One NFL free agent every team should pursue in 2025

Jonathan Gannon has maximized the Arizona Cardinals’ defense as much as possible with the very limited amount of above-average talent it has. Now it’s time for the front office to provide some much-needed help to a unit that finished the season with the fifth-lowest pressure rate (19.2%) and ESPN pass-rush win rate (33%) in the NFL. Josh Sweat, entering his age-28 season, knows Gannon’s system and proved he can take over a game in Super Bowl LIX. While the 6-foot-5 edge rusher might not be an All-Pro talent, he would easily be the Cardinals’ best pass rusher.

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The Atlanta Falcons pass rush has been abysmal for nearly five years now. In 2024, even with a new coaching staff, Atlanta had the second-lowest sack rate (5.1%) and the sixth-worst ESPN pass-rush win rate (34%) in the NFL. While the 2025 NFL Draft can offer long-term help, immediate relief is also necessary. Haason Reddick is coming off a down year – 3 QB hits and 1 sack in 10 games – but he’s just a year removed from four consecutive campaigns with double-digit sacks. He’ll likely want to rebuild his value and would likely enjoy the opportunity to play for a player-friendly coach like Raheem Morris. Atlanta gets a pass-rushing specialist and Reddick gets a great spot to boost his value with a playoff contender.

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The Baltimore Ravens defense played very well in the second half of the season with the safety tandem of Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington. However, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta told the team’s website that he would prefer to use Hamilton as a Swiss Army Knife again by adding another safety. Andre Cisco, age 25, had a rough season this past year with the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, it’s reasonable to chalk that up to poor coaching and the schematic changes the team made. In two previous seasons, Cisco had 15 pass deflections and 7 interceptions with strong coverage grades from Pro Football Focus. Baltimore could deploy him at FS as a playmaker, allowing Hamilton’s versatility to be utilized once again. Plus, Cisco should be cheaper to sign after a down year.

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Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin headline the top wide receivers in NFL free agency, but both will likely command contracts outside the Buffalo Bills’ price range. Besides, the front office seemed to like having a balanced cast of weapons who could all be viable targets for Josh Allen this past season. Marquise Brown is coming off an injury-riddled season, but he’s only entering his age-28 season and would add a viable field stretcher for Buffalo. Plus, there have already been some NFL rumors that he is one of the wide receivers Allen has long coveted.

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Tee Higgins will naturally be named as one of the top Carolina Panthers free agent targets given their need for a No. 1 wide receiver. Far more important, though, should be upgrading one of the worst NFL defenses in the last five years. There are needs at every level of the Panthers defense, but winning on that side of the ball all starts up front. Milton Williams, who is only entering his age-26 season, is coming off a breakout campaign with the sixth-highest ESPN pass rush win rate (13%) among defensive tackles and he shined in the NFL playoffs. While he might not be successful on his own, pairing him with Derrick Brown could give the Panthers defensive line a lesser version of what the Philadelphia Eagles had with Williams and Jalen Carter.

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The biggest reason why Ben Johnson’s system worked so well with the Detroit Lions is because of a dominant offensive line. As of now, the Bears offensive line isn’t remotely good enough to protect Caleb Williams long-term nor make Johnon’s system work effectively. Enter Trey Smith. The best offensive lineman in NFL free agency is only 26 years old and coming off a Pro Bowl season. Smith might not ever be an All-Pro, but he’d be a monumental upgrade for the interior Bears’ offensive line.

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For the sake of this exercise, we’re excluding re-signing Tee Higgins as he is too obvious of a choice for the Cincinnati Bengals. Instead, our focus centers on the defensive line. B.J. Hill is a free agent and the placement of Sheldon Rankins on the reserve/non-football illness list raises long-term concerns at defensive tackle. Osa Odighizuwa, heading into his age-27 season, broke out in the second half of the 2024 season (17 QB hits and 4 sacks in the final 9 games). He would give Cincinnati a strong interior pass rusher, making life easier for Trey Hendrickson and potentially helping Sam Hubbard rebound.

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The Deshaun Watson contract and his re-torn Achilles forced the Cleveland Browns into a spot where they needed a saving grace to have stable quarterback play in 2025. That is coming with the Atlanta Falcons set to release Kirk Cousins. This is the Russell Wilson situation all over again. With the Falcons covering a majority of Cousins’ salary, with his next contract offsetting what he’s owed, he has plenty of incentive to take the veterans minimum. That’s music to the ears of the Browns. Cousins is much smarter with the football than Jameis Winston and he can be a more effective starter than Joe Flacco was for Cleveland in 2023. This is the ideal pairing for both sides.

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The Chicago Bears traded for Darrell Taylor last offseason, giving Matt Eberflus another pass rusher. One year later, Eberflus is taking over as the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator and the team needs a No. 2 edge rusher opposite of Micah Parsons. Taylor – 13 pressures, 9 QB hits and 3 sacks – proved to be an effective pass-rushing specialist for Chicago last season (37% of defensive snaps played) and he knows Eberflus’ system. He might be more of a No. 3 in Dallas, but the 28-year-old should be of particular interest to a team that wants to find relatively cheap help in NFL free agency.

