NFL free agency predictions 2025: Projecting landing spots for 32 top NFL free agents

NFL free agency is set to begin with a crop of talent that includes All-Pro offensive linemen, Pro Bowl pass-catchers and ascending quarterbacks and defensive backs. While there isn’t a true superstar in this year’s NFL free agency class, there are still plenty of impact players available. Our NFL free agency predictions will project landing spots for many of the top NFL free agents in 2025. Let’s dive in.

Sam Darnold, quarterback – Seattle Seahawks

There were rumors hours before the Geno Smith trade that the Seattle Seahawks had interest in Sam Darnold. Once Smith was traded, it became evident who Seattle wanted as its franchise quarterback in 2025. Seattle allows Darnold a chance to return to the West Coast and, unlike the New York Giants or Tennessee Titans, there’s minimal risk of the team spending a first-round pick on a quarterback. Plus, Darnold could reunite with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. Darnold will be the Seahawks starting quarterback in 2025 and 2026, landing a three-year deal worth $40 million per season. We do have big concerns about how he’ll fare behind this Seahawks offensive line and the landing spot gets even worse if DK Metcalf is traded.

Justin Fields, quarterback – Pittsburgh Steelers

Justin Fields will have some options, like the New York Jets, but the Pittsburgh Steelers offer him the best chance to prove himself moving forward. While this would be the same Steelers coaching staff that benched him in favor of Russell Wilson, that won’t be a problem this time around. Fields already knows Arthur Smith’s system and the two worked well together – 4-2 record with a 93.9 QB rating and 5-1 TD-INT line – with Fields as the starter. This should be a one-year prove-it contract, giving Fields a full season as a starter with a playoff-caliber roster surrounding him. It’s his best chance at improving his long-term career earnings.

Russell Wilson, quarterback – New York Giants

With the Pittsburgh Steelers re-signing Justin Fields in our NFL free agency predictions, Russell Wilson quickly runs out of options. The New York Jets might consider him, but that’s a team that won’t be competitive in 2025. Instead, Wilson agrees to be the bridge quarterback for the New York Giants. He walks into a nice scenario, having a No. 1 receiver (Malik Nabers) and quality play-caller, with a nice one-year payday to go with it. Importantly, this wouldn’t prevent New York from trading up for the first overall pick to take Cam Ward. It’s not a conventional approach, but it’s the best thing for the Giants’ present and future.

Aaron Rodgers, quarterback – Tennessee Titans

Aaron Rodgers played fairly well late in the 2024 season, seeming to shake off the rust more than a year removed from Achilles surgery. He also seems to be very interested in playing next season, but there are only a few opportunities out there. Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan needs a veteran QB who can execute his offense, Rodgers is that guy. It would only be a one-year pact, with Tennessee trading down from the No. 1 pick to strengthen its roster more before finding a future franchise quarterback. Plus, Rodgers gets to play close to his Nashville property and he lands in a smaller market where there won’t be nearly as much focus on his Pat McAfee Show appearances.

Najee Harris, running back – Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz came up with a team (Baltimore Ravens) that didn’t spend first-round picks on a running back and we believe that approach will carry over here. Instead, Hortiz goes out and adds a physical runner to Jim Harbaugh’s offense with Najee Harris. In Los Angeles, Harris could be the top back on early downs and get a majority of the touches inside the 10-yard line. At 242 pounds, his physical style and durability fit what Harbaugh wants in a committee backfield. Plus, signing Harris shouldn’t cost upwards of $10 million per season.

Rico Dowdle, running back – Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders could take Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick, but the more cost-effective starter could also come from NFL free agency. Rico Dowdle is an excellent option. For one thing, he has limited ‘tread’ on his tires – 324 carries in the last two seasons – and he’s also great for a committee backfield. Dowdle averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season behind a pedestrian Cowboys offensive line. He’s got good size – 6-foot and 215 pounds – and can do a little work as a pass-catching threat. Plus, signing him would still enable Las Vegas to draft a RB, just on Day 2 instead of at No. 6 overall.

