
PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $34.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
The Super Bowl MVP lands with the Chiefs in one of the best fits of the earlier moves so far. Walker accounted for 42 explosive runs in 2025 and led the league with a 91.5 PFF rushing grade. His 77 forced missed tackles were the second most among running backs. He lands with a team, against whom defenses will not be able to sell out to stop the run when quarterback Patrick Mahomes is back healthy.
CB Eric Stokes re-signs with Las Vegas Raiders
2025 PFF Grade: 73.6
2025 PFF WAR: 0.43
Contract: 3 years, $30 million
PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $14 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
Stokes enjoyed a career revival after arriving in Las Vegas on a one-year deal ahead of the 2025 season, setting career highs in snaps and PFF overall grade. He earned a 73.5 PFF coverage grade in 2025 after allowing catches on just 56.0% of the passes into his coverage. The deal is perhaps a little rich, but the Raiders reward a player who has recently impressed.
EDGE Dre'Mont Jones signs with the New England Patriots
2025 PFF Grade: 64.7
2025 PFF WAR: 0.01
Contract: 3 years, $39 million
PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $20 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
The Titans traded Jones to the Ravens at the deadline in 2025, and he turned a solid end to the season into a modest deal with the Patriots. It's slightly above the contract PFF projected, but not significantly so. For a player who has produced 40-plus pressures in each of the past five seasons and can play on the interior on obvious passing downs, the move makes sense for the Patriots.
WR Alec Pierce re-signs with Indianapolis Colts
2025 PFF Grade: 79.3
2025 PFF WAR: 0.58
Contract: 4 years, $116 million
PFF Projected Contract: 4 years, $96 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
One of the top free agents stays home in Indianapolis on a monster deal that seemed more and more likely in recent days. Pierce becomes a top-10 wide receiver in the NFL by per-year salary on the back of a career year. His 2.10 yards per route run average was 0.28 higher than in any other season in his career, and he has averaged more than 20 yards per reception in each of the past two years.
DI Sheldon Rankins re-signs with Houston Texans
2025 PFF Grade: 70.8
2025 PFF WAR: 0.15
Contract: Two years, TBD
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $7.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Rankins is 31 years old but still has enough pass-rush juice to justify a strong contract. He racked up 86 pressures from 899 pass-rushing snaps with the Texans in 2023 and 2025, and he's an excellent fit for what they want to do defensively. While Rankins is not a standout against the run, he'll contribute as an important pass rusher for Houston again in 2026.
Green Bay Packers trade EDGE Rashan Gary to Dallas Cowboys
2025 PFF Grade: 68.9
2025 PFF WAR: 0.05
Cowboys Deal Grade: Average
Packers Deal Grade: Good
Gary's PFF pass-rush grade has dropped consistently in each of the past four seasons, so the Cowboys are unlikely to be acquiring a major pass-rush threat. However, he has remained an above-average run defender and still racked up 60 quarterback pressures last season. There is still some upside for Dallas, which sent a 2027 fourth-round draft pick for the 28-year-old. It's even better business for the Packers after Gary announced his departure days ago on Instagram before reports indicated his account was hacked.
Miami Dolphins trade S Minkah Fitzpatrick to New York Jets
2025 PFF Grade: 81.8
2025 PFF WAR: 0.10
Jets PFF Deal Grade: Very Good
Dolphins PFF Deal Grade: Average
Fitzpatrick is coming off the second-highest-graded season of his career, so for the Jets to acquire him for just a seventh-round draft pick is a good deal. As part of the move, they are signing him to a three-year, $40 million contract, which is also reasonable for a safety of his caliber. For the Dolphins, they clear his salary from the books and at least get something in return as their rebuild continues.
