By David DeChant, Jourdan Rodrigue and Vic Tafur
The negotiating window for NFL free agency opens in two weeks, and teams will have a little extra to spend after the 2025 salary cap came in higher than expected.
Unfortunately for them, this free-agent class might be one of the weakest in recent memory, particularly at the top. Even so, some teams still will find value, as the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles did last spring.
These are our top 150 free agents, ranked using a host of factors — including production, physical traits, age, injury and potential — and split into eight tiers.
A few notes before we dive in:
Ages are as of Sept. 4, the date of the 2025 season opener. Stats are from TruMedia and apply to the 2024 regular season unless stated otherwise. Snap rates represent players’ share of their team’s offensive or defensive snaps. Penalties include declined and offsetting fouls. Sacks allowed and pressure rates are from Pro Football Focus via TruMedia. Pass-block win rate and run-block win rate are via ESPN.
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Tier 1
Top young talents; older players at premium positions who remain very productive.
Age: 26 Height: 6-4 Weight: 219
Higgins played on the franchise tag last year and might do so again this year (although the Bengals reportedly hope to work out an extension with their No. 2 receiver ahead of the March 4 deadline). If Higgins isn’t tagged, he’ll be the top free agent available this offseason.
Higgins’ production in 2024 was relatively limited by two factors: He played just 12 games while dealing with hamstring and quad injuries, and teammate Ja’Marr Chase hit the triple crown by leading the league in touchdowns, catches and yards. Yet Higgins still had 911 yards on 73 catches (12.5 yards per catch) and 10 TDs. The former second-round pick has gone over 900 yards in four of five seasons, all with the Bengals, including back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022. Higgins’ 0.49 EPA per target was actually a hair better than Chase’s (0.47). He is a multilevel receiver who can win wherever he is aligned, and if he’s not tagged, he’ll have an extremely competitive market.
Age: 26 Height: 6-6 Weight: 321
Sixth-round picks rarely become quality Day 1 starters, but Smith certainly did. Since slipping in the 2021 NFL Draft because of health concerns, he’s started 80 of 81 games (including playoffs) at right guard through four seasons, earning one Pro Bowl selection and reaching three Super Bowls (winning two). He’s best as a run blocker, where he has the play strength and athleticism to excel in any scheme, but he has improved as a pass blocker each season, and he doesn’t turn 26 until June.
Robert Hunt was two years older when he signed for $20 million annually and $44 million fully guaranteed with Carolina last spring. Smith should comfortably eclipse Landon Dickerson ($21 million annually) atop the guard market with at least two years fully guaranteed. The Chiefs already have $65.2 million on their 2025 cap for three O-linemen (Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Jawaan Taylor), which could make it difficult to re-sign Smith.
Age: 31 Height: 6-6 Weight: 310
Stanley will likely make up the $7.5 million pay cut he took last offseason to remain with the Ravens in this year’s voyage into free agency. He has said he wants to play his entire career in Baltimore, but the 31-year-old should have a competitive market if the Ravens don’t extend him despite his injury history (including knee and ankle injuries — the latter limited him to seven games total between 2020-21).
Though Stanley gave up 35 pressures in 2024, he allowed only three sacks (Lamar Jackson’s escapability does help on this front), posted the No. 12 pass-block win rate among offensive tackles, and started all 17 regular-season games as a road-grader for one of the NFL’s best rushing teams. His experience and value in both the run and pass game are evident on tape when he is healthy. This, plus the fact that good starting left tackles are difficult to find, bumps Stanley’s rank here in a thin free-agency class.
Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 290
Williams has never topped five sacks or 10 QB hits in a season, but he might be the biggest beneficiary of this thin free-agency class.
He’s at his best rushing the passer, showing a rare combination of power and quickness for a 290-pounder. He often walks guards and centers into the quarterback but can also win quickly with swipes and swim moves, and he beat some of the league’s best in 2024. He must finish with more sacks, but his 14.2 percent pressure rate ranked third among interior D-linemen (minimum 100 pass-rush snaps). He can anchor more consistently in the run game, but he’s disruptive as a penetrator and flashes the ability to handle double teams. The trickiest part of Williams’ projection: He’s never played more than 50 percent of the snaps in a season while rotating as part of a deep D-line in Philadelphia.
In 2016, Malik Jackson was a lesser-known, productive defensive tackle on a loaded defense who shined while winning the Super Bowl. He landed a six-year deal worth $14.3 million annually with the Jaguars, which would equate to $25 million on the 2025 cap. Don’t be surprised if Williams hits that mark, and his floor might be around $20 million.
Age: 29 Height: 6-1 Weight: 209
Godwin was on an absolute heater through seven games of 2024 and en route to a career year before a gruesome ankle dislocation ended his season and required surgery.
His 576 receiving yards ranked second in the NFL through that span, and he didn’t drop a pass while recording a whopping 0.56 EPA per target. Godwin also ranked No. 1 in yards after the catch with 389.
The Bucs and Godwin are trying to arrange an extension, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, who also reported that the team moved Godwin’s existing contract’s void date until the last day of the league year, providing more time to work things out. Godwin’s glue-guy reputation, sure hands and ability to play a versatile and dynamic role in this Bucs offense make him very valuable to them. It’s also easy to see him as a fit for a variety of teams if Tampa Bay can’t get a deal done.
Age: 28 Height: 6-3 Weight: 225
One of the ultimate success stories of the 2024 season, Baun was plucked out of obscurity as a mostly special-teamer in New Orleans only to absolutely thrive in Vic Fangio’s system en route to first-team All-Pro honors (and a would-be Pro Bowl appearance had he not been busy helping the Eagles win the Super Bowl).
Baun was PFF’s No. 1-ranked linebacker in part for how effective he was in coverage (he posted a 90.9 grade). Will the Eagles be willing to pay to keep him? How much will he command after only one season of great production? His market appears difficult to predict.
Age: 28 Height: 6-5 Weight: 265
Like fellow Eagles D-lineman Milton Williams, Sweat isn’t elite but could be paid like it as he hits a thin free-agent market after dominating in the Super Bowl. In the game of his life, Sweat sacked Patrick Mahomes 2.5 times and also forced an interception. The seven-year veteran just finished a three-year, $42 million contract and should have plenty left in the tank, as he was drafted at age 21 and has topped 700 snaps in a season just once.
Sweat is not the same caliber of player as Danielle Hunter — who signed with Houston for $49 million ($48 million guaranteed) over two years at age 29 last spring — but he’s a dangerous pass rusher with terrific athleticism to bend the edge, long arms, and a deep bag of moves from both sides of the formation. He’s also a capable run defender, showing good play strength for his lanky build and excelling when chasing ball carriers down the line of scrimmage. He could comfortably top $20 million annually, if not exceed Hunter’s deal.
Tier 2
Proven quality players who have a flaw (such as age or injury) or play a less valued position; players who have impressed for stretches (especially at key positions) but lack a complete resume; young talents with untapped upside.
Age: 28 Height: 6-3 Weight: 225
Darnold thrived for the Vikings in 2024, becoming one of the major stories of the season and setting him up for a large payday. He frequently played like a top-15 quarterback under Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell. Through eight weeks (including the Vikings’ bye), Darnold had 12 touchdowns (third-most) and five interceptions, a 104.0 passer rating and ranked 15th in EPA/attempt among starters. His lows emerged toward the end of the season, with bad games in Week 18 against Detroit and in the wild-card round against the Rams.
Overall, Darnold showed he can be a capable starter with a high ceiling, playing confidently with layered throws and usually looking to the middle and deeper portions of the field (by the end of the year, as teams ramped up pressure, this was to his detriment). He doesn’t turn 28 until June, which will matter to NFL teams looking for a QB who will last longer than the typical bridge player. The big question teams will be asking: Can Darnold thrive outside of O’Connell’s system?
Age: 28 Height: 6-1 Weight: 207
Like Super Bowl opponent Josh Sweat, Reid is a seven-year veteran seeking his third contract, having entered the league at age 21 with Houston and playing out a three-year, $31.5 million deal with Kansas City. Reid isn’t flashy — he has 10 career interceptions and no Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections — but he’s been central to Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, lining up all over the field and excelling as a coverage player, run defender and blitzer. He’s at his best near the line of scrimmage, but he has good range on the back end and can handle most tight ends in man-to-man coverage. He’s also one of the NFL’s best tacklers.
Budda Baker signed a three-year, $54 million deal in December, a month before his 29th birthday. Reid probably won’t match that figure — Baker is a two-time first-team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler — but he should draw a significant raise on his $10.5 million annual average.
Age: 29 Height: 6-1 Weight: 196
Like practically all of the 49ers, Ward took a step back last season, though it was a particularly trying season for the 28-year-old. He missed time because of hamstring and knee injuries. Then tragedy struck, with the death of his 1-year-old daughter.
Ward is a talented man-coverage corner who can break on the ball (seven pass breakups in 12 games last year, 70 for his career) but doesn’t have great hands (zero interceptions last year and 10 in seven years).
He has said he’d like to be closer to Texas — where his girlfriend and newborn son live — and farther from the trauma he experienced in California. Interested teams will be banking on a return to his 2023 form (five interceptions and a 64.5 opposing passer rating).
Age: 34 Height: 6-3 Weight: 269
Mack briefly pondered retirement after finishing last season with six sacks and 49 quarterback pressures, down from 17 and 88 in 2023. He was also dealing with a groin injury and would provide his new team — if the Chargers actually let him hit the market — with some leadership and veteran savvy.
Often overlooked is how good Mack is against the run, and even as the hairline recedes, his time as a three-down player shouldn’t.
Age: 28 Height: 6-0 Weight: 230
It’s easy to make the case against Greenlaw. He’s missed 36 games because of injuries in six NFL seasons, including a torn Achilles suffered while running off the sideline in Super Bowl LVIII. He missed the first 13 games in 2024, then lasted only 34 snaps before calf and knee injuries in the same leg ended his season.
But in those 34 snaps Greenlaw was downright dominant, flying around the field and delivering punishing blows to ball carriers (and blockers). At his best, he’s a top-five linebacker with a complete skill set and a tone-setter for any defense. Unless concerns about his knee or calf persist, Greenlaw should be in high demand. The question is whether durability concerns will limit his suitors or bring the price tag down.