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The Denver Broncos offensive line – first in Run Block Win Rate (75%) – is good enough to sustain a top-10 rushing attack. Unfortunately, Sean Payton didn’t have the backs to make it work in 2024. This team needs a veteran and with Aaron Jones likely needing to take a short-term deal, this becomes a great option for Denver. Jones is an effective pass-catching threat (257 routes run in 2024) and he’s averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season. Plus, Denver could find a young running back in the 2025 NFL Draft to pair with him next season.

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In what is shaping up to be the final season of a storied career, Khalil Mack certainly wants to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. He’s also demonstrated to be most effective when paired with another high-end pass rusher. Putting him on the opposite side of Aidan Hutchinson would take the Detroit Lions pass rush to another level. Mack earned a 90.4 PFF grade this past season, excelling as both a run defender and pass rusher. He’s the perfect final piece to add to the Lions defensive line and likely would be willing to sign a one-year deal, giving Detroit long-term financial flexibility.

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The Green Bay Packers certainly need pass-rushing help, but there’s also a glaring need in the secondary. Jaire Alexander – 14 games played in the last two seasons – hasn’t demonstrated he can stay on the field and this pass defense takes a massive hit when he isn’t out there. Plus, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley spent the majority of his coaching career working with defensive backs. D.J. Reed Jr. is in the prime of his career and coming off consecutive seasons with a sub-59 percent completion rate and 88.0 QB rating allowed in coverage. He should be Green Bay’s top target.

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There will be better wide receivers in NFL free agency, but we’re also trying to keep in mind that the Houston Texans don’t have a lot of cap space to work with. Furthermore, the Texans offense could use a wideout who isn’t just a willing blocker but can excel in that area. Hollins could be the No. 3 receiver in Houston, giving the team more flexibility early in the 2025 NFL Draft while strengthening their receiving corps and also helping out Joe Mixon.

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When Lou Anarumo’s defense was at its best with the Cincinnati Bengals, he had Jessie Bates at safety. It’s a position that the Indianapolis Colts front office also hasn’t prioritized in recent years. Now is the time to change that. Reid, who just turned 28, would provide an excellent experience for a young Colts secondary and he’s been an integral part of the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive success. Plus, with Jevon Holland (Miami Dolphins) and Talanoa Hufanga (San Francisco 49ers) likely staying with their teams, Reid might be the best safety in the Colts’ price range this offseason.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars demonstrated their commitment to getting Trevor Lawrence back on track by hiring Liam Coen. It’s now time to demonstrate that same devotion to improving the Jaguars offensive line. Teven Jenkins found a home at guard, standing out in both pass protection and as a run blocker. Entering his age-27 season, he’d align perfectly with the Jaguars’ timeline. Plus, Coen’s play-calling success with an overhauled Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line demonstrated the importance of trench play in his system.

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Maybe the Kansas City Chiefs get a second-year leap out of left tackle Kingsley Suamataia, but that’s not something a Super Bowl contender should be banking on. Instead, the club needs to take the veteran route and they can’t skimp out on the position either. Ronnie Stanley does have some durability issues, but he ranked 12th among offensive tackles last season in ESPN pass-block win rate (92 percent). Plus, the Chiefs front office also has a history of raiding the Baltimore Ravens offensive line to protect Mahomes.

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Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson have naturally been highlighted as potential quarterback targets for the Las Vegas Raiders in NFL free agency. Wilson has the connection to Pete Carroll and Rodgers might be a stabilizing veteran that Tom Brady wants. However, this will be offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s system. With that in mind, a true dual-threat quarterback like Justin Fields makes a lot more sense. Fields showed improvements as a passer in 2024 and he’s plenty capable of getting the football into the hands of an underneath threat like Brock Bowers. Plus, Fields could at least challenge to be a long-term starter in Las Vegas but he also wouldn’t stand in the way of the team drafting a QB.

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The Los Angeles Chargers receiving corps needs a lot of work, but head coach Jim Harbaugh wants guys who are willing to buy into his culture. Amari Cooper made sacrifices as part of the Buffalo Bills offense, accepting a reduced role with a much lower target share to help the team compete for a Super Bowl. That’s the kind of mentality Harbaugh wants in the Chargers locker room. Plus, the 31-year-old wide receiver adds veteran to a young offense and he wouldn’t prevent the club from finding a true No. 1 wideout long-term.

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Cornerback Charvarius Ward would’ve been perfect for the Los Angeles Rams, providing a true No. 1 cornerback to complement an excellent pass rush. However, following a season that saw him lose his 1-year-old daughter and then sharing in January that he now deals with trauma going to California, it’s not a fit. Instead, we’re highlighting Carlton Davis. Last season with the Detroit Lions, he had the lowest QB rating allowed (77.0) and the second-lowest completion rate allowed (55.3%) in his career. A seven-year starter, Davis adds experience to the Rams’ secondary and he could look even better thanks to the team’s strong front four.