CB Asante Samuel Jr. re-signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers
2025 PFF Grade: 70.1
2025 PFF WAR: 0.11
Contract: 1 year, $4 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $3.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
After signing with the Steelers late in the 2025 NFL season, Samuel produced well enough on 249 snaps in black and yellow to earn himself another one-year deal. If all the Steelers get is a full season at the level he played at in 2025, then this is a solid signing. But Samuel produced excellent play in the 2022 and 2023 seasons before dealing with some injuries, so there is some upside for the team here, too.
CB Montaric Brown re-signs with the Jacksonville Jaguars
2025 PFF Grade: 72.0
2025 PFF WAR: 0.36
Contract: 3 years, $33 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $4.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
There were reports that Brown would command a strong salary, and that's what has come to pass before the new league year begins. Brown's PFF coverage grade has improved every season he has been in the league, and while there is some risk here due to the price, he is still an ascending player coming off his best NFL season. It makes sense for the Jaguars to lock him up into his late 20s.
Buffalo Bills trade CB Taron Johnson to Las Vegas Raiders
2025 PFF Grade: 57.9
2025 PFF WAR: 0.14
Raiders PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Bills PFF Deal Grade: Average
Johnson, who was expected to be released, winds up being traded to the Raiders in a deal that involves a sixth- and seventh-round pick swap. While he hasn't matched his peak play from 2021 to 2023 recently, Johnson is still a capable starter in the slot. He earned a 63.7 PFF coverage grade in 2025. The Raiders can handle his cap hits of $8.7 and $10 million over the next two seasons. For the Bills, it's a marginal draft capital gain for a player whom they were going to release anyway, so they at least get something in the move.
G Ed Ingram re-signs with Houston Texans
2025 PFF Grade: 73.8
2025 PFF WAR: 0.23
Contract: 3 years, $37.5 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $4.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
This is a strong deal for Ingram, who hit free agency at just the right time after a career-high 73.8 PFF overall grade in his fourth season out of LSU. He has just one season with a 60.0 PFF pass-blocking grade or better, but his 79.9 PFF run-blocking grade in 2025 ranked sixth best at the position. It's not a cheap deal for Houston, but given the early signals from this free-agent offensive line class, it's not too surprising to see him command $12.5 million per year.
LB Justin Strnad re-signs with Denver Broncos
2025 PFF Grade: 72.1
2025 PFF WAR: 0.10
Contract: 3 years, $18 million
PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $8 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
This is a slight overpay based on PFF projections, but the $10 million in guarantees puts this closer to that number. Strnad is coming off the highest-graded season of his career and earned PFF grades above 60.0 in run defense and coverage in 2025. He added 17 quarterback pressures from 84 pass-rushing snaps and missed just 9.3% of his tackle attempts last season.
Las Vegas Raiders trade EDGE Maxx Crosby to Baltimore Ravens
2025 PFF Grade: 79.7
2025 PFF WAR: 0.32
Ravens PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Raiders PFF Deal Grade: Elite
In a blockbuster deal, the Ravens trade the 14th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft and their first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft to the Las Vegas Raiders for edge defender Maxx Crosby. While Crosby hasn't been as dominant in the past two seasons, his 46 tackles resulting in a defensive stop in 2025 tied for the second most. It's a steep price to pay, but it will be worth it for the Ravens if he can return to his 2023 form.
For the Raiders, two first-round draft picks to help build around presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza at quarterback makes all the sense in the world, especially given that a trade of Crosby always seemed likely.
C Connor McGovern re-signs with Buffalo Bills
2025 PFF Grade: 70.9
2025 PFF WAR: 0.22
Contract: 4 years, $52 million
PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $39 million
PFF Deal Grade: Good
The Bills lock up their starting center right at the projected per-year average in a key move before free agency begins. Coming off his highest-graded season in the NFL, McGovern gives the Bills a top-10 player at the position, and he can be counted on to protect quarterback Josh Allen. He hasn't allowed a sack in pass protection since Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season.
