By worldlive 
Just in: Contract-year winners! 7 hot prodigies poised to break the bank in 2025 NFL free agency” aim’ current season form…
Which players are set to command massive deals in free agency? The allure of landing a rising talent often inflates market value, and many upcoming free agents have positioned themselves for significant paydays after excelling in a contract year. After reviewing the 2025 free-agent class, I want to highlight seven players who have boosted their stock.
Sam Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, is having a breakout season in his seventh year, far exceeding his previous performances. In 15 games, he has racked up 3,776 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, with just 11 interceptions, earning an impressive 105.4 passer rating. Darnold has achieved at least a 100.0 passer rating in 12 games, just one behind MVP contender Lamar Jackson, who reached 13 on Christmas Day. He has also recorded multiple passing touchdowns in 11 games. While much of his success can be credited to Coach Kevin O’Connell’s innovative offense, Darnold is finally showcasing the elite potential many envisioned when he was considered a future franchise quarterback back in 2018.
Sam Darnold’s strong 2024 season with the Vikings positions him as a valuable asset, but his future with the team hinges on several factors. The franchise tag, projected at $41 million for quarterbacks in 2025, offers Minnesota a short-term solution to retain Darnold.
However, the team’s investment in J.J. McCarthy as their long-term quarterback and a relatively thin quarterback market heading into 2025 could drive up Darnold’s value elsewhere.
If the Vikings opt not to use the franchise tag, Darnold could attract significant attention as a free agent, especially from teams looking for an experienced and productive quarterback. His performance in 2024 might also influence the Vikings’ decision to leverage him as a bridge quarterback for McCarthy’s development, making the franchise tag a viable strategy to maintain competitiveness in the near term.
The big-play specialist’s resume includes two seasons with 1,000 yards and 31 touchdowns overall. Higgins is the dynamic deep threat that every offense wants on the perimeter, averaging 14.0 yards per reception across his 68 career games in Cincinnati.
The 6-foot-4, 219-pound receiver, who is on the franchise tag for the 2024 season, may be the next pass catcher to sign a big contract worth over $30 million a year if the Bengals let him go this offseason.
The two-time Super Bowl winner is a tough interior blocker who can change an offense at the point of attack thanks to his size, strength, power, and skill.
Smith’s tenacity and physicality set the tone for the Chiefs, while his skill enables Patrick Mahomes to throw easily from the pocket. If Kansas City allows him to walk, this 6-6, 321-pound player would fetch a high price on the free-agent market as teams try to restructure or retool their offensive lines to safeguard the most crucial component.
Reed is expected to be a compelling choice for clubs seeking a competitive, feisty lockdown corner with a variety of skills after gaining recognition as half of one of the top cornerback tandems in football in recent years.
Although scheme fit is important, the seventh-year pro’s instincts, awareness, and sticky coverage could translate into many defenses given his experience in a system made popular by Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” (Reed has only played in that scheme while with the 49ers, Seahawks, and Jets).
Reed will have suitors coming up to get his services as a CB1 because there won’t be many top cornerbacks available.
Robinson’s value as a blind-side protector has increased thanks to a midseason trade. Christian Darrisaw, a player of Pro Bowl caliber, was injured and replaced by the eighth-year pro. Since Robinson was put in at left tackle, the offense has not missed a beat.
The 6-6, 335-pound player is an intriguing option for winning teams looking to upgrade their front line because he has the size, length, and athleticism to play as a franchise-caliber LT, but since joining the league as a high second-round pick, he has not consistently performed to his potential on the edges.
Despite this, he is playing at a high level in Minnesota, and his performance may be influenced by his surroundings.