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The NFL free-agency period is now underway, and while teams couldn't sign players with expired contracts until just now, they've been able to agree to principles for trades with other clubs for a while now. There have been quite a few impactful trades made so far, with more ostensibly yet to come.
These transactions are not only important to the involved teams, but to fantasy football as well. For many, it's worth analyzing their impacts on the fantasy-relevant players on their new team, even if the specific player isn't a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, or tight end, the four most common positions featured on fantasy football rosters.
Upgrades at offensive linemen can help quarterbacks and running backs directly and WRs/TEs indirectly. A pass-catcher going to a better situation can help them outproduce their numbers from the previous year. Even defensive signings can change how offenses operate. So, let's dive into every trade made so far!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
- 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
- Best ball fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
Washington Commanders Acquire Deebo Samuel Sr.
In the first "blockbuster" trade after the 2024 NFL season ended, the Washington Commanders addressed a desperate need, wide receiver, by trading for former San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. Samuel is coming off the worst season in his career efficiency-wise, and disappointed in nearly all of his games after Week 7 of 2024. But he'll get a fresh start with rising star quarterback Jayden Daniels.
49ers trading WR Deebo Samuel to the Commanders for a 5th-round pick. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/V5hiStDf66
— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2025
Samuel battled multiple injuries, including a calf strain, and caught pneumonia before a Week 7 contest with the Kansas City Chiefs. This infuriated fantasy football managers once again as he dropped another goose egg, which has been a recurring issue in his career. But injuries aside, it's likely he still has some juice left in the tank.
Regarding the fit with the Commanders, Samuel will likely serve as the team's WR2 and Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is creative enough to utilize his skill set to make him quite productive.
Samuel should be used at least moderately in the run game, have a high snap and route share, get involved on gimmicky and trick plays, and be fed targets on screens and dump-offs to utilize his yards-after-catch skill set, which is one of the best in the league.
Two minutes of Deebo Samuel getting the football far away from the endzone, running very fast, then scoring six points.@19problemz | @49ers pic.twitter.com/DDKC04ikF9
— NFL (@NFL) June 20, 2023
While he was widely criticized by the fantasy football community for his lack of production in the second half of the season, anyone who's had pneumonia knows that it takes many weeks, and sometimes months, to fully recover. NFL players tend to battle through serious injuries and illnesses during the season, and Samuel was no exception.
Deebo Samuel was hospitalized with a "pneumonia-like illness" ahead of week 7 of this past season, yet he did not miss a game. He experienced a pretty notable drop-off in performance from week 7 on.
+ Weeks 1-7: 2.25 YPRR, 8.7% 1D/RR, 10.81 YPT
+ Weeks 8-18: 1.35 YPRR, 6% 1D/RR,…— Dataroma (@ffdataroma) February 12, 2025
Samuel was nowhere near the same player he was after his illness bout. You should always pay attention to things like this -- it's an opportunity to pick up a player for cheap in either dynasty or redraft, as much of the community may be nervous about drafting or hanging on to him after such a dreadful year. I'm not convinced he's washed.
Washington will have much more flexibility on offense with Samuel's presence. I expect him to get plenty of work both as a receiver and a running back, as Daniels' only target being WR Terry McLaurin last season didn't work out well in the NFC Championship Game. The duo should make for a better passing offense. I don't know if Scary Terry can match his 13-touchdown season from 2024, but he should be fine.
And Daniels is much better off. I wouldn't be surprised to see better passing numbers. A sophomore slump doesn't appear to be on the way.
Chicago Bears Send Round 6 Pick For Jonah Jackson
Offensive guard Jonah Jackson, signed by the Los Angeles Rams before the 2024 season, was dealt to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a sixth-round pick. L.A. apparently wasn't impressed with his season and he battled through injuries as he always does, but he'll now reunite with his former offensive coordinator, and now head coach, Ben Johnson.
Trade: Rams are in the process of sending veteran offensive lineman Jonah Jackson to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, per ESPN’s @CourtneyRCronin. The trade cannot be processed until March 12. pic.twitter.com/lj3M8VW5V8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2025
While he's not the team's general manager, he likely has significant sway, if not partial control, of Chicago's roster transactions. Therefore, we should assume that Johnson's first move as a head coach was to beef up the offensive line to give quarterback Caleb Williams more protection. Williams was the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL in 2024, having been decked behind the line of scrimmage 68 times.