Green Bay Packers trade DI Colby Wooden to Indianapolis Colts for LB Zaire Franklin
Wooden's 2025 PFF Grade: 50.6
Franklin's 2025 PFF Grade: 38.4
Packers PFF Deal Grade: Average
Colts PFF Deal Grade: Average
A player-for-player swap likely means the Packers are willing to let pending free agent linebacker Quay Walker sign elsewhere. Franklin is coming off the lowest-graded season of his career but has played more than 1,000 snaps in each of the past four seasons. Wooden was on the field for 622 snaps for the Packers last season and will provide some depth for the Colts, though he has yet to earn a 60.0-plus PFF overall grade for a season.
EDGE Khalil Mack re-signs with Los Angeles Chargers
2025 PFF Grade: 79.2
2025 PFF WAR: 0.10
Contract: 1 year, $18 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $14 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
While this is a slight overpay based on the PFF contract projection, locking Mack in for another year is a good piece of business for the Chargers. He racked up 42 pressures from 296 pass-rushing snaps last year and is still one of the better run defenders in the NFL at the position.
Team-by-Team Deal Grades
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Las Vegas Raiders trade EDGE Maxx Crosby to Baltimore Ravens
2025 PFF Grade: 79.7
2025 PFF WAR: 0.32
Ravens PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Raiders PFF Deal Grade: Elite
In a blockbuster deal, the Ravens trade the 14th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft and their first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft to the Las Vegas Raiders for edge defender Maxx Crosby. While Crosby hasn't been as dominant in the past two seasons, his 46 tackles resulting in a defensive stop in 2025 tied for the second most. It's a steep price to pay, but it will be worth it for the Ravens if he can return to his 2023 form.
For the Raiders, two first-round draft picks to help build around presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza at quarterback makes all the sense in the world, especially given that a trade of Crosby always seemed likely.
Buffalo Bills
C Connor McGovern re-signs with Buffalo Bills
2025 PFF Grade: 70.9
2025 PFF WAR: 0.22
Contract: 4 years, $52 million
PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $39 million
PFF Deal Grade: Good
The Bills lock up their starting center right at the projected per-year average in a key move before free agency begins. Coming off his highest-graded season in the NFL, McGovern gives the Bills a top-10 player at the position, and he can be counted on to protect quarterback Josh Allen. He hasn't allowed a sack in pass protection since Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season.
Buffalo Bills trade CB Taron Johnson to Las Vegas Raiders
2025 PFF Grade: 57.9
2025 PFF WAR: 0.14
Raiders PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Bills PFF Deal Grade: Average
Johnson, who was expected to be released, winds up being traded to the Raiders in a deal that involves a sixth- and seventh-round pick swap. While he hasn't matched his peak play from 2021 to 2023 recently, Johnson is still a capable starter in the slot. He earned a 63.7 PFF coverage grade in 2025. The Raiders can handle his cap hits of $8.7 and $10 million over the next two seasons. For the Bills, it's a marginal draft capital gain for a player whom they were going to release anyway, so they at least get something in the move.
Carolina Panthers
EDGE Jaelan Phillips signs with Carolina Panthers
2025 PFF Grade: 74.2
2025 PFF WAR: 0.09
Contract: 4 years, $120 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $15 million
PFF Deal Grade: Below Average
This deal grade could change depending on the guarantees, but the contract is a big risk for the Panthers, given how much time Phillips has missed in his career because of injuries. At his best, he can be a top-15 to top-20 edge defender in the NFL. He ranked tied for 26th in PFF overall grade at the position last year but played fewer than 500 snaps in each of the previous two years.
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers trade EDGE Rashan Gary to Dallas Cowboys
2025 PFF Grade: 68.9
2025 PFF WAR: 0.05
Cowboys Deal Grade: Average
Packers Deal Grade: Good
Gary's PFF pass-rush grade has dropped consistently in each of the past four seasons, so the Cowboys are unlikely to be acquiring a major pass-rush threat. However, he has remained an above-average run defender and still racked up 60 quarterback pressures last season. There is still some upside for Dallas, which sent a 2027 fourth-round draft pick for the 28-year-old. It's even better business for the Packers after Gary announced his departure days ago on Instagram before reports indicated his account was hacked.
