With most of the major free agents finding new homes, the NFL Draft is the last major opportunity for teams to build their rosters this offseason. Before teams flood their 90-man offseason rosters with rookies, though, it’s worth taking a look at how all 32 rosters shape up. Looking at the current offseason rosters, we examined how teams ranked by the following criteria:
- Homegrown Players (players who are still on their original team)
- Free Agency or Trade Additions (players who changed teams)
- Former First-Round Picks
- Former Day 2 Picks (Rounds 2-3)
- Former Day 3 Picks or Undrafted Players
- Average Roster Age
Since every roster has a different number of players at this point of the offseason, teams were ranked by percentage of players making up each category. For age rankings, older teams will have a lower number (so for clarity, the Washington Commanders rank first as the oldest roster, while the Green Bay Packers rank 32nd as the youngest roster).
Arizona Cardinals
Homegrown: 38.5% (30th)
Free Agency or Trade: 61.5% (3rd)
First Rounders: 9.0% (22nd)
Day 2 Picks: 21.2% (14th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 69.2% (10th)
Average Age: 26.0 (21st)
Recent years of coaching turnover and rough drafts have left the Arizona Cardinals relying on outside free agents to fill the roster. From 2019-21, the Cardinals drafted 24 players. That group should be making up the core of the team, with several key players on second contracts.
Instead, only two of those players — Kyler Murray and Zaven Collins — are still in Arizona. None of the players from the 2020 Draft (headlined by first-rounder Isaiah Simmons) earned a second contract with the team. The Cardinals hit on cornerback Byron Murphy and defensive lineman Zach Allen in the 2019 Draft, but both got paid by other teams.
Still, the arrow is pointing up after Arizona was a playoff contender in Jonathan Gannon’s second season. The Cardinals still have one of the 10 youngest rosters despite their high proportion of free agents, a reflection of a team that hasn’t quite pulled the trigger on going all-in to contend. That could change soon after last season’s 8-9 season, equaling their win total from the prior two seasons combined.
Atlanta Falcons
Homegrown: 39.4% (28th)
Free Agency or Trade: 60.6% (5th)
First Rounders: 15.5% (4th)
Day 2 Picks: 14.1% (31st)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 70.4% (7th)
Average Age: 26.7 (2nd)
The Atlanta Falcons have a reputation as a young team, thanks in part to their headliners on offense mostly being on rookie contracts. Atlanta has spent four consecutive first-round picks on offensive skill players, with Michael Penix Jr., Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts all going in the top eight overall picks.
Primarily because of the offense (which also includes three first-rounders on the offensive line), the Falcons rank fourth in terms of the percentage of their roster made up of former first-round picks. However, Atlanta hasn’t supplemented that with many Day 2 draft hits, leading much of the roster (particularly on defense) to consist of external acquisitions.
Indeed, it’s largely because of the defense that the Falcons overall have the second-oldest roster age at this stage of the offseason. With only five picks in the upcoming draft, the Falcons are stuck with a misaligned roster that features mostly aging veterans around their young offensive skill players.
Baltimore Ravens
Homegrown: 74.1% (1st)
Free Agency or Trade: 25.9% (32nd)
First Rounders: 19.0% (2nd)
Day 2 Picks: 20.7% (19th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 60.3% (30th)
Average Age: 26.1 (14th)
Eric DeCosta has a reputation as one of the better drafting general managers, and the roster composition backs that up. Despite losing a fair number of starters to free agency over the last two offseasons, the Baltimore Ravens have the highest proportion of homegrown players on their current roster at over 74%.
Baltimore has hit on many of its recent first-round picks, which is part of the reason why they have the second-highest rate of former first-rounders on their roster. Players the Ravens didn’t retain, such as Patrick Queen, Hollywood Brown, and Hayden Hurst, led to draft capital in the form of compensatory picks or trades. The last true first-round bust for Baltimore was wide receiver Breshad Perriman, drafted back in 2015.
The Ravens haven’t had nearly as much success on Day 3 of the draft in recent years, leaving them a little thin in terms of representation there. However, recent players still on their rookie contracts like Isaiah Likely, Jalyn Armour-Davis, and Andrew Vorhees could receive opportunities to step into larger roles in 2025.
Buffalo Bills
Homegrown: 62.7% (5th)
Free Agency or Trade: 37.3% (28th)
First Rounders: 9.0% (23rd)
Day 2 Picks: 29.9% (1st)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 61.2% (28th)
Average Age: 26.1 (13th)
The Buffalo Bills have had strong alignment between general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott, both of whom arrived in 2017. As a result, it’s no surprise to see the Bills rank top-five in proportion of homegrown players on the current roster.