Age: 28 Height: 5-9 Weight: 188
Reed was a reliable No. 2 corner with the Jets. Will someone pay him to be their No. 1? He doesn’t turn 29 until November and has been very durable, missing five games in three years in New York. He had only two interceptions over that span, but the press-man corner — who aligned primarily on the defensive right side opposite Sauce Gardner — stayed close enough to allow an opposing passer rating of only 87.1.
His old coach, Robert Saleh, is back with the 49ers, who drafted Reed in the fifth round in 2018. One could imagine Reed returning to his old team, too, if Ward signs elsewhere.
Age: 32 Height: 6-2 Weight: 305
This might be way too high on the list or way too low. Two years after signing a four-year, $84 million deal, Hargrave will be released after playing only three games in 2024 because of a torn triceps. The Niners — who must wait until March 12 to release him, so they can use a post-June 1 designation — said they are open to bringing him back for less money and will let the market set the price.
Hargrave was really good not too long ago. The former Steeler and Eagle had a career-high 11 sacks in 2022 and helped the 49ers reach the Super Bowl in 2023 with 44 tackles and seven sacks in the regular season, followed by a strong playoff run.
Age: 27 Height: 6-2 Weight: 280
The 2021 third-round pick enjoyed a nice finish to 2024, with four sacks in the final nine games. He was already going to be popular, even before the Eagles reminded everyone how cool tough interior linemen are. It’s hard not to get excited about a guy with 34-inch arms who played 78 percent of the snaps last season and can beat double teams. His pressures have improved from 38 to 44 to 51 over the past three years.
The warning label on Odighizuwa is that he might not help you much on run defense. He didn’t in Dallas, as the Cowboys ranked 29th in 2024 (137 yards per game).
Age: 31 Height: 6-0 Weight: 191
Texans general manager Nick Caserio recently said during a local radio interview that the team would be “absolutely open” to bringing back Diggs, whom it acquired via trade with Buffalo last spring. Diggs played eight games for Houston before a season-ending ACL tear, averaging 62.0 receiving yards per game with three touchdowns. His injury broke a six-year streak of 1,000-yard seasons.
Though Diggs is a four-time Pro Bowler, he is also probably a very good No. 2 receiver at this point in his career at age 31. Teams will have questions about his injury recovery, but there’s no question he is a top receiver in this class.
Age: 28 Height: 6-4 Weight: 231
Johnson is far from a household name, but the former undrafted wide receiver is awfully talented. He’s a smooth, fluid athlete with long strides that eat up ground quickly. He’s not especially sudden or polished as a route runner, but he sinks his hips well and can beat cornerbacks in man coverage at times. With a large catch radius (6-foot-4 with 34 ¼-inch arms) and dangerous ability in the open field, Johnson is a big-play threat who could blossom in a better offense. He is also a much better blocker than you’d expect for a converted wideout, showing great play strength and competitiveness.
Johnson could have several suitors, perhaps including the coach who signed him out of college, Sean Payton.
Age: 27 Height: 6-6 Weight: 305
A seventh-round pick who struggled mightily in his first extended action in 2022, Fries was one of the league’s most improved players in 2023, growing into an above-average starter. He took another step in 2024 before suffering a tibia injury in October that required surgery and ended his season.
His recovery from that injury will help determine his market, but if healthy, Fries is one of the 10 best right guards in the NFL. He’s an excellent run blocker and a capable pass blocker. He also plays with a mean streak, setting the tone for the entire offensive line.
Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 305
Though PFF ranked Dalman’s pass protection No. 22 among centers this season, he was No. 4 in run blocking. The grades overall are “incomplete,” though, because Dalman missed eight games with an ankle injury. In the nine he played, he allowed only 10 pressures and no sacks.
Dalman would fit any team that deploys lots of zone run concepts, and behind him, the center market is quite thin. He has been the team’s starting center for the last three seasons when healthy. Every other Falcons starting offensive lineman is under contract through at least 2025.
Age: 25 Height: 6-0 Weight: 200
Hufanga is an instinctive, athletic safety who can line up anywhere but excels closer to the line of scrimmage. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2022 after stuffing the stat sheet with four interceptions, two sacks, five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Like many of this year’s top free agents, he comes with durability concerns. Hufanga tore the ACL in his right knee in November 2023, missing the start of the 2024 season, then suffered a concussion and torn ligaments in his wrist. He returned in December to play with a cast that clearly limited him as a tackler. He moved well, though, a good sign for his knee.
Age: 28 Height: 6-1 Weight: 206
Well … Davis can cover, and he is also a good tackler, but the Buccaneers traded him to the Lions because he is always hurt (he averaged 3.8 missed games over six seasons). And after helping solidify the Lions’ secondary. Davis missed the final four games (including playoffs) with a fractured jaw.
The 6-foot-1 corner has 11 interceptions and 84 pass breakups over his career, and good press-man corners are hard to find. Even if it’s just for 13 games per season.
Age: 25 Height: 6-1 Weight: 205
If anyone needs a change of scenery, it’s probably this guy. Holland might be the best safety on the market, assuming the Dolphins don’t use the franchise tag on him, as he can impact all three levels on defense. But he has been a little inconsistent — especially last season — and who can blame him, with four different defensive coordinators in his four seasons?
His numbers tease his potential: five interceptions, 16 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and five sacks. He was team captain for three of those years and doesn’t turn 25 until March. But the price tag here will be based more on potential than production, and that’s always a roll of the dice.
Age: 27 Height: 6-2 Weight: 250
Pass rushers are hard to find, as one former Raiders coach said after trading Khalil Mack. So there shouldn’t be too big of a discount for a 26-year-old, bendy edge player who had eight sacks and 17 QB hits in 2023 before missing all of 2024 with a non-contact knee injury. Especially since all indications are that his recovery is going well.
Koonce, a third-round pick in 2021, didn’t play much during his first two years but had a breakthrough when he stopped trying to prove he could play with power. With defensive coordinator Patrick Graham returning under new coach Pete Carroll, will Koonce take less to stay in Las Vegas?
Tier 3
Once quality players who are declining or had a down season; young, starting-caliber players who have been less consistent or have a hole or two in their game.
Age: 26 Height: 6-5 Weight: 264
The No. 2 pick of the 2020 draft, Young could be joining his fourth team before his 26th birthday. He played all 17 games for the Saints last season, yet didn’t start one. Still, he played 63 percent of the snaps, and the numbers suggest he was very productive and perhaps unlucky: He tied for ninth in the NFL in pressures (66) and 16th in QB hits (21) but had only 5.5 sacks.
The film tells a more complicated story. Young feasted on backup offensive tackles, and many of his pressures came late in the play or as he let the QB break contain. He has an effective bull rush — he beat stalwart Bucs tackle Tristan Wirfs with it — but his speed rush is merely average, and he could stand to polish his countermoves. Young was also underwhelming as a run defender (perhaps the reason he was not a starter), too often playing passively or lagging in pursuit.
Still, Young had plenty of good tape, and mid-20s pass rushers with pedigree and production don’t often hit the market. He should have enough suitors to garner a multiyear deal after settling for a one-year, $13 million pact last spring.
Age: 25 Height: 6-2 Weight: 233
Jones — a former Rams team captain and member of their Super Bowl-winning core — was traded to the Titans just before the 2024 season, then traded to the Seahawks ahead of Week 8. Between Weeks 8-18, he tied for fourth among all linebackers in tackles (94).
Jones also had nine pressures, split a sack and recorded an interception with Seattle. In Tennessee from Weeks 1-7, he had 44 tackles and four pressures with no sacks. Tennessee used Jones as a blitzer, where he has always shown above-average abilities.
A starter since his rookie season in L.A. (where he was also the No. 2 alongside veteran Bobby Wagner for one season), Jones missed 2024 spring OTAs and a portion of training camp with a knee issue that, in part, prompted the Rams to move on. In Seattle, he looked healthy as ever and quickly became one of the stars and leaders on defense.
Age: 26 Height: 6-2 Weight: 202
When fellow Raiders safety Marcus Epps went down with a knee injury in Week 3, Moehrig moved closer to the line of scrimmage and made himself a lot of money.
A former Jim Thorpe Award winner at TCU, Moehrig had always shown good range and ball skills. Now suddenly he was playing like an extra linebacker, stopping the run, blitzing the quarterback and even covering tight ends at times. He set career highs in tackles (104) and passes broken up (10) to go with two interceptions and a sack.
Age: 41 Height: 6-2 Weight: 223
The 5-12 Jets seemed to always be in the news for one reason or another in 2024, so the often above-average play from 41-year-old Rodgers got a little lost in the shuffle.
In his first season coming off a torn Achilles, Rodgers played all 17 games and finished with 3,897 passing yards (eighth-most), 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, though he completed just 63 percent of his attempts (30th). Rodgers’ free-agency prospects will be an interesting study — he can still likely be an effective bridge quarterback, but teams might shy away from the off-field theatre that comes with him.
The Jets can’t officially release Rodgers until March 12, so they can use a post-June 1 designation, but he is permitted to speak with other teams.
Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 227
Fields might be the biggest wild card in the top 150. Last year, Sam Darnold was No. 98 on this list. This year, following a remarkable season in Minnesota’s QB-friendly environment, he’s No. 8. Add in recent career resurgences from Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield and there might be more appetite around the league than ever before for QB reclamation projects.
Fields was off to the best start of his career in 2024 before being benched for Russell Wilson, posting a positive EPA/dropback (0.04, ranking 17th through Week 6) for the first time, throwing just one interception on 161 attempts and dropping his sack rate from historically high (12.4 percent) to merely bad (9.0). He’s an exceptional athlete, great to build a run game around, but will a team value his passing ability enough to make a bet on him?
As Darnold did with J.J. McCarthy, Fields will likely face competition wherever he winds up, including if he re-signs with the Steelers. His market might depend on the rest of the QB carousel, but the one-year, $10 million deal Darnold played on in 2024 would make sense.
Age: 30 Height: 6-1 Weight: 240
Teams that offer Reddick a lot of money will be pretending that 2024 never happened. Or perhaps blaming the whole Jets mess on Aaron Rodgers. But Reddick followed up a four-year run in which he had 50.5 sacks by holding out until October, showing up out of shape and sleepwalking his way to one sack in 10 games.