Denver Broncos
LB Justin Strnad re-signs with Denver Broncos
2025 PFF Grade: 72.1
2025 PFF WAR: 0.10
Contract: 3 years, $18 million
PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $8 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
This is a slight overpay based on PFF projections, but the $10 million in guarantees puts this closer to that number. Strnad is coming off the highest-graded season of his career and earned PFF grades above 60.0 in run defense and coverage in 2025. He added 17 quarterback pressures from 84 pass-rushing snaps and missed just 9.3% of his tackle attempts last season.
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers Trade DI Colby Wooden to Indianapolis Colts for LB Zaire Franklin
Wooden's 2025 PFF Grade: 50.6
Franklin's 2025 PFF Grade: 38.4
Packers PFF Deal Grade: Average
Colts PFF Deal Grade: Average
A player-for-player swap likely means the Packers are willing to let pending free agent linebacker Quay Walker sign elsewhere. Franklin is coming off the lowest-graded season of his career but has played more than 1,000 snaps in each of the past four seasons. Wooden was on the field for 622 snaps for the Packers last season and will provide some depth for the Colts, though he has yet to earn a 60.0-plus PFF overall grade for a season.
Green Bay Packers trade EDGE Rashan Gary to Dallas Cowboys
2025 PFF Grade: 68.9
2025 PFF WAR: 0.05
Cowboys Deal Grade: Average
Packers Deal Grade: Good
Gary's PFF pass-rush grade has dropped consistently in each of the past four seasons, so the Cowboys are unlikely to be acquiring a major pass-rush threat. However, he has remained an above-average run defender and still racked up 60 quarterback pressures last season. There is still some upside for Dallas, which sent a 2027 fourth-round draft pick for the 28-year-old. It's even better business for the Packers after Gary announced his departure days ago on Instagram before reports indicated his account was hacked.
Houston Texans
G Ed Ingram re-signs with Houston Texans
2025 PFF Grade: 73.8
2025 PFF WAR: 0.23
Contract: 3 years, $37.5 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $4.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
This is a strong deal for Ingram, who hit free agency at just the right time after a career-high 73.8 PFF overall grade in his fourth season out of LSU. He has just one season with a 60.0 PFF pass-blocking grade or better, but his 79.9 PFF run-blocking grade in 2025 ranked sixth best at the position. It's not a cheap deal for Houston, but given the early signals from this free-agent offensive line class, it's not too surprising to see him command $12.5 million per year.
DI Sheldon Rankins re-signs with Houston Texans
2025 PFF Grade: 70.8
2025 PFF WAR: 0.15
Contract: Two years, TBD
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $7.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Rankins is 31 years old but still has enough pass-rush juice to justify a strong contract. He racked up 86 pressures from 899 pass-rushing snaps with the Texans in 2023 and 2025, and he's an excellent fit for what they want to do defensively. While Rankins is not a standout against the run, he'll contribute as an important pass rusher for Houston again in 2026.
Indianapolis Colts
Green Bay Packers Trade DI Colby Wooden to Indianapolis Colts for LB Zaire Franklin
Wooden's 2025 PFF Grade: 50.6
Franklin's 2025 PFF Grade: 38.4
Packers PFF Deal Grade: Average
Colts PFF Deal Grade: Average
A player-for-player swap likely means the Packers are willing to let pending free agent linebacker Quay Walker sign elsewhere. Franklin is coming off the lowest-graded season of his career but has played more than 1,000 snaps in each of the past four seasons. Wooden was on the field for 622 snaps for the Packers last season and will provide some depth for the Colts, though he has yet to earn a 60.0-plus PFF overall grade for a season.
