Top 101 NFL free agents of 2025 ranked by position: Which spots have most/least depth?

Are you getting the revived Darnold from the first 16 games of the 2024 season or the one who couldn’t make quick decisions in the final two blowout losses? Yes. 

Quarterbacks come at a premium on these lists, especially young ones like Fields with some obvious positive attributes. Fields was efficient with Pittsburgh, and some team -- possibly the Steelers -- should want to see more. 

I tend to rank high-quality backup quarterbacks higher than most others. In case you didn’t notice, the QB2 often can make or break your season! In the right system, Winston can still inject a lot of life into a passing game.

No one wanted to pay Wilson last year. After an up-and-down run in Pittsburgh that ultimately showed his shortcomings, Russ profiles more like a quality backup than a good option to start in Week 1.

I’m not going to blame Brissett for looking overwhelmed in a brutal situation in New England. He still would make sense as a low-cost bridge quarterback or backup.

Was Jimmy G’s solid Week 18 start against the Seahawks a proof of concept for the Rams to bring him back as a low-cost starting option?

SEE: Jameis Winston. Jones' running ability raises his floor and he’s shown he can produce when well-protected. But there’s a question whether he’s the same player since his neck injuries and torn ACL.

Jones faded late in an otherwise-excellent season for the Vikings. He’d be a great pickup, especially if paired with a younger option in the backfield.

You’ll never get cheated out of effort from Harris, a quality that goes a long way at running back. He lacks explosion, however, and receiving skills.

Dobbins will bring energy and some long runs to any backfield he joins. The Comeback Player of the Year finalist could look even more explosive now that he’s essentially two full seasons removed from his Achilles tear.

Dowdle topped 1,000 yards rushing after the Cowboys finally settled on him as their bell-cow back. You could do worse if you’re looking for a rugged starter.

Every team needs a good backup running back, especially one who excels on passing downs like Gainwell.

Johnson's 2024 season was more than just his incredible touchdown catch against the Broncos in the playoffs; the seventh-year pro quietly developed into one of the best third-down backs in football.

While Chubb clearly didn’t have the same juice last season after returning from the devastating knee injury he suffered in 2023, sometimes it’s worth betting on the person. Chubb’s will and instincts will never be denied. 

On one hand, Godwin is coming off a dislocated ankle. After his last major injury (a torn ACL), it took him a full season to get back in gear. On the other hand, the ankle injury was suffered early in the 2024 season and he’s still Chris freaking Godwin.

Adams is still an attractive pickup at a presumably reduced rate. Even if he's not as his peak, he'd fit in nicely as a high quality No. 2 receiver with a lot of savvy in a market lacking starters.

Cooper’s one year on, one year off pattern continued in two places last season. By all accounts, he was playing through injuries late in his Bills stint, which helps explain his lack of production. Teams could buy the dip for one last big season at a reasonable price.

Diggs was transitioning to a cagey slot option before tearing his ACL with the Texans. A stay in Houston would make sense for both sides. 

Brown isn’t always a consistent pass catcher, but his speed and route running still travel. The lack of speed available in this market should help "Hollywood" get another decent one-year deal.

The Giants kept trying to bench Slayton, but then he’d wind up being the best receiver on the team every year (... until Malik Nabers showed up). He’d help a rotation as a strong WR3/4, a piece not readily available in this free-agent cycle.

For two magical playoff weeks, Brown became the Commanders' top receiver while showing off impressive burst and a variety of routes. That short stretch earned him some free-agent money.

Williams never looked 100 percent last season, and it's a question if his jump-ball skill set will age well. That said, he’s a buy-low candidate because he could look healthier another year removed from knee surgery.

The guy gets open. I still haven’t given up on Moore as a plus slot receiver. He'll be just 25 years old for the entire 2025 season.

A step slow with the Bears last season, Allen could still help a team as a slot option who uses his smarts to get open.

The lack of production and playing time with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback, particularly down the stretch, is a huge red flag for Hopkins' free agency value.

While Palmer didn’t take the step forward expected under Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles, he’s shown enough to believe he can be a solid rotational receiver.

Mike Tomlin, Dave Canales, John Harbaugh and DeMeco Ryans all gave up on Diontae Johnson in the last 14 months. I can’t remember a contract year going worse ... and yet, the route running and production (4,738 career receiving yards) are worth sneaking into the Top 101.

Leave it to Joe Burrow to revive Gesicki’s career. The veteran can clearly still win one-on-one matchups. 

The former wideout had moments of brilliance with the Saints, although he struggled to stay consistent. Don’t be surprised if Sean Payton goes after him.

Twice given the franchise tag by the Jaguars, Robinson will probably be viewed as a league-average starting left tackle. That’s an upgrade for plenty of teams.

A versatile lineman who has played both tackle spots in Baltimore, Mekari looked a little out of position as a massive starting left guard in 2024. He’s probably best suited as a swingman.

Steelers fans have been complaining about Moore for years ... as he's steadily improved into a serviceable starter at left tackle.