This is a significant improvement for the young QB. Jackson is familiar with Johnson's schemes, and if he can stay healthy, he will be a significant upgrade over what they had before. The Bears have plenty of cap space to play with, so his large contract won't be a huge burden.
Jonah Jackson has some WHEELS though 😏
pic.twitter.com/oZPHH1XVQz— Bearsszn (@bearssznn) March 4, 2025
Part of what enabled Johnson to implement such creative schemes into his game plan has been the athleticism and talent of his offensive linemen, which he leverages to expand his playbook, making it much harder for opposing defenses to adapt.
Johnson is likely trying to build one of the best offensive lines in the league at all costs, as that was a huge part of his offense's successes in Detroit. This is great news for whoever the Bears draft at running back, Williams, all the pass-catchers, and the whole offense.
Bears Acquire OG Joe Thuney With Round 4 Pick
Just one day after Chicago picked up Jackson, it sent a fourth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs to pick up offensive guard Joe Thuney. He'll presumably hold down the other side of the interior of the offensive line. It's worth noting that in free agency, the team signed center Drew Dalman, because this move, along with the trades, completely overhauls the interior OL group for the Bears.
Chiefs to trade guard Joe Thuney to Bears. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/r0Yej14qYo
— NFL (@NFL) March 5, 2025
Much like the Jackson trade, this is not only good news for their QB, Williams, but for the run game as well. Chicago will likely invest significant capital at the running back position in the 2025 NFL Draft. The dual-back system in Detroit was wildly successful, with both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs having excellent seasons both in real-life football and fantasy.
The Bears still have RB D'Andre Swift under contract, and he should be the primary pass-catching RB moving forward. I'm beginning to think that the Bears will use their first-round pick on former Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, which would immediately make him a red-hot fantasy football asset ahead of the 2025 season. If he even falls that far.
Omarion Hampton scored a 9.93 out of 10.00 on his RAS Score.
He ranked 14 out of 1909 RB’s from 1987 to 2025 (Per: @MathBomb).
This was the #1 RAS Score amongst ALL 2025 RB’s.
Omarion Hampton also outmeasured Ashton Jeanty across the board, for what it’s worth.
1ST ROUND LOCK pic.twitter.com/mY9E0eQ9Ed
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) March 1, 2025
Even if not, they have plenty of options at the position in a loaded class. I've highlighted several rookie running backs, such as Dylan Sampson, Brashard Smith, RJ Harvey, and Bhayshul Tuten, who are extremely underrated. Any of these backs would benefit from being in Johnson's system, though they could opt to select Omarion Hampton or another of the "power" backs to complement Swift's quickness.
At any rate, the fantasy value of every Bears offensive player stands to benefit, and keep an eye on the RB they draft. He'll be stepping into an excellent situation for his fantasy production.
Texans Pick Up Christian Kirk From Jaguars
The Houston Texans sent a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars to acquire wide receiver Christian Kirk. Kirk was likely on his way out from the Jags anyway after a disappointing (but not terrible) 2024 season in which he produced minimally before breaking his collarbone and being ruled out for the rest of the year.
Jaguars trading WR Christian Kirk to Texans for a 2026 7th-round pick. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/qol4DBf923
— NFL (@NFL) March 6, 2025
Kirk will join a WR room in desperate need of reinforcements. WR John Metchie III, once a second-round pick for the Texans, hasn't panned out even remotely. He's failed to separate himself from the likes of Xavier Hutchinson and aging vet Robert Woods, and it's unlikely he'll be the WR2 moving forward.
Additionally, the devastating injury to wide receiver Tank Dell will probably hold him out for the majority, if not all, of the 2025 NFL season, and we may never see Dell return to his early 2023 form. Kirk is 28 years old and will be in the final year of his current contract in 2025. The team will likely try to re-sign him.
With how these WR deals are playing out… extremely glad the Texans got Christian Kirk at that price.
— Nick Schwager (@NickSchwagerNFL) March 10, 2025
It's a good deal for the Texans. Wide receiver contracts have exploded in recent years, and even if Kirk is just a stopgap for Dell's eventual return, this will be worth it. WR Nico Collins is elite, but teams need a serviceable WR2 to run a functional offense these days.
This is good news for quarterback C.J. Stroud, too, although he just lost his star left tackle, which isn't great. Regarding Kirk, it's really hard to know what to think. Stroud took a huge step back in 2024 after morons like me said there was no way he'd have a sophomore slump after his rookie season. Lesson learned. Kirk has some juice left.
Christian Kirk, since joining the Jaguars in 2022, has registered a 23% TPRR and 2.04 YPRR (very solid).