But while first-round picks like Josh Allen and Ed Oliver are among the stars on the roster, the Bills have really done work on the second day of the draft. Nearly 30% of the current roster consists of players drafted in the second or third rounds, the highest rate of any team.
In the last four years, Buffalo has unearthed reliable starters like James Cook, Spencer Brown, Terrel Bernard, and O’Cyrus Torrence in the second or third rounds. That’s helped compensate for years where the Bills have either missed in the first round (Kaiir Elam in 2022) or traded out (2024 or 2020 when they acquired Stefon Diggs).
Carolina Panthers
Homegrown: 35.3% (32nd)
Free Agency or Trade: 64.7% (1st)
First Rounders: 8.8% (24th)
Day 2 Picks: 22.1% (12th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 69.1% (11th)
Average Age:26.5 (6th)
The Carolina Panthers have lost double-digit games in six straight seasons, the longest active streak in the NFL. The lack of draft success is a big reason for those struggles, as no team has a lower proportion of homegrown players on their current roster than the Panthers.
The Panthers drafted 25 players from 2019-21, a group that should be leading the way on their second contracts right now. Interestingly, Carolina hit on its first-round pick each of those years with Brian Burns (2019), Derrick Brown (2020), and Jaycee Horn (2021). Although the Panthers traded Burns, Brown and Horn are arguably the two best players on the team right now.
The issue is the lack of hits beyond that. Of the other 22 players drafted in that timeframe, only three — Chuba Hubbard, Brady Christensen, and Tommy Tremble — are still on the roster, and Hubbard is the only one who has been an impact player. Trading two firsts and two seconds to draft Bryce Young in 2023 plays a big role in that deficiency, and the Panthers will get a chance to reload with nine picks in this year’s draft.
Chicago Bears
Homegrown: 41.2% (27th)
Free Agency or Trade: 58.8% (6th)
First Rounders: 8.8% (25th)
Day 2 Picks: 25.5% (9th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 67.7% (17th)
Average Age: 25.9 (26th)
Teams that bring in a new coach often remake the roster, and the Chicago Bears are no exception. The Bears were one of the most active teams this offseason after hiring Ben Johnson, turning over their interior offensive while handing out hefty contracts to Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo to help the defensive line.
As a result, the Bears are near the bottom of the league in terms of homegrown talent. Chicago has been an especially aggressive trade team in recent years, with guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson being the latest examples. Within the last two years, the Bears have also traded for Montez Sweat and DJ Moore. Caleb Williams counts as a homegrown player, but his arrival came as a result of the Bears trading down with the Panthers in the 2023 NFL Draft and receiving the No. 1 overall pick from Carolina.
The good news is that Chicago still ranks among the younger teams in the NFL despite their reliance on externally acquired players. Development from Williams in his second season would put the Bears in a position to contend with a roster where most of their core players are in or approaching their primes.
Cincinnati Bengals
Homegrown: 57.1% (10th)
Free Agency or Trade: 42.9% (23rd)
First Rounders: 7.1% (31st)
Day 2 Picks: 25.7% (4th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 67.1% (21st)
Average Age: 25.8 (27th)
The Cincinnati Bengals have a reputation for valuing and re-signing their own draft picks. That perception still holds true to some extent, as the Bengals rank 10th in percentage of homegrown players. Cincinnati made one of the flashiest moves to retain homegrown talent this offseason, signing wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to massive extensions.
Of course, the Bengals have had trouble in the draft in recent seasons, leading to a top-heavy roster. Before Chase and Joe Burrow, the last Bengals first-rounder to sign a multi-year extension with the team was cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who was drafted in 2012. Cincinnati has filled out a lot of its roster with its own Day 2 picks, though it remains unclear if any of them are true foundational pieces (with the exception of Higgins).
To contend around the Big Three on offense, the Bengals will need to be among the league leaders in homegrown talent and players who were Day 3 or undrafted picks. Teams like the 49ers and Rams have contended with similarly top-heavy rosters in recent years, so it’s certainly possible – but only with better drafting and a willingness to be flexible with contract structures.
Cleveland Browns
Homegrown: 44.8% (24th)
Free Agency or Trade: 55.2% (9th)
First Rounders: 14.9% (7th)
Day 2 Picks: 23.9% (8th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 61.2% (29th)
Average Age: 26.1 (16th)
As a result of the catastrophic Deshaun Watson trade, the Cleveland Browns have been severely lacking in draft capital the last three years. The Browns have made one pick in the first two rounds since 2022, a total they should exceed this year alone with two of the top 33 picks.
Much of the Browns’ roster is made up of former high draft picks, as the front office under Andrew Berry has tended to lean towards free agents with draft pedigree. Besides Watson, the likes of Jerry Jeudy, Jack Conklin, Teven Jenkins, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Devin Bush, and Kenny Pickett were all acquired after being first- or second-round picks of another franchise.