Reddick was never known for being good against the run — and was really bad there last season — but if he can convince a team that he is motivated, a prove-it deal for a once-prolific pass rusher could be good for both parties.
Age: 26 Height: 6-7 Weight: 363
Becton’s 2024 season was a wonderful success story. He hit the market last spring as an inconsistent, injury-prone offensive tackle, ranking 92nd on this list. The Eagles signed him for $2.75 million to play guard, and he thrived next to a potential Hall of Fame right tackle (Lane Johnson) and under an acclaimed OL coach (Jeff Stoutland), having a career season and earning a major raise.
Becton has spoken highly of the Eagles, and perhaps he’ll take less to stay in Philadelphia, but history suggests Howie Roseman is more likely to look for the next Becton than pay him at his peak value. Becton is a mauler in the run game, but he still has issues as a pass blocker: His 6.0 percent pressure rate allowed ranked 55th among guards (minimum 200 pass blocking snaps) in 2024. Given all of these dynamics (and his lengthy injury history), Becton’s market is a bit unpredictable.
Age: 30 Height: 5-9 Weight: 208
Running backs are back, baby. Thanks to Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs, veteran running backs never have to worry about getting devalued and shortchanged ever again. Especially three-down backs like Jones, who is coming off a career-best 1,138-yard rushing season.
Wait … is it crazy that Jones’ best season came in Year 8, and that it only took 1,138 yards? His 408 receiving yards were the second-most of his career, but the seven TDs tied for his fifth-best mark. More impressive was that Jones played all 17 games despite hip and rib injuries. He’s earned a raise from the $7 million he got last year, especially in a weak RB class. Let’s see if a borderline playoff team like the Broncos gives him one.
Age: 25 Height: 5-11 Weight: 237
Bolton has physical limitations — he’s sawed-off (5-foot-11 with arms under 32 inches) and lacks overpowering strength or blazing speed — but he’s still above average in several areas. He’s been a key piece in Steve Spagnuolo’s complex disguises and pressure schemes, whether as a blitzer, QB spy, zone dropper or man-to-man cover defender. He has good instincts, including awareness in coverage that compensates for his lack of speed and length, and is an excellent tackler in space.
The top of the linebacker market is sparse, with three players making at least $18 million annually and no others over $14.2 million. Bolton should reach eight figures, though he might not top Patrick Queen’s three-year, $41 million deal signed last spring.
Age: 33 Height: 6-3 Weight: 265
Lawrence was off to a great start in 2024 with three sacks in his first four games before a nasty Lisfranc foot injury ended his season. He turns 33 in April and has been a little inconsistent over the years, but he’s a three-down player who plays with violence and tremendous effort, especially against the run. He will be popular if his foot checks out.
Age: 27 Height: 5-11 Weight: 190
There’s plenty to like about Murphy coming off his first Pro Bowl selection, as he posted career bests almost across the board, including interceptions (six) and passer rating allowed (80.0). He played all over, lining up outside in base sets and in the slot in sub packages, and he’s still young after playing out a two-year, $17.5 million deal.
Context is important, though. In Brian Flores’ unique scheme, Murphy often played Cover 2 with safety help or rotated within complex coverages, making him a trickier projection for teams that employ simpler schemes. Only 22 percent of his coverage snaps in 2024 were man-to-man, where he can get a bit grabby (three of his four penalties came in man), and his interceptions were often the product of schemed pressure. He should command a significant raise, but fit will be important. He might be best suited to stay in Minnesota, where the Vikings’ top three CBs are all free agents.
Age: 27 Height: 6-3 Weight: 220
Chinn was one of several veterans who joined the Commanders as a free agent last season and quickly became a success story. He played 94.3 percent of Washington’s defensive snaps and matched career highs in passes defensed (five), interceptions (one) and tackles (117) while recording a career-best seven tackles for loss and two sacks.
After signing for $4.1 million in Washington, he might double that in annual value on a multiyear deal this time around.
Age: 28 Height: 6-4 Weight: 305
The most versatile player in this class, Mekari has played at least 267 snaps at all five offensive line positions since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019, including 159 at right tackle and 781 at left guard in 2024. He’s been a capable pass protector, allowing a pressure rate of 4.7 percent at guard and 6.1 percent at tackle (the league averages in 2024 were 4.9 and 5.9, respectively), and effective in the Ravens’ varied run game.
Though not an outstanding athlete, Mekari is technically sound with good play strength, making guard his ideal spot, but his versatility should boost his value. The Ravens also have left tackle Ronnie Stanley hitting free agency and drafted right tackle Roger Rosengarten in Round 2 last year, so they might struggle to keep Mekari, who played out a three-year, $15.5 million contract.
Age: 30 Height: 6-0 Weight: 305
Undersized (6-0, 305) with short arms (32 ½ inches), Jones remains a quality nose tackle entering his ninth season, having played out a three-year, $30 million deal with the Broncos. An animal in the run game, Jones has the low center of gravity to anchor against double teams and the quickness to penetrate or flow with perimeter runs. He won’t rack up sacks or QB hits, but he can be disruptive as a pass rusher, too, posting a 7.5 percent pressure rate (7.6 was average for DTs in 2024) over three years in Denver.
Jones’ snap share dipped to 40 percent in 2024 after being above 50 from 2021 to ‘23, and at age 30, he’s likely past his peak, but teams needing help in run defense shouldn’t hesitate to call.
Age: 29 Height: 5-11 Weight: 310
A rarity as a sub-6-foot defensive lineman, Ford is coming off his best season after several strong years with the Seahawks. Built like a fire hydrant, he is a force against double teams in the run game, helping the Chargers finish seventh in defensive EPA per rush despite lining up in two-high shells at the NFL’s second-highest rate (45.9 percent). He’s not known for his pass rush, but he did have some impressive quick pressures against quality guards in 2024 (including a cheeky spin move) and five batted passes.
This defensive tackle class is deep, but Ford is one of the top under-30 options, and he should see a significant raise on the one-year, $2.25 million deal he played on last season.
Age: 27 Height: 6-7 Weight: 345
Jackson allowed only 22 pressures in 14 games this season, which ranked in the upper quarter of the NFL in 2024. (He was suspended in Weeks 1 and 2, and the Rams rested starters in Week 18.) He allowed just three sacks, and his 4.7 percent pressure rate on pass-blocking snaps ranked among the top 15 tackles who played at least 500 snaps.
The former undrafted free agent out of Iowa doesn’t turn 27 until July and has 35 career starts (most at left tackle), which will certainly turn some teams’ heads in his direction.
Age: 27 Height: 6-6 Weight: 320
Jenkins started a career-high 14 games in his fourth season, finally fighting off the injury bug, and now it’s time to get paid. The run mauler has improved in pass protection since moving inside to left guard from right and left tackle. Though Caleb Williams was sacked an NFL-high 68 times in 2024, only four were attributed to Jenkins, whose pressure rate allowed (3.7 percent) is among the best in this class.
Age: 31 Height: 6-2 Weight: 209
Douglas has played on seven teams in his eight seasons, and they all knew what they were getting: a gritty player with a nose for the ball who gets beaten for big plays every now and then. That was more often with the Bills in 2024 than it was for the Packers and Bills in 2023. He had at least four interceptions per season from 2021 to 2023, so another team will surely buckle up.
Tier 4
Quality players with significant age or injury concerns; starting-caliber players with limitations or concerns; less-proven starters, especially at premium positions or with paths to high upside.
Age: 25 Height: 6-2 Weight: 216
Sherwood is one of the best stories in this class. A fifth-round pick in 2021 as a college safety, he entered 2024 with only 358 career snaps on defense (plus 801 on special teams). C.J. Mosley’s injuries created an opportunity, and Sherwood finished tied for third in the NFL in tackles (158, including 10 for loss). Those numbers weren’t empty calories, either.
His strengths as a former safety — speed and coverage awareness — are obvious, but Sherwood also shows impressive play strength and technique against the run, hardly looking undersized. His gigantic arms (34 inches) help him work through traffic in the box, snare ball carriers from two gaps away and close windows in coverage.
Sherwood’s instincts and block-shedding still need development, but given his youth and inexperience at LB, his ceiling could be high. He might wind up a hidden gem in this class … or surprise fans with how much he gets paid.
Age: 26 Height: 6-1 Weight: 192
Adebo might be in the top 10 or 20 if not for a freak injury — a fractured femur, requiring surgery — in October. Tall, fluid and productive corners with great ball skills rarely hit the market. He ranked 20th in our early look at the 2025 free-agent class last spring after totaling four interceptions and 18 pass breakups in 2023, and he added three picks and 10 breakups in seven games before his injury.
There’s little precedent for NFL players recovering from a broken femur, complicating Adebo’s market. However, Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson returned in 2010 after a nine-month recovery, playing in all 16 games and earning Pro Bowl honors. The Saints will know the most about how his recovery is going, but there will surely be other suitors.
Age: 33 Height: 6-2 Weight: 211
After a slow start with his new team (17 catches for 161 yards in five games), Allen came out of hibernation and had some high-volume games for the struggling Bears. Never a burner, he looked considerably slower last season and also had some new issues with his hands — though he was officially tagged with only six drops.
Maybe it was the cold weather, as Allen said he would like to return to the Los Angeles area if he doesn’t stay with the Bears — which is unlikely given he doesn’t quite fit Ben Johnson’s spread offense. Maybe he’ll take over for Cooper Kupp and find the soft spot in defenses as the Rams’ No. 2.
Age: 26 Height: 5-10 Weight: 215
Dobbins was one of the trickiest players to place on this list. Through five seasons, he’s played only 37 of a possible 84 games, missing time because of a host of injuries. But he’s still young, and when he’s on the field, he’s a terrific runner, averaging 5.2 yards per carry in his career.
Coming off a torn Achilles and running behind a below-average run-blocking line, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry in 2024, posting a career best in rushing despite missing four games with a knee injury. Will he be better in 2025? Will he get better blocking? Can he stay healthy? One way or another, he should get more than the $1.6 million he earned in 2024.
Age: 29 Height: 6-1 Weight: 229
Even Raiders fans yawned when the team signed Spillane from the Steelers two years ago. But Spillane worked hard on his coverage skills and his reading of offenses, becoming much more than a downhill run-stopper.
