NFL’s Top 50 free agents, ranked, with predictions for where they’ll land

NFL Free Agency officially begins on Wednesday, March 12 at 4 p.m., but as usual we’re going to start hearing about deals far before that. The league’s legal tampering period opens at noon on Monday, March 10 — and this is when deals can start being made and agreed to, even if pen can’t be put to paper.

The 2025 free agent class is fascinating. It’s light on earth-shattering, big-name talent — but deep when it comes to really good football players who can legitimately help teams turn the corner, or get over the hump. Couple this with numerous teams amassing a large amount of cap space, and contenders struggling to get under the cap figure — well, it’s going to be a busy period.

Today we have assembled our final list of the Top 50 free agents this year, and offered a brief prediction on where we think they’re going to end up.

No. 1: WR Chris Godwin
Past team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Prediction: New England Patriots
Signed with: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The New England Patriots have a massive need at wide receiver, even after drafting both Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker a year ago. They also have a lot of money to spend.

No. 2: S Jevon Hollard
Past team: Miami Dolphins
Prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars
Signed with: New York Giants

It feels like Holland is the odd man out for the Dolphins’ future after a pretty down year in 2024. Despite that, his versatility to play on the roof of a defense will be in high demand. He will not have to move far, however.

No. 3: QB Sam Darnold
Past team: Minnesota Vikings
Prediction: Seattle Seahawks
Signed with: Seattle Seahawks

We had this as a clear-cut re-signing in Minnesota, and then the Geno Smith trade happened. Signs now point to the Seahawks focusing on Darnold, and the Vikes won’t bother getting into an intense bidding war.

No. 4: EDGE Josh Sweat
Past team: Philadelphia Eagles
Prediction: Arizona Cardinals
Signed with: Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals need some help up front, and a reunion between Josh Sweat and Jonathan Gannon, his former defensive coordinator, makes a lot of sense.

No. 5: DT Milton Williams
Past team: Philadelphia Eagles
Prediction: New England Patriots
Signed with: New England Patriots

The New England Patriots granted defensive tackle Davon Godchaux permission to seek a trade. That, plus their cap space, could open the door to Williams in New England.

No. 6: CB D.J. Reed
Past team: New York Jets
Prediction: New York Jets
Signed with: Detroit Lions

It is hard to believe that new head coach Aaron Glenn, a former defensive back himself, is going to let D.J. Reed play somewhere else next season.

No. 7: CB Carlton Davis
Past team: Detroit Lions
Prediction: Detroit Lions
Signed with: New England Patriots

Davis should command a strong market after a standout season in Detroit before injury. For teams needing feisty man coverage corners, Davis is near the top of the list. That should lead to him staying with the Lions ... if they can afford his asking price.

No. 8: CB Charvaris Ward
Past team: San Francisco 49ers
Prediction: Carolina Panthers
Signed with: Indianapolis Colts

Ward wants a move to the east coast and Carolina is exactly the type of place that need another solid cornerback. It’s a great place to showcase his skills, and the organization could be the nurturing place Ward needs right now.

No. 9: C Drew Dalman
Past team: Atlanta Falcons
Prediction: Chicago Bears
Signed with: Chicago Bears

GM Ryan Poles is going all-in on fixing the Bears’ offensive line for Caleb Williams and center is the last problem spot. Dalman is an elite run blocking C, and good enough in pass pro to help take the next step forward.

No. 10: CB Byron Murphy
Past team: Minnesota Vikings
Prediction: Minnesota Vikings
Signed with: Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings gotta keep one of their DBs, right? Murphy broke out this past season en route to a Pro Bowl nod, so the best thing for both sides might be keeping this good thing rolling.

No. 11: LB Dre Greenlaw
Past team: San Francisco 49ers
Prediction: San Francisco 49ers
Signed with: Denver Broncos

It would be hard to see Greenlaw leave San Francisco, where he makes for the perfect running mate next to Fred Warner. Both sides should try to get a deal done.

No. 12: OG Will Fries
Past team: Indianapolis Colts
Prediction: Miami Dolphins
Signed with: Minnesota Vikings

Mike McDaniel has not exactly prioritized the interior offensive line during his Miami tenure. That should change this offseason and Fries would be a very good addition for them.

No. 13: EDGE Haason Reddick
Past team: New York Jets
Prediction: Arizona Cardinals
Signed with: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Returning to where it all began, but this time with support. Haason Reddick really hasn’t been happy since he left the Eagles, and reunited with former DC Jonathan Gannon is a good place to find his footing.

No. 14: QB Justin Fields
Past team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers
Signed with: New York Jets

Justin Fields showed early last season that he can run Arthur Smith’s offense. With Pittsburgh sitting at No. 21 in the first round the Steelers are likely out of range of one of the top QBs, but Fields with a Day Two pick might be the best course of action for them.

No. 15: WR Amari Cooper
Past team: Buffalo Bills
Prediction: Green Bay Packers

Green Bay needs to make some additions to their wide receiver room, and adding a veteran in Cooper might also aid Jordan Love’s development under center.

No. 16: CB Asante Samuel
Past team: Los Angeles Chargers
Prediction: New Orleans Saints
Signed with: New York Jets

With both Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton hitting free agency, Los Angeles might have a tough time getting both back. Samuel will get some interest on the open market and the Saints have glaring needs in the secondary.

