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    Best Remaining 2025 NFL Free Agents: Justin Reid, Aaron Rodgers, and Keenan Allen Among Top Available Players

    The legal tampering period has officially opened, which means that NFL free agency has begun. After a flurry of moves on Day 1, there are still some significant names left available. With guys like Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Chris Godwin, and Josh Sweat off the board, who are the best remaining NFL free agents?

    The below analysis is based on PFSN’s Top 121 NFL Free Agent Rankings.

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    Who Are the Best Remaining NFL Free Agents?

    Justin Reid, S | 8th-Best Free Agent

    Steady safety Justin Reid has been a starter for all seven seasons since entering the NFL in 2018 but is still somehow only turning 28 years old in February. Reid has played at least 90% of the snaps in all three seasons since joining the Chiefs and has never played fewer than 13 games in a season.

    Reid had nine passes defended, his most since his rookie season, and multiple interceptions for the first time since 2021. Reid is versatile enough to line up in the box, the deep half, or as the single-high safety in Steve Spagnuolo’s system and figures to be a priority for the Chiefs to retain.

    Risk Level: LOW

    Tyron Smith, OT | 12th-Best Free Agent

    Tyron Smith was still a competent starting left tackle in his 14th season, no small feat given his age (34 years old) and injury history. However, some cracks started to show. Smith allowed five sacks in 10 games for the Jets, the same total he allowed in 43 games from 2019-23 combined.

    He continues to be a disciplined tackle, committing three penalties in 2024 and six over 27 games in the last three seasons combined. His age and injury history likely limit him to one-year contracts for the remainder of his career, but Smith is a worthy stopgap for 2025.

    Risk Level: MEDIUM

    Brandon Scherff, G | 13th-Best Free Agent

    After years of injury woes in Washington, Brandon Scherff has stayed healthy since signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Scherff played all 17 possible games for the third consecutive season after five straight seasons where he missed at least three games every year.

    Scherff didn’t allow a single sack in 592 pass-blocking snaps this season. Among guards, only Trey Smith of the Chiefs (665) had more pass-blocking snaps without allowing a sack. Scherff will play most of next season at 33 years old (his birthday is December 26).

    Risk Level: MEDIUM

    Coleman Shelton, C | 14th-Best Free Agent

    Coleman Shelton started all 17 games for the second consecutive season. After serving as a utilityman for the Rams, Shelton has settled in and played every snap at center for the past two seasons.

    Shelton’s second season as a starter was better than his first in terms of pass protection. He cut his pressure rate allowed from 5.5% in 2023 to 3.8% in 2024. He also cut his QB hits allowed from 11 in 2023 to five in 2024 and committed only three penalties after getting flagged five times in 2023.

    Risk Level: LOW

    Kevin Zeitler, G | 15th-Best Free Agent

    Kevin Zeitler turns 35 this March but has remained as reliable as ever. For the 10th consecutive season, Zeitler started at least 15 games. His 3.2% pressure rate allowed with the Lions was a slight improvement from his 3.5% rate in 2023 with the Ravens. However, he did allow five sacks, as many as his previous three seasons combined.

    The one downside is that Zeitler doesn’t possess much positional versatility. Since 2019, all but three of his snaps have come at right guard. Both the Lions and Ravens also primarily employ gap-blocking schemes, making him a clear but somewhat limited system fit.

    Risk Level: MEDIUM

    J.K. Dobbins, RB | 21st-Best Free Agent

    The story of J.K. Dobbins is pretty straightforward — there are flashes of upside between injuries that make him an intriguing buy at the right price. It seems as if every running back is an injury risk, but with Dobbins only appearing in 37 regular season games since being the 55th overall pick in 2020, we are looking at a body that just isn’t positioned to be a bellcow at the professional level.

    Fortunately for him, more teams are going with a committee approach these days, and his 5.2 career yards-per-carry average on 429 attempts suggest that there is something there for a back who turned 26 in December.

    Last season, despite the hot start, Dobbins picked up 5+ yards on 31.3% of his carries, a noticeable swing in the wrong direction (2022-23: 38%).

