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Top NFL free agents at every position

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With the new league year officially underway, here's a look at the best NFL players hitting the market at each position:

Jump to:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | EDGE | DL | LB | CB | S

Quarterbacks

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 Sam Darnold 27 MIN SEA
2 Aaron Rodgers 41 NYJ -
3 Justin Fields 26 PIT NYJ
4 Russell Wilson 36 PIT -
5 Daniel Jones 27 MIN IND
6 Jameis Winston 31 CLE NYG
7 Jacoby Brissett 32 NE ARI
8 Marcus Mariota 31 WAS WAS
9 Jimmy Garoppolo 33 LAR LAR
10 Mac Jones 26 JAX SF

This is a very interesting quarterback group, featuring at least three potential starters for 2025. Our top QBs - Darnold and Rodgers - are in very different stages in their careers. Darnold is hitting free agency after a breakout year in Minnesota, while Rodgers is trying to prove he still has something left in the tank after a disappointing stint with the Jets.

Running backs

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 Aaron Jones 30 MIN MIN
2 J.K. Dobbins 26 LAC -
3 Najee Harris 26 PIT LAC
4 Nick Chubb 29 CLE -
5 Rico Dowdle 26 DAL CAR
6 Javonte Williams 24 DEN DAL
7 Kenneth Gainwell 25 PHI PIT
8 Cam Akers 25 MIN -
9 Kareem Hunt 29 KC KC
10 Miles Sanders 27 CAR DAL

This running back class isn't nearly as stacked as last year's, but the position is expected to be a hot topic again following Saquon Barkley's and Derrick Henry's monster 2024 seasons. Could a change of scenery help more tailbacks regain their forms in '25?

Wide receivers

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 Chris Godwin 29 TB TB
2 Davante Adams 32 NYJ LAR
3 Cooper Kupp 31 LAR SEA
4 Stefon Diggs 31 HOU -
5 Amari Cooper 30 BUF -
6 Darius Slayton 28 NYG NYG
7 Tyler Lockett 32 SEA -
8 Keenan Allen 32 CHI -
9 Josh Palmer 25 LAC BUF
10 DeAndre Hopkins 32 KC BAL
11 Elijah Moore 24 CLE -
12 Dyami Brown 25 WAS JAX
13 Diontae Johnson 28 BAL -
14 Mike Williams 30 PIT LAC
15 Demarcus Robinson 30 LAR SF

Wide receiver might be the deepest position group in 2025 free agency, with several high-profile pass-catchers available. Coming off an injury-plagued season, Godwin headlines this group after previously being tagged by the Buccaneers twice.

Tight ends

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 Juwan Johnson 28 NO NO
2 Evan Engram 30 JAX DEN
3 Tyler Conklin 29 NYJ LAC
4 Austin Hooper 30 NE NE
5 John Bates 27 WAS WAS
6 Kylen Granson 26 IND PHI
7 Mo Alie-Cox 31 IND -
8 Gerald Everett 30 CHI -
9 Jordan Akins 32 CLE -
10 Harrison Bryant 26 LV PHI

There's a lack of star power among free-agent tight ends. That said, Johnson did post a 50-548-3 stat line in 2024 despite the New Orleans Saints playing part of the season with their backup QBs.

Offensive linemen

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 Cam Robinson (LT) 29 MIN HOU
2 Drew Dalman (C) 26 ATL CHI
3 Will Fries (G) 26 IND MIN
4 Mekhi Becton (G) 25 PHI LAC
5 Kevin Zeitler (G) 34 DET TEN
6 Ryan Kelly (C) 31 IND MIN
7 Josh Myers (C) 26 GB NYJ
8 Dan Moore Jr. (LT) 26 PIT TEN
9 Teven Jenkins (G) 27 CHI CLE
10 Shaq Mason (G) 31 HOU -

Most of these free-agent linemen come with questions, including injuries, age, or inconsistent play. That might explain why the Chicago Bears traded for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson to add much-needed O-line help.

