- Players are listed according to the order in which they appear on Gregg Rosenthal's list of the Top 101 free agents of 2025.
- Each player's listed age represents how old he will be on Sept. 4, when the 2025 NFL season is expected to kick off.
This was the most difficult player to place with a team, because Cooper has entered unenviable territory: He is a veteran receiver who likes playing for a contender but might not fit in with all of them. Just look at his Bills tenure. Cooper arrived as a highly touted in-season addition, caught a touchdown pass in his first game with Buffalo, then faded out of the rotation. He finished with 32 targets in eight games -- 21 less than he saw in six games with the Browns last season. If he can't make a difference in an offense led by NFL MVP Josh Allen, where can he? This is why it comes down to fit, and while I'd like to send every receiver to Seattle, Cleveland or Las Vegas, none of them felt quite right for Cooper. Let's instead move him to Arizona, where he can get open for Kyler Murray and become the trusted, experienced target Murray needs on third down. He might be able to help Marvin Harrison Jr. get his trajectory on a better track, too.
Rodgers appears to either be leveraging whatever remaining power he has over the Steelers or genuinely isn't too keen on joining Pittsburgh. I'll end this madness for all of us: Keep Rodgers in New York and send him from the Jets' locker room to the Giants' digs inside MetLife Stadium. He is experienced at dealing with the New York media and could play the rare role of single-season hero for a Giants team that simply needs something better than what it's gotten out of the QB position since Eli Manning retired after the 2019 season. That bar is incredibly low, and Rodgers would clear it if he could replicate his performance from the back end of 2024.
The longtime Jaguar performed quite well after being traded to the Vikings in the middle of the season and seemed to earn a reputation boost as a result. The Patriots need experienced linemen to protect prized quarterback Drake Maye, and while they were apparently content with Vederian Lowe at the left tackle spot last season, adding Robinson (after they already picked up Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury) makes too much sense to not consider. They might not be excited to sign a veteran to a multi-year deal that could eat up future cap space, but New England must prioritize Maye's development now. Robinson would provide reliable blocking and give them one less position to worry about as they attempt to close the talent gap between themselves and the rest of the NFL. Oh, and did I mention they still have an absurd amount of cap space? Yes, that total is near $100 million (per Over The Cap) as I write this. Signing Robinson won't come close to breaking the bank.
EDITOR'S UPDATE: After the publishing of this article, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Robinson is signing a one-year deal with the Houston Texans.
The Seahawks have cap space and already took a swing on one 31-year-old receiver with a documented injury history, signing Cooper Kupp. Diggs' path back to the field is complicated by the ACL injury that ended his 2024 campaign in October, and this pairing probably wouldn't provide Diggs with a massive number of targets, presuming the Seahawks build out of the running game. But his versatility and experience -- plus Seattle's need to fill out its receiving corps -- makes this an ideal fit. Bringing in Diggs and Kupp to join Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a solid retooling of a group that lost DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, especially if Diggs is inked to a short-term, relatively low-risk deal.
The Bengals missed the playoffs last year largely because their defense couldn't stop a nosebleed in the first half of the season. During this frustrating period, many Cincinnati fans lamented the loss of D.J. Reader to free agency, blaming it for their struggles on that side of the ball. Campbell completed his Miami homecoming in 2024 but hasn't retired and is still one heck of a player, even with his 39th birthday coming in September. Sure, it gets cold in Cincinnati in the winter, but it'll feel a lot warmer if the Bengals' late-season games are meaningful. And after spending lavishly to keep Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, it's high time to turn to the defense. Adding Campbell makes sense even if the team gives Trey Hendrickson a new deal, especially with a playoff return atop their list of expectations for 2025.
I know I paired Rodgers with the Giants above, but they need multiple QB options. We know what the Jameis Winston Experience entails at this point in his career. I don't need to explain that further, so I'm just going to tip my cap to my old pal and former NFL Media newsroom colleague, Yahoo's Matt Harmon, who explained during the Giants' upset win over the Colts late in the 2024 season why this marriage could and/or should happen. That's it. That's the fit.
Cam Heyward is tired of waiting on Aaron Rodgers. Frankly, I am too. Judging by their willingness to submit to Rodgers' timeline, this isn't the scenario the Steelers likely envisioned, but it's the best they can do if Rodgers doesn't want to be a Steeler. Pittsburgh should stop waiting around and bring back a quarterback who brushed up against his ceiling with the team in 2024 but still owns the passing ability to capitalize on its new receiving duo of DK Metcalf and George Pickens.
Douglas is well-versed in the nomadic life of an NFL mercenary, even making a few practice squad appearances in 2021 before resurrecting his career as an active member of a roster with the Packers in 2021. He has shown a knack for making key plays over the course of his career but didn't have a great year with the Bills in 2024, ranking in the 100s among all corners in most PFF's defensive grades. That might suggest he shouldn't re-sign with the Bills, but they also need to fill a corner spot or two after trading away Kaiir Elam. Bringing back Douglas at an affordable rate and supplementing in the draft makes sense. I'd imagine a difference in expected market value might drag this one out, though, especially given how tight Buffalo's cap situation currently is.
If Moore read this, called me and told me he didn't want to return to the Browns -- with whom he spent the past two seasons -- because of their wildly uncertain quarterback situation, I'd completely understand. But opportunity exists on this Cleveland roster. Jerry Jeudy posted a career year in 2024, but the next two receivers on the current depth chart are Cedric Tillman and Michael Woods. Like he did in 2024, Moore would get plenty of playing time on this team, which might end up presenting him with his best remaining chance to see substantial targets after he hauled in 61 of 102 last year.
Seattle swung and missed on Will Fries. It needs offensive line help. Scherff could use another job at a competitive rate, and the Seahawks have money to spend. Plus, if they're going to get a true look at what Sam Darnold could be, he'll need at least one reliable guard. Get it done, John Schneider.
When I watched the Raiders scrape together a few wins late last season, I was constantly reminded of how physically small their receiving corps was, with Tre Tucker and DJ Turner, both 5-foot-9, contributing a fair amount. Yes, they do have 2024 receiving leader Jakobi Meyers, who is 6-2, in the fold already, but with Turner hitting the market, why not bring another taller target in to help Geno Smith? The 6-2 Allen knows the AFC West quite well, thanks to the many years spent with the Chargers. By the end of last season, Las Vegas felt like an afterthought, but by hiring Pete Carroll and acquiring Smith, the Raiders quickly shifted their identity and now appear focused on climbing up the NFL ladder, with a group of veterans leading the way. Adding Allen to the mix will be fun, I promise.
The Eagles shipped out versatile safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson earlier this month as part of a number of defensive departures. Blackmon is a proven baller, needs a job and deserves a chance to play for a contender. Vic Fangio is also a proven expert at fitting versatile players like Blackmon into the perfect roles and maximizing the return. This pairing almost feels too obvious. We can't keep letting the Eagles get away with this!
After returning from a gruesome knee injury, Chubb didn't look like the same back in 2024, then suffered a season-ending foot injury after eight games. Cleveland let him test free agency, but it felt wrong from the start. Even if Chubb isn't who he once was, he's the type of player who should spend his entire career with one team. He's beloved in Cleveland, where the Browns need options at running back. Pairing him with a rookie makes the most sense and also offers he and the Browns the chance to end their story properly.