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The Miami Dolphins offensive line remains a mess and it could get even worse if Terron Armstead retires. Losing that experience and veteran presence could be just as significant for Miami as the talent downgrade at left tackle. Kevin Zeitler is almost certainly going to take a one-year contract and might cost less than $8 million to land. That’s perfect for Miami and it would really help improve this ground game next season.

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The Minnesota Vikings need a No. 1 cornerback and Charvarius Ward fits the bill. Before his down season, likely influenced by his family’s tragedy in 2024, Ward was coming off a Pro Bowl selection after allowing just a 64.5 QB rating and 54.1% completion rate when targeted in 2023. Minnesota finally having someone it can align against No. 1 receivers would take Brian Flores’ defense to another level next season. Plus, Ward isn’t even 30 yet.

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With more than $100 million in cap space, the New England Patriots can spend $30 million on Tee Higgins and keep adding to the roster. Higgins is a bonafide No. 1 receiver, providing Drake Maye with someone who can both make contested catches and get open downfield. Signing Higgins also means the Patriots don’t have to reach for a wide receiver in a 2025 NFL Draft class that doesn’t exactly have high-end talent at the position.

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The New Orleans Saints will obviously not be in the mix for top free agents, but there could be a chance for Kellen Moore to tap into his connections from back in the day with the Dallas Cowboys. Signing Tyron Smith would allow New Orleans to move Taliese Fuaga to right tackle, which he is suited to play, significantly shoring up the team’s run blocking. It’s only a short-term bandaid for a bad offensive line, but it could at least help make this front five functional next season.

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With the New York Giants seemingly committed to using a top pick on a quarterback, we’re going in another direction for the club in NFL free agency. Will Fries, a Staten Island native who went to high school in New Jersey, Fries showed steady improvement throughout his Indianapolis Colts career and was on his way to a breakout season before a season-ending injury. He could be an above-average starter for the next three-plus years on the Giants offensive line.

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The New York Jets need a bridge quarterback in 2025, Russell Wilson can be that guy. He demonstrated last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers that with a strong supporting cast, including a great defense, he can help a club compete. New York has the No. 1 receiver he needs (Garrett Wilson) with a strong run game (Breece Hall) to support him and a good defense. Bringing Wilson in will help New York keep games close, at the very least fighting for 6-8 wins. That’s the kind of first step towards building the kind of culture Aaron Glenn wants.

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Malcolm Koonce suffered a knee injury ahead of the 2024 season that prevented him from further strengthening his earning power in NFL free agency. It could offer one fortunate team an opportunity to buy low on him. One big plus, he’ll be ready to take the field well before the preseason begins. In 2023, he had 23 pressures and 8 sacks while playing just 44% of the Raiders’ defensive snaps. With the Philadelphia Eagles potentially losing Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat this offseason, Koonce is an excellent buy-low target.

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The likeliest Sam Darnold landing spots – Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants – don’t have the infrastructure in place that he needs. We trust a healthy version of the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line and he would have a high-end receiving talent (George Pickens) with a dependable tight end (Pat Freiermuth) along with a ground game and defense to take pressure off him. Pittsburgh could sign him to a three or four-year contract, locking themselves into a quality starter for the next two years who at least has the upside to improve this offense through the remainder of this team’s contention window.

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Re-signing Talanaoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw should be obvious priorities for the San Francisco 49ers, but we want to focus on outside help here. James Daniels suffered a torn Achilles in Week 4 of the 2024 season, but he should be back in enough time to return relatively early in the 2025 campaign. He has experience playing center and both guard spots, but San Francisco could deploy him at left guard and he’d benefit from playing alongside Trent Williams.

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For the sake of Geno Smith and the functionality of this offensive, the Seattle Seahawks offensive line needs to be addressed. Mekhi Becton might want another chance to play offensive tackle, but he did seem to find a home this past season at guard. Becton would be a potential monumental upgrade at right guard for Seattle, helping this team both in pass protection and as a run blocker. If needed, he could even kick out to right tackle. What matters is just improving in the trenches.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to get to the quarterback more consistently. Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey are an excellent pairing on the interior, but edge defender Yaya Diaby isn’t consistent and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has been a bust since entering the league. Before an injury-plagued 2024 campaign, DeMarcus Lawrence had consecutive Pro Bowl selections with 35 combined pressures from 2022-’23. Signing him also allows Tampa Bay to use its first-round pick on a cornerback.

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Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan is on the hot seat in 2025 and there isn’t a quarterback worth the No. 1 overall pick. Callahan needs someone who can function behind a below-average offensive line and is comfortable functioning in structure without making reckless decisions with the football under pressure. That’s Aaron Rodgers. It’s also worth considering that Rodgers has a house in Nashville. Both sides need each other in 2025 and this only needs to be a one-year partnership.

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With Terry McLaurin stretching the defense and operating on the outside, the Washington Commanders should find a slot receiver for Jayden Daniels. Even coming off an injury, Chris Godwin is the perfect option. Having Godwin as an underneath threat will give Daniels a check-down target when the blitz comes. He’s already demonstrated the accuracy and decision-making you really only see from 10-year veterans when pressured, so he would also be able to put Godwin in position for yards after the catch. It’s a perfect pairing for all parties.

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