The lack of Day 3 and undrafted players on this roster illustrates how the Browns have been unable to maximize their depleted stock of draft picks in recent years. Now that Cleveland’s picks have been reset, the Browns will need to increase their proportion of homegrown players (ideally on rookie contracts) to help recover from a messy cap situation.
Dallas Cowboys
Homegrown: 60.8% (6th)
Free Agency or Trade: 39.1% (27th)
First Rounders: 14.9% (8th)
Day 2 Picks: 21.6% (16th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 63.5% (25th)
Average Age: 26.0 (20th)
The Dallas Cowboys have become one of the lowest spenders in free agency over the last few years. As a result, it’s no surprise to see the Cowboys rank highly in terms of homegrown talent and near the bottom in terms of external additions.
The homegrown trend is strong on both sides of the ball. Of the Cowboys’ current 22 projected starters, only four players — Dante Fowler Jr., Malik Hooker, Javonte Williams, and Jonathan Mingo — were external additions. Both Williams and Mingo could conceivably be displaced by draft picks as well, giving Dallas an entirely homegrown starting offense.
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That’s partially a reflection of strong recent drafting but also Dallas’ unwillingness to pay top dollar in trades or free agency. That pattern will need to continue with Micah Parsons soon joining Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb as one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.
Denver Broncos
Homegrown: 52.2% (13th)
Free Agency or Trade: 47.8% (20th)
First Rounders: 7.5% (29th)
Day 2 Picks: 16.4% (28th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 76.1% (4th)
Average Age: 26.0 (19th)
The Denver Broncos are one of the rosters that has leaned most heavily on Day 3 draft picks and undrafted players. That’s partially a consequence of the ill-fated Russell Wilson trade, which left the Broncos without first-round picks in both 2022 and 2023.
However, even many of Denver’s recent free-agent signings were players who emerged as contributors after unheralded beginnings. In particular, six out of the 11 projected starters on defense were originally either picked on the final day of the draft or undrafted. Denver acquired some of those players as free agents after they had already been established, such as D.J. Jones and John Franklin-Myers.
Still, it reflects well on the Broncos’ front office and coaching that they’ve been able to identify and maximize players who weren’t obvious stars. With Denver pulling itself out of the Wilson trade debt, having more capital in terms of picks and cap space could allow the Broncos to build a high-level contender in short order.
Detroit Lions
Homegrown: 54.8% (12th)
Free Agency or Trade: 45.2% (21st)
First Rounders: 13.7% (10th)
Day 2 Picks: 17.8% (24th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 68.5% (12th)
Average Age: 26.2 (12th)
The Detroit Lions have one of the more balanced roster compositions entering the 2025 season. They are slightly above average in terms of the proportion of homegrown players but have also demonstrated the willingness to spend on free agents. And despite being squarely in their Super Bowl window, the Lions are also slightly younger than average entering the draft.
Although it’s early to judge recent classes, the Lions have had a steady hit rate in the draft since Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes joined the organization in 2021. Detroit’s early picks from 2021-23 essentially comprise the foundation of this time, with Penei Sewell, Aidan Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams all drafted within the first two rounds in that span. That doesn’t include other massive hits like Amon-Ra St. Brown or the trade for Jared Goff.
As the Lions continue to extend these stars, they’ll likely take on a more top-heavy composition like the Chiefs, 49ers, and Rams have in recent years. Those teams tend to have high proportions of both homegrown players and Day 3/undrafted players, since they are retaining their stars on pricey long-term deals while supplementing that with cheaper rookie contract players to fill out the roster.
Green Bay Packers
Homegrown: 57.8% (7th)
Free Agency or Trade: 42.3% (26th)
First Rounders: 12.7% (11th)
Day 2 Picks: 19.7% (20th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 67.6% (18th)
Average Age: 25.1 (32nd)
The Green Bay Packers have a long-standing reputation as a draft-and-develop organization. As a result, it’s no surprise to see the Packers with one of the highest rates of homegrown talent on their current roster. Green Bay hasn’t relied on any one segment of the draft either, with close to league-average rates in proportion of first-rounders, Day 2 players, and Day 3 or undrafted players.
The impressive part of Green Bay’s roster is that it remains the youngest by average age. That’s been the case for the Packers each of the last two seasons, both of which have ended in playoff runs. Typically, that means an organization is set to grow into a Super Bowl contender as those young stars age into their primes.
The trick for the Packers is identifying which players are worth building around, and which ones won’t be great values once they finish their rookie deals. The Packers’ largest extensions have been given to players drafted in 2020 or earlier (Jordan Love, Rashan Gary, and Elgton Jenkins). The upcoming season will be critical in determining if more recent picks like Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Rasheed Walker, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft will also become foundational players.