    It’s unlikely that any NFL team is going to view him as an every-down back, and with a lack of versatility in his profile (73 career targets), he’s a clunky fit for most offenses, but we’ve seen many different offenses succeed in recent memory. A cheap change-of-pace role could be in store at a cheap price tag.

    Risk Level: MEDIUM TO HIGH

    Keenan Allen, WR | 22nd-Best Free Agent

    Despite being essentially two years older than the next receiver on this list, there is a level of plausible deniability that is at play in Keenan Allen’s profile that doesn’t exist for others.

    Yes, he saw his yards per route run decline by a full yard in 2024 from 2023, but he was a part of a brand new offense that was working in a rookie quarterback with talent all over the place in terms of the receiver position. He was also in a loaded division that put pressure on this offense to be more aggressive than they otherwise would have been.

    If Allen stays in Chicago, it’s hard to like his prospects of bouncing back (2024: 70-744-7) in a meaningful way. Rome Odunze showed signs of development as his rookie season wore on and is positioned to be used next to DJ Moore much more frequently as this team looks to build a future around Caleb Williams.

    MORE: Top 121 Free Agent Rankings (With Grades and Analysis of Every Deal)

    He posted his lowest on-field target share since his rookie season, and him continually being phased out is likely in store. That said, he is a polished route runner who has scored at least six times in seven of eight seasons and ran downfield more in 2024 than any of the previous four seasons.

    Allen has spent over half of his snaps in the slot in five straight campaigns and, if signed into a very specific role, could make a positive impact entering his 13th season. He used to be a system-proof route winner — he can still make a difference but not without the help of savvy scheming.

    Risk Level: MEDIUM

    Calais Campbell, DT | 24th-Best Free Agent

    Calais Campbell turned 38 in September but remained an effective player in his 17th season. Campbell started all 17 games for the Dolphins and recorded 5.0 sacks. His 10.3% pressure rate was virtually identical to the 10.8% rate he recorded with the Falcons in 2023.

    Beyond the pass rush, Campbell remained an effective player on early downs. He recorded a tackle on 21.7% of his run-defense snaps. That was the highest rate of any defensive lineman to play at least 100 snaps against the run in 2024.

    Campbell has talked about considering retirement in past seasons, and there’s no word yet on if he plans to play an 18th season in 2025. Last year, he didn’t sign with the Dolphins until June 18.

    Risk Level: LOW

    Dante Fowler Jr., LB | 25th-Best Free Agent

    Dante Fowler Jr. is one of the more interesting names on this list. His 10.5 sacks is the highest number of any free agent pass rusher this season, and he ranked eighth in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate (20%).

    However, he appears to be an all-or-nothing pass rusher with just a 14.1% pressure rate. Fowler does not offer a huge amount of run support either, with a 10.1% tackle rate.

    Ultimately, Fowler can be a difference-maker, but questions about consistency remain. He had just 17.5 sacks over the previous four seasons and did not have more than 36 pressures in any of those four seasons. This season demonstrated he can be a contributor for a team, but it needs to be in the right spot.

    Risk Level: HIGH

    Joey Bosa, EDGE | 26th-Best Free Agent

    Joey Bosa isn’t the elite pass rusher he once was, but he still had five sacks in 2024 despite playing a career-low 30.9 snaps per game. The Chargers didn’t keep the soon-to-be 30-year-old on his $36.5 million cap hit for 2025, releasing him to pocket the cap savings.

    Bosa’s availability has been in question for some time now. He played 14 games last season, which matched his total from the previous two seasons combined. However, he only averaged 31 snaps per game, the fewest in any season of his career. When he did play, he also produced a mediocre 11.5% pressure rate, which ranked 50th among edge rushers.

    A targeted situational role may preserve Bosa better and improve his pass-rushing production. He’ll still only turn 30 this offseason, so at least one efficient season isn’t beyond the realm of possibility.

    Risk Level: HIGH

    Za’Darius Smith, EDGE | 27th-Best Free Agent

    While it was always a possibility, Za’Darius Smith was a somewhat surprising cut by the Detroit Lions and raises some question marks about how he should be viewed as a free agent. Entering his age 33 season is naturally a concern and his pedigree means the price could be high, but we are talking about a player who has missed two games in the last three years and has 24.5 sacks in that timeframe.