He also became a team leader and started 34 of a possible 34 games. In 2024, he finished with 158 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. It’s hard to see defensive coordinator Patrick Graham letting him walk away, but maybe the Raiders let the market dictate his price.
Age: 33 Height: 6-1 Weight: 212
Hopkins’ All-Pro days are behind him, but is he near the end? His production faded badly down the stretch after a strong start in Kansas City, but the Chiefs’ offense was inconsistent and overly reliant on short passes — 30 of Hopkins’ 44 receptions (including playoffs) came on throws of 10 air yards or less.
Never a burner, Hopkins still flashes the suddenness to separate in tight spaces, and his hands haven’t slipped despite his high-profile Super Bowl drop. Wherever he lands, perhaps he could benefit from more reps in the slot.
Age: 27 Height: 6-3 Weight: 290
A second-round pick in 2021, Onwuzurike didn’t start a game until 2024, filling a rotational role in 2021 and 2023 and missing all of 2022 after spinal fusion surgery. He managed only 1.5 sacks in 16 games (10 starts) this season but added 13 QB hits and a pressure rate of 11.7 percent, well above average for DTs (7.6).
Onwuzurike is best as a power rusher, weaponizing his bull rush and heavy hands after bulking up entering 2024. He’s a bit stiff laterally and must improve as a finisher, but he can eat up ground with explosive second and third steps. He needs more polish as a run defender, where he’s more effective on the edge than inside, but the flashes are encouraging. His best should be ahead of him, and he could have plenty of suitors.
Age: 31 Height: 6-1 Weight: 210
What happened to Cooper? The Bills spent a third-round pick to add Cooper for the stretch run but wound up taking him off the field for Mack Hollins in the playoffs. And before that in Cleveland, Cooper was apparently just standing in Jerry Jeudy’s way to big things.
Even if he has lost a step, Cooper is still just a year removed from his seventh 1,000-yard season. His route running and usually reliable hands (not last season) could help a team as a No. 2 receiver — especially if that team can convince itself that his problems stemmed from a wrist injury and slow acclimation to the Bills’ playbook.
Age: 36 Height: 5-11 Weight: 206
Wilson wishes he were entering free agency back when the Steelers were 10-3. But they never won another game, and some of the warts in the 36-year-old’s game re-emerged. The deep lob is pretty when it hits, but not so much when it doesn’t, and Wilson can’t make the throws on the run like he used to.
Teams can probably do worse than sticking Wilson into a play-action offense — especially because he seemed to do well as a leader early on last season — but they can do better, too.
Age: 28 Height: 6-5 Weight: 230
Yes, Jones’ final two seasons with the Giants were a disaster: 16 games, 2,979 passing yards, 10 passing TDs, 13 interceptions, 59 sacks, -0.13 EPA/dropback, one torn ACL and a midseason release from a bloated contract.
But free agency is about buying low, especially at premium positions, and Jones could provide some value. He has good mobility, 69 career starts and stretches of above-average play despite having one of the league’s weakest supporting casts since he was drafted. No, you probably don’t want him as your starter, but you could do much worse.
Age: 27 Height: 6-1 Weight: 242
Yeah, maybe the ceiling is not super high, but the floor is pretty nice. Harris has four straight years of 17 starts and 1,000 rushing yards to open his career. He averages only 3.9 yards a carry and has never had a run longer than 37 yards … and is good for only a couple of 6-yard catches per game. But did we mention he never misses a game?
Harris seems like a perfect fit for a cold-weather team, much like his last one, but it will be interesting to see the demand on the market given the draft has what everyone says is a very strong RB class.
Age: 27 Height: 6-5 Weight: 315
Bredeson came over from the Giants and started every game at left guard for one of the best offenses in the NFL. The burly Michigan product can hold his own in a phone booth, and his toughness and strong push help overcome his physical limitations.
Age: 25 Height: 5-10 Weight: 180
A second-round pick in 2021, Samuel was productive in coverage through three seasons (six interceptions, 35 pass breakups), but a shoulder injury limited him to just four games in 2024. Samuel said after the season he was battling “stinger symptoms,” adding it’s an issue he was “born with.”
Undersized and not known for his tackling, Samuel has been otherwise mostly healthy in his career, but any uncertainty about the health of his shoulder moving forward could complicate his market.
Age: 28 Height: 6-1 Weight: 204
The Ravens benched Williams in November, three years into a five-year, $70 million deal, following a rash of missed tackles and blown assignments that led to big plays, punctuated by two long Ja’Marr Chase TDs in Week 10. They must wait until March 12 to release him so they can use a post-June 1 designation.
Baltimore’s defense was tied for 30th in EPA/dropback (-0.19) before Williams’ benching, then led the league by a mile (0.15; next was Tampa Bay at 0.02) the rest of the season. That’s pretty damning, though Williams doesn’t turn 29 until September, and he was one of the league’s better free safeties for years. He could bounce back, although he’ll likely have to settle for a one-year deal.
Age: 32 Height: 6-3 Weight: 306
Reed might be a journeyman — four stints with three teams in nine seasons — but he can still play. He’s still a dangerous power rusher, totaling 11.5 sacks and 27 QB hits since returning to Seattle in 2023, and his 12.9 percent pressure rate in 2024 is among the best in this class.
Reed doesn’t have the range he used to in the run game, but he’s difficult to move and sheds blocks quickly. His snap rate dipped to 60 percent in 2024, his lowest mark since 2017, but he can still contribute on all three downs for plenty of teams.
Age: 28 Height: 6-1 Weight: 198
Slayton has quietly been one of the league’s better big-play threats for six seasons, averaging 15.0 yards per catch despite playing with Daniel Jones and a handful of replacement-level QBs. He found a soft market in 2023, re-signing for two years and $12 million, and he’ll hit free agency again after totaling just seven catches in seven games with Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock.
In the right environment, Slayton could bring significant upside, ideally with a No. 1 target to draw attention and a QB willing to attack downfield. Darnell Mooney and Gabe Davis each got $13 million annually last spring, which feels a tad high for Slayton but not implausible.
Age: 33 Height: 6-5 Weight: 315
The No. 5 pick in 2015, Scherff had some injury-plagued seasons before leaving Washington But he has found the fountain of youth in Florida, starting every game at right guard in three seasons with the Jaguars. He’s a solid pass blocker — his 2.9 percent pressure rate is the best in this class — who won’t cost teams a fortune.
Age: 25 Height: 6-6 Weight: 286
Odeyingbo is going to get paid. He looks great on paper: massive frame (including 35-inch arms), 34 QB hits the past two seasons, doesn’t turn 26 until September. He flashes on film, too, especially as a pass rusher, employing a variety of moves and giving guards and centers trouble when rushing inside.
The question is whether Odeyingbo will get overpaid, as his play doesn’t yet match his traits. He’s a bit of a tweener — despite his size, he lacks the play strength to bump inside full-time, but he’s sluggish on the edge, especially against the run, where he needs to improve his technique and awareness.
Even so, Odeyingbo’s ceiling is high. He’s already a disruptive pass rusher despite lacking a good bull rush, and he’s started only 19 games. His best is probably still ahead of him.
Age: 28 Height: 6-2 Weight: 304
The Titans waived Tart in December 2023, reportedly because of effort and attitude concerns, and he’s been on three teams since. He didn’t start a game for the Chargers in 2024, and he’s never played more than 47 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in a season. So why is he this high? Well, when he’s on the field, he’s a handful, especially against the run.
Along with Poona Ford, Tart helped the Chargers stuff the run despite playing predominantly with two deep safeties. Opponents averaged 5.0 yards per carry and a 39.7 percent rushing success rate with Tart off the field, compared to 4.2 and 36.4 with him on it. He can also be disruptive as a pass rusher, even if he rarely finishes with sacks or QB hits.
There’s a reason Tart is available, and that could limit his market, but he could still provide significant value.
Age: 29 Height: 6-6 Weight: 245
Gesicki has never blocked well, and the Bengals didn’t ask him to. Only 73 of his 502 snaps in 2024 were designed runs, and he aligned wide or in the slot on 46 of those. As such, we’re treating him as a wide receiver, as most defenses do.
At 6-6 with 34-inch arms, Gesicki isn’t especially sudden, but he is a surprisingly fluid athlete, and his catch radius is gigantic. He’s excellent — though not quite dominant — at the catch point, beating some DBs even when they’re in his hip pocket. He won’t threaten much after the catch without space to open up his long stride, but he’s a big-play threat on vertical patterns.
The Bengals have greater priorities, but Gesicki might be as valuable to them as any other team, given their high-volume passing game that isn’t married closely to the run game.
Age: 27 Height: 6-4 Weight: 327
There’s a lot to like about Daniels. He’s a seven-year veteran but doesn’t turn 28 until mid-September. He’s played extensively at all three interior spots, most recently at right guard, settling in as an above-average starter over three seasons with the Steelers.
However, he tore his Achilles tendon in September, the primary reason he is not higher on this list. It wouldn’t be surprising if he commanded a raise on the three-year, $26.5 million deal he just finished, but he might have to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal.
Age: 26 Height: 6-5 Weight: 315
I can already hear Steelers fans groaning. Moore has allowed the most sacks (34) and pressures (181) since entering the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2021, and his pressure rate allowed (7.6) ranks 242nd out of 275 players with at least 500 pass blocking snaps during that span.
Even so, 26-year-olds with 66 career starts at left tackle rarely hit the open market. Moore maintained his starting job despite the Steelers drafting offensive tackles in Round 1 in back-to-back years, and he had his best season in 2024. He’s certainly no star, but positional value matters, and he’ll get paid because of it.
Age: 27 Height: 6-1 Weight: 280
An undrafted free agent out of Missouri S&T in 2020, the undersized Wharton settled for a one-year, $2.7 million deal to re-sign with the Chiefs last spring. He should do much better this year after posting career highs of 8.5 sacks, 14 QB hits and 42 pressures (including playoffs).
Wharton was lucky and unlucky as a pass rusher — most of his sacks were clean-up plays, while most of his cleanest wins didn’t end in sacks. He has quick feet and crafty hands but also enough power to threaten with a bull rush. At 280 pounds, he can be blown off the ball by double teams against the run, but he’s feisty and technique-sound, often shedding single blocks with ease. He finished strong with an excellent Super Bowl, helping stuff Saquon Barkley.