Houston Texans
Homegrown: 43.8% (25th)
Free Agency or Trade: 56.2% (8th)
First Rounders: 11.0% (15th)
Day 2 Picks: 26.0% (3rd)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 63.0% (27th)
Average Age: 26.4 (8th)
The Houston Texans have struck gold on a few recent draft picks, from C.J. Stroud to Will Anderson Jr. and Nico Collins. However, the bulk of the team consists of external acquisitions, giving Houston one of the lower rates of homegrown talent in the NFL.
Some of this is a byproduct of a relatively new leadership group. Although head coach Nick Caserio has been in place for two seasons, the roster saw a lot of turnover when DeMeco Ryans took over as head coach in 2023. Free agent signings like Danielle Hunter and Azeez Al-Shaair have helped build an elite defense under Ryans.
The one mostly homegrown unit is also Houston’s worst one: the offensive line. Apart from left tackle Cam Robinson, the other four projected starters on the Texans’ line were all team draft picks. Even Robinson could be displaced if Houston uses one of its higher picks on a tackle in the upcoming draft.
Indianapolis Colts
Homegrown: 56.5% (11th)
Free Agency or Trade: 43.5% (22nd)
First Rounders: 10.1% (18th)
Day 2 Picks: 21.7% (15th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 68.1% (15th)
Average Age: 26.0 (22nd)
In terms of roster construction, the Indianapolis Colts hovered right around league average in almost every respect. They do have a slightly higher homegrown rate than average, a byproduct of Chris Ballard’s willingness to extend his draft picks who have become capable starters but necessarily stars.
The Colts do skew a little younger on average, with the 11th-youngest roster by average age. Even with an uncharacteristic amount of spending this free agency, Indianapolis didn’t add a single player over the age of 30 (though cornerback Charvarius Ward hits 30 in May).
Indy has preferred to rely on in-house drafting and development, but this season will test whether that philosophy continues past 2025. If Anthony Richardson fails to take a step forward, it’s not inconceivable that both Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen could be on the hot seat as the season progresses.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Homegrown: 62.7% (4th)
Free Agency or Trade: 37.3% (29th)
First Rounders: 15.3% (5th)
Day 2 Picks: 25.4% (5th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 59.3% (31st)
Average Age: 25.7 (29th)
Despite just one playoff appearance in the last seven seasons, the Jacksonville Jaguars have one of the highest rates of homegrown talent in the NFL. That’s surprising given the Jags’ reputation as high spenders in free agency (as well as their 10 external free agent additions this offseason).
In fairness, Jacksonville tends to churn through its free-agent signings fairly quickly, with Evan Engram and Christian Kirk departing three years after signing in free agency. The Jags have also fared reasonably well with their high picks in recent years, a big reason why they rank top-five in both percent of first-rounders and percent of Day 2 picks making up their roster. All six of Jacksonville’s first-round picks from 2021-24 were starters for the team last season (though Travis Etienne split time with Tank Bigsby).
Apart from Dyami Brown and Gabe Davis, the Jaguars’ top offensive skill players are almost entirely homegrown. Most of them were also drafted in the first three rounds, with the exception of 2023 sixth-rounder Parker Washington. Jacksonville’s investment in drafting an offensive core hasn’t quite paid off yet, though better health in 2025 could get them back to a top-10 level.
Kansas City Chiefs
Homegrown: 57.5% (9th)
Free Agency or Trade: 42.5% (24th)
First Rounders: 9.6% (20th)
Day 2 Picks: 21.9% (13th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 68.5% (13th)
Average Age: 26.0 (24th)
The Kansas City Chiefs’ three signature players will all be over 30 years old by the end of September, with Patrick Mahomes soon to join Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. Despite that, the Chiefs are among the younger teams in the NFL, a reflection of Brett Veach consistently choosing to move on from most older starters in favor of younger talent.
That’s partly out of necessity with some massive contracts on the roster. But from Tyreek Hill to L’Jarius Sneed and Joe Thuney, we’ve seen Kansas City make some difficult choices in the name of sustainability. Trading those stars for draft picks has enabled the Chiefs to fill their roster with a steady stream of picks, allowing them to rank in the top 10 in homegrown rate.
The Chiefs are fairly balanced in terms of the areas of the draft that make up their roster. However, many of the early draft picks are on offense. Of their current projected starters, eight of them were drafted within the first three rounds. The only exceptions are seventh-rounder Isiah Pacheco, sixth-rounder Trey Smith, and fifth-rounder Jaylon Moore.
Las Vegas Raiders
Homegrown: 48.5% (16th)
Free Agency or Trade: 51.5% (17th)
First Rounders: 7.4% (30th)
Day 2 Picks: 16.2% (29th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 76.5% (3rd)
Average Age: 25.7 (30th)
The Las Vegas Raiders’ current roster shows some extreme trends. The Raiders are the third-youngest roster by average age, while also having the third-highest proportion of Day 3 or undrafted players.