    A 15.9% pressure rate in 2024 does not scream “must sign,” but given that he played nearly 600 snaps, had a solid pressure top sack conversion rate, and a tackle rate greater than 10%, there is still a lot to like about him.

    As a one-year signing, Smith can be a valuable impact player for any contending team. The fact he has been on four teams in four years makes you wonder if there is some kind of red flag, but he is certainly still talented enough to play a role. There should be plenty of suitors for him this offseason, even if it is just a one-year deal.

    Risk Level: LOW

    Tyler Lockett, WR | 28th-Best Free Agent

    The writing was on the wall for Tyler Lockett (33 years old in September) after a breakout season from Jaxon Smith-Njigba — now the veteran receiver looks to wear a different jersey for the first time in his career.

    Availability hasn’t been an issue (15+ games played in every NFL season), but his ability to win downfield is stuck in reverse; that has resulted in a steep yards per route decline (2.36 in 2021, 1.94 in 2022, 1.61 in 2023, and 1.10 in 2024 — 66th of 72 receivers who earned at least 60 targets).

    His 13.6% on-field target rate a season ago came on the heels of four straight years north of 21% — we could be looking at a voice-in-the-room type of add for a team that is already comfortable with its nucleus of pass catchers.

    Risk Level: MEDIUM

    Amari Cooper, WR | 29th-Best Free Agent

    Amari Cooper turns 31 in June and is going to have to prove that Father Time isn’t calling his number if he is going to land a featured role for a competitive team in 2025.

    We saw him thrive with the then-Oakland Raiders to open his career (over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons), catch a career-high 92 balls in Dallas in 2020, and find the end zone nine times with Cleveland in 2022.

    Cooper has over 10,000 career receiving yards and has been labeled as the go-to option for the majority of his time as a pro — those were all the reasons we thought the Bills acquiring him could push a tortured franchise over the top. It didn’t happen.

    After scoring a touchdown in his debut with the team (if you recall, it was on a play where Keon Coleman clearly showed him where to go post-huddle), Cooper saw just two end-zone targets for the rest of the year, a 10-game stretch that included their playoff run.

    At his peak, Cooper was a strong possession receiver with scoring upside, even in limited offenses — by the end of 2024, it wasn’t clear that he was either.

    There have been 240 instances in which a player caught at least five passes in consecutive games since the last time he did it; with his inability to stay on the field for a Buffalo team that was desperate for proven production at the position, there is plenty of doubt when it comes to the level of gas left in the tank.

    With experience and size, Cooper will draw interest from some teams, but he’s going to have to take a reduction in both pay and role. His struggles with the Bills will likely result in underwhelming contract offers. That means there’s not a ton of risk in rolling the dice in the short-term, but there also may not be the upside that is often attached to this name.

    Risk Level: LOW TO MEDIUM

    Jordan Mason (RFA), RB | 30th-Best Free Agent

    The 49ers get the first crack at Jordan Mason, and if there is a team that is not only aware of his abilities but also in need of his services, it would be his current employer.

    Christian McCaffrey has up to three years left on his deal; that alone makes a talented insurance policy like Mason of interest. The tricky part here is how to invest. If another suitor is as interested as his raw numbers suggest is warranted, Mason will be wearing different colors in 2025 and potentially being handed the ball 15 times a game.

    MORE: Top NFL Free Agents By Position

    During his time in the NFL, 44.1% of Mason’s rush attempts have picked up at least five yards. That rate sounds good, and when you layer in context, it’s even better.

    Of the 60 RBs with at least 200 carries across those three seasons, Mason’s rate leads the pack. The next three on that leaderboard (De’Von Achane in Miami, Bucky Irving in Tampa, and Bijan Robinson in Atlanta) are all already labeled as offensive centerpieces, a role that could be on the horizon for this potential star entering his age-26 season.

    The running back position is unique in that a long-term investment is unlikely, but Mason profiles a low-risk, high-reward type, and there are a dozen teams that figure to be tracking what type of offer San Francisco makes.

