With free agency and the draft fast approaching, moving pieces impact NFL rosters. Ultimately changing the fantasy landscape for 2025 and beyond.
Geno Smith’s Immediate Impact in Vegas
Seattle couldn’t offer Geno Smith a long-term extension due to financial limiting and their rebuilding plans. The Raiders will need to part with $45 million per year and a 3rd round 2025 pick. Las Vegas holds the 6th overall pick in the draft and a “shallow” QB talent pool, this gives Pete Carroll time to address other needs while competing with Smith. Although Smith is 32, this strategy allows time to cultivate young talent, like how the Detroit Lions handled Goff.
Smith walks into talent like Bowers, Jakobi Meyers, Michael Mayer (on the trade block), and Tre Tucker. Given the depth of this year’s running back class, he could also acquire an impact rookie RB in the 2nd or 4th round of this year’s draft.
In two seasons under Pete Carroll as a full-time starter, Geno became a Pro Bowl player in 2022 and 2023. This includes MVP votes in 2022 along with comeback player of the year. This turnaround is significant considering his earlier struggles in the league, showcasing his growth and the impact of Carroll’s coaching.
Geno Smith, currently ranked QB 27 on FantasyPros in dynasty formats. Smith has the potential to ascend to 21 or 22, potentially overtaking Bryce Young or Tua Tagovailoa due to the stability and weapons provided by Carroll.
DK Wants to Solidify Legacy
DK Metcalf aims to compete with a contender. After one season, Mike Macdonald decided to part ways with receiver Tyler Lockett, prompting Metcalf to request a trade. In lieu of the request, Seattle plans to trade Geno Smith to Las Vegas for a 2025, 3rd round pick. Seahawks GM spoke to multiple teams regarding DK Metcalf per CBSSports.com.
“Hopefully, both those things merge, and it’s an ideal situation. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn’t. Hopefully in this situation it does, and that would be great. But worst-case scenario, I mean, we have an amazing, explosive, powerful athlete playing receiver for us again in 2025. So we’ll see where this goes.”
Here are five of the wide receiver-needy trade partners, all contending in 2025:
- Green Bay Packers
- Las Vegas Raiders (reunited with Pete Carroll and Geno Smith)
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Dallas Cowboys
A trade to these franchises (Green Bay, Las Vegas, and Pittsburgh) places him as a top option. In contrast to the Chargers have emerging player Ladd McConkey and Cowboys have CeeDee Lamb, his fantasy output is expected to remain stable. Given the established starting quarterbacks and the proven offenses with new coaching changes, he may see a positive touchdown regression in 2025. Stronger offenses score more touchdowns, and with his large frame, he will be a favorite red zone target. It is likely that he maintains his target opportunities, given the capital required for the team to acquire him. DK will remain a fringe WR1 because of his ceiling and playmaking ability.
Lockett is “Old” Man Out
As mentioned, the Seahawks released long-time wide receiver Tyler Lockett. This move subsequently set off a chain of reactions within the organization. The organization will save $17 million per Spotrac, by cutting the ten-year pro, all with Seattle. Over his career, Lockett has been a key player for the Seahawks, known for his reliable hands and deep-threat ability. However, Lockett’s impact has slipped exponentially in 2024, per Pro Football Reference.
- Targets: 74 (2024), 70 (2018)
- Receptions: 49 (2024), 57 (2018)
- Yards: 600 (2024), 965 (2018)
- YPR: 12.2 (2024), 16.9 (2018)
- Touchdowns: 2 (2024), 10 (2018)
Tyler Lockett’s performance appears to have significantly declined at the age of 32, yet he could still offer valuable leadership within a team’s locker room. Transitioning into this role will depend on the former 2015 third-round pick.
It would be beneficial to see him join a team like Jacksonville, New York Giants, New England, or Indianapolis, which have relatively young wide receiver groups. Ultimately, his impact as a flex player on the roster has concluded, making him an irrelevant option in shallow fantasy leagues.
Kirk’s Impact from Trade Instead of Release
Christian Kirk was limited to eight games in 2024, albeit productive, but not elite. Instead of carrying a cap hit of $16,235,294 per Spotrac throughout the 2025 season, the Jaguars decided to send a statement to release the 28-year-old. This would save Jacksonville $10.4 million to reallocate to new resources, giving Houston an option to add a great depth piece in Kirk at a cheaper price than resigning Stefon Diggs, who is recovering from an ACL tear in 2024.
Kirk is still in the prime of his career at 28 years old and has a lot to offer the Texans. Houston’s wide receiver group experienced multiple injuries in 2024. For example: Stefon Diggs suffered an ACL tear and missed 9 games, Tank Dell tore multiple ligaments from a dislocated knee and missed the final month of the season, and Nico Collins had a hamstring injury that caused him to miss 5 games.
Houston trading for Christian Kirk provides CJ Stroud with another offensive option, expecting to improve their 2025 performance. This move allows the Jaguars to focus on improving their offensive line, which is currently ranked 31st by ProFootballNetwork.
With 145 vacated targets in 2025, Christian Kirk could enjoy a comeback year starting alongside Nico Collins. If he stays healthy, Kirk has potential in Houston’s run-heavy offense. Despite fewer targets, his reliability as a slot receiver complements Collins’ deep-threat skills, providing CJ Stroud with diverse options. Nico Collins ranked as wide receiver 60 by FantasyPros dynasty rankings, Kirk remains a valuable and sneaky trade target next year.
Where Will Davante Adams Land
The New York Jets (NYJ) parted ways with Davante Adams earlier this month freeing $29.9 million in cap space per Spotrac. Aaron Glen and the Jets have made it clear the Rodgers’ experiment is over, inevitably releasing Adams too.
Former All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, drafted in 2014, extended his rookie contract with Green Bay and was franchise tagged in 2022. In 2022, a trade to Las Vegas reunited him with college teammate Derek Carr. Last season, the Jets’ attempt to succeed with Aaron Rodgers failed after trading for Adams. Now, at age 32, Adams is experiencing free agency for the first time.
According to Draft Kings, Adams is likely to return to Green Bay, where he would reunite with Matt LeFleur, Josh Jacobs, and Xavier McKinney. The Packers aim to bring stability to the wide receiver group, which experienced the loss of Christian Watson to an ACL tear and Romeo Doubs dealing with multiple concussions in 2024. Adams will command a lower price due to his age.
One of the more intriguing landing spots DraftKings Sportsbook mentions is San Francisco. Deebo was traded to Washington and GM John Lynch is shopping Brandon Aiyuk to free up money and extend their star QB Brock Purdy. Davante Adams would join a great surrounding cast (McCaffery, Kittle, Purdy, Juan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall) to ride off into the sunset with a chance at a title.
Adams’ fantasy relevance will remain unchanged in 2025, with his best seasons behind him. For comparison, consider Adam Thielen’s career resurgence in Carolina. Like Adams, Thielen excels at running precise routes against zone coverage, using technique over athleticism.