In fairness, not all of those Day 3 or undrafted players are young, unproven players. Maxx Crosby was a fourth-round pick, while the likes of Jakobi Meyers and Raheem Mostert were undrafted players who made their marks on other teams.
However, it does reflect how the Raiders failed to hit on some early picks in recent years. Between 2016 and 2022, the Raiders made nine first-round picks. Only Kolton Miller earned a second contract with the team.
In particular, the stretch of five first-rounders between 2019-20 produced one useful contributor who left in free agency (Josh Jacobs) and four middling-to-disastrous players in Damon Arnette, Henry Ruggs III, Johnathan Abram, and Clelin Ferrell.
Los Angeles Chargers
Homegrown: 50.8% (15th)
Free Agency or Trade: 49.2% (18th)
First Rounders: 19.1% (1st)
Day 2 Picks: 14.3% (30th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 66.7% (23rd)
Average Age: 26.2 (11th)
No roster has a higher proportion of former first-round picks than the Los Angeles Chargers. With Mike Williams returning for a second stint, the Bolts have a homegrown first-rounder on their roster from seven of the last eight drafts (the exception is 2019, as Jerry Tillery was waived in 2022).
It’s not all homegrown, as the Chargers have also signed a bevy of former first-rounders in free agency. Khalil Mack, Najee Harris, Mekhi Becton, and Bud Dupree all signed with the team after being first-round picks of other teams. In the cases of all but Harris, those former first-rounders played for multiple teams before reaching Los Angeles.
The flip side is that the Chargers haven’t hit on many of their Day 2 picks in recent years, ranking near the bottom of the league in former second- and third-rounders. This offseason, Asante Samuel Jr. and Joshua Palmer both left in free agency after the expiration of their rookie deals. Apart from Ladd McConkey and Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles hasn’t had many definitive hits in that range of the draft in recent years.
Los Angeles Rams
Homegrown: 66.7% (3rd)
Free Agency or Trade: 33.3% (30th)
First Rounders: 4.5% (32nd)
Day 2 Picks: 17.5% (25th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 77.8% (2nd)
Average Age: 26.0 (23rd)
The Los Angeles Rams have had one of the more extreme roster constructions for years under Les Snead. While the Rams aren’t nearly as dismissive towards draft picks as they were a few years ago, the Rams still have the second-highest proportion of Day 3 and undrafted players.
Coupled with their high rate of homegrown talent, that’s a reflection of a top-heavy team that has chosen to pay a few stars while leaning on very cheap rookie contracts to fill out the roster. That’s especially true on defense, where Los Angeles currently has the cheapest defense by cash spending ($60.3 million) according to Spotrac.
At some point, Matthew Stafford’s retirement could cause the Rams to change directions, especially if his contract is replaced with a rookie quarterback deal. Los Angeles is in a good spot to pivot since Stafford is the only one with a cap hit above $20 million this year (ignoring Cooper Kupp’s dead money). In a couple of years, it wouldn’t be surprising to see defensive stars like Jared Verse and Kobie Turner get paid to make the defense the Rams’ more expensive unit.
Miami Dolphins
Homegrown: 47.1% (20th)
Free Agency or Trade: 52.9% (13th)
First Rounders: 14.3% (9th)
Day 2 Picks: 20.0% (19th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 65.7% (24th)
Average Age: 26.0 (17th)
The Miami Dolphins are above-average in terms of external acquisitions making up their roster. That’s a byproduct of a team that has gone for it in recent offseason, adding the likes of Tyreek Hill, Terron Armstead, Bradley Chubb, and Jalen Ramsey in recent years. Those are four of Miami’s six highest-paid players on the 2025 roster.
The Dolphins are getting younger, though, after a couple of lean drafts left Miami’s rookie contract pipeline barren. Miami made the fewest draft picks between 2022-23, with just eight total picks (four each year), including none in the first round. They were back up to seven picks last year and are tied for the third-most picks in 2025 with 10.
Looking ahead, the Dolphins are facing a make-or-break season that could lead to big moves next offseason. Many of those aforementioned players have huge cap hits, like Hill ($51.9 million), Chubb ($31.2 million), and Ramsey ($25 million), which could lead to a re-tooling if the Dolphins miss the playoffs again.