Chris Godwin, wide receiver – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Teams like the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots would be elated if Chris Godwin hit the open market and left Florida. That just seems incredibly unlikely to happen. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are adamant about retaining Godwin, just as they were a year ago with Mike Evans. It might come at the cost of other positions, but Tampa Bay wants its outstanding receiver tandem out there to support Baker Mayfield. A deal will get done, with Godwin landing a lucrative multi-year deal, even coming off a season-ending injury.

Davante Adams, wide receiver – Los Angeles Rams

A return to the Green Bay Packers would make for a great story and Aaron Rodgers will recruit his best friend to his next team. However, what’s even more apparent is Adams’ preference to return to the West Coast. There could be a three-team battle between the Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams for the All-Pro wideout. In the end, the appeal of running routes in Sean McVay’s offense and sharing the field with Puka Nacua lures Adams to the Rams.

UPDATE: Davante Adams signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams

Stefon Diggs, wide receiver – Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos need a complementary high-end wide receiver to pair with Courtland Sutton, but there’s no one realistically available in NFL free agency worth splurging on. Instead, Sean Payton can find a short-term fix with Stefon Diggs. Coming off an ACL tear, Diggs needs a great season to rebuild his value and there are few coaches better than Payton at maximizing their wide receivers. Diggs wouldn’t get to be “the guy” in Denver, but he’ll still draw plenty of targets on a playoff contender and can turn that into a bigger pay day a year from now.

Related: Most overrated NFL free agents

Amari Cooper, wide receiver – New England Patriots

NFL free agency has already not worked out in the New England Patriots’ favor. Trey Smith, Tee Higgins and Ronnie Stanley all stayed with their respective teams. With fewer premium starters to spend more than $100 million in cap space on, New England simply has to spread the money around. Amari Cooper is a No. 2 receiver at this point in his career, but he’s an excellent veteran presence to mentor a young receiving corps and he’s a reliable target. A two-year contract makes everyone happy, with New England paying Cooper more than anyone else will and Drake Maye landing a steady target.

Evan Engram, tight end – Indianapolis Colts

Released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Evan Engram immediately became the best tight end available in NFL free agency. He’ll be 31 years old in September, but the 6-foot-3 tight end is still a very effective weapon in the short and intermediate areas of the field. In his last healthy season, Engram made the Pro Bowl after setting season-highs in receptions (114) and receiving yards (963) in 2023. The Indianapolis Colts need a ‘mover’ tight end and Engram fits the bill of what Shane Steichen wants. Plus, signing Engram allows Indianapolis to use its first-round pick on a defensive back instead of taking a tight end.

Cam Robinson, offensive tackle – Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs badly wanted Ronnie Stanley, but the Baltimore Ravens re-signed him on Saturday night. So, the Chiefs pivot to the second-best tackle on the market. Cam Robinson won’t do anything to help the run game but he’d be the best left tackle in pass protection Kansas City has had in years. Stability on the left side is desperately needed with Joe Thuney gone. Robinson will have to take less money than a team like the New England Patriots can offer, but this would be his best chance at winning a Super Bowl. Plus, a one-year deal could position him for a bigger contract in 2026.

Patrick Mekari, offensive line – New England Patriots

The options thin out at offensive tackle a bit once Cam Robinson signs, but Patrick Mekari could be particularly intriguing to a team like the New England Patriots. Heading into his age-28 season, Mekari played center (2019-’20), both tackle spots (2021-’22) and at left guard (2024) for the Baltimore Ravens. He could be a right tackle or left guard on the Patriots offensive line, providing the club with an above-average starter for several years. Signing Mekari could also pair well with potential first-round pick Will Campbell.

Drew Dalman, center – Atlanta Falcons

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The Atlanta Falcons developed Drew Dalman into one of the better centers in the NFC and he’s already worked with Michael Penix Jr. Continuity is integral on the offensive line, Dalman provides that and re-signing him also means Atlanta doesn’t have to take a chance on a center in Penix’s first full season as a starter.

Josh Myers – Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears would love to come out of NFL free agency with center Drew Dalman, but we think he winds up staying with the Atlanta Falcons. Instead, Chicago poaches the starting center from its division rival. Myers, who turns 27 in July, is good in pass protection and the Bears have made their interior offensive line a priority this offseason. This move gives Caleb Williams an above-average starter for several years and it would complete the overhaul of this Bears offensive line.