A neck injury cut Smith's season short in 2024. He says he'll take the offseason to consider whether he's going to attempt to play again or not, but he’ll have a job somewhere if he gives it a go.

Taken three picks ahead of Tristan Wirfs in the 2020 NFL Draft, Wills never quite settled in at left tackle. The Browns eventually benched the top-10 pick. A switch to his collegiate position on the right side could be coming.

Serviceable tackle play doesn't seem that exciting until you don't have it.

Stanley has occasionally looked all-world in a career with wild ups, downs and injuries. He’s coming off a fully healthy season where he shined as Lamar Jackson’s blind-side protector. 

A fourth-round pick in 2021, Dalman has proven to be one of the steadier centers in football since taking over as a starter in his second season. He’s a big plus in an outside-zone blocking scheme.

One of the most improved young guards in football, Fries broke his tibia in Week 5 of 2024. He’s likely to get paid plenty despite that injury. 

Young starting guards with draft pedigree don’t usually last in free agency. Jenkins has turned his career around after a slow start in Chicago. 

No one can seem to agree on whether Myers was the weak link in the Packers' strong offensive line or an ascending player. Either way, he's played a lot and is going to get paid to start by some team.

Just when it looked like Zeitler's career was slowing down, he put together an excellent season with the Lions. Could Ben Johnson bring him to Chicago?

A mauler in the run game, Becton’s career was reborn with the Eagles. Will that skill set shine outside of Philadelphia?

Daniels played more than 1,000 snaps in each season from 2021 through ‘23 at a league-average level for the Bears and Steelers. He’s coming off a torn Achilles tendon, which hurts his value greatly.

The four-time Pro Bowler still wants to play despite an assortment of injuries in recent years. It’s a red flag the Colts don’t appear to want him back.

While he never quite lived up to his contract in Jacksonville as a former All-Pro, Scherff has stayed healthy for three years running as a serviceable starter.

The 2021 second-round pick has started 43 games over the last three seasons for one of the best offenses in football.

Sweat has played like a plus starter for nearly his entire seven-year career with the Eagles. He seems likely to leave after taking a pay cut before the 2024 season.

The more I thought about it, the more I was willing to give Reddick a pass for his lost year with the Jets marred by a contract dispute. He might have been top five in this ranking if he'd been a free agent in 2024. 

Mack’s power forward game has aged well. The 11-year veteran can still disrupt the pocket and stop the run -- if you don’t ask him to play every down.

It’s always difficult to price a rising young talent who missed most (or all) of his contract season due to injury. That’s what happened to Koonce in 2024: A knee issue sidelined him just when his career as a quality edge was taking off.

A rolling ball of pass-rush energy, Odeyinbgo has 34 combined sacks and QB hits over the last two years, which is solid production for a part-time player. 

In both play style and career arc, Young reminds me of a poor man’s Jadeveon Clowney. That is not an insult; that’s a path to a long career as a solid starter for hire.

The Giants never seemed to trust Ojulari on a down-to-down basis, but the man can rush the passer. At worst, he’s a useful situational edge rusher. 

Lawrence has never stopped being productive, but he’s turning 33 years old this offseason and is coming off the dreaded Lisfranc injury. 

Once thought of as a disappointing top-10 pick, Fowler has followed the Leonard Floyd career path, becoming a useful edge starter for hire. Guys like Fowler wind up outplaying a lot of first-round rookies for a reasonable price. 

Omenihu has a suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy and a serious injury in his recent past, although he was able to get back on the field for the Chiefs’ recent run to the Super Bowl.

The pass-rush explosion pops off the tape, yet Browning hasn’t been able to put it all together. He was a trade-deadline pickup for the Cardinals last season.

A Week 3 elbow injury ended Davenport’s season with the Lions after he'd already missed time with a groin issue. He's only been healthy enough to play in six games over the last two years.

Recording 5.5 sacks and 31 pressures (per Next Gen Stats) in a contract year will help Golston get a decent deal elsewhere if the Cowboys don't bring him back.

Not re-signing Williams sooner may be the rare Howie Roseman decision he’d like back. It’s hard to ignore Williams may have been the best defensive player on the field in the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. 

Niners GM John Lynch said publicly they will release Hargrave, who was the belle of the ball in free agency a few years ago. He’s coming off a torn triceps but can still help a team. 

Plagued with back injuries for much of his career, Onwuzurike finally improved his durability and consistency in 2024, becoming a favorite of Dan Campbell’s in the process. A good, young rotational lineman. 

This may seem like a high ranking for a year-to-year guy who turns 39 in September, but Campbell is consistently one of the best players on every team he joins. I’m sick of constantly ranking him too low!

Reed is a massive man who has only improved with age as a disruptor.

A young, ornery D-lineman coming from a championship program, Wharton plays with an energy I’d want to get on my roster as a rotational interior player with upside.

Hill has perfected the 700-snap season of useful production that every team needs in a rotation. 

It took Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter to get the best Poona Ford we’ve seen in a few years, and it was pretty damn good!

A starter in 48 games after signing a three-year contract as a free agent with the Broncos in 2022, Jones is a workmanlike player who would fit in a lot of different rush plans. 

