The 2025 NFL expansion series continues with free agency. The Austin Rogues add to their roster with strategic signings meant to help us be competitive immediately without hurting us long term. If you missed them, you can read the first two parts of the expansion series, including the expansion draft:
Free Agent Signings
As was the case with the first two parts, a major goal is to keep things realistic. So, we had to spend more on most free agents to get them to join us in Austin for an expansion club.
Marcus Mariota | QB | Age: 31 | 2 years, $20 million
In reality, Marcus Mariota enjoys Washington and re-signed with the Commanders to back up Jayden Daniels. But we’d be offering him a legitimate shot to compete for the starting job as our first quarterback on the roster. Somewhat quietly, Mariota played just as well as Daniels when he was in the game for Washington last season. The former No. 2 overall pick can play, and he spent a season-plus with our head coach Jon Gruden—and performed extremely well in his lone extensive action in primetime. This is a perfect fit.
Mekhi Becton | G | Age: 26 | 2 years, $25 million
We spend just a touch more than the Chargers to get Mekhi Becton to sign with us and plug right in at guard. After getting coached up by Jeff Stoutland in Philadelphia, I think the former first-round pick will continue playing well. We’re relying on Jonah Jackson bouncing back and Garrett Bradbury holding up in pass protection, but this interior offensive line trio can be very good.
Poona Ford | DL | Age: 29 | 3 years, 30 million
On the other side of the ball, Poona Ford is swiped from Los Angeles to beef up our defensive line. Ford has long been an underrated defender in the middle, and he’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career to earn a three-year deal. Running on a rotation of Javon Hargrave, Sheldon Rankins, and Ford won’t be fun for defenses.
Nick Chubb | RB | Age: 29 | 1 year, $5 million
Let’s say Coach Gruden makes a great pitch to Nick Chubb, and we get him on board as a tremendous leader with plenty of success in the NFL. Before the past two years went off the rails because of injury, Chubb was one of the most consistently productive and efficient backs in the history of the league.
Azeez Ojulari | EDGE | Age: 24 | 1 year, $5.5 million
Azeez Ojulari is another value in free agency, and we bump his pay and offer him a role as a starter on the edge opposite Leonard Floyd—with Bryce Huff rotating in the mix. Ojulari, who had 8.0 sacks as a rookie, was underrated during his time with the Giants and would hopefully benefit from us playing better football than New York has.
Devin White | LB | Age: 27 | 1 year, $2.25 million
I’ve always been a huge fan of Devin White, who had one of the greatest playoff runs by a linebacker in NFL history while helping the Bucs win a Super Bowl in the 2020 season. He’ll slide in next to Germaine Pratt, and hopefully the strength we have up front allows White to play free while roaming sideline-to-sideline and getting home on exotic blitzes.
Cam Robinson | OT | Age: 29 | 1 year, $14 million
The price isn’t ideal, but Cam Robinson gives us experience on the blindside. It’s a one-year deal, so we’re not making a massive commitment—and we can keep an eye on one of these offensive tackles as a long-term answer in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Xavier Woods | S | Age: 29 | 2 years, $9 million
Yet another underrated defender, Xavier Woods just set a career-high with 119 tackles and tied a career-high with three interceptions in his lone season with the Panthers. Woods has been a consistent and versatile player since the Cowboys drafted him in 2017.
Joshua Uche | EDGE | Age: 26 | 1 year, $2.5 million
Like what the Eagles did in reality, the Rogues get both Ojulari and Joshua Uche to form a deep pass rush. Remember, Uche had 11.5 sacks in 2022. The 26-year-old gives the Rogues an exciting arsenal of edge rushers.
Elijah Moore | WR | Age: 25 | 1 year, $4 million
Elijah Moore posted lines of 59/640/2 and 61/538/1 in two seasons with the Browns, and he had 984 yards across his first two NFL seasons with the Jets. Just 25 years old, there’s room for more, and—with the rookie class pending—Moore should be poised to be our third receiver at worst and potentially our WR2 next to Davante Adams.
