2025 NFL unfastened company Day 4 winners and losers: Steelers have backup plan at QB as they stay up for Aaron Rodgers
Issues began to calm down just a little all through the fourth day of the 2025 NFL unfastened company season. However whilst Thursday did not generate the similar buzz as the former 3 days did, there used to be nonetheless a number of notable signings that can indisputably affect what occurs this season.
The Washington Commanders re-signed two in their veteran receivers an afternoon after the Commanders re-signed veteran backup Marcus Mariota. The protecting Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles signed a veteran rusher. The Las Vegas Raiders bought former Professional Bowl operating again Raheem Mostert, whilst the New England Patriots needed to say good-bye to a franchise icon. The ones have been simply among the transactions that happened on Thursday.
After all, we will’t communicate unfastened company with out discussing Aaron Rodgers, who has but to come to a decision on who he performs for this season. Whilst they (along side the New York Giants) proceed to stay up for a solution, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed every other quarterback who may just function a bridge possibility within the tournament that Rodgers does not come to Pittsburgh.
Here is a rundown of the Thursday’s winners and losers, beginning with one of the most groups this is nonetheless looking to unravel its quarterback scenario.
It is going to be one of the ironic scenarios in fresh NFL historical past if Rudolph is now referred to as to steer the Steelers offense after Pittsburgh to begin with drafted him to most likely be Ben Roethlisberger’s successor again in 2018. The Steelers reportedly got here to phrases with Rudolph (who spent the 2024 season with the Titans) on a two-year, $8 million deal on Thursday.
The signing of Rudolph accomplishes two issues for the Steelers. It provides them a backup plan if the Rodgers’ deal falls thru. The Steelers may just then get started Rudolph in 2025 whilst drafting a quarterback subsequent month. If Rodgers does come to Pittsburgh, Rudolph can reprise his earlier function as a competent backup who has an 8-4-1 file because the Steelers’ beginning quarterback.
To be transparent, the Patriots and Andrews are simplest “losers” from the sense that their extremely a success partnership is coming to an finish, an unlucky circumstance for each events.
Andrews, a 10-year veteran, eight-time captain and a starter at the Patriots’ two most up-to-date Tremendous Bowl championship groups, used to be launched on Thursday as he continues to get better from shoulder surgical treatment that restricted him to 4 video games in 2024. Andrews would possibly come to a decision to proceed taking part in, but when he does elect to retire, the Patriots are anticipated to honor his profession and his a large number of contributions to the franchise during the last decade.
2025 NFL unfastened company Day 4 grades: Chiefs get ‘A’ for including Patrick Mahomes’ new backup, plus different strikes
Cody Benjamin
Winners: Commanders
An afternoon after bringing again Mariota, Washington re-signed offensive guard Trent Scott (who began in January’s NFC name sport at proper guard), Noah Brown (the recipient of Jayden Daniels‘ game-winning Hail Mary ultimate 12 months in opposition to the Bears) and fellow receiver KJ Osborn, who stuck 15 touchdowns all through a three-year span all through his time with the Minnesota Vikings.
Those signings function proof that the Commanders are prioritizing Daniels’ convenience stage via maintaining receivers he is acquainted with whilst additionally bringing again a quarterback who has served as a favorable mentor for the younger quarterback. On most sensible of that, Mariota is a top quality backup who threw 4 touchdowns (and no interceptions) whilst finishing 77.3% of his 44 go makes an attempt all through his first season in Washington.
Losers: Texans O-line
Whilst alternate is usually a just right factor, it’s not if it is achieved only only for the sake of doing one thing other. That seems to be the case with the Texans and the way they’re rebuilding an offensive line that wasn’t superb ultimate 12 months and might be even worse in 2025 given their fresh strikes.
After parting with Kenyon Inexperienced, the Texans bought two guards who additionally combat to go give protection to in one-on-one scenarios after signing Laken Tomlinson and buying and selling for former Vikings second-round select Ed Ingram. Ingram and Tomlinson, respectively, owned the first- and third-worst luck charges in the ones scenarios in 2024 (by the use of Yahoo Sports activities).
Tomlinson is 33, so the percentages of him getting a lot better subsequent 12 months isn’t nice. And whilst Ingram is solely 26, Houston should not essentially financial institution on him making giant strides, particularly now not at C.J. Stroud’s expense.
Chicago’s sturdy offseason persevered on Thursday with the reported signing of Zaccheaus, who will now catch passes from ultimate 12 months’s No. 1 total select (Caleb Williams) after having a profession 12 months in 2024 with the No. 2 total select (Daniels) throwing him the ball. Zaccheaus, 27, stuck a career-high 45 passes ultimate 12 months whilst serving to the Commanders succeed in the NFC name sport. He become expendable after Washington’s signings of Brown and Osborn.
Losers: Eagles
It is arduous to name the protecting champs “losers,” however the Eagles however made a questionable signing on Thursday. After shedding Josh Sweat to Arizona and with Brandon Graham’s long run unsure, the Eagles signed veteran Josh Uche so that you can bolster their go rush.
A five-year veteran, Uche has had only one productive season, when he tallied 11.5 sacks again in 2022 as a member of the Patriots. He had simply two sacks ultimate 12 months and did not file any all through his six video games in Kansas Town after he used to be traded from New England.
Making this signing extra complicated used to be the truth that there are higher go rushers nonetheless available in the market, together with Dante Fowler, who recorded 10.5 sacks ultimate 12 months in Washington.
It is arduous to search out jobs presently if you are a veteran quarterback, which is among the explanation why Minshew used to be tabbed as a “winner.” No longer simplest is Minshew hired once more, he’ll Kansas Town and can get the danger to paintings with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. No longer a nasty spot to be in.
Minshew has additionally had playmaking skills, however in Kansas Town, Reid will most probably attempt to paintings with him on reducing again on turning the ball over, which has been his Achilles’ heel.
It used to be an extended shot that Wilson’s discuss with with the Browns on Thursday used to be going to finish with a brand new contract, however the truth that that is how issues went down definitely did not really feel just right for a 10-time Professional Bowl quarterback who continues to be in search of a role. Wilson will now meet with the Giants on Friday after New York reportedly met with Joe Flacco, every other former Tremendous Bowl champion quarterback in search of paintings.