Tier 5
Old guys who can still play but could retire at any time.
Age: 35 Height: 6-4 Weight: 339
Zeitler turns 35 two days before the negotiating window opens, but he hasn’t slowed down yet. He’s played at least 700 snaps in all 13 NFL seasons and at least 950 in 10 straight, all at right guard. He earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023 with Baltimore, then shined next to Penei Sewell in Detroit.
Zeitler did allow five sacks in 2024, his most in a season in PFF’s database (since 2019), but his pressure rate allowed (3.2 percent) bested his career average (3.3) and is second-best among guards in this class. He remains one of the league’s steadiest run blockers. As long as Zeitler wants to keep playing, some team should have a starting job for him.
Age: 34 Height: 6-6 Weight: 320
Following seven seasons in Washington, Moses bounced to the Jets to the Ravens and back, but his play has remained rock solid. His durability has slipped a tad (six games missed since 2023, ending a string of 133 consecutive appearances), but he allowed just 24 pressures each in 2022 and 2023 and only 16 in 2024, posting the best pressure rate allowed of any tackle in this class.
Moses offers stability at a headache position for many teams, and he shouldn’t cost much after playing out a three-year, $15 million deal.
Age: 34 Height: 6-5 Weight: 250
Ertz developed real chemistry with rookie QB Jaylen Daniels and finished with seven TD receptions, his most since 2018. Surely, money won’t get in the way of that for the veteran. Though he has lost some of his explosiveness coming out of cuts, the sure-handed Ertz finished with a career-high 63.7 percent success rate when targeted in 2024.
Age: 39 Height: 6-8 Weight: 307
A perennial glue guy for all five of his teams over an illustrious 17-year career, Campbell’s formula of late has gone something like this: Sign a one-year deal with a team that needs a complementary pass rusher, contribute at least five sacks, bat a few passes and remind folks he can still be disruptive as he approaches 40.
Campbell recorded 6.5 sacks and 17 QB hits with Atlanta in 2023 and five sacks, 12 QB hits and five batted passes with Miami in 2024, while playing in all 34 games.
Age: 35 Height: 6-1 Weight: 233
David finished third among all off-ball linebackers with 29 pressures in 2024, posting the second-most sacks of his 13-year career (5.5), which is no small feat. Too quietly, he has been one of the best inside linebackers of his time and still can hit the gas when needed. He also started all 17 games last season, breaking up six passes and forcing three fumbles.
Age: 35 Height: 6-0 Weight: 242
Wagner might not be asked to cover as frequently as he once was — and that’s just fine, as he was still a second-team All-Pro in his 13th NFL season. A physical, sure tackler and blitzer and a consistent team captain, Wagner is especially valuable when paired with a hybrid young player, as he was in 2024 with Frankie Luvu.
PFF ranked Wagner as its No. 3 inside linebacker after he totaled 132 tackles (10 for loss), two sacks, four pass breakups and eight quarterback hits. Overall, Wagner had one of his best pure pass rushing seasons, finishing fifth among inside linebackers with 26 pressures.
Age: 34 Height: 6-5 Weight: 320
Smith might not play a full season (he’s played just 40 games in the last five seasons), and that will make many rightfully cautious to sign him — but when he’s healthy, he still has his moments.
He allowed 22 pressures in 10 games in 2024, tied for 10th-fewest among all tackles who played at least 350 snaps. While the sample size was relatively small because of his truncated season, he also posted a league-best 86 percent run-block win rate.
Age: 33 Height: 6-0 Weight: 232
Kendricks just keeps on tackling people as he approaches 33. That’s nine consecutive seasons with 100 tackles (he had 92 in his rookie year), and he is looking for a new home as old buddy Mike Zimmer is out as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. Kendricks is not for every team, but he did have a career-high three forced fumbles to go with three sacks. He’s far from done.
Age: 29 Height: 5-11 Weight: 227
Chubb turned 29 in December but gets stuck with these geezers in Tier 5 because he has the knees of a 58-year-old man. As a sophomore at Georgia, he dislocated his left knee and tore his MCL, LCL and PCL. In September 2023, he injured the same knee, requiring two surgeries to repair his medial capsule, meniscus, MCL and ACL.
After returning in October, Chubb was nearly outrushed by Jerome Ford over the rest of the season despite getting nearly twice as many carries (102 to 54). But hey, they are doing wild things with medicine and therapy these days, and you can’t question Chubb’s heart and skill level. Light a candle.
Tier 6
Inconsistent or journeyman veterans who still have appeal; youngsters with potential or traits worth developing who have yet to hit their stride; upper-end role players.
Age: 31 Height: 6-2 Weight: 202
A surprise release by the Broncos following his fourth second-team All-Pro selection last March, Simmons remained on the market until mid-August. He settled for a one-year, $7.5 million deal with Atlanta, then had perhaps his worst season.
Simmons was involved in miscommunications on several big plays early in the season. He also missed nearly a fifth of his tackle attempts (19.8 percent, second-worst among safeties with 500-plus snaps) and finished with two interceptions, his fewest since 2017. Perhaps he’ll rebound with another team, but his market might be soft again.
Age: 25 Height: 5-10 Weight: 180
Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, Mike White, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, P.J. Walker, Josh Johnson, Bailey Zappe, Chris Streveler. Those are Moore’s quarterbacks through four seasons (listed from most targets to least).
Moore probably won’t become the fantasy darling many predicted after a promising rookie season in 2021 (592 scrimmage yards and six TDs in only 11 games), but he’s still quick and explosive with some craftiness as a route runner and dynamic ability after the catch. Those are traits worth betting on in the right environment, even if he tops out as a slot target and gadget guy.
Age: 28 Height: 5-9 Weight: 180
Patrick Mahomes was so excited about bringing in Hollywood Brown, remember? But there was nothing flashy about the receiver, who came back from a shoulder injury in December and gave the Chiefs little (14 catches) in five games (including playoffs).
Mahomes did praise Brown’s route running, and the Chiefs wouldn’t mind getting him back on a one-year prove-it deal, so that should tell teams something — though Brown’s only 1,000-yard season is now four years back and fading in the rearview mirror.
Age: 25 Height: 5-9 Weight: 165
Atwell never found a full-time role in the Rams’ offense, in part because it perennially flowed first through Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, then through Kupp and Puka Nacua, and run-blocking has been a key trait for receivers in this system.
But Atwell’s speed and ease at the catch point is legitimate despite his diminutive 5-9, 165-pound frame. While he saw only 62 targets on just 256 routes run in 2024, Atwell had 0.27 EPA per target (No. 59 among receivers with at least 250 snaps), 9.1 yards per target and 13.4 yards per catch (No. 41).
Age: 25 Height: 5-10 Weight: 220
Once a promising three-down back, Williams tore the ACL and LCL in his right knee in 2022 and hasn’t been quite the same since. His success rate and yards per carry climbed in 2024, but both remained below average. He failed to maximize opportunities behind a much-improved offensive line, averaging just 2.38 yards after contact, last among RBs with at least 75 carries.
That said, Williams doesn’t turn 25 until April and has been otherwise healthy in his career. He was Sean Payton’s preferred third-down back, as an excellent pass protector and capable receiver. His market might be limited, but he should find options in a thin running back class.
Age: 27 Height: 5-11 Weight: 197
Fulton has always had talent, which is why he was a second-round pick. But he hit the market last spring coming off his worst season, signing with the Chargers for $3.1 million. Now he might be coming off his best season, showing off his physicality in both coverage and run defense.
Cornerback play is notoriously inconsistent year to year, and environment is an important factor — the Chargers got great play from two fifth-round rookie CBs, too. It might be wise to look for the next Fulton rather than paying him eight figures with multiple years of guarantees, but he’s certainly earned a raise.
Age: 28 Height: 6-5 Weight: 325
Despite encouraging stretches, Banks struggled in his third year as the 49ers’ starting left guard, and the team appears set to let the 2021 second-round pick walk. Teams willing to take a shot on Banks will like his skills as a run blocker and hope he takes to some coaching in pass protection.
Age: 29 Height: 6-6 Weight: 335
Robinson has 101 career starts at left tackle, the last 10 with Minnesota after the Vikings acquired him from the Jaguars for a swap of 2026 Day 3 picks at the trade deadline to replace the injured Christian Darrisaw. But he finished the season with a brutal stretch, allowing 21 pressures over the final two games (including playoffs).
Robinson finished with a pressure rate allowed of 8.7 percent, ranking 180th out of 189 offensive linemen with at least 200 pass-blocking snaps, while allowing eight sacks and committing 13 penalties (both tied for eighth-most). He’s not exactly known for his run blocking, either. There’s always a market for experienced left tackles, but given Robinson’s recent struggles and injury history, he might have to be patient.
Age: 27 Height: 6-5 Weight: 310
Is Myers the best center in the NFL? Certainly not. And it doesn’t help that the best one — Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey — was taken one pick after him in the 2021 second round.
Myers is a solid center who means a ton to the Packers’ locker room. Much like former Packers offensive lineman Jon Runyan Jr., free agency might price him out of Green Bay. Suitors will be hoping Myers’ pass protection woes in 2024 were an outlier. He allowed a 6.1 percent pressure rate in 2024, worst among NFL centers, after entering the season with a career average of 3.5.
Age: 27 Height: 6-0 Weight: 215
Nobody thinks this guy is legit, huh? It took a little while, but Dowdle emerged as the Cowboys’ bell cow down the stretch, averaging 20 carries and 97 yards rushing over the last seven games.
He runs with some violence, and his 53.6 percent rushing success rate was the sixth-best in the NFL in 2024. He doesn’t turn 27 until June and has very little wear and tear (331 career carries). And yet here we are down in Tier 6.
Age: 32 Height: 6-4 Weight: 307
Kelly appeared in just 10 games in 2024, his fewest since 2017, battling a neck injury and a knee injury that required surgery. The team captain acknowledged that his knee “may never be the exact same,” but he’s made it clear that he still wants to play.
When he did play, Kelly was solid, surrendering only one sack and 11 pressures. He’s not at the Pro Bowl level he once was, but he is a proven veteran and leader who would be a quality starter for a team looking to stabilize its offensive line.