In 2024 alone, he had a 23% TPRR (34th among 113 WRs) and a similarly solid 1.84 YPRR (43rd/113).
Kirk also remains a very strong separator from the slot, where he ran over… https://t.co/DmBo2G3KoT
— Dataroma (@ffdataroma) March 5, 2025
He was a beloved target for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and he's still a good slot receiver. Stroud would be wise to target him often, and he could have a nice comeback season alongside Collins if the new offensive coordinator and Stroud can figure a way to solve their woes. He should be cheap in redraft and even cheaper in dynasty, and he's not the worst player to make a move for, though I imagine his upside won't be tremendous.
Also, this likely cements WR Stefon Diggs' fate -- I have a hard time believing Houston will bring him back after his ACL tear.
Seahawks Send Geno Smith to Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders pulled off the first true blockbuster trade of the 2025 offseason by sending a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks to get quarterback Geno Smith. This trade has big ramifications for both teams. It's worth noting that the Seahawks signed former Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold to a three-year deal, but we'll get back to that later.
Seahawks trading QB Geno Smith to Raiders for 2025 third-round pick.
(via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero, @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/yVr9dMKa4m
— NFL (@NFL) March 7, 2025
Smith will reunite with his former head coach, Pete Carroll, and the two will hold hands and skip around the bountiful grass fields of Las Vegas together and live happily ever after. Something like that. Smith presents an immediate and big upgrade for the entire Raiders offense, though.
Las Vegas's pass-catchers languished under the poor play of QBs Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew II. While it's hard to criticize AOC, a fifth-round pick, for the level of play he showcased, as it was much better than an average QB drafted late who usually performs, Smith has had a resurgent career since joining forces with Carroll.
Geno Smith was inarguably one of the most impressive QBs in the NFL last year on film. https://t.co/jSUISFS55H
— Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) March 8, 2025
Toscano is right. Smith's film was remarkable in 2024. He played behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, yet consistently escaped from the consistent pressure he was getting and made a variety of hero throws while mostly avoiding poor decisions. He carried that offense on his back, despite poor OL play and now-fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's odd decision-making.
Firstly, this spot is a big boost for Smith, who gets an immediate and drastic offensive line upgrade. Seattle's general manager, John Schneider, has remained in his position far too long considering how he neglects the offensive line group. Vegas has one of the better pass-protecting OLs in the league.
Is Brock Bowers now the undisputed TE1 going into next season? pic.twitter.com/XjkqokxBGw
— Rotoworld Football (@rotoworld_fb) March 9, 2025
Additionally, this is fantastic news for tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. I'm not sure any other pass-catchers are fantasy-relevant for LV right now, but Bowers thrived in an offense led by a backup QB (AOC) and a third-string guy (Minshew), and he should outproduce his 2024 season in 2025 from an efficiency standpoint.
I don't expect Carroll to get too cute with his tight-end rotations, but you never know. Maybe he doesn't want to be fired immediately, and if he wants to keep his job, he'll get Bowers plenty of targets. He already looks like the best pass-catching TE in the league and has more room to grow. And Meyers could have his best season as a pro with Smith. I like this move for Smith, Bowers, and Meyers.
Steelers Trade For Seahawks' DK Metcalf
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave the Seattle Seahawks what they wanted for their top wide receiver, DK Metcalf. In exchange for a second-round pick, Metcalf was sent to the icy realm of the Steel City, despite reports that he claimed to have wanted to be sent somewhere warm.
TRADE: Seahawks trading DK Metcalf to the Steelers for a 2025 second-round pick.
Metcalf is signing a five-year, $150 million contract with Pittsburgh. (via @tompelissero, @rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/fefRvz59Ud
— NFL (@NFL) March 9, 2025
In addition, the Steelers quickly worked out a five-year, $150 million deal, making him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL and tying him to the team through his age-32 season should the Steelers elect to keep him for that long. It's a massive deal and somewhat of a puzzling one, considering his skill set and the presence of WR George Pickens.
For one, it should be funny to see the two fighting at some point, or at least body-slamming or fighting opposing defenders during games. They both have reputations for getting heated and acting out during contests, despite it being a detriment to their teams.
George Pickens and DK Metcalf in primetime pic.twitter.com/hZ00yLYNbh
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) March 10, 2025
The team likely saw how weak the wide receiver market is right now and jumped at its first chance to get a highly talented pass-catcher before the opportunity passed by. Both are primarily deep-ball threats, and the data shows that their skill sets overlap enough that it might not expand the capabilities of the offense as much as many might think.