Minnesota Vikings
Homegrown: 45.5% (23rd)
Free Agency or Trade: 54.5% (10th)
First Rounders: 15.2% (6th)
Day 2 Picks: 16.7% (26th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 68.2% (14th)
Average Age: 26.4 (7th)
Apart from de facto rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, this is a veteran roster built to win now. The Vikings have the seventh-oldest average roster, with seven projected starters who will be over 30 by September. That also doesn’t include the likes of Justin Jefferson, Byron Murphy, or Jonathan Greenard — young players who are squarely in their prime, but no longer cheap since they’ve signed lucrative second deals.
Murphy and Greenard are both young veterans that the Vikings added, a reflection of their roster that leans more towards external acquisitions. While Minnesota skewed a little older with their free agent additions this offseason (namely Ryan Kelly, Jonathan Allen, and Javon Hargrave), they’ve done well to acquire second-contract players in their prime, like T.J. Hockenson and Andrew Van Ginkel.
The Vikings had the luxury of spending in free agency this offseason with McCarthy on a rookie deal. Of course, he’s already burned through one year of that contract without playing, so 2025 will help reveal whether the Vikings should keep spending to build a contender around McCarthy or take a step back.
New England Patriots
Homegrown: 42.9% (26th)
Free Agency or Trade: 57.1% (7th)
First Rounders: 8.6% (27th)
Day 2 Picks: 24.3% (6th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 67.1% (22nd)
Average Age: 26.1 (15th)
After a massive free agent shopping spree, the New England Patriots unsurprisingly consist mostly of externally acquired players. The Patriots rank seventh in terms of proportion of free agent or trade acquisitions that make up their roster after spending a league-high $196 million in guaranteed money this offseason.
A trend dating back to the end of the Bill Belichick era is New England’s slump in the early rounds. The last first-round pick to sign a multi-year extension with the team was Dont’a Hightower, who was taken in 2012. The Patriots have hit on higher picks in other years, such as Kyle Dugger and Jamie Collins, but there have been far more instances of busts like Dominique Easley and N’Keal Harry.
Drake Maye looks like a promising bet to break that trend, and the upcoming draft is a big opportunity to build a workable infrastructure around the quarterback. With nine picks (including four in the top 80), the Patriots have an opportunity to increase their proportion of homegrown players.
New Orleans Saints
Homegrown: 57.8% (8th)
Free Agency or Trade: 42.2% (25th)
First Rounders: 12.7% (12th)
Day 2 Picks: 23.9% (7th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 63.4% (26th)
Average Age: 26.6 (5th)
The New Orleans Saints have relied on void years and contract restructures to keep many of their longstanding veterans in place. As a result, the Saints aren’t easily able to move on from many of their core players, leading to the fifth-oldest roster.
New Orleans ranks eighth in proportion of homegrown talent, but some of that stems from their lack of budget to sign many free agents. And while not every team makes the right decision on their internal free agents, allowing players like Trey Hendrickson and Zack Baun to walk in recent years hurts.
Looking ahead, the Saints will face the same dilemma next offseason. New Orleans already has over $300 million in cap allocations for 2026, the second-most behind the Vikings. However, they’re a much more reasonable 13th in cap allocations for 2027, giving the Saints an opportunity to reset in one offseason if they desire. Based on their years of spending behavior, though, that’s not a path they’re likely to take.
New York Giants
Homegrown: 45.8% (22nd)
Free Agency or Trade: 54.2% (11th)
First Rounders: 11.1% (14th)
Day 2 Picks: 19.4% (21st)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 69.4% (9th)
Average Age: 26.3 (10th)
The New York Giants have signed 14 external free agents this offseason, leaving them in the bottom half of the league when it comes to homegrown talent. That’s not a huge surprise for a team that has money to spend and has missed the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons, however.
After signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, the Giants are among the 10 oldest rosters as well. While New York does appear more talented than last year’s four-win outfit, this roster looks like a case of Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen trying to squeeze out a borderline playoff contender to save their jobs.
That may lead to a more watchable product in the fall, but it doesn’t help the Giants’ long-term future if they don’t have a strong draft. Setting aside Andrew Thomas and Malik Nabers, recent first-round busts like Daniel Jones, Kadarius Toney, and Evan Neal have prevented New York from building a sustainable foundation to snap this franchise out of its recent funk.
New York Jets
Homegrown: 47.2% (19th)
Free Agency or Trade: 52.8% (14th)
First Rounders: 12.5% (13th)
Day 2 Picks: 16.7% (27th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 70.8% (6th)
Average Age: 25.9 (25th)
After building a veteran-laden roster to contend with Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets have quickly reversed course. The Jets are now one of the 10 youngest rosters in the league, and have a less extreme tilt towards free agent and trade acquisitions after letting the likes of Rodgers, Davante Adams, Haason Reddick, and C.J. Mosley go.
The Jets have drafted well in the first round recently, but not so much on Day 2. Six of New York’s last seven first-round picks are projected starters in 2025, with Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson being foundational pieces. The one exception to that group was a big miss, though, in the form of Zach Wilson.