    Risk Level: VERY LOW

    Eric Kendricks, LB | 34th-Best Free Agent

    Eric Kendricks had a mixed year in 2024. He continued to be an excellent tackler, finishing with career-high numbers against the run (94 tackles) and a 25% tackle rate. However, he struggled against the pass, with just a 10.7% pressure rate and a 101 passer rating allowed. Kendricks allowed a 72.2% completion rate and two touchdown passes.

    Kendricks has now allowed over a 100 passer rating and a 70% completion rate for four years in a row. He has proven useful in earning sacks, with 6.5 sacks over the past two seasons and 12.5 over the last four years. However, he is a net negative against the pass and is likely reaching the point where he is better suited as a two-down linebacker.

    Risk Level: MEDIUM

    Brandon Graham, DE | 35th-Best Free Agent

    Given he will be 37 when the new NFL season begins, Brandon Graham is very much a role player in 2025. However, he can still be a valuable part of any defense, having posted a 13.0% pressure rate and 12.2% tackle rate before getting hurt this year. It will be somewhat of a concern that he only has 6.5 sacks in the last two years, but his ability to contribute in the run game makes up for some of that.

    Graham will not be an every-down player, having averaged just 23.5 snaps per game over the last two seasons, but his knowledge and ability to make an impact should not be underestimated.

    Risk Level: LOW

    Cam Robinson, OT | 38th-Best Free Agent

    For the first time since 2020, Cam Robinson started every game despite a midseason trade from the Jaguars to the Vikings. However, the 29-year-old had a tough transition to Minnesota and allowed 52 pressures. That was the second-most of any offensive lineman in 2024 (Saints’ OT Trevor Penning allowed 54).

    Robinson’s performance was considerably worse after his midseason trade. In 10 games with the Vikings, Robinson allowed a 10.1% pressure rate. Through seven games with the Jaguars, his pressure rate allowed was 6.6%. However, that still would have been his highest rate in a season since 2019 if it sustained.

    Risk Level: HIGH

    Stefon Diggs, WR | 40th-Best Free Agent

    At this moment in time, Stefon Diggs’ (entering his age-31 season) status to open the 2025 regular season is unknown due to the ACL tear he suffered in Week 8. The value of the receiver position is on the rise across the NFL, and that is likely to result in some cautious offers for a player like Diggs who had six straight 1,000-yard seasons before 2024, but most metrics are pointing to such an offer being more hopeful than optimistic.

    When healthy with the Texans, a situation that came preloaded with a franchise-level quarterback who has yet to peak, Diggs averaged just 1.84 yards per route, his lowest rate since 2018. It’s not shocking to see his average depth of target fall off (15.6-yard aDOT in his final season with the Vikings), but he was hovering around 12 yards for three seasons before posting 10.6 in 2023 and 8.3 through eight games in 2024).

    Nothing in Diggs’ profile (from scoring rate on red-zone targets to RAC upside) suggests that he can be a game-changer in this new role and that makes him more of a complementary piece to an already potent offense than one who can level up an average unit.

    Rumors are swirling that the Texans will consider bringing back Diggs at a discount, and that might prove to be the case. Much will depend on reports of his rehab, but all signs point to the age curve taking over, something that NFL teams are generally ahead of.

    Risk Level: LOW TO MEDIUM

    Aaron Rodgers, QB | 52nd-Best Free Agent (No. 1 QB)

    In 2020, Aaron Rodgers produced the third-best season in our QB+ database, but those days are in the rearview. The former MVP has sandwiched the lost season of 2023 with consecutive QB21 finishes per QB+ and that is about where the expectations should be right now as he enters his age-41 season.

    He used to be a talent elevator and now likely needs to be elevated by the talent around him. Rodgers posted the lowest aDOT of his career in 2024 alongside his lowest deep touchdown rate. The late-season play was encouraging, and the downside is minimal. Rodgers had 130 pressured attempts last year, and not a single one of them was intercepted. He profiles as a steadying force for a team that is otherwise set to make a run.

    Risk Level: MEDIUM

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