Summed up my thoughts on DK in the quoted post. I think he was definitely hobbled by a midseason injury, but $30M per year does feel a little rich, especially so for a team that is not desperate for his skillset.
On that note, I think DK and Pickens will be fine together and… https://t.co/sdiVZnfwB3
— Dataroma (@ffdataroma) March 10, 2025
Still, it will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Arthur Smith adjusts his offense to the presence of Metcalf. While the quarterback situation is far from solved, as QB Russell Wilson isn't under contract and Justin Fields just signed a huge contract with the New York Jets, perhaps Smith will finally elect to pass the ball more.
Sources: Justin Fields reached agreement on a two-year, $40 million deal that includes $30 million guaranteed with the Jets. Deal negotiated by David Mulugheta of Athletes First. pic.twitter.com/ykdxFY11Q5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2025
Fantasy football-wise, I don't like this spot for Metcalf, though. Smith's Steelers ran the ball at the fifth-highest rate of any team in the league last season, and heavy running has been a hallmark of Smith's offenses since he entered the league. His team's receivers are consistently underutilized, even when he has great talents like A.J. Brown and Drake London at his disposal.
Pittsburgh has erred toward the run ever since the departure of QB Ben Roethlisberger, and there aren't many good QBs left on the market right now. Aaron Rodgers and Wilson remain the best available options, and neither would likely support both Metcalf and Pickens as WR1/WR2 options in fantasy football.
New Orleans Saints Trade Seventh Rounder For DT Davon Godchaux
The New Orleans Saints sent a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for former New England Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. This isn't really fantasy relevant, as Godchaux isn't an offensive player and DTs aren't the most interesting IDP players to follow, but it should improve the New Orleans run defense.
Trade: the New England Patriots have agreed to send DT Davon Godchaux to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Godchaux attended high school in Plaquemine, La., before playing at LSU. He now returns to Louisiana once the trade can be… pic.twitter.com/cn4Kfqv1sG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2025
Godchaux has played all 17 games in his last four seasons, so he's been very durable.
Washington Commanders Nab LT Laremy Tunsil With Pick Swaps
Washington's offensive line was a serious liability in 2024. It addressed this issue, at least partially, by trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil, acquiring him from the Houston Texans. Washington received Tunsil and a fourth-round pick (No. 127) in exchange for a 2026 Round 2 and Round 4 selection and picks No. 79 and No. 250 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
TRADE: Texans trading LT Laremy Tunsil and a fourth-round pick to the Commanders for second, third and fourth-round picks. (via @Rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/eL6YaAZdCt
— NFL (@NFL) March 10, 2025
Tunsil remains on his old contract, which is for two more seasons. Given the capital invested, he's likely to remain with the Commanders through at least the end of 2026. LT Brandon Coleman will serve as Tunsil's backup, as he's still on his rookie contract, and should have plenty of time to develop. Coleman didn't have a horrible 2024, ranking at 59th among 141 offensive tackles, according to PFF.
Jayden Daniels just got one of the BEST pass blocking LT’s in Laremy Tunsil
• 3.3% allowed pressure rate since 2021
• 7 games with zero pressures allowed in 2024 (only Lane Johnson had more with 8)
• 88.6 PFF pass block grade (#4)
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/bKWu1Y4E54
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) March 10, 2025
But Tunsil has played at an elite level for years and is one of the best pass-protecting OTs in the league. To have him protecting Daniels' blind side should afford him more time in the pocket, which means more time for improvising on scrambles, roll-outs, and other plays that utilize his mobility. It's a big upgrade for his fantasy football upside as well.
Daniels' value should go up in all leagues between this trade and the move for his new WR2, Deebo Samuel.
Eagles And Browns Swap Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Kenny Pickett
The Philadelphia Eagles traded quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a late-round draft pick and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson. This has very little impact on fantasy football but will present an upgrade for DTR should starting Eagles QB Jalen Hurts get injured.
Trade: Eagles are trading QB Kenny Pickett to the Cleveland Browns for a 2025 fifth-round pick and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, per sources. pic.twitter.com/U6ZagO62Rq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2025
Thompson-Robinson's fantasy value in dynasty leagues gets a boost from this, while Pickett has little to no value left. It's unlikely KP will start for the Browns, though it's possible considering how bad their current QB1, Deshaun Watson, has played for Cleveland. Even in deep dynasty leagues, though, Pickett isn't someone to be excited about starting.
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