Meanwhile, the Colts drafted Tanor Bortolini in the fourth round last year, and he fared well in Kelly’s absence, which might give Indianapolis enough reason to move on from its longest-tenured player.
Age: 25 Height: 6-4 Weight: 250
Tremble posted career highs of 23 catches and 234 yards in 2024, but there could be serious untapped potential here. Tight ends take time to develop — Tremble played just two college seasons and doesn’t turn 25 until June.
He has great hands (zero drops and nine contested catches in 11 opportunities since 2023) and is an excellent athlete who is dangerous after the catch. He remains raw as a route runner, but he could be a big-play threat with a play caller who can scheme him open.
Even if Tremble never becomes a receiving weapon, he’s already a terrific blocker, with great technique and effort and surprising strength for his lanky build. The Panthers trusted him with tough assignments, and he delivered, including winning several one-on-ones with Maxx Crosby in 2024. Teams with run-heavy, play-action-oriented schemes should have interest.
Age: 25 Height: 6-4 Weight: 263
Perhaps best known for his penalty in the AFC Championship Game loss to the Chiefs more than two years ago, Ossai missed his rookie season (meniscus) and has just three career starts. However, he’s been productive in a rotational role and has traits worth betting on.
Always an excellent athlete, he flashes brilliance as a pass rusher, showing an explosive first step and the flexibility to bend the edge but also improved hand moves and some ability to convert speed to power. He bumped inside and beat up on guards, too, including a clean swipe-rip past two-time Pro Bowler Tyler Smith.
Ossai needs to be more proactive in run defense, where his eyes are slow and technique is inconsistent, but he still has significant upside.
Age: 25 Height: 6-0 Weight: 210
A third-round pick and three-year starter, Cisco brings a good combination of size, athleticism and ball skills (eight INTs, 24 PDs since 2022), but he needs to become more consistent. He appeared to be involved in several busts as the Jaguars’ defense fell apart in 2024; he lost snaps in November and was pulled from the starting lineup for two games in December.
Primarily a free safety, Cisco has the range to play deep but has shown enough in run support to merit a varied role. It would not be surprising to see him excel in the right environment.
Age: 30 Height: 6-3 Weight: 248
Conklin’s stats don’t jump off the page, but he was often underutilized and had to overcome poor quarterback play. He’s a solid, starting-caliber NFL tight end and a great leader. Since signing with the Jets in 2022, Conklin is tied for eighth among all tight ends in receptions (170) and 14th in yards (1,622 yards).
Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 240
Browning’s traits and flashes are eye-popping, but his game is far from complete. An off-ball linebacker as a rookie, he moved to the edge in 2022 and immediately showed juice as a pass rusher: His pressure rate (14 percent) ranks 25th among 204 players with at least 500 pass-rush snaps since 2022.
However, Browning has struggled against the run and to stay healthy. He lost his starting job in Denver in 2024 and was traded to Arizona for a sixth-round pick. He must improve his play strength to be more than a situational speed rusher, but his upside should draw multiple suitors.
Age: 25 Height: 6-4 Weight: 328
A fourth-round pick in 2021, Brown was one of the few remaining members of the Rams’ defensive line that exited the Aaron Donald era and into the new younger core. He struggled at times in previous seasons to find a role, in part because of depth, injury and a 2022 suspension.
But Brown showed flashes of brilliance in a rotational role in 2024, despite limited statistics. He lent size to a relatively smaller-framed group, and his snaps at nose tackle allowed captain Kobie Turner and rookie Braden Fiske more freedom to move around the line. Turning 25 in August with no real wear and tear on his body, Brown should have his best years ahead of him in the right situation.
Age: 30 Height: 6-3 Weight: 332
Hernandez missed 12 games after tearing his ACL (after not allowing a sack in the first five), but he’s a pretty solid guard with 91 starts under his belt and experience on both sides of the line. He found his stride in three years with the Cardinals after an inconsistent four seasons with the Giants, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he followed Klayton Adams — former Cardinals OL coach, now the Cowboys’ OC — to Dallas to replace the retired Zack Martin.
Age: 30 Height: 6-3 Weight: 311
Hill ranked second on the Bengals in pressures, but his overall efficiency rushing the passer was below league average. The pass-rush production was stable over his career in Cincinnati, though, and his run defense remained above average.
The Bengals will likely prefer to go young at the position, but Hill is still a solid rotational three-technique who should attract attention in free agency.
Age: 25 Height: 6-0 Weight: 195
Brown presents an extreme traits-versus-production dilemma. He has just 59 catches for 784 yards and four touchdowns in 63 career regular-season games. But in five games to finish the 2024 season (including three playoff games) he had 21 grabs, 301 yards and a touchdown, with several big plays.
Brown still needs development as a route runner, but his combination of size and vertical explosiveness is rare, and he’s excellent after the catch, doing damage on screens in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. When new regimes inherit draft disappointments, they usually cut bait, but Brown fits Jayden Daniels’ game so well that Washington might be wise to keep him.
Age: 25 Height: 6-3 Weight: 240
Behind Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, Ojulari’s snaps were limited in 2024, but he made the most of three starts in Thibodeaux’s absence, totaling five sacks. The Giants declined to deal Ojulari for a late-round pick at the trade deadline, and he missed the final six games with a toe injury.
Ojulari’s market will be fascinating. He has averaged 0.48 sacks per game during his career. Burns, who signed a five-year, $141 million contract with the Giants last spring, has averaged 0.56 sacks per game. Ojulari’s injury history is a significant factor that could limit him to a one-year deal.
Age: 31 Height: 5-9 Weight: 184
Hilton has long been viewed as one of the top slot corners in the NFL. His coverage skills have dipped in recent years, but his savvy, timing and tenacity have gone nowhere.
Hilton might still be the best blitzing slot in the league, and he made more plays than anyone on the defense over the final five-game win streak to close the season. Pro Football Focus graded him first (91.7) against the run, recording 38 stops (solo tackle for an offensive failure), good for second among CBs. He also had the lowest missed tackle rate (7.5 percent) among those with at least 20 total stops.
That type of production will always have a place in this league, even if there is a concern over coverage consistency.
Age: 28 Height: 6-2 Weight: 211
After finding a soft market last spring, Westbrook-Ikhine re-signed with the Titans for one year and $2 million. He should certainly draw a raise, but his evaluation is complicated. He had nine TDs on only 32 catches in 2024, and 98 of his 497 receiving yards came on one play (after a safety took a poor angle), oddities that are unlikely to recur.
Westbrook-Ikhine has a big frame and long strides to eat up ground, and he’s clearly a red zone weapon (10 TDs on 91 catches from 2021 to ‘23). He’s not as dominant at the catch point as his size would suggest, and he struggles to separate from man coverage without a free release, but his tools are intriguing if he keeps developing.
Age: 29 Height: 6-2 Weight: 234
A college safety, White could be searching for his fourth NFL team this spring, but he should find a home quickly as a well-rounded linebacker. He lacks great size, length or play strength, but he’s a quick gap-shooter who has improved his instincts and is willing to be physical.
His speed is an asset in pursuit and in coverage. Although he could improve his awareness in zone coverage, he excels at passing off routes in front of him, and he’s comfortable finding and playing the ball in the air. For teams that miss out on the upper-tier options, White could be a great consolation prize.
Age: 30 Height: 5-10 Weight: 195
After a career-threatening foot injury in 2022, Lewis has played in 16 games in consecutive seasons, and he’s been effective. In 2024, he was one of the NFL’s better slot cornerbacks.
Lewis is a heartbeat-type player in the locker room, setting a tone of intensity, tenacity and accountability. With Trevon Diggs’ injury recovery potentially leaking into the season (and secondary coach Al Harris gone), the Cowboys could really use Lewis’ value on and off the field
Tier 7
Veterans who could start if needed, but teams would prefer to upgrade on; role players with a standout trait; talent worth taking a flier on.
Age: 28 Height: 6-2 Weight: 232
A seven-year veteran, Baker was released by Miami last offseason, signed by Seattle and then traded to Tennessee midseason in a swap for Ernest Jones. While not outstanding in any area, he is capable against the run and pass, with good speed, decent physicality for being undersized, solid instincts and adequate awareness in coverage. His best days might be behind him, but he can still start for a needy team.
Age: 26 Height: 6-4 Weight: 307
Wills is a starting left tackle who doesn’t turn 26 until May, but he hasn’t been fully healthy since the middle of 2023. Given that he barely played last year and decided he wasn’t healthy enough to play in November when the Browns apparently thought otherwise, it feels like the relationship is over.
Even when healthy, Wills’ play has been volatile, with more downs than ups in recent years. He might wind up with a one-year, prove-it deal.
Age: 27 Height: 6-4 Weight: 267
Hoecht’s transformation from undrafted free agent to depth defensive tackle to multitool outside linebacker/pass rusher over the past four seasons has been impressive to witness. He played a situational role in the Rams’ “Cheetah” package in 2024, recording three sacks, 56 tackles, two pass breakups and six quarterback hits.
While Hoecht likely won’t be a fit for every team, in Vic Fangio-style or similar defensive systems, he will find work, always be a core special teams player. He also stays healthy, not missing a snap because of injury since becoming a regular starter/rotational player in 2023.
Age: 36 Height: 6-3 Weight: 308
Beachum might have an argument to be in Tier 5. He took a backup role in 2023 for the first time in his career, but Jonah Williams’ injury thrust Beachum back into the lineup in 2024, and he allowed one of the lowest pressure rates (4.1 percent) in this class. His career average is higher (5.3), but teams could do much worse than relying on Beachum as a bridge starter.
Age: 31 Height: 6-5 Weight: 300
Butler finished with five sacks and a career-high 10 quarterback hits for the Raiders and is looking for a little respect after he settled for a one-year, $1.8 million deal a year ago. His pressure rate was not quite as impressive, but he logged a career-high 16 starts and 858 snaps.
Age: 30 Height: 6-2 Weight: 195
Witherspoon rejoined the Rams in the late summer after injuries decimated the position and then eventually worked back into a starting role when Tre’Davious White was traded to Baltimore. Especially across the second half of the season, Witherspoon thrived alongside fellow veteran Darious Williams, with seven pass breakups and an interception plus a forced fumble and a sack in the Rams’ final six games (including playoffs). Witherspoon will turn 30 this spring but has not seemed to feel his age just yet.
