Top NFL Free Agents 2025

Tee Higgins is the best No. 2 receiver in the NFL, but he would be a No. 1 on many teams.

Ronnie Stanley is an elite left tackle. The only bad thing you can say about him is that he has a dubious injury history.

James Daniels is one of the top guards in the NFL, but played only four games last year because of an Achilles tear.

Talanoa Hufanga emerged as one of the top safeties in 2023, but missed lots of action last year due to injury.

Zack Baun was one of the top linebackers in the NFL last year. He was good against the run and elite in coverage.

D.J. Reed is a very talented cornerback, who is coming off a bit of a down season. He should rebound with a real defensive coordinator.

Alaric Jackson is a terrific pass protector. He’s not as good at run blocking, but it’s not like he’s a liability in that regard.

Trey Smith is one of the top guards in the NFL. He’s great in pass protection and even better in run blocking.

Teven Jenkins is an outstanding guard who has improved each year. Durability is the only issue with him.

Jevon Holland is a very athletic safety. He’s coming off a down 2024, but had a tremendous 2023 campaign. He’s only 25, so he should be able to rebound.

A former fourth-round pick, Drew Dalman has emerged as a terrific center. He missed a chunk of time in 2024.

Dre Greenlaw barely played last year because of a torn ACL. He was sorely missed as an exceptional linebacker who thrives in both coverage and run support.

Riley Dixon was 10th in net punting average last year and did a great job of pinning the opposition inside the 20.

JK Scott was 12th in net punting last year and did a good job of pinning the opposition inside the 20.

Brandon McManus was great in the regular season, hitting all but one of his 21 attempts.

Josh Sweat is a terrific pass rusher. He has logged 37 sacks over the past four years while playing in a rotation.

Much was expected from Malcolm Koonce last season after he had eight sacks as a part-time player in 2023, but he missed the entire year with a knee injury. The potential is certainly there for Koonce to become a big-time edge rusher.

Nate Hobbs is an excellent slot cornerback. He’s also just 26 despite seemingly being in the NFL for an eternity.

Will Fries was performing as one of the top guards in the NFL to start 2024, but was lost for the year with a leg injury.

Chris Godwin was having a great season when he broke his ankle playing in garbage time. He’s still young enough to rebound.

Byron Murphy is coming off a great year. He’s only 27, so he should continue to perform at a high level.

J.K. Dobbins defied the odds by showing explosion last year following a torn Achilles. He has a dubious injury track record, but is an excellent running back otherwise.

Justin Reid is an excellent safety, thriving in both coverage and run support.

Khalil Mack notched 18 sacks in 2023. That number dropped to seven last year. He obviously wasn’t as good this past season, but he played better than his sack number indicates. The main worry is age (34).

Haason Reddick is an extremely talented edge player, but he had a very disappointing season last year in which he missed numerous games due to a contract disputes.

Mike Hilton has been one of the better slot cornerbacks in the NFL, but he could decline soon now that he’s 31.

Dalton Risner missed half of 2024 with a back injury. He returned and was terrific in pass protection.

Kevin Zeitler has been a tremendous guard for many years, but at 35, regression will be coming soon.

Nick Folk was 21-of-22 last year, including 5-of-5 from 50-plus.

Eddy Pineiro was a solid 22-of-26 last year. He’s 11-of-14 from 50-plus in his career.

Michael Burton is 33, but he was a tremendous blocker last year.

Tress Way finished seventh in net punting last year.

Austin Seibert is coming off a great year, but missed some time with a groin injury.

Robert Spillane really thrived under Antonio Pierce. We’ll see if he can keep it up with a new coach.

Carlton Davis revived his career in Detroit with a great 2024 season. He was missed late in the year when he fractured his jaw.

Nick Bolton is a well-rounded linebacker with no weaknesses. He’s played well for the Chiefs since the team drafted him in the second round.

Ifeatu Melifonwu missed most of 2024 with an injury, but came back at the end of the season. He wasn’t quite himself, however, as he wasn’t as terrific as he was in 2023.

Charvarius Ward is a talented cornerback, but is coming off a down year where he dealt with injuries. He could recover, but at 30, he could be in for some regression.

Xavier Woods had played well in the past, but didn’t cover very well last year. Perhaps this was age-based regression.

Julian Blackmon is a great coverage safety, but misses too many tackles.

Ryan Kelly is usually one of the better centers in the NFL, but he missed seven games last year with a knee injury. He’s now 32, but centers have been known to play well into their mid-30s.

Will Hernandez was sorely missed last year after suffering a season-ending knee injury in October.

Poona Ford had a great year as a stout run defender and was able to get some pressure on the quarterback.

Aaron Jones had a great first season in Minnesota. It was shocking that he stayed healthy, given his extensive injury history.