WR Alec Pierce re-signs with Indianapolis Colts
2025 PFF Grade: 79.3
2025 PFF WAR: 0.58
Contract: 4 years, $116 million
PFF Projected Contract: 4 years, $96 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
One of the top free agents stays home in Indianapolis on a monster deal that seemed more and more likely in recent days. Pierce becomes a top-10 wide receiver in the NFL by per-year salary on the back of a career year. His 2.10 yards per route run average was 0.28 higher than in any other season in his career, and he has averaged more than 20 yards per reception in each of the past two years.
Jacksonville Jaguars
CB Montaric Brown re-signs with the Jacksonville Jaguars
2025 PFF Grade: 72.0
2025 PFF WAR: 0.36
Contract: 3 years, $33 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $4.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
There were reports that Brown would command a strong salary, and that's what has come to pass before the new league year begins. Brown's PFF coverage grade has improved every season he has been in the league, and while there is some risk here due to the price, he is still an ascending player coming off his best NFL season. It makes sense for the Jaguars to lock him up into his late 20s.
Kansas City Chiefs
RB Kenneth Walker III signs with Kansas City Chiefs
2025 PFF Grade: 91.4
2025 PFF WAR: 0.16
Contract: 3 years, $43 million
PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $34.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
The Super Bowl MVP lands with the Chiefs in one of the best fits of the earlier moves so far. Walker accounted for 42 explosive runs in 2025 and led the league with a 91.5 PFF rushing grade. His 77 forced missed tackles were the second most among running backs. He lands with a team, against whom defenses will not be able to sell out to stop the run when quarterback Patrick Mahomes is back healthy.
Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders trade EDGE Maxx Crosby to Baltimore Ravens
2025 PFF Grade: 79.7
2025 PFF WAR: 0.32
Ravens PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Raiders PFF Deal Grade: Elite
In a blockbuster deal, the Ravens trade the 14th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft and their first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft to the Las Vegas Raiders for edge defender Maxx Crosby. While Crosby hasn't been as dominant in the past two seasons, his 46 tackles resulting in a defensive stop in 2025 tied for the second most. It's a steep price to pay, but it will be worth it for the Ravens if he can return to his 2023 form.
For the Raiders, two first-round draft picks to help build around presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza at quarterback makes all the sense in the world, especially given that a trade of Crosby always seemed likely.
Buffalo Bills trade CB Taron Johnson to Las Vegas Raiders
2025 PFF Grade: 57.9
2025 PFF WAR: 0.14
Raiders PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Bills PFF Deal Grade: Average
Johnson, who was expected to be released, winds up being traded to the Raiders in a deal that involves a sixth- and seventh-round pick swap. While he hasn't matched his peak play from 2021 to 2023 recently, Johnson is still a capable starter in the slot. He earned a 63.7 PFF coverage grade in 2025. The Raiders can handle his cap hits of $8.7 and $10 million over the next two seasons. For the Bills, it's a marginal draft capital gain for a player whom they were going to release anyway, so they at least get something in the move.
CB Eric Stokes re-signs with Las Vegas Raiders
2025 PFF Grade: 73.6
2025 PFF WAR: 0.43
Contract: 3 years, $30 million
PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $14 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
Stokes enjoyed a career revival after arriving in Las Vegas on a one-year deal ahead of the 2025 season, setting career highs in snaps and PFF overall grade. He earned a 73.5 PFF coverage grade in 2025 after allowing catches on just 56.0% of the passes into his coverage. The deal is perhaps a little rich, but the Raiders reward a player who has recently impressed.
Los Angeles Chargers
EDGE Khalil Mack re-signs with Los Angeles Chargers
2025 PFF Grade: 79.2
2025 PFF WAR: 0.10
Contract: 1 year, $18 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $14 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
While this is a slight overpay based on the PFF contract projection, locking Mack in for another year is a good piece of business for the Chargers. He racked up 42 pressures from 296 pass-rushing snaps last year and is still one of the better run defenders in the NFL at the position.