Age: 27 Height: 6-4 Weight: 311
There are two benefits to being Trent Williams’ backup at left tackle. 1) You get to learn from one of the best blockers in the league. 2) You get a lot of opportunities. Williams’ graybeard status means he doesn’t always practice on Wednesdays, which allows Moore to fill in with the starters. Williams has also missed nine starts over the past two seasons.
As a result, there’s plenty of game film on Moore whose forte is pass blocking. He’s played 279 pass-blocking snaps over the past two seasons and has surrendered two sacks. That, plus the fact that the draft isn’t teeming with offensive tackles, ought to earn him some attention in free agency.
Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 210
Melifonwu has never played more than 400 defensive snaps in a season, but his highs have been excellent, and his tools (6-3, 210 pounds with 4.48 speed and a 41.5-inch vertical) should draw some interest on the market.
A converted cornerback, Melifonwu thrived as an injury fill-in late in 2023, racking up five interceptions, eight pass breakups, 44 tackles and five sacks over the final seven games (including playoffs). He missed 14 games in 2024 because of an ankle injury, which could affect his market, but he should have suitors, perhaps including Aaron Glenn’s Jets.
Age: 29 Height: 6-4 Weight: 306
After winning a Super Bowl with the Rams, Corbett arrived in Charlotte on a three-year deal in 2022 and was an OL mainstay as the Panthers made a push for a playoff spot under interim coach Steve Wilks. But he tore his ACL in the final game that season — the first of three significant injuries that sidelined him for 25 of the team’s 34 games over the past two seasons.
Corbett doesn’t appear to be in the Panthers’ plans moving forward, but he could provide quality play at a low price if he can stay healthy.
Age: 31 Height: 6-3 Weight: 261
Fowler hadn’t started a game in two years before he joined Washington for a reunion with Dan Quinn last season. He showed he still has a lot of juice, using his power and cross-chop to lead the Commanders with 10.5 sacks. He’s never been much of a run defender, but any team could use a pass rush specialist.
Age: 26 Height: 5-9 Weight: 200
Gainwell didn’t get many chances behind Saquon Barkley in 2024 and was surprisingly inefficient in the few he got, but he was a more productive runner through his first three seasons and has always been a quality pass catcher, dating to college. His flashes are impressive, and he might offer more in a larger role.
Age: 27 Height: 5-10 Weight: 210
A six-year veteran of three teams with only seven career starts, Johnson won’t be your RB1, but he’s been an excellent complementary piece during two years in Buffalo. Aided by a strong offensive line, he’s averaged 4.9 yards per carry (league average is 4.4) and posted a success rate of 47.9 percent (38.9 is average).
He excels most as a pass catcher, becoming a big-play threat and matchup weapon (go rewatch the Lions game) at times for the Bills, even though starter James Cook is no slouch as a receiver. Johnson could stand to be more consistent in protection, but he could impress in a larger role.
Age: 29 Height: 5-10 Weight: 180
Acquired via trade from Carolina last spring, Jackson was one of the NFL’s most opportunistic players, intercepting five passes and recovering a fumble. Given his role, he was a solid starter who was most effective in zone coverage with his eyes on the QB. He also displayed toughness, playing through shoulder and back injuries.
That said, his performance overall was more uneven than those interceptions would suggest. The Steelers would like to upgrade in the secondary, but a return is certainly possible.
Age: 30 Height: 6-1 Weight: 203
Robinson caught a career-high seven touchdowns and averaged 16.3 yards per catch on just 31 receptions this season while playing on a one-year deal, his second season with the Rams. He is a durable player who best fits in a true X role and particularly excels at finding the quarterback when he plays out of structure.
The 2025 season will be Robinson’s 10th in the NFL. He’ll also have to work through continued legal issues after his arrest for driving under the influence this season (the Rams did not suspend him).
Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 220
Let’s do a blind comparison:
- Player A: 3,775 passing yards, 29 TDs, 12 INTs, 93.3 rating, 24 sacks, 0.03 EPA/dropback
- Player B: 3,801 passing yards, 22 TDs, 13 INTs, 92.5 rating, 28 sacks, 0.04 EPA/dropback
Player A was … Bo Nix in 2024, with Sean Payton as his play caller, an elite pass-protecting offensive line and Courtland Sutton as his top receiver. (Nix also rushed for 430 yards and four TDs.) Player B was Jones as a rookie in 2021, with Josh McDaniels calling plays, a decent O-line and Jakobi Meyers as his WR1.
Having Matt Patricia as OC and Joe Judge as QB coach, as Jones did in 2022, might have broken many QBs. He might never be more than a backup at this point, but it’s hard to fault him entirely, and there might still be value here. Joining the 49ers to back up Brock Purdy would make perfect sense.
Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 245
Chaisson certainly looks like a first-round pick (he was, by Jacksonville in 2020), but he’s never really played like it. However, he showed his burst and range with a late-season resurgence with the Raiders, tallying four sacks, five tackles for loss and an acrobatic interception in the final six games.
Age: 30 Height: 6-4 Weight: 310
A steady, rotational defensive lineman, Joseph-Day had a nice season with the Titans in 2024, playing alongside Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat. He’s not a huge pass-rushing threat, but he’s not a zero in that area, and he’s a consistently reliable run defender against single blocks and double teams.
Age: 25 Height: 6-1 Weight: 210
Palmer had a huge opportunity in 2024 but hurt his knee in training camp and never really snatched the chance. After so-so production, his season ended with a foot injury suffered in Week 17.
Palmer is still a well-rounded player. He is a good route runner at all three levels. He has good hands, particularly in contested-catch situations. He is a willing blocker. He does not have any elite traits, but he also does not have any glaring weaknesses in his game and should garner some interest as a third receiver.
Age: 31 Height: 6-1 Weight: 238
A physical, downhill linebacker, Roberts played the lion’s share of his snaps in the Steelers’ three-man ILB rotation on run downs, but rookie Payton Wilson eventually cut into his playing time.
Roberts carries himself with professionalism and provides leadership as a good voice for the defense. It would make sense to bring him back on a team-friendly deal commensurate with his playing time.
Age: 27 Height: 6-3 Weight: 200
St-Juste lost his starting job as Washington’s boundary cornerback in December, but he might be a good buy-low candidate given his traits and stretches of quality play in previous seasons. He can be too grabby (19 penalties since 2023, tied for third-most among DBs), but he’s physical in press coverage and surprisingly quick and fluid despite his lanky build. He should find a starting opportunity somewhere, even if he has to settle for a one-year deal.
Age: 28 Height: 6-4 Weight: 267
In August, the Bears acquired Taylor, the No. 48 pick in the 2020 draft, from the Seahawks for a sixth-round selection in 2025. He’s a talented pass rusher, but two of his three sacks came in the season opener against the Titans and quarterback Will Levis, and he produced only nine QB hits. Teams looking for a situational pass rusher might hope they can get more out of him.
Age: 26 Height: 6-1 Weight: 195
The physical 6-foot corner is better in the slot than on the outside, and he has a couple of great games every season. He also disappears for a few games every year and has missed 17 games because of injury in his four seasons.
Tier 8
Veterans who might be near the end; role players; former draft crushes who haven’t panned out yet.
Age: 26 Height: 6-1 Weight: 240
Uche reportedly turned down a two-year, $15 million deal elsewhere last spring to stay with the Patriots on a one-year, $3 million deal with incentives. In October, New England traded him to Kansas City for a 2026 sixth-round pick, but he played just 86 snaps with the Chiefs and was inactive for all three playoff games.
Uche led all players (minimum 200 snaps) in pressure rate (21.1 percent) in 2022, then ranked 14th at 17.1 percent in 2023, but he dropped off to 11.6 percent this season. Given his youth, he could be a great buy-low candidate as a situational pass rusher, but don’t expect more than that, as he’s never played more than 32.2 percent of the defensive snaps in a season.
Age: 30 Height: 6-4 Weight: 227
Speed became a full-time starter in 2024 and made a handful of splash plays, but he was continuously exposed in coverage, which raises questions about just how impactful he can be if relied on as an every-down linebacker. Opposing QBs completed 79 percent of passes and had a 95.8 passer rating when targeting Speed this season, much worse than in 2023 (64.4 completion percentage and 75.9 passer rating) when he broke into a starting role.
Age: 31 Height: 6-4 Weight: 222
One would think the Commanders would give Mariota some money and have him stick around backing up Jayden Daniels, but Mariota might be looking for a shot to be someone’s bridge quarterback.
The No. 2 pick in 2015 has started 74 games, with 97 touchdowns and 55 interceptions, and while he is accuracy-challenged at times, he can still move very well and would be a good fit for an offense looking for its QB to scramble and throw on the run.
Age: 31 Height: 6-4 Weight: 231
The quarterback market stays the same every year, it seems, and somehow it’s mediocre enough that some team is always considering Winston. The book on him at 31 hasn’t changed much. He has a huge arm and a flair for the dramatic. Last year, in seven starts for the Browns, Winston threw for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and was sacked 24 times.
Age: 32 Height: 6-4 Weight: 235
This season didn’t go as Brissett wanted. He was the starting quarterback out of training camp, but the Patriots switched to rookie Drake Maye more quickly than Brissett expected, pulling the veteran after Week 5.
Even if Brissettl’s numbers leave plenty to be desired, it’s fair to note that his setup was terrible, as the Patriots’ bad offensive line was still trying to figure things out early. Maybe he’ll get another chance to start one day, but he might have to sign a deal as a high-level backup this offseason.
Age: 33 Height: 6-3 Weight: 275
Judon netted the Patriots a third-round pick via trade last August, but the four-time Pro Bowler might be near the end. Coming off a torn biceps suffered in 2023, he had perhaps the worst season of his career with the Falcons. His pressure rate (8.1 percent) was the worst of any edge defender in our top 150, and many of his pressures came on clean-ups or QB scrambles. Perhaps it was just a blip, but Judon turns 33 in August. He might have to be patient.
