Faces That People Forgot Found New Places
The NFL Offseason is an exciting time for fans to watch their favorite team meticulously alter their roster in hopes of making it closer to a Lombardi Trophy than they were in the previous season. Big names were on the move during the free agent frenzy with Sam Darnold taking his career resurgence to Seattle, Davante Adams joining Puka Nacua and Matt Stafford in Los Angeles, and most notably, Aaron Rodgers joining the Pittsburgh Steelers for what could be his last season in the NFL. Realistically, fans know the players their team signed over the last few months, but for those who may have forgotten or never even knew, there are some familiar faces that are finding themselves in not-so-familiar homes. Today, I will explore a handful of offseason moves that will remind fans of the uncertainty of players remaining in their drafted homes.
Joey Bosa- Buffalo Bills
Joey Bosa was one of the last remaining players for the Chargers who were a part of both the San Diego and Los Angeles eras. Drafted third overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, Bosa was in his second year when the Chargers moved back to LA. In nine years with the Chargers, the 2016 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year recorded four seasons with more than 10 sacks, but unfortunately, it was also the only four seasons he played in more than 11 games, playing a full season only three times. Despite signing a five-year deal in 2020, injuries derailed most of the prime years of the former Ohio State Buckeye. With one year left on his massive deal, Bosa was released before the free agent frenzy of 2025, allowing the Buffalo Bills to sign the five-time Pro Bowler to a one-year deal. Bosa will most likely line up next to young star pass rusher Greg Rousseau in hopes that the Bills can make their first Super Bowl appearance since 1993.
Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders- Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have had one of the best offensive lines in the entire NFL over the last few years but have lacked consistent backfield talent. Ezekiel Elliott left the Cowboys in 2023, and Tony Pollard left in 2024, leaving the trench work duties primarily to Rico Dowdle. While Elliott returned to Dallas in 2024, his production did not complement Dallas’ pass-heavy style. The Cowboys went out and signed the former Broncos RB Javonte Williams and former Panthers RB Miles Sanders in addition to drafting Texas RB Jaydon Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The total rushing yards for Sanders and Williams didn’t even break 800 yards, but that can be attributed to the lack of OL success in the Denver and Carolina offenses. This move gets overlooked as the Cowboys traded for Pittsburgh star receiver George Pickens to line up next to CeeDee Lamb. OG Zach Martin retired and hired Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach, so it will be interesting to see if Dallas’ offense can add a layer of running to their game plan in hopes of replicating a fraction of the success from recent years and get past the first round of the playoffs.
Tyler Lockett- Tennessee Titans
The 2024 Seattle Seahawks, compared to the 2025 Seattle Seahawks, is the difference between night and day. From Geno Smith, D.K. Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett to Sam Darnold, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, and Cooper Kupp. Granted, Smith-Njigba was in Seattle for the 2024 season and stood out, potentially leading Seattle to move on from Metcalf and Lockett, where the latter was released almost two weeks before the frenzy. Lockett would remain a free agent for almost two months before signing with the Tennessee Titans in late April. Lockett joins veteran receiver Calvin Ridley with young WRs in Treylon Burks and fourth-round selection Chimere Dike. With the first overall pick, Cam Ward projected to be the starting QB over Will Levis, the Titans were looking to add experience to the WR room to help build the receivers of the future, as well as give professional and developmental advice on the gridiron for Ward.
Robert Spillane- New England Patriots
The 2025 New England Patriots might showcase the quickest turnaround in terms of roster building. Drafting Will Campbell in the first round, TreVeyon Henderson in the second, and signing a handful of players for big bags of cash. One of them is Robert Spillane, the breakout linebacker who previously played for Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. While in Pittsburgh, Spillane never amassed 80 total tackles, but in Vegas, the 2018 undrafted free agent broke out, recording 150 tackles in each of his two seasons. The stellar seasons for the Raiders boosted his value, ultimately resulting in him signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Patriots. Spillane will join fellow free agent signing Milton Williams, along with Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, and Jabrill Peppers, on the rebuilding Patriots defense.
Cooper Kupp- Seattle Seahawks
Above, I mentioned that the 2025 Seahawks offense is drastically different compared to the previous year. As the Seahawks said thank you to an exiting Lockett, Seattle made a splash move, signing former Rams WR Cooper Kupp to a three-year deal that would keep him in Seattle until 2027. Kupp would be 35 by the time he potentially tests free agency again, raising questions about whether this is the last team for the 2021 triple-crown winner before he announces his retirement. The 2017 third-round pick has not broken 1,000 yards since his 1,947-yard outing of 2021, mostly due to injuries. If Kupp can stay healthy, he can be a viable target for Sam Darnold and take some pressure off Smith-Njigba.
