4 Ways Free Agency Affected the Top of the Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft is just about five weeks away on the nose, occurring in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and scheduled to showcase a couple of promising quarterbacks, along with close to three dozen draftable running backs.

4 Ways Free Agency Affected the Top of the Draft

Meanwhile, NFL free agency continues to hum, with the first major wave in the books. And thanks to that event, the top of the 2025 NFL Draft encountered some changes and clarity.

Here’s what folks learned.

1. Titans, Browns Have Tunnel Vision at QB

Entering free agency, the two teams at the top of the draft order, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, needed QB1 solutions because all things Will Levis momentum have fizzled, and Deshaun Watson stinks while nursing an Achilles tear that will cancel his 2025 campaign.

The Titans and Browns left free agency with Brandon Allen and Kenny Pickett as quarterback signees, respectively.

That is also known as a fat nothingburger. The organizations effectively did nothing to solve their QB1 woes.

So, unless Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson sign with either team, Cam Ward (Miami) and Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) might be sitting pretty to fly off the board one and two on April 24th.

2. Giants Might Be Left with Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe Plan

And the Titans and Browns will create a domino effect. So long as the Titans and Browns are not content with a flyover 2025 season, featuring a non-long-term quarterback, Ward and Sanders won’t be available to the New York Giants, a team that also needs a franchise quarterback after mailing it on Daniel Jones last November.

There was a slight chance heading into free agency that the Titans or Browns could acquire Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, or Kirk Cousins, tabbing them as 2025 solutions. But those men headed elsewhere.

Therefore, if the Giants go quarterback shopping — they probably will — they’ll have to inspect Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) or Jalen Milroe (Alabama) instead of Ward or Sanders, barring a splashy trade.

3. Patriots … Do Nothing on Offense in FA

Per possible starting offensive talent, New England added these new players: Garrett Bradbury (C), Mack Hollins (WR), and Morgan Moses (OT).

That’s fine and dandy, but the Patriots focused on defensive talent in free agency, evidently leaving the draft as the fallback for offensive roster construction.

In five weeks, the Patriots must attempt to fill these prominent roster needs:

• WR1
• RB1
• OT

With the fourth overall pick, the Patriots might select Tetairoa McMillian (WR, Arizona), Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State), or Will Campbell (OT,  LSU). But they cannot draft three dudes at once.

This could be evidence to support a trade down by New England — because they still have that many long-term roster holes.

4. Jaguars Could Land Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter

Had the Titans or Browns crossed QB1 off their offseason list, Sanders, for example, might’ve slid down the draftboard to No. 6 or No. 7.

However, based on free agency dealings, he might be a lock to go in the Top 5, driving a sure-thing commodity like Travis Hunter (CB, Colorado) or Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State) down the ladder.

Jacksonville already employs some stud EDGE rushers, so Hunter could become a Jaguar. Through free agency, New England did enough defensive damage that it may focus on offense in the draft, nudging Hunter or Carter to Jacksonville.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the Minnesota Vikings, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.