NFL’s Toughest Losses: One Star Each Team Can’t Replace
Some NFL teams gained more talent than they lost this offseason, and vice versa. But one thing they all have in common? Each club lost at least one valuable roster piece that’ll be sorely missed.
Let’s dive into one player departure from all 32 NFL teams that’ll be the toughest to replace in 2025.
Which offseason departures will affect each NFL team in 2025?
Arizona Cardinals: Roy Lopez
We’re admittedly nitpicking here since the Cardinals didn’t lose any big-named starters this offseason. But we suppose they’ll miss veteran defensive lineman Roy Lopez, who left for the Detroit Lions in NFL free agency.
The lack of depth on the defensive line has been a problem in Arizona for a while. Lopez had a stellar 67.4 pass-rushing grade at Pro Football Focus last season, 42nd among 219 interior defensive linemen.
Atlanta Falcons: Drew Dalman
Dalman was PFF’s fourth-highest-graded center in 2024 at 78.7, highlighted by an excellent 79.8 run-blocking grade. He left to sign with the Chicago Bears in free agency, opening up a giant void on an o-line that has been Atlanta’s strength for a while now.
Baltimore Ravens: Patrick Mekari
An underrated piece of the Ravens’ o-line, Mekari had a superb 70.3 pass-blocking grade at PFF and allowed just one sack in 517 pass-blocking snaps.
The veteran guard signed a multi-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. The Ravens have been excellent at developing stud offensive linemen, but replacing a rock-solid guard like Mekari is easier said than done.
Buffalo Bills: Von Miller
The Bills had no choice but to cut Miller and save valuable cap space, but his departure is still worrisome for a team that has a mediocre pass rush to begin with.
Miller’s big-game experience, AKA two Super Bowl rings, was valuable for a Buffalo team that keeps falling short in the NFL postseason. Replacing what he does on the field and as a locker room leader is a daunting task, so good luck to Sean McDermott and company.
Carolina Panthers: Jadeveon Clowney
The Panthers had just 32 sacks last season. Part of their solution? Releasing Clowney, who tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks.
If somebody has a clue who might replace that pass rush production, let us know.
Chicago Bears: Darrell Taylor
We’re also nitpicking with the Bears since they added a LOT more talent than they gained. But losing Taylor to the Houston Texans in NFL free agency wasn’t ideal, since he was one of the few good pieces on a weak pass-rushing group.
Losing Taylor also hurts more, seeing how the Bears did little to address their front seven, unless you’re sold on the signing of past-his-prime defensive tackle Grady Jarrett or the overpayment of Dayo Odeyingbo?
Cincinnati Bengals: Germaine Pratt
Releasing Pratt was a stunning move, given his value and status as one of Cincy’s locker room leaders.
He was one of the few productive players on their lousy defense last year, so pardon us for understanding the decision to cut a guy who had two interceptions, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and 143 tackles last year.
Cleveland Browns: Dalvin Tomlinson
Tomlinson was a good complement to Myles Garrett in the trenches for two years, garnering a solid 67.4 PFF grade that placed him 42nd among 219 NFL Defensive linemen.
Tomlinson left for the Cardinals in free agency, and the Browns decided to replace him by overpaying for Maliek Collins on a two-year, $20 million deal. Why not just keep the superior Tomlinson and have him mentor highly-touted rookie Mason Graham to help strengthen the d-line?
Dallas Cowboys: Zack Martin
In one of the more stunning NFL retirements in recent memory, the Cowboys’ icon decided to call it quits after 11 seasons. A nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time First-team All-Pro, the Cowboys have no way of replacing arguably the greatest NFL guard of all time.
Dallas used its first-round pick on Alabama guard Tyler Booker to try to replace Martin. Even if Booker becomes a star, it’s foolish to think he’ll ever be the franchise cornerstone piece that Martin was for 11 years.
Denver Broncos: Cody Barton
Barton was an underrated part of the Broncos’ stingy defense last year. He was an elite run-defender and put up 106 tackles in his one-year stop in Mile High City.
Barton turned a strong 2024 campaign into a three-year deal with the Tennessee Titans worth $21 million. Denver has the pieces to make up for Barton’s absence, but it’s still a tall task to replace the do-it-all linebacker.
Detroit Lions: Frank Ragnow
Arguably the best center in football, Ragnow shocked everybody when he announced his retirement shortly after his 29th birthday. Unless Detroit is trading for Kansas City Chiefs superstar Creed Humphrey, there’s no replacing what Ragnow did in the middle of the o-line.
