NFL Expiring Contracts In 2025: Wide Receiver

One of the best ways to gain an edge in a dynasty is to look ahead, and sometimes way ahead. Predicting the future is extremely difficult, but being aware of the future allows you to view players in context, especially in a year-to-year game like dynasty fantasy football. In this series, we will be looking at players who are free agents after the 2024 season, taking a temporary mental jump ahead to the 2025 off-season.

We already covered quarterbacks and running backs in this series, but wide receiver might be the most exciting position yet. So many wide receivers might be free agents in 2025, ranging from superstars to role players. I’ll split the receivers into three groups: expected extension candidates from rookie deals, players on current rookie deals likely heading to new destinations, and productive veterans finishing previous extensions. Let’s jump into it!

Rookie Deal Extension Candidates

At the start, I’ll get a couple of players out of the way who are technically 2025 free agents right now but realistically have no chance of being in the 2025 free agent class. Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith were 2021 first-round picks and have been excellent for the Bengals, Dolphins, and Eagles. Their teams will exercise their 2025 fifth-year options, keeping them off the free-agent market.

Additionally, it’s unrealistic to discuss the possible free agency of Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. These are top wide receivers in the NFL, and their teams will not let them leave without compensation. All of them are entering the final year of their rookie deal in 2024, with Jefferson and Lamb on their fifth-year options. I expect all three to receive a contract extension this off-season, but even if they don’t, their teams would all apply a franchise tag on them in 2025. Wide receivers of this caliber never hit the free agency market.

However, two main players are worth discussing in this category: Brandon Aiyuk and Nico Collins. Both have been successful, but they aren’t on the same level as Jefferson, Lamb, and St. Brown. Let’s start with Aiyuk.