Quarterback Carousel Kicks Off NFL Free Agency 2025
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Bud Light, NFL free agency tracker, Sam Darnold, Justin Fields sign, Tetairoa McMillan scouting profile.
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Bud Light:
Happy Legal Tampering Period To All Who Celebrate! Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year for NFL roster-building. That calm before the storm actually let out a little thunder and lightning early Monday to create some news. Some of it with fantasy football implications. Here are a few headlines that got my interest.
Texans’ Tunsil Removed: Hats off to the Commanders, who got a taste of success after drafting phenom QB Jayden Daniels and refuse to sit on their laurels. Washington shipped four middling draft picks (2026 second-rounder, 2025 third-rounder, 2026 fourth-rounder, and a 2025 seventh-rounder) to Houston for five-time Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
The 31-year-old offensive lineman was the lone bright spot in the Texans’ pass-protection scheme, allowing just 2 sacks and 16 pressures on 224 pass-blocking snaps in 2024. Daniels and the Commanders fill a much-needed hole in the trenches after allowing the 25th-worst pressure rate last season. Scary to think there may be another level to the WAS offense with a great setup for Daniels to make a run at fantasy’s QB1.
Just-in Credible: Being a Jets fan is seriously taking years off my life. Tired of inefficient and oftentimes frustrating QB play, Gang Green acquires … Justin Fields. SIGH. NYJ refuses to get out of its own way by signing the former 11th overall pick to a two-year deal worth $40M ($30M guaranteed). DOUBLE SIGH.
Fields brings a career -0.08 EPA/dropback and 83.9 passer rating to MetLife Stadium, hoping to revitalize a Jets offense that moved so slow, you’d swear it was being run by a crotchety 41-year-old man (oh wait).
Kidding aside, before crossing all Jets off your fantasy radar, there’s still a glimmer of hope for WR Garrett Wilson (ADP ~40). Remember, Fields got DJ Moore to a 96-1,364-8 receiving season, good for fantasy football’s WR6 in 2023.
Play It Again, Sam: After seven years and five cross-country stops, former third overall pick Sam Darnold finally has a place to call home in Seattle. Despite detractors insisting he cost himself a nine-figure payday against Detroit, the Seahawks backed up the Brinks truck for Darnold, one of only four QBs to throw for +4,300 yards and +35 TD in 2024.
The three-year deal is worth $110.5M—with $55M guaranteed—but the question remains: Who will he be throwing it to? After cutting ties with both Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, responsible for 49% of Seattle’s WR targets in 2024, it looks like Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in line for as many opportunities as he can stomach next season. Suddenly, ADP ~35 seems light for a player who could lead the NFL in targets.
Next stop on the QB carousel? It has to be Aaron Rodgers. He must want the spotlight to himself. Shocker.
WILL THIS WR KEEP HIS OFFENSE FLYING HIGH?
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Fantasy Life NFL Free Agency Tracker
We know you want the comings and goings of NFL Free Agency as quickly as possible. Our crack Fantasy Life crew has you covered. As soon as the news becomes official, we’re updating our NFL Free Agency Tracker in real time. Just click below and keep refreshing for the latest updates on all fantasy-relevant players.👇
Seattle Snags The QB Crown Jewel
While attempting to not use “Crown Jewel” too liberally here, it’s been reported that the Crown Jewel of the available QB class, Sam Darnold, is poised to sign with the Seattle Seahawks come Wednesday’s free agency period.
The deal will reportedly be worth $100M over three years, setting up Darnold to be a centerpiece for the beginning of Seattle’s rebuild.
With DK Metcalf out of the picture (Tyler Lockett, too), what does this mean for the fantasy prospects of JSN?
Ian Hartitz knows where he’s upgrading him to. 👀👇
WOULD YOU TAKE JSN OVER A.J. Brown?
A New Pilot Takes The Reins In New York
The Aaron Rodgers era is over, and the Justin Fields era begins in 2025.
It was reported on Monday that Fields is lined up to sign a two-year, $40M contract with the New York Jets once free agency opens on Wednesday.
We’ve seen the good, we’ve seen the bad. So, what are we going to get from Fields from a fantasy football perspective in New York? The boss has him as a QB1 out of the gate—too rich? Not high enough? We’ll see.
Ian Hartitz weighed in on how the Fields-to-NY move will impact his 2025 rankings and what the offense could look like.👇
WHAT HAPPENS TO Garrett Wilson?
Tetairoa McMillan NFL Draft Scouting Report
At 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, Tetairoa McMillan is the epitome of an outlier at the wide receiver position. With his long arms that our own Thor Nystrom has described as being pterodactyl-like, and his long strides that gain yards in chunks, McMillan does not figure to wait long before hearing his name called after the NFL Draft begins on April 24 in Green Bay.
In his latest NFL rookie scouting report, Thor chronicles McMillan’s journey from Hawaii, to Southern California, to becoming a second-team All-American for Arizona in 2024. You’ll also want to see which NFL player Thor compares McMillan to. ⬇️
The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds:
🎙️ Get serious … Um, the Fantasy Life SiriusXM show covers the free agency fun.
👀 What’s the meaning of this? Monday’s moves explained.
🏴☠️ A WR stays home, and the offense is ready to set sail again.
⚡️ The shades and the powder blue shirt can mean only one thing for this RB. Plus, Ian dropped a further update.
📰 As news broke on the QB carousel, Freedman gave us a quick update.
💔 More than a few are leaving their hearts in San Francisco.
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