Joseph-Day has bounced around, but you can’t find a team that didn’t appreciate his versatility on the defensive line.

He and Jalen Carter were the two best players on the best defense in football. Baun’s versatility -- he played more than 150 snaps as a defensive lineman and in the slot, in addition to his linebacker duties -- unlocked the Eagles defense. They gotta keep him! 

Greenlaw missed most of 2024 after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Super Bowl LVIII. In the brief time he played, however, he looked like Dre Greenlaw: one of the game’s most ferocious linebackers.

Three-down linebackers are hard to find, and Bolton rarely took a snap off as the leader of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Like the running back position, off-ball linebackers who can stay on the field could be recovering some market value.

No one’s value fluctuated more last season. Jones was dumped in trades by the Rams and the Titans, but his intelligence and tackling eventually helped turn the Seahawks' season around. He showed again he can be a difference-maker. 

The Jets players named Sherwood the team MVP in 2024 after the linebacker seemingly came out of nowhere to lead their defense. Former coaches Robert Saleh (49ers) and Jeff Ulbrich (Falcons) could both want him. 

Antonio Pierce loved Spillane and helped turn his career around. Now, he’s a three-down linebacker with a penchant for big plays.

A playmaker in Arizona, White has great leverage in contract talks with the Cardinals: Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis gave his son the middle name "Kyzir."

While Wagner upgraded the leadership in the Commanders' locker room, teams repeatedly targeted him in coverage last season. It’s remarkable he hasn’t transitioned yet into a part-time role; now could be the time.

Still uncanny as a blitzer and in run defense, David started to finally show some wear and tear in pass coverage in 2024. He's said previously he only wants to play for the Bucs and retirement is on the table.

Dodson was not a fit for Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald’s defense. He was waived, then quickly found a home in Miami, where he settled in as a nice three-down addition to the Dolphins' defense.

Davis has more value to Detroit or any defense that plays heavy man-to-man coverage, a skill he’s excellent at.

Ward was one of the best cornerbacks in football until 2024, when the tragic death of his daughter turned his life and career upside down. Ward spoke eloquently after the season about needing a fresh start away from California, and I wouldn’t bet against a player who has consistently beat the odds. 

A prototypical No. 2 cornerback who excels by not getting noticed, Reed could be targeted by one of his former coaches now in Las Vegas, San Francisco or Atlanta.

Murphy lived up to the two-year, $22 million free-agent deal he signed with Minnesota in 2023. The Pro Bowler is feisty, still young and can play inside and out.

Knocked for his poor tackling and inability to play press coverage, Samuel is a playmaker who steadily improved in his Chargers tenure. He’d be a big asset in the right system. 

A great example of the inconsistency in cornerback play, Adebo bounced from benched to star status in New Orleans before a slow start in 2024 ended with a broken femur. He’s shown he can play at a high level.

I always believed! Fulton’s had stretches in Tennessee and then Los Angeles where he performed like a plus starter on the outside. He's earned a multi-year contract after a strong season with the Chargers.

A good nickel cornerback in a league that is starting to better understand the position's value.

A do-everything defensive back whom the Cowboys have always raved about for his intangibles, Lewis' on-field production in 2024 sets him up well to get a decent payday.

It’s remarkable how Gilmore continues to provide solid starting cornerback play via physicality and smarts. Most of the 34-year-old’s contemporaries are long retired. 

Douglas' playmaking has led to some great seasons. The 2024 campaign wasn’t one of them, and his lack of speed could make him a risky free-agent pickup (like most aging corners).

Blackmon started 16 games for the Colts last season despite tearing his rotator cuff in Week 1. He’s settled into a strong career as a starting safety.

One of the defining slot corners of his generation, Hilton can still get home on a blitz and cover well enough to be worth another short-term deal.

The former Seahawk found a home in Carolina as a starting cornerback who held up surprisingly well in the 2024 season. 

Injuries contributed to Fuller going one-and-done in Miami, but he remains a starting-level player at nickel.

A good player with a penchant for big plays, Holland hasn’t looked the same since his 2023 knee injury. It’s unclear how much a down 2024 season will hurt his value because he should be the top safety available.

I send a rough draft of my list to some of the smartest people I know in the business to ask for their outliers. More than one said Moehrig could not be placed high enough.

Veteran safeties don’t often get paid in free agency, yet Reid has stabilized two defenses (Texans and Chiefs) during his seven-year career.

A sensation as a second-year All-Pro player, Hufanga’s hard-hitting, risk-taking style has led to some serious injuries and missed assignments over the last two seasons. He’s an intriguing energy-shifter.

A player who probably has more value to the Vikings than any other team because of his intelligence in Brian Flores’ system -- and his creativity with celebrations! -- Bynum should be re-signed so that the Vikings don’t have to replace their entire secondary.

The Commanders used Chinn as a safety/linebacker hybrid, and he was strong against the run.

Simmons, while no longer a Pro Bowler, still added veteran know-how to the Falcons' secondary last season.