The NFL’s new year began Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET with no shortage of signings around the league.
Let’s look at some of the biggest winners and losers from the first day of the league year.
Winner: Denver Broncos passing offense
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Broncos signed tight end Evan Engram to a two-year, $23M deal with $16.5M guaranteed.
Engram missed eight games with a torn labrum in his final season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. If he rebounds from the injury in 2025, the two-time Pro Bowler could become a valuable weapon for Denver head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Bo Nix.
During the 2023 season, the 30-year-old had the league’s fourth-most receptions (114 in 17 games) and finished with a career high in receiving yards (963).
Loser: Wide receiver Cooper Kupp
The Los Angeles Rams confirmed they cut Kupp after they failed to find a trade partner. ESPN’s Sarah Barshop reported Kupp’s release will save the Rams $15M in cap space in 2025, but they’ll incur dead-cap hits of $14.78M this season and $7.48M in 2026.
In eight seasons with the Rams, Kupp made one Pro Bowl, earned one first-team All-Pro nod and won Super Bowl LVI MVP. Still, L.A. seemed poised to move on from him after signing WR Davante Adams to a two-year, $44M contract.
WR-needy teams, including the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers, should be interested in the 31-year-old wideout. However, Kupp has said he “always believed [his career] was going to begin and end in L.A.”
Winner: Edge-rusher DeMarcus Lawrence
Lawrence missed 13 games in 2024 because of a foot injury. Despite that, the former Dallas Cowboys star found a new team in free agency. Per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the Seattle Seahawks signed Lawrence to a three-year deal worth up to $42M with $18M guaranteed.
When healthy, the 32-year-old is still a premier playmaker. During the 2023 season, Lawrence made his fourth Pro Bowl after recording 10 tackles for loss in 17 games.
Lawrence and Seahawks defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed could form a strong pass -rush, which would make a solid defense even better. Seattle tied for 11th in the league in points allowed (21.6) in 2024.
Loser: Dallas Cowboys secondary
The Cowboys announced they dealt a 2025 fifth-rounder and a 2026 seventh-rounder to the Buffalo Bills for cornerback Kaiir Elam and a 2025 sixth-rounder.
Dallas must replace eight-year cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who signed a three-year, $30M deal with the Jaguars in free agency. But can Elam do that?
Elam — pick No. 23 in the 2022 NFL Draft — had just two interceptions and six passes defended in three seasons with the Bills. Last season, Lewis had one interception and eight passes defended in 16 games.
Winner: Tennessee Titans O-line
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Titans signed guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year, $9M deal.
Zeitler should be a difference-maker for Tennessee, which tied for fifth in the league in sacks allowed (52) last season. In 16 games with the Detroit Lions last season, Pro Football Focus gave the one-time Pro Bowler an 86.8 grade, the fifth-best mark at his position.
The Titans have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and could take a QB, perhaps Miami’s Cam Ward (6-foot-2, 219 pounds). If Tennessee does take Ward, an improved O-line would make his life much easier.
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