Age: 31 Height: 6-0 Weight: 232
There’s nobody in the NFL quite like Gardeck. An undrafted free agent and special teams maven, he got an opportunity on defense in 2020 and has impressed as an undersized situational pass rusher since, accumulating a career pressure rate of 16.7 percent. He turns 31 in August and is coming off a torn ACL suffered in October, but he might have some value left.
Age: 26 Height: 6-0 Weight: 240
A short, squatty linebacker with some experience on the edge, Barnes showed flashes with the Lions, especially defending the run. He was off to a strong start in 2024 before tearing his PCL and MCL, missing the rest of the season. He doesn’t turn 26 until May and could have some upside, even if he has to settle for a short-term deal.
Age: 31 Height: 6-4 Weight: 221
One of the biggest questions on this board: Why is a player as popular and handy as Hollins available every year? Hollins, a special teams standout and a big, physical receiver, has been on a new team each of the last four years.
Maybe it’s because coordinators get frustrated when he doesn’t run the route as diagrammed, but that seems like a small price to pay for big catches like the one he made against the Chiefs in the playoffs.
Age: 27 Height: 6-0 Weight: 202
Blackmon played through a torn right labrum suffered in the opener and still tied for the team-high with three interceptions, missing only one game and putting off surgery until after the season. However, the 2020 third-round pick missed several tackles he should make, allowed a 103.2 passer rating and was clearly a shell of the playmaker he’s proven to be when healthy.
But that’s the catch: Blackmon hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He’s suffered significant injuries throughout his career, and after returning to Indianapolis on a one-year deal last offseason, his latest injury muddies his market yet again.
Age: 31 Height: 5-10 Weight: 189
Whether it was age, Dak Prescott’s skill set or Mike McCarthy’s offense, things never came together for Cooks in two seasons in Dallas. He’s a great leader, but he was billed as a No. 2 talent and performed far from it. The Cowboys are thin at receiver but still have Jalen Tolbert under contract and traded a fourth-round pick for Jonathan Mingo. Cooks might be looking for his sixth NFL team.
Age: 27 Height: 6-0 Weight: 200
Bynum might not be the most explosive player, but his smarts and ability to process make him an option for almost any system, having played under three defensive coordinators in four seasons, including Brian Flores’ ever-changing scheme. Few possess a better knowledge of its intricacies. Losing him would create another need for a Minnesota team that already has plenty of them.
Age: 28 Height: 6-2 Weight: 237
Barton has above-average traits, but his instincts remain suspect through six seasons with three teams, limiting his value. He makes plenty of plays against the run thanks to his speed and long arms (32 inches), but he’s inconsistent reading keys and struggles to shed blocks. While he gets lost in coverage too often, he closes some windows with his length, and he’s a reliable open-field tackler. There will be better options available, but Barton can start somewhere if needed.
Age: 25 Height: 5-11 Weight: 197
A first-round pick by Miami in 2020, Igbinoghene started only five games through four seasons before signing with Washington on a $1.3 million deal. He found a home in the slot for Dan Quinn’s man-heavy defense, getting a bit grabby in coverage but mostly holding up well. The question is whether he can continue his career resurgence. If he remains in the slot, he must become more consistent in run defense.
Age: 33 Height: 6-2 Weight: 225
Garoppolo is here not because of his on-field production (he played in just one game, a 30-25 loss and went 27 of 41 for 334 yards, two touchdowns and an interception) but because of his position, and the premium placed on reliable backups. He’ll also get the Sean McVay bump after spending a season backing up star quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Age: 28 Height: 6-5 Weight: 280
A long-levered edge defender who often moves inside on third down, Omenihu offers upside as a situational pass rusher. However, he missed much of 2024 because of injury. He also served a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy in 2023, stemming from an arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence.
Age: 31 Height: 6-3 Weight: 300
A fullback who has aligned more and more as a tight end, Ricard fits the Ravens so well. The five-time Pro Bowler is probably the best lead blocker in football, and you can bet Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry want him back.
Ricard, who has played just under 40 percent of the offensive snaps over the past two years, said he doesn’t want to go anywhere else. The Ravens will probably need to pay him at or near the top of the fullback market ($4.55 million per year). Working in their favor is that few teams use a fullback enough to warrant that kind of financial commitment.
Age: 28 Height: 5-10 Weight: 191
A 2018 first-round pick, Hughes has started 19 games in the past two years for Atlanta, including 15 in 2024. He hasn’t had an interception since 2021, but his value to Atlanta was underscored every time he was off the field and the team’s younger cornerbacks struggled with assignments.
Hughes made $3.85 million last season. He might be more expensive in 2025, but that still could be a value for a team that doesn’t have much money to spend and still sees the physical talents of a first-round pick.
Age: 27 Height: 5-10 Weight: 185
Brown took a step back in 2024 after a promising 2023 season. He expected to play at a Pro Bowl or All-Pro level but later admitted he might have put too much pressure on himself, eventually being benched in favor of Josh Jobe.
At his best, Brown is a solid press-man cornerback with good ball skills, but because his 2024 tape wasn’t very strong, he might have to sign a prove-it deal to compete for a starting job in 2025. But that could end up paying off for a team next year if it gets the 2023 version of Brown.
Age: 27 Height: 6-1 Weight: 215
Stephens had a tough year, allowing 65 receptions and a 107.4 passer rating when targeted. GM Eric DeCosta said Stephens will hit the open market, a pretty strong indication that the 2021 third-round pick won’t be back.
Despite his difficult season, Stephens should garner interest, even if it’s on a prove-it deal. There’s always a market for veteran corners. He’s versatile enough to play corner and safety and is an experienced special-teamer. He’s also durable and considered a good teammate. Plus, there’s plenty of tape of him looking like a solid starting cornerback from 2023.
Age: 30 Height: 5-11 Weight: 216
Wait … did Hunt play in the Super Bowl? (Looks it up.) He did … We’re not sure why Andy Reid forgot about him, but Hunt stepped up last season when Isiah Pachecho was a shell of himself upon his return from a broken leg.
Hunt runs hard and still has some wiggle a few months from turning 30, although he doesn’t have much pop, with a long rush of 20 yards in 2024. He ranked poorly in success rate by some measures but was third-best at 56 percent (minimum 200 carries) as measured by Pro Football Reference, which defines success as 40 percent of yards to gain on first down, 60 percent on second down and 100 percent on third down. Basically, he can keep you on schedule, but not much more than that.
Age: 30 Height: 6-3 Weight: 317
Bozeman could be looking for his fourth team in the past five seasons, perhaps because he’s not a great pass protector, allowing a 4.7 percent pressure rate (3.5 percent was average for centers) in 2024. But he’s long been an above-average run blocker, with great play strength, toughness and persistence. That’s usually enough to be a starter somewhere.
Age: 30 Height: 6-4 Weight: 254
Hooper was one of the few bright spots on an offense that really struggled in 2024. His 476 receiving yards were the fourth most on the team, and his three TD catches were tied for the most (which is good for Hooper but a pretty telling stat for the Patriots).
Those receiving yards were the most for Hooper since going for 787 in 2019 with the Falcons. Even if he joins his sixth NFL team, Hooper should have some options to prolong his career with his 10th season on the horizon.
Age: 27 Height: 6-5 Weight: 268
Golston, a 2021 third-round pick, is a good player who flashed more than a few times in extended opportunities because of the Cowboys’ run of injuries at defensive end. Built a bit more like a defensive tackle, he does not have the strength to move there full-time, but he did flash at times as an interior rusher. For the right terms, he could provide quality depth in a rotation.
Age: 34 Height: 6-0 Weight: 190
The Vikings played more man coverage in Week 17 against the Packers than they had in a game all season. In the locker room afterward, Gilmore looked spent. He played a fill-in role admirably in 2024, but he is not the man-cover corner he once was.
His level of experience and processing speed on the field will garner interest if he chooses to play another season, though retirement is not out of the question.
Age: 31 Height: 6-4 Weight: 212
Back from two consecutive seasons missed because of a torn ACL (2022) and torn Achilles (2023), Patrick was a strong role player in Detroit, making the most of his limited targets and showing he still has some juice. A competitive blocker, he should provide value somewhere as a third or fourth wideout.
Age: 26 Height: 6-4 Weight: 264
Jones posted a career-high seven sacks in 2024, though a knee injury sidelined him down the stretch. His season was not too dissimilar from the 2023 campaign of D.J. Wonnum, who signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Panthers last spring. Jones fits best in a four-down front where his primary role is to rush the passer. Brian Flores also utilized him on the interior, where he gave guards and centers trouble as a pass rusher.
Age: 30 Height: 6-4 Weight: 206
Valdes-Scantling couldn’t stick on the Bills’ roster (which wasn’t exactly overflowing with playmakers), but he erupted after joining the Saints in November, including a five-game stretch with 13 catches for 347 yards and four TDs. MVS won’t be a down-to-down target, but his combination of speed and willingness to block should fit well somewhere.
Age: 25 Height: 6-4 Weight: 226
Reclamation QBs are hot after the resurgences of Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith, and Lance still has the traits to merit a roll of the dice. The problem is it might be more like buying a Powerball ticket.
Kyle Shanahan’s system elevates almost every QB, but Lance lasted only eight games (four starts) with the 49ers, then failed to usurp Cooper Rush in Dallas.
All of that said: He’s three months younger than Bo Nix and only seven months older than Jayden Daniels. Lance has attempted only 461 pass attempts in college and the NFL combined, less than 16 QBs had in 2024 alone. At the very least, his talent merits a roster spot and more time to develop.
Age: 30 Height: 6-9 Weight: 330
A fan favorite as the Lions’ sixth offensive lineman, Skipper is best known for his role in a controversial call late in 2023, but he’s also started 11 games over the past three seasons between left guard and left tackle. Will the Lions bring him back, or will Ben Johnson recruit him to catch touchdowns in Chicago?
— The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, James Boyd, Mike DeFabo, Alec Lewis, Paul Dehner Jr., Michael-Shawn Dugar, Dan Duggan, Chad Graff, Zac Jackson, Adam Jahns, Josh Kendall, Joseph Person, Daniel Popper, Zack Rosenblatt, Matt Schneidman, Saad Yousuf and Jeff Zrebiec contributed to this story.
(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Kara Durrette / Getty Images, Michael Owens / Getty Images, Perry Knotts / Getty Images)