Will Fries, guard – Houston Texans

The Houston Texans don’t have the cap space to get aggressive in NFL free agency, but they could take one stab at improving the interior offensive line. Better yet, they can poach talent from a division rival in the process. Will Fries suffered a broken tibia in Week 5 of the 2024 season, but it shouldn’t impact his earning potential too much. He’s an excellent run blocker, which Houston needs on early downs, and he’s also very dependable in pass protection. Plus, he’ll only be 27 next season.

Tyron Smith, offensive tackle – Pittsburgh Steelers

Dan Moore is a free agent, Troy Fautanu is recovering from knee surgery and Broderick Jones hasn’t quite put it together. In short, the Pittsburgh Steelers need someone proven at left tackle. Tyron Smith is still a quality starter, albeit a safe bet to miss time with injuries. He can be the Steelers’ left tackle in September, mentoring the young linemen, and Pittsburgh will have insurance behind him if he gets hurt or loses the battle to Father Time.

Josh Sweat, edge rusher – Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have money to spend and a glaring need for an edge rusher. Josh Sweat already has a Super Bowl ring and has experience playing for Jonathan Gannon. Sweat isn’t an ideal No. 1 pass rusher on a playoff-caliber team, but his performance in the Super Bowl showed that he can take over games. Adding that caliber of a disruptor to the Cardinals’ front seven will allow Gannon to have far more success with an Arizona unit that had limited talent to speak of in 2024.

Khalil Mack, edge rusher – Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are the perfect landing spot for any veteran player who wants to compete for a Super Bowl. This is an even more appealing destination for pass rushers because getting to the quarterback is a lot easier when opponents have to focus on Aidan Hutchinson. Khalil Mack is an outstanding three-down player who can both set the edge as a run defender and pin his ears back to get after the quarterback. He’s the perfect edge rusher to pair with Hutchinson and, conveniently for Detroit, Mack is nearing retirement and would likely be receptive to a one- or two-year contract.

Haason Reddick, edge rusher – Atlanta Falcons

Haason Reddick had a disastrous contract year, sitting out the summer and multiple regular-season games then recording just 1 sack in 10 contests. He’s still one of the top pass rushers in NFL free agency, but he might need to take a short-term contract entering his age-31 season. The Atlanta Falcons need to replace Matthew Judon and Reddick is a great risk-reward gamble. Given he averaged 12 sacks per season from 2020-’23, Reddick’s upside is reachable and would make a world of a difference for this Falcons defense.

Joey Bosa, edge rusher – San Francisco 49ers

Joey Bosa’s free-agent market might not be as robust as he hopes. After all, he’s played in just 28 total games over the last three years and recorded just 14 sacks in that span. He can’t stay healthy and his pass-rush productivity hasn’t come near what it used to be. Without big contract offers on the table, teaming up with his brother on the San Francisco 49ers defense becomes more appealing. The Bosa brothers should make each other better on the field and San Francisco gets a No. 2 pass rusher without having to spend big at the position.

Milton Williams, defensive tackle – Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers spent big on the offensive line last offseason and reports already indicate the defensive line will be the focus in 2025. Milton Williams is at his best with another disruptor alongside him on the interior, Carolina has that with Derrick Brown. A defensive interior of Williams and Brown would do wonders for a defensive line that finished 31st in ESPN pass-rush win rate (28%). He’s also heading into his age-26 season, so Carolina would have a long-term core piece of this defense.

Javon Hargrave, defensive tackle – Philadelphia Eagles

Javon Hargrave is still recovering from a torn tricep, but he immediately becomes one of the top interior defensive linemen available after being released by the San Francisco 49ers. Heading into his age-32 season, Hargrave could use this as his final opportunity to get a hefty payday. However, with more than $80 million in career earnings, a team-friendly deal with a contender is a viable option. Given his past success with the Philadelphia Eagles, he could be a replacement for Milton Williams.