Tyron Smith will a great blind-side protector when healthy, but he once again missed plenty of time. He was out the final seven games of the season.

Keenan Allen got off to a slow start last year with some odd weight issues, but was a big producer down the stretch.

Matthew Judon was a huge disappointment in Atlanta, registering six sacks last year. Perhaps he’ll rebound, but he could also just be done.

Trenton Brown is an exceptionally talented tackle, but he has severe issues staying healthy.

Bobby Wagner’s coverage skills aren’t what they used to be, but he’s still an elite run defender.

Calais Campbell’s pass-rushing skills aren’t what they once were, but he’s still dominant against the run.

Johnny Heker is king of the fake punt, but his net average was pretty low last year.

Bryan Anger finished in the middle of the pack in net punting last year.

Matt Prater has been 84.8 percent or better in each of the past three seasons. Unfortunately, age (41), could begin to catch up with him very shortly.

Patrick Ricard is a solid lead blocker and also does well in pass protection.

Michael Badgley has kicked just four field goals the past two years because of a torn hamstring.

Ernest Jones really improved Seattle’s run defense after he was acquired from Tennessee, but his coverage skills were lackluster.

Camryn Bynum regressed a bit this year, but still was solid in run support.

Derrick Barnes was missed last year after he tore his MCL and PCL.

Marquise Brown missed most of 2024 with a shoulder injury, but was able to contribute at the end of the year.

Mekhi Becton was a bust as a tackle, but found a home as a guard. He played well last year as a run blocker.

Jedrick Wills is a very talented left tackle, but he spent way too much time on the injury report last year.

Azeez Ojulari is a 25-year-old who logged seven sacks last year despite starting just five games. Ojulari missed the final six weeks with a toe injury.

Trevon Moehrig is a tremendous run-defending safety, though he needs to improve his coverage skills.

Jamien Sherwood played well last year, thriving against the run and being good enough in coverage.

Michael Jackson has been a solid cornerback for the Seahawks and Panthers the past two years.

Chase Young has been a huge disappointment, but he still logged seven sacks last year. He’s still somehow just 26.

Aaron Banks is a solid run blocker and adequate in pass protection.

Justin Simmons was once one of the top safeties in the NFL, but he has shown a sharp regression in coverage ability recently.

Evan Brown is a quality pass protector, though his run blocking needs improvement.

B.J. Hill is a strong run defender who can get to the quarterback occasionally.

Dan Moore is coming off his best year, but was just mediocre in pass protection and run blocking.

Asante Samuel Jr. missed most of 2024 with an odd shoulder injury. He’s been a disappointment with the Chargers outside of 2023.

Elijah Molden held up well in coverage and run support this past season.

Cam Robinson wasn’t elite by any means, but he did a solid job replacing the injured Christian Darrisaw last year.

Sam Darnold cost himself lots of money with a horrible playoff performance against the Rams.

Shaq Griffin has been inconsistent throughout his career. He’s had some great moments, but at 30, those might be coming to an end.

Patrick Mekari began last year starting at right tackle. He didn’t play well, but then moved to left guard and was much better at that position.

Jeremy Chinn is coming off a solid season as a stout run-support safety who was decent in coverage.

Rasul Douglas had three amazing years from 2021 to 2023. He’s coming off a down season. At 31, he could be in decline.

Amari Cooper had some dud performances down the stretch. He’s 31, but happens to be a great route runner, so he should be able to play well in the coming years.

Quandre Diggs was having a solid season last year until he was lost to a Lisfranc injury in Week 9.

Brandon Scherff used to be one of the top guards in the NFL. He’s not nearly the same player now, but he can still pass protect well.

Shaq Thompson is a talented linebacker, but he’s a 31-year-old coming off an Achilles tear.

Tyrann Mathieu was a dynamic play-maker for a long time, but he slowed down last year.

Dennis Gardeck has emerged as a solid, well-rounded linebacker, but he tore his ACL in October last season.

Rico Dowdle was underutilized early in the season. He was the best running back on Dallas’ roster, by far, and he showed an ability to be a quality receiver out of the backfield.

Mike Gesicki came alive in Cincinnati’s offense, posting some huge performances.

Lavonte David’s coverage ability isn’t what it used to be at the age of 35, but he’s still a well-rounded linebacker.

The Chargers’ run defense took a colossal hit when Denzel Perryman was knocked out with an injury last season.

Stefon Diggs has been on the decline the past couple of years. Now, he’s coming off a torn ACL.

Brandon Graham can still play on a high level despite his age, but he said he will retire.

Sebastian Joseph-Day was a tough run defender last year.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was a touchdown machine for the Titans last year.

Jameis Winston can have some very explosive performances, but he can also kill a team with disastrous interceptions.