Apart from second-rounder Breece Hall, the Jets haven’t been nearly as successful on the second day of the draft. Recent picks such as Denzel Mims, Elijah Moore, and Jeremy Ruckert haven’t panned out, forcing New York to rely more on later-round picks to fill out the roster.
Philadelphia Eagles
Homegrown: 47.8% (18th)
Free Agency or Trade: 52.2% (15th)
First Rounders: 15.9% (3rd)
Day 2 Picks: 26.1% (2nd)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 58.0% (32nd)
Average Age: 25.6 (31st)
The defending Super Bowl champions are the second-youngest team by average age, a scary thought for the rest of the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles have built a roster of high-pedigree stars, as no team has a higher proportion of players drafted within the first three rounds. As a result, the Eagles rely on late-round and undrafted players less than any other team.
Although the Eagles don’t rank particularly highly in homegrown talent, most of Philly’s starters began their careers with the team. Of their projected defensive starters, only Zack Baun began his career with a different team. In addition, the entire starting offensive line could be homegrown talent if Tyler Steen (or a rookie draft pick) beats out Kenyon Green at right guard.
Coupled with home run acquisitions such as Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown, Philly has an excellent formula for a sustainable contender. The financial needle is the only tricky factor, which has led Howie Roseman to aggressively use void years to keep this roster together.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Homegrown: 39.2% (29th)
Free Agency or Trade: 60.8% (4th)
First Rounders: 9.5% (21st)
Day 2 Picks: 23.0% (10th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 67.6% (19th)
Average Age: 26.7 (3rd)
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a reputation for drafting and developing homegrown talent, then retaining those players on long-term deals. While the likes of T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward are franchise institutions, that reality hasn’t been true for some time.
The Steelers have the fourth-lowest proportion of homegrown talent on their current roster, and that’s before adding a quarterback. Pittsburgh projects to start four external acquisitions at linebacker and in the secondary (Patrick Queen, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Darius Slay, and DeShon Elliott), with a fifth possible if Brandon Echols wins the slot corner job.
Relying on external talent isn’t a bad thing, but the Steelers are also the third-oldest roster as well. Only nine of the Steelers’ 22 projected starters are on rookie contracts, and four of those are on the offensive line. Unless Pittsburgh can pull out a draft class or two to raise its postseason ceiling, this is a tough place for its roster to exist.
San Francisco 49ers
Homegrown: 48.0% (17th)
Free Agency or Trade: 52.1% (16th)
First Rounders: 8.2% (28th)
Day 2 Picks: 13.7% (32nd)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 78.1% (1st)
Average Age: 26.7 (4th)
If there’s one team that demonstrates the value of the later rounds of the draft, it’s the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners have the highest proportion of players on their roster who were either Day 3 draft picks or went undrafted entirely.
Brock Purdy famously went from Mr. Irrelevant to back-to-back deep playoff runs to begin his career. However, San Francisco has also extended George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Deommodore Lenoir after drafting them in the fifth round or later. Fred Warner, who just misses the cutoff as a former third-rounder, also serves as an example of a mid-round draft-and-develop home run.
That said, the Niners are going through a transition offseason in 2025. No team has more dead money on its cap, a result of San Francisco resetting its cap after pushing its chips in for a few runs at the Super Bowl. The 49ers still have the fourth-oldest average roster age after letting a league-high 17 free agents leave, so more turnover is likely coming in the next offseason or two.
Seattle Seahawks
Homegrown: 52.2% (14th)
Free Agency or Trade: 47.8% (19th)
First Rounders: 10.5% (17th)
Day 2 Picks: 19.4% (22nd)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 70.2% (8th)
Average Age: 25.8 (28th)
The Seattle Seahawks are slightly above-average in terms of homegrown rate, despite saying goodbye to players like DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett this offseason. That’s largely due to the offense, as team draft picks make up the entire projected starting offensive line, their top two running backs, and top wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Seattle has also hit on a fair number of later draft picks. Some of those players are coming up for extensions, as starters like Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, and Abraham Lucas are in the final years of their rookie deals. The team also needs to make a decision on the fifth-year option of left tackle Charles Cross, who would hit free agency next offseason if the Seahawks decline the option.
The Seahawks made moves to try and keep their contention window open by signing Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp in free agency. However, with the fifth-youngest roster and five picks in the top 100, Seattle is also in a great position to start retooling towards the next era.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Homegrown: 69.4% (2nd)
Free Agency or Trade: 30.6% (31st)
First Rounders: 9.7% (19th)
Day 2 Picks: 22.2% (11th)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 68.1% (16th)
Average Age: 26.0 (18th)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have developed a reputation for taking care of their own. Chris Godwin was the latest Bucs free agent to turn down a more lucrative offer from another team to remain in Tampa. As a result, the Buccaneers have the second-highest rate of homegrown players in the NFL.