The Lions still have two elite bookends in Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell, but woof, does the make-up of this o-line look less scary with Ragnow gone?
Green Bay Packers: Jaire Alexander
Easy to argue that the Packers made the right call in releasing Alexander, given his long injury history and hefty contract. But when healthy, he’s arguably a top-five cornerback in the NFL.
The Packers had a top-10 defense last year, but we don’t see an all-pro-caliber cornerback on this roster right now. Only time will tell if the Packers made the right decision to cut their fan favorite, who took a one-year deal with the Ravens.
Houston Texans: Laremy Tunsil
The Texans had one of the league’s worst offensive lines last year. Part of their solution was…to trade their best offensive lineman to the Washington Commanders? Alright then.
The Texans got four draft picks, including a 2025 third-round and a 2026 third-round pick for Tunsil. But who on that depth chart will replace a five-time Pro Bowler? Good luck, CJ Stroud. You’re gonna need it.
Indianapolis Colts: Will Fries
One of the best guards in the game, Fries left to sign a mammoth $88 million deal over five years with the Minnesota Vikings. For good measure, Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly left for the Vikings in free agency as well.
Fries was PFF’s fourth-best guard of 2024 at 86.9. Now, the Colts are asking unproven sophomore Matt Goncalves to replace Fries’ production. Playing with fire, aren’t we?
Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Engram
The Jaguars reshaped their offense by trading up for two-way NFL star Travis Hunter and by moving on from Christian Kirk and Evan Engram. The latter’s release opens up a gaping hole in the Jags’ passing game, though, even if it saved a few bucks.
Engram was just a season removed from a career year that saw him catch 114 passes for 963 yards and four touchdowns. He was a reliable security blanket for Trevor Lawrence when healthy, so color us skeptical that unproven third-year product Brenton Strange will replace Engram’s production.
Kansas City Chiefs: Joe Thuney
The Chiefs always find quality offensive linemen out of nowhere, but we’re skeptical they’ll find a suitable replacement for a four-time Super Bowl champion, three-time Pro Bowler, and two-time First-team All-Pro.
Thuney was traded to Chicago in a cap-saving move. 28-year-old Mike Caliendo, who has three career starts under his belt, is being tasked with replacing Thuney’s all-world production. What could possibly go wrong for Andy Reid and company?
Las Vegas Raiders: Tre'von Moehrig
The Raiders probably made the right call to let Moehrig walk and let the Panthers overpay for him in free agency, but his departure still does more harm than good.
Moehrig did it all as a ball-hawker and pass-rusher. He was also PFF’s seventh-highest-graded run defender for safeties at 87.5. Throw in Nate Hobbs’ departure for Green Bay, and the Raiders’ already-weak secondary looks like a mega issue heading into 2025.
Los Angeles Chargers: Joey Bosa
Cutting the oft-injured Bosa in a cap-saving move was a necessary evil by the Chargers, but it doesn’t mean it helps this team in the short term, either.
A healthy Bosa has always been a threat for double-digit sacks. Khalil Mack is still playing at a high level, but Bosa’s release leaves the Bolts short of another game-changing NFL edge rusher in a competitive AFC field.
Los Angeles Rams: Jonah Jackson
The Rams traded the versatile offensive lineman, who played both guard and center, to the Bears in a cap-saving move. But now, LA is asking the inconsistent Steve Avila to replace Jackson’s natural guard spot, with veteran journeyman Coleman Shelton taking over at center.
Sean McVay is always a man with a plan, but boy, does Jackson’s departure leave that o-line with more questions than answers.
Miami Dolphins: Terron Armstead
The five-time Pro Bowler and rock of Miami’s offensive line was among the many stunning offseason retirees. Armstead was PFF’s third-highest graded offensive tackle at 89.4, finishing in the top 10 for run and pass-blocking.
The rest of Miami’s o-line was leaky WITH Armstead. For Tua Tagovailoa’s sake, we’re trying not to imagine how much worse this o-line will get with Armstead retired.
Minnesota Vikings: Sam Darnold
Only time will tell if choosing 2024 first-round pick JJ McCarthy over Sam Darnold was the right call for the Vikings.
What we can tell you is that JJ, who missed his entire rookie year due to a knee injury, will have a tough time throwing for 4,312 yards and 35 touchdowns as Darnold did before signing with the Seattle Seahawks.
McCarthy could very well be the guy, but asking him to produce similar numbers in his first NFL season may be too much.