Devin Bush is coming off his best season as a pro. He was stellar in run support, but didn’t do well in coverage.

Darius Slayton has had some big games when he’s served as the top receiver on the Giants.

Jamie Gillan ranked in the middle of the pack of all punting metrics last year.

Greg Van Roten is an aging player, but he did fine in pass protection last year.

Jonathan Jones has seen better days. He struggled to cover last year at the age of 31.

Jacoby Brissett is a premium backup.

Deatrich Wise used to be a quality edge rusher, but he’s declining at the age of 31.

Joey Slye hasn’t hit better than 79 percent of his field goals the past two years.

Mac Jones was better than expected last year, but he’s still nowhere near as good as he was as a rookie.

Andre Cisco had fared well in coverage the two years prior to 2024, but he really struggled last season.

Alexander Mattison was the best of the Raider running backs last year, but that’s not saying much.

Morgan Moses was a quality right tackle last year, but at 34, he could be due for regression soon.

Chuck Clark struggled coming off injury. Perhaps he’ll have a better 2025.

Austin Corbett moved to center last year, and it didn’t go quite well, especially when he suffered a biceps tear.

Juwan Johnson is an athletic tight end who has enjoyed some big games occasionally.

Lucas Patrick was better than expected in pass protection last year.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling made some huge plays last year when paired with Derek Carr.

De’Vondre Campbell used to be an All-Pro linebacker, but his skills have diminished because of age.

Jon Feliciano missed all of 2024 because of a knee injury. He should be able to bounce back in 2025, but age is a concern now.

Joshua Dobbs has proven himself to be a high-end backup quarterback.

Elijah Mitchell has been a quality backup running back in the past, but he missed his opportunity last year when Christian McCaffrey was hurt.

Zack Martin was once one of the top guards in the NFL, but he has suffered so many injuries lately that he hinted at retirement this offseason.

DeMarcus Lawrence used to be a great edge rusher, but he’s past his prime. He played in only four games last year because of injury.

Trey Lance had enough ability to go No. 3 overall a few years ago, but he’s been a major bust since. Perhaps a great coach can get something out of him, but that seems unlikely.

Eric Kendricks used to be one of the top off-ball linebackers in the NFL. That’s no longer the case because his coverage skills have diminished, but he’s still strong in run support.

Cooper Rush did a solid job against mediocre and bad defenses last year, but didn’t stand a chance against top-end competition.

Emmanuel Ogbah used to be a double-digit sack artist. He had six sacks last year. At age 31, he’ll continue to decline.

Jordan Poyer, now 34, is no longer the dynamic safety he once was. However, he can still be a viable starter.

Tyler Huntley did well as a backup in Baltimore. He didn’t have much support from Mike McDaniel in Miami.

Kendall Lamm filled in well last year for the injured Austin Jackson, holding up well in pass protection.

Mo Alie-Cox is one of the better blocking tight ends in the NFL.

Perhaps Joe Flacco can rekindle what he had in Cleveland in 2023, but he looked done in most games last year.

Kelvin Beachum served as a quality backup last year, particularly in pass protection, but at 36, time is running out for him.

Zay Jones was productive recently, but dealt with a suspension last year and then never emerged on his new team.

Greg Dortch had always improved each year – until last season. It’s unclear why he didn’t take the next step, but he’s still young.

Khalil Herbert is a talented running back, but has never really been given the chance to be the lead back.

Geno Smith and Sam Darnold are former Jet quarterbacks who have thrived elsewhere, so perhaps Zach Wilson can be next. Wilson has loads of talent, but hasn’t been properly developed.

Cody Barton is very forceful against the run, but tends to get abused in coverage.

Javonte Williams showed tons of potential to begin his career, but has never fully recovered from his ACL tear.

Zach Cunningham was barely used in Denver last year, but he had a solid season with the Eagles in 2023.

Mike Williams had predictable struggles coming off a torn ACL. He should do better in 2025.

Donte Jackson is coming off a down year in his first season with the Steelers.

Justin Fields was benched for Russell Wilson last year, but at only 26, he still has potential.

Elandon Roberts is a stalwart run defender, but struggles in coverage. At 31, Roberts could decline soon.

Russell Wilson looked like a decrepit quarterback in Denver, but he had some great performances to begin his tenure in Pittsburgh. The carriage turned into a pumpkin at the end, however.

Taylor Heinicke is a top-end backup who has enjoyed some success in his career.

Kristian Fulton has been inconsistent throughout his career. He’s coming off his best season.

Josh Palmer made some big plays in relief of some injured receivers in 2023, but was a disappointment last year.

Teair Tart played well last year as a rotational defensive lineman.

Bradley Bozeman is a solid run blocker, but struggles in pass protection.