No. 17: S Tre’von Moehrig
Past team: Las Vegas Raiders
Prediction: Las Vegas Raiders
Signed with: Carolina Panthers

Moehrig is too good for the Raiders to leave, and Pete Carroll has always had an affinity for safety play. Expect this to be a priority to Las Vegas early.

No. 18: EDGE Malcolm Koonce
Past team: Las Vegas Raiders
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Signed with: Las Vegas Raiders

It’s unlikely the Raiders will commit cap space to Koonce now they’ve locked up Maxx Crosby, and that opens a window. The Bucs need edge rush help, and coming off an injury Koonce is precisely the kind of value pickup they’ll look for.

No. 19: EDGE Khalil Mack
Past team: Los Angeles Chargers
Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers
Signed with: Los Angeles Chargers

After cutting Joey Bosa it’s extremely unlikely the Chargers allow Mack to walk as well. This seems like a clear-cut signing for both parties.

No. 20: OT Cam Robinson
Past team: Minnesota Vikings
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs

As things stand right now the Chiefs are going to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side with D.J. Humphries and Kingsley Suamataia. Expect that to change after what we saw in Super Bowl LIX.

No. 21: WR Stefon Diggs
Past team: Houston Texans
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs

This would be an extremely Chiefs signing. The team is in dire need of more weapons on offense, but lacks the cap space to make a truly splashy move. Diggs would be incredible in Kansas City, if he can get along with people and remain healthy.

No. 22: S Justin Reid
Past team: Kansas City Chiefs
Prediction: Buffalo Bills
Signed with: New Orleans Saints

The Bills are in dire need of an upgrade at safety, and Justin Reid fits the bill perfectly. Not only is this a good football move, but the precise kind of knife the Bills want to drive into the Chiefs.

No. 23: OG Teven Jenkins
Past team: Chicago Bears
Prediction: Chicago Bears

Jenkins was about the only good thing on the Bears’ OL. They have the cap space to make this happen. It’s almost a foregone conclusion they’ll keep him unless Chicago has a big move up its sleeve.

No. 24: LB Jamien Sherwood
Past team: New York Jets
Prediction: Denver Broncos
Signed with: New England Patriots

The Broncos need upgrades at linebacker and Sherwood is one of the best all-around options in free agency.

No. 25: DT Levi Onwuzurike
Past team: Detroit Lions
Prediction: Washington Commanders

The Commanders were one of the worst run-stopping teams in the NFL last season and need to bolster their inside. Onwuzurike will help upgrade the interior immensely, and still have enough tread on the tires to give Washington a full contract of production.

No. 26: DT Javon Hargrave
Past team: San Francisco 49ers
Prediction: New York Jets
Signed with: Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Glenn is going to put a premium on defense in New York, and Hargrave is the ideal anchor and locker room presence he needs.

No. 27: CB Paulson Adebo
Past team: New Orleans Saints
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Signed with: New York Giants

The Bucs’ ethos in 2024 was lots of scoring, but allowing a ton of yards through the air. Adebo would be a solid addition at a price that won’t break the bank. It would allow the corner to stay in the NFC South, but upgrade to a team with a much brighter future.

No. 28: C Josh Myers
Past team: Green Bay Packers
Prediction: Atlanta Falcons

With Drew Dalman off to Chicago — at least in these predictions — a hole will open on the interior of Atlanta’s offensive line. Josh Myers would be a solid Plan B for the Falcons.

No. 29: EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo
Past team: Indianapolis Colts
Prediction: New Orleans Saints
Signed with: Chicago Bears

The Saints don’t have a lot of room to operate, meaning Odeyingbo is pretty much the ceiling of where they can operate. We have them losing Chase Young in this free agency period, and this would be a solid replacement.

No. 30: OG Kevin Zeitler
Past team: Detroit Lions
Prediction: Minnesota Vikings

Interior offensive line is a massive problem for Minnesota. If it’s indeed J.J. McCarthy’s time to start they need to bolster this quickly, and Zeitler is a solid veteran who can bridge for them.

No. 31: RB Aaron Jones
Past team: Minnesota Vikings
Prediction: Minnesota Vikings
Signed with: Minnesota Vikings

There’s a lot of cap room to play with here, and that means Minnesota won’t part ways with a crucial offense weapon who can make life easier for J.J. McCarthy in his first season as starter.

No. 32: DE Jonathan Allen
Past team: Washington Commanders
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams
Signed with: Minnesota Vikings

This would be a solid landing spot for a guy looking to make a couple of playoff runs into his 30s. Allen is slowing down, there’s no questioning that — but he’s still a good rotational pass rusher with a chance to get reps.

No. 33: S Talanoa Hufanga
Past team: San Francisco 49ers
Prediction: San Francisco 49ers
Signed with: Denver Broncos

The 49ers aren’t dumb when it comes to knowing who to retain. Hufanga is too important to their defense to lose, and it’s not in his best interest to head elsewhere.

No. 34: EDGE Chase Young
Past team: New Orleans Saints
Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals
Signed with: New Orleans Saints

With the Bengals losing both Sam Hubbard (retirement) and potentