Diontae Johnson, a 28-year-old wide receiver, is a potential free-agent target for the Buffalo Bills. In the 2024 season, he played for the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans, totaling 33 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns. Despite a turbulent season, his previous Pro Bowl performance in 2021 highlights his talent. The Bills, seeking to enhance their receiving corps after Amari Cooper's departure, might consider Johnson a high-upside addition at a potentially discounted rate.
Mike Hilton struggled in 2024, allowing four touchdowns on just 61 targets and a 92 passer rating when targeted. Those numbers were his worst since his first year in Cincinnati and the second worst in his career so far. Teams must decide whether 2024 was a blip or a sign of a 30-year-old corner losing a step. His role as a slot corner carries a lot of value, but it can also be a tough spot for an aging corner if they are losing half a step.
D.J. Reed is perhaps the top option in free agency. While his passer rating allowed (87.1) ranked just 50th this season, it is his consistency that is key. That was the highest passer rating allowed by Reed since his second year in the league. That is five years with a passer rating allowed of 87.1 or lower. Reed has allowed more than two touchdowns in coverage only once in his career, back in 2021.
The former second-round pick started all 17 games during his first season in Washington. Chinn was utilized everywhere during his four seasons in Carolina, at times playing more linebacker than safety. Chinn recorded five passes defended in 2024, a big jump from his total of one in 2023. He also set a career-high with seven tackles for loss and tied his most tackles in a season with 117.
Chase Young appears to be getting better as his NFL career goes on, with back-to-back years with 66 pressures and pressure rates of 14.7% and 14.6% in those two seasons. One element where Young deserves a lot of respect is that he plays a lot of snaps, with 697 this year after 699 last year. Among defensive ends, that 697 ranks 16th, but within that group, only Trey Hendrickson has a lower tackle rate than Young’s 7.8%.
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.
Dante Fowler Jr. is one of the more interesting names on this list. His 10.5 sacks are the highest number of any free agent pass rusher this season, and he ranked eighth in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate (20%). 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.
Dobbins finished with 905 yards and nine touchdowns on 195 carries. He added a further 153 yards on 32 receptions with an 84.2% catch rate. Over the last three years, Dobbins has played just 22 of a possible 51 games. That means he is fresher than the average 26-year-old but is not someone teams will feel comfortable relying on as their lead back. There is definitely some upside in Dobbins’ profile, and he has the most upside in this free agency class.
Aaron Jones He ranked 23rd in rush success rate (40.4%) and 19th in pass success rate (56.5%). His numbers in the receiving game were also solid, and he finished with 1,546 yards from scrimmage at an average of 5.1 yards per touch. Jones is a more-than-solid veteran option and can be the leader of a backfield.
After forcing his way out of Philadelphia, Reddick then took a long time to suit up for the New York Jets, only playing 10 games. When he did get on the field, the numbers were not that impressive, with just one sack, an 11.6% pressure rate, and a 6.4% tackle rate. Reddick’s upside is clear, having had double-digit sacks in each of the previous four seasons. Durability is a big plus, as Reddick played over 800 snaps in three of the last five seasons and hit 791 in a fourth.