New England Patriots: David Andrews
Andrews was the Patriots’ starting center since 2015, but the organization released the two-time Super Bowl champion as part of the youth movement. Andrews subsequently announced his retirement, not wanting to play elsewhere.
So, the Pats lose a well-respected veteran and locker room presence and downgrade at center with ex-Viking Garrett Bradbury taking over Andrews’ spot. What could go wrong?
New Orleans Saints: Derek Carr
One can argue that Carr’s abrupt retirement will help the Saints in the long-term, since it puts them in a good spot to tank and get a franchise-changing QB in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Still, it’s hard to replace a steady veteran who can consistently provide you with around 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. The Saints’ QB room is Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough, and we’d be surprised if those two could even combine for 20 TD passes this year.
The Saints went from semi-competitive with Carr to, well, the consensus pick to be football’s worst team in 2025. Hey, if it gets you Arch Manning or another special QB prospect…
New York Giants: Azeez Ojulari
Ozulari was the one notable piece the Giants failed to retain this offseason, as he left to take a one-year deal with the archrival Philadelphia Eagles.
Ojulari had a good production in four years with the Giants, tallying 22 sacks in 46 games. With Ojulari gone, the G-Men need rookie Abdul Carter to produce early and often, and for Brian Burns to shake off a down 2024 NFL season.
New York Jets: Davante Adams
We’re confident that Justin Fields will be a better fit in the Jets’ new-look offense than Aaron Rodgers. But who’s replacing Davante Adams, released in a cap-saving move, as the No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson?
Adams had 854 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games with the Jets. He and Wilson were the only ones to exceed 530 receiving yards last year, so good luck to the Jets on replacing a Hall of Fame-caliber talent.
Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Sweat
Between Sweat, Darius Slay, Brandon Graham, James Bradberry, CJ Gardner-Johnson, and Milton Williams, there’s no shortage of key contributors who departed from the Super Bowl 59 champions.
But Sweat — who signed a lucrative deal with the Cardinals — is easily the toughest player to replace among the bunch.
He posted at least six sacks in five consecutive years and was a beast with 2.5 sacks on Patrick Mahomes in the big game. Replacing his sack production is one thing, but Sweat’s game-changing abilities in crunch time? That’s another story.
Pittsburgh Steelers: George Pickens
We loved the trade for ex-Seattle Seahawks superstar DK Metcalf. He’s an upgrade over Pickens as a WR1, but the Steelers now lack a proven No. 2 to complement DK.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth was the only other Steeler pass-catcher to exceed 550 receiving yards last season. With Pickens gone, there’s no serviceable No. 2 receiver to complement Metcalf.
San Francisco 49ers: Dre Greenlaw
No team lost more big-named talent this NFL offseason than the 49ers, but watching their superstar linebacker leave for the Broncos in free agency truly stings. Greenlaw was a rock on San Fran’s D for six years, and there’s no adequate replacement lined up on the depth chart.
Seattle Seahawks: D.K. Metcalf
Consistent 70-catch and 1,000-yard threats don’t grow on trees, so it was a bit baffling when the Seahawks traded Metcalf to the Steelers for a second-round pick. Signing past-his-prime Cooper Kupp to replace Metcalf was one of the more puzzling moves of John Schneider’s tenure as GM.
Jaxson Smith-Njigba may be the new WR1 in Seattle, but Kupp is not going to provide the same game-changing abilities as Metcalf did for six years.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Robert Hainsey
The veteran center was benched in favor of 2024 first-round pick Graham Barton last year, but he was a really solid replacement for veteran Ryan Jensen in the two years before that. Hainsey also had a stellar 73.3 PFF Grade last year.
If Barton struggles or gets hurt, the Bucs will be short of a valuable depth piece in Hainsey, who left for the Jaguars in free agency.
Tennessee Titans: Harold Landry III
A model of consistency in Music City, Landy recorded at least nine sacks in four of his six seasons with the Titans. So it was a surprise to see the Titans let Landry walk to free agency, where he signed a three-year deal with the Pats.
The Titans are now down a Pro Bowl pass-rusher who led the team in sacks by a wide margin last year. So if someone knows what the plan is here in Music City, let us know.
Washington Commanders: Dante Fowler Jr.
Fowler led the Commanders with 10.5 sacks as they made a surprise run to the NFC Championship Game with rookie QB Jayden Daniels. So it was a surprise that they didn’t bother bringing back Fowler, who returned to the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal.
Washington has a deep roster, but without their 2024 sacks leader, they don’t have any game-wrecking edge rushers.
NFL’s Toughest Losses: One Star Each Team Can’t Replace
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