Eric Stokes has been a disappointment as a former first-round pick, but he’s still young and has potential. He had some nice moments last year mixed in with some horrible ones.

Josh Myers is a sub-par starting center. He had a nice 2022, but hasn’t played well since.

Stephon Gilmore had a mediocre season. At 34, his time is nearly up.

Diontae Johnson is a very talented receiver, but he also happens to be a major headcase.

Devin White used to excel in coverage. Injuries have derailed his career, but he’s still just 27, so he can rebound.

Demarcus Robinson has emerged as a viable tertiary target for Matthew Stafford, particularly in the end zone.

Mike Hoecht has produced an average of five sacks per game over the past three seasons, all while holding up well against the run.

John Johnson has been an inconsistent player throughout his career. He missed most of 2024 with a shoulder injury.

It was shocking that the Broncos cut Tim Patrick. The Lions were able to benefit from Patrick’s strong play. Unfortunately for Patrick, he’s 31 and has an extensive injury history.

Dante Fowler logged 11 sacks last year, but that stat is not indicative of how he played. Fowler was just solid, and he figures to decline now that he’s 31.

Zach Ertz was still productive last year despite his age, but he won’t be able to play this way forever.

Cornelius Lucas was a surprise performer for the Redskins last year, thriving as the team’s blind-side protector. However, his age means he could be in for some regression soon.

Olamide Zaccheaus had some nice performances down the stretch last year.

Dyami Brown showed nice potential with some big games late in the year, including a huge performance against the Lions in the playoffs.

Noah Brown was having a solid season before missing the second half of the year with a kidney injury.

Ty Johnson is a nifty receiving threat out of the backfield.

Damar Hamlin did well last year, particularly in run support. His coverage skills weren’t nearly as good.

DeAndre Hopkins had some nice performances for the Chiefs, but did nothing in many others. He’s well past his prime.

Charles Omenihu wasn’t quite the same last year when he returned from his torn ACL. He should bounce back in 2025.

Carson Wentz is a premium backup. Given his time with Andy Reid and Sean McVay, it’s fair to wonder if he could be a decent starter again.

Tershawn Wharton is an undersized player who struggles against the run. However, he’s a dangerous pass rusher who produced seven sacks last year.

D.J. Humphries looked awful in his brief stint with the Chiefs last year, but he was coming off injury. He could be much better in 2025 once his health improves.

Kareem Hunt filled in well as Isiah Pacheco’s injury replacement last year, but he’s 30 now, so he doesn’t have much time remaining.

Milton Williams did well as a rotational pass rusher last year. He logged six sacks, though he didn’t do as well in run support.

Bobby Brown is a stout run stuffer, but doesn’t provide anything as a pass rusher.

A former first-round pick, Joe Tryon has been a disappointment. He logged just two sacks in 2024. He still has some potential, but time is running out for him.

Joseph Assai is a solid run defender who registered five sacks last year.

Mike Hughes is coming off his best season, but he’s had his struggles over the years. He misses a lot of tackles.

E.J. Speed is an excellent run defender, but struggles in coverage.

Tyrel Dodson is a great coverage linebacker, but happens to be a big liability against the run.

Osa Odighizuwa was a liability in run support, but was able to produce seven sacks as a quality interior pass rusher.

Jourdan Lewis is coming off his best season as a pro, but it’s not clear how long his high level of play will last, given that he turns 30 this offseason.

Jaylon Moore doesn’t have much playing experience, but he has composed himself well whenever he’s stepped in for Trent Williams.

Darrell Taylor had 23 sacks in three seasons with the Seahawks, but was a big disappointment in Chicago with just three sacks last year.

Coleman Shelton was solid, but not great in both pass protection and run blocking last year.

Paulson Adebo played well last year until breaking his leg in Week 7.

Jordan Fuller plays well in run support, but struggles to cover.

Elijah Moore is a solid slot receiver, but has never lived up to the high expectations.

Nick Chubb looked like a broken running back last year. He should be better in 2025 after being another year removed from his devastating knee injury. However, he’s 29 now and may never be the same.

Dillon Radunz is a fine pass protector, but struggles in run blocking.

Adoree Jackson is coming off a solid year, but he’s been an inconsistent, injury-prone player.

Divine Deablo is a quality two-down linebacker who plays well versus the run, but struggles in pass coverage.

Anthony Walker is a quality linebacker when healthy, but he has suffered tons of injuries in recent years.

Jarran Reed is a quality interior pass rusher, but at 32, he doesn’t have much time left.

Najee Harris has remarkably rushed for 1,000 yards every season, but has been a disappointment as a former first-round pick.

Matt Pryor bounced around the NFL, but had his best season in Chicago, particularly in pass protection.