Defensive linemen

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 Milton Williams 25 PHI NE
2 Jonathan Allen 30 WAS MIN
3 Grady Jarrett 31 ATL CHI
4 Levi Onwuzurike 27 DET DET
5 Javon Hargrave 32 SF MIN
6 Poona Ford 29 LAC LAR
7 Tershawn Wharton 26 KC CAR
8 D.J. Jones 30 DEN DEN
9 B.J. Hill 29 CIN CIN
10 Maliek Collins 29 SF CLE

Williams is the main event for this year's class of free-agent defensive linemen after a monster Super Bowl performance. This group also features a blend of youth, such as Onwuzurike and Wharton, while veterans like Allen, Hargrave, and Campbell round out the best of the bunch.

Edge rushers

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 Josh Sweat 27 PHI ARI
2 Khalil Mack 34 LAC LAC
3 Joey Bosa 29 LAC BUF
4 Haason Reddick 30 NYJ TB
5 Malcolm Koonce 26 LV LV
6 Za'Darius Smith 32 DET -
7 Dayo Odeyingbo 25 IND CHI
8 Azeez Ojulari 24 NYG PHI
9 Chase Young 25 NO NO
10 Dante Fowler 30 WAS DAL
11 DeMarcus Lawrence 32 DAL SEA
12 Von Miller 35 BUF -
13 Matthew Judon 32 ATL -
14 Charles Omenihu 27 KC KC
15 Preston Smith 32 PIT -

There's a lot of edge-rushing talent available in this free-agency class. Want to bet on a potential star like Sweat or Koonce? Be prepared to open the checkbook. How about a short-term veteran? There's plenty of those too with Mack, Fowler, and even Bosa, who was released last week. There are also younger options in Ojulari and Young, who have shown a knack for getting after the quarterback.

Linebacker

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 Nick Bolton 24 KC KC
2 Dre Greenlaw 27 SF DEN
3 Jamien Sherwood 25 NYJ NYJ
4 C.J. Mosley 32 NYJ -
5 Ernest Jones 25 SEA SEA
6 Kyzir White 28 ARI -
7 Robert Spillane 29 LV NE
8 Tyrel Dodson 26 MIA MIA
9 Divine Deablo 26 LV ATL
10 Elandon Roberts 30 PIT LV

The linebacker class is very top-heavy. Bolton and Greenlaw are sure bets, while Sherwood is coming off a breakout year. There are a lot of players who can excel if their weaknesses are covered.

Cornerbacks

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 D.J. Reed 28 NYJ DET
2 Charvarius Ward 28 SF IND
3 Byron Murphy Jr. 27 MIN MIN
4 Darius Slay 34 PHI PIT
5 Rasul Douglas 30 BUF -
6 Carlton Davis 28 DET NE
7 Asante Samuel Jr. 25 LAC -
8 Stephon Gilmore 34 MIN -
9 Nate Hobbs 25 LV GB
10 Jourdan Lewis 29 DAL JAX

Reed is one of the top defensive players available. Ward has also been a solid starter in the San Francisco 49ers' secondary, while Murphy grabbed a career-high six picks in 2024. There's also a blend of youth, veteran, boundary, and slot talent to pick from after moving past the headliners.

Safeties

Rank Player Age '24 team '25 team
1 Jevon Holland 25 MIA NYG
2 Tre'von Moehrig 25 LV CAR
3 Talanoa Hufanga 25 SF DEN
4 Justin Reid 28 KC NO
5 Camryn Bynum 26 MIN IND
6 Jeremy Chinn 27 WAS LV
7 Julian Blackmon 26 IND -
8 Andre Cisco 24 JAX NYJ
9 Justin Simmons 31 ATL -
10 Marcus Williams 28 BAL -

Holland is the big fish, but he wouldn't be the only major catch from this safety group. Moehrig has five interceptions over the last two seasons, while Hufanga is only two seasons removed from an All-Pro year. Reid is as proven as they come, while Bynum, Chinn, Blackmon, and Cisco would surely improve any secondary, too.

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