Robert Jones | G | Age: 26 | 1 year, $5.5 million
Offensive line is critical, and Robert Jones gives good depth at guard. There’s some flexibility on the offensive line for Jones to potentially start, but he’ll likely serve as a top backup option.
Nelson Agholor | WR | Age: 32 | 1 year, $3.25 million
Currently unsigned in real life, Nelson Agholor has the skillset to both stretch the field and do some damage underneath—with plus intangibles and leadership in the wide receiver room on top of that. Agholor has played for some excellent teams throughout his career and caught nine passes in a Super Bowl victory with the Eagles.
Joe Noteboom | OT | Age: 29 | 1 year, $2.5 million
Injuries have been an issue for Joe Noteboom, but he’s worth a shot as our potential right tackle or a swing tackle depending on how things turn out.
Fred Johnson | OT | Age: 28 | 1 year, $1.75 million
Competition will be key for an expansion team, helping set the foundation for the type of organization we want to be. Fred Johnson can push for the right tackle job, and there’s built-in chemistry after he played next to Becton some last year. No one can say our right side wouldn’t have size with this duo.
Darnay Holmes | CB | Age: 26 | 1 year, $1.75 million
We have Jaire Alexander at cornerback, but let’s add a potential starting nickel in Darnay Holmes. There’s been some ups and downs, but Holmes can more than hold his own if he’s a starter on defense.
Rock Ya-Sin | CB | Age: 29 | 1 year, $1.25 million
Rock Ya-Sin has bounced around a bit while playing on four different teams in the past four years, but the former high second-round pick brings upside as a possible starting option on the outside.
Rodrigo Blankenship | K | Age: 28 | 1 year, $1 million
After going 21/22 (including 5/6 on 50+ yarders) on field goals in the UFL this year, Rodrigo Blankenship should get another shot in the NFL.
Pat O’Donnell | P | Age: 34 | 1 year, $1 million
Pat O’Donnell started half the season at punter for the 49ers in 2024. O’Donnell punted eight seasons for the Bears, so he has a ton of experience.
Rick Lovato | LS | Age: 32 | 1 year, $1 million
The Eagles moved on from Rick Lovato as their long snapper, so the Rogues scoop up someone who has played in big games.
Current Roster
We feel the Rogues are in nice shape up the middle on both sides of the ball—with a trio of Jackson-Bradbury-Becton on the offensive line paving the way for Nick Chubb, and a front seven on defense that’s pretty decorated. Add in star-caliber headliners in Davante Adams and Jaire Alexander and some arguably underrated starters like quarterback Marcus Mariota, and the Rogues are in an interesting spot heading into the 2025 NFL Draft.
Salary cap: $279,200,000
Total payroll: $257,333,581
Cap space: $21,666,419
QB: Marcus Mariota
RB: Nick Chubb / Dameon Pierce / Deuce Vaughn
WR: Davante Adams / Javon Baker
WR: Elijah Moore / Bo Melton
WR: Nelson Agholor
TE: Evan Engram / Drew Ogletree / Greg Dulcich
OT: Cam Robinson / Joe Noteboom
OG: Jonah Jackson / Robert Jones
C: Garrett Bradbury
OG: Mekhi Becton
OT: Fred Johnson
EDGE: Leonard Floyd / Bryce Huff
DL: Javon Hargrave / Sheldon Rankins
DL: Poona Ford / Mekhi Wingo
EDGE: Azeez Ojulari / Joshua Uche
LB: Germaine Pratt / Baylon Spector
LB: Devin White / Noah Sewell / Jalen Reeves-Maybin
CB: Jaire Alexander
S: Xavier Woods / Beau Brade
S: Chris Smith II
CB: Rock Ya-Sin
NB: Darnay Holmes
K: Rodrigo Blankenship
P: Pat O’Donnell
LS: Rick Lovato
Check back tomorrow for Part IV—the final part—of the 2025 NFL expansion series, the 2025 NFL Draft!