That’s especially true on offense. Godwin and Mike Evans are franchise institutions at this point, but it goes beyond the top two wide receivers. Apart from Baker Mayfield and guard Ben Bredeson, Tampa Bay drafted all of its projected offensive starters for 2025.
Tampa Bay hasn’t had to rely too much on any one area of the draft, which has led to a balanced roster composition and a slightly younger average age despite some of the long-tenured vets on the team. As the likes of Evans and Lavonte David age out, the challenge will be finding successors who can replace both their production and leadership.
Tennessee Titans
Homegrown: 47.1% (21st)
Free Agency or Trade: 52.9% (12th)
First Rounders: 8.8% (26th)
Day 2 Picks: 19.1% (23rd)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 72.1% (5th)
Average Age: 26.3 (9th)
The Tennessee Titans are in a bit of an odd spot with their roster. While the Titans are undoubtedly rebuilding after last year’s 3-14 disaster, they also have one of the 10 oldest rosters after acquiring a litany of veterans last offseason.
Most of those signings are still around, and have been supplemented by other third contract free agents who are over 30 or approaching that age. Kevin Zeitler, Dre’Mont Jones, Cody Barton, and Xavier Woods are all projected starters who are on their third team or later, which is typically the behavior of a team that sees itself as a playoff contender.
There’s nothing wrong with building up a decent infrastructure for a rookie quarterback, which the Titans will presumably have after taking Cam Ward first overall. Depending on how quickly the Titans turn around, Tennessee could either double down on its acquisition of veterans next offseason or retool with a much younger roster around Ward.
Washington Commanders
Homegrown: 36.5% (31st)
Free Agency or Trade: 63.5% (2nd)
First Rounders: 10.8% (16th)
Day 2 Picks: 19.1% (23rd)
Day 3 Picks/UDFAs: 72.1% (5th)
Average Age: 27.4 (1st)
Jayden Daniels is the face of the Washington Commanders as a young quarterback who went second overall. That also makes him a huge outlier compared to the rest of the roster, which is the oldest by average age and has the second-lowest rate of homegrown talent.
Dan Quinn and Adam Peters turned over a huge chunk of Washington’s roster when arriving in 2024, so it’s no surprise to see them rank lowly in homegrown talent. The Commanders have opted for an interesting strategy of low-cost veteran free agents to serve as roster depth, rather than relying on a draft-and-develop strategy that many new regimes implement.
Washington added five players over the age of 30 this offseason (most notably left tackle Laremy Tunsil), giving the Commanders the oldest average roster. After last season’s NFC Championship Game appearance, it’s a clear signal that the Commanders are seeking to capitalize on Daniels’ rookie contract and make multiple runs at a Super Bowl before retooling around a more expensive quarterback deal.
What Have Recent Super Bowl Winners Looked Like?
Now that we know how every 2025 roster currently shapes up, which one bears the most resemblance to recent Super Bowl winners?
Using the same measures we did for this year’s rosters, here’s a look at where each of the last 10 Super Bowl champions ranked during their season.
The biggest trend to notice is how Super Bowl champions are getting younger. After years of older teams winning it all, each of the last four champions have ranked among the 10 youngest teams in average age. From 2015-20, only one Super Bowl champion was younger than average. The first Chiefs Super Bowl champion was the 10th-oldest roster, but Kansas City has since stayed on top while getting younger.
In terms of draft composition, most champions have relied on Day 2 picks to fill out the roster. Seven of the last 10 Super Bowl winners have ranked top-10 in terms of percentage of players who were drafted in the second or third round. Notably, title winners haven’t relied on Day 3 or undrafted players. None ranked in the top 10, with only the 2018 Patriots ranking above average in that category.
However, there isn’t a huge lean one way or another towards homegrown players, suggesting that draft-and-develop isn’t the only way to construct a title winner. Each of the last three champs has been fairly balanced between homegrown players and external acquisitions, but there are also extremes on both ends. The 2021 Rams ranked fourth in percentage of homegrown talent on the roster, while the 2017 Eagles and 2019 Chiefs were both in the bottom 10.
Based on these trends, there are three teams that rank in the upper half of the league in Day 1 and 2 players, bottom half of the league in Day 3 or undrafted players, and younger half of the league in average age: the Eagles, Cowboys, and Jaguars.
It’s no surprise the reigning champions have the right criteria to win a Lombardi, but Dallas and Jacksonville would be among the bigger year-to-year turnarounds ever for a Super Bowl champ. Obviously, the draft will change these rankings significantly. But for now, maybe Cowboys and Jaguars fans have more to look forward to in 2025 than expected.