Dre Greenlaw, linebacker – San Francisco 49ers

In his return as San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh has made it clear he wants Dre Greenlaw back. The interest is mutual. Greenlaw’s first season back from Achilles surgery didn’t go well, but the 27-year-old should be a lot better in 2025. The 49ers know how great the Greenlaw-Fred Warner pairing can be and there’s no reason to break it up.

Ernest Jones, linebacker – Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks defense improved dramatically after the Ernest Jones trade. While that might say more about the off-ball linebackers he replaced, Bolton proved to be an excellent fit in Mike McDonald’s defense. Seattle could use a first-round pick on a linebacker, but the learning curve is often steep at that position. Jones knows the system and Seattle needs proven commodities to make McDonald’s defense as effective as possible.

UPDATE: Ernest Jones re-signed with the Seattle Seahawks

Charvarius Ward, cornerback – Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders made a big move for Marshon Lattimore last season but he couldn’t stay healthy and he wasn’t effective in coverage when he played. He’ll get another shot to prove himself, but Dan Quinn needs defensive backs he can rely on. Charvarius Ward struggled in 2024, but that’s understandable considering he lost his 1-year-old daughter in October. Washington can offer him a much-needed change of scenery, which could help him return to the All-Pro level he played at in 2023. Give Quinn two high-end starting cornerbacks and his defense can be a top-12 unit.

DJ Reed, cornerback – Green Bay Packers

Poised to move on from Jaire Alexander, the Green Bay Packers need a new No. 1 cornerback. In his last two seasons with the New York Jets, DJ Reed held opponents under a 60 percent completion rate with a sub-87.5 QB rating allowed in coverage over the last two seasons. He is undersized (5-foot-9), but he can be a high-end starter who would pair beautifully with safety Xavier McKinney. Green Bay is going to make a splash in NFL free agency, Reed will be the prize.

Carlton Davis, cornerback – Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars secondary was abysmal last season and with the defensive line (Mason Graham) seeming to be the target in the NFL Draft, free agency can provide help at cornerback, Carlton Davis, a Florida native, held opponents under a 56% completion rate last season when targeted, snagging 2 interceptions with a 77.0 QB rating allowed. He’ll help take some of the pressure off Tyson Campbell and help give Jacksonville a defense capable of winning eight-plus games.

Paulso Adebo, cornerback – Buffalo Bills

With Rasul Douglas hitting the open market, there’s an opening in the Buffalo Bills secondary. Paulson Adebo only played in seven games last season, but the 25-year-old cornerback has held opponents under a 60% completion rate with a sub-70 QB rating over the last two seasons in 165 targets faced in coverage. Adebo would round out the Bills’ secondary, giving them a high-end starter for the foreseeable future, with the defensive line becoming a priority in the NFL Draft.

Byron Murphy – Minnesota Vikings

If Brian Flores likes a cornerback, it’s in your best interest to keep that player. Byron Murphy earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2024, emerging as the Minnesota Vikings’ top cornerback. On 119 targets in his direction, he allowed just a 76.7 QB rating in coverage with a career-high 6 interceptions. Murphy has now had two years in Flores’ system and excelled. While there are a lot of teams needing a CB1, Minnesota has the cap space to re-sign Murphy and we think a deal gets done.

Jevon Holland, safety – Washington Commanders

Even after a down year in 2024, Jevon Holland is poised to cash in this offseason. He’s a playmaker in the backend, capable of playing at a Pro Bowl level. Holland’s dip in production last season could be explained by a knee injury in 2023 and a slow recovery from it. With the Washington Commanders, he could be the centerfielder of Dan Quinn’s defense. It will probably require making Holland one of the highest-paid safeties in football ($17-plus million AAV), but he would complete the Commanders’ secondary.

Tre’von Moehrig, safety – Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens would prefer to use Kyle Hamilton more as a Swiss Army knife, moving him around the field with an emphasis on being closer to the line of scrimmage. That creates an opening for someone who can play deep. Moehrig’s ability to cover ground quickly helped lead to 10 pass breakups and 2 interceptions last season. He could solve some of the issues Baltimore had stopping downfield passes, all while allowing Hamilton to play his natural role.