Los Angeles Rams
CB Jaylen Watson signs with Los Angeles Rams
2025 PFF Grade: 74.1
2025 PFF Grade: 0.31
Contract: 3 years, $51 million
PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $45 million
PFF Deal Grade: Good
The Rams add a cornerback from the Chiefs for the second time in the past few days. A seventh-round draft pick in 2022, Watson has played 500 or more snaps in every season as an NFL player. He has also earned PFF coverage grades above 65.0 in each of the past three campaigns. The Rams have already taken huge steps to improve their defense this offseason.
Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins trade S Minkah Fitzpatrick to New York Jets
2025 PFF Grade: 81.8
2025 PFF WAR: 0.10
Jets PFF Deal Grade: Very Good
Dolphins PFF Deal Grade: Average
Fitzpatrick is coming off the second-highest-graded season of his career, so for the Jets to acquire him for just a seventh-round draft pick is a good deal. As part of the move, they are signing him to a three-year, $40 million contract, which is also reasonable for a safety of his caliber. For the Dolphins, they clear his salary from the books and at least get something in return as their rebuild continues.
QB Malik Willis signs with Miami Dolphins
2025 PFF Grade: 92.3
2025 PFF WAR: 0.44
Contract: 3 years, $67.5 million
PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $40 million
PFF Deal Grade: Good
After announcing that they will release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins made their big move at quarterback by adding Malik Willis. He produced a 92.3 PFF overall grade in 2025, but it came on just 97 snaps. This likely locks him in as the starter for the next two seasons, giving Miami a young quarterback who can become a franchise player.
Minnesota Vikings
New England Patriots
EDGE Dre'Mont Jones signs with the New England Patriots
2025 PFF Grade: 64.7
2025 PFF WAR: 0.01
Contract: 3 years, $39 million
PFF Projected Contract: 2 years, $20 million
PFF Deal Grade: Average
The Titans traded Jones to the Ravens at the deadline in 2025, and he turned a solid end to the season into a modest deal with the Patriots. It's slightly above the contract PFF projected, but not significantly so. For a player who has produced 40-plus pressures in each of the past five seasons and can play on the interior on obvious passing downs, the move makes sense for the Patriots.
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
TE Isaiah Likely signs with New York Giants
2025 PFF Grade: 56.4
2025 PFF WAR: 0.17
Contract: 3 years, $40 million
PFF Projected Contract: 3 years, $28 million
PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
Likely stays with John Harbaugh, who became the Giants‘ head coach after his time in Baltimore ended in January. Likely could have commanded an even bigger deal if not for a down year after an injury, but he has averaged at least 1.29 yards per route run in each of his four NFL seasons.
New York Jets
Miami Dolphins trade S Minkah Fitzpatrick to New York Jets
2025 PFF Grade: 81.8
2025 PFF WAR: 0.10
Jets PFF Deal Grade: Very Good
Dolphins PFF Deal Grade: Average
Fitzpatrick is coming off the second-highest-graded season of his career, so for the Jets to acquire him for just a seventh-round draft pick is a good deal. As part of the move, they are signing him to a three-year, $40 million contract, which is also reasonable for a safety of his caliber. For the Dolphins, they clear his salary from the books and at least get something in return as their rebuild continues.
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Asante Samuel Jr. re-signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers
2025 PFF Grade: 70.1
2025 PFF WAR: 0.11
Contract: 1 year, $4 million
PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $3.5 million
PFF Deal Grade: Above Average
After signing with the Steelers late in the 2025 NFL season, Samuel produced well enough on 249 snaps in black and yellow to earn himself another one-year deal. If all the Steelers get is a full season at the level he played at in 2025, then this is a solid signing. But Samuel produced excellent play in the 2022 and 2023 seasons before dealing with some injuries, so there is some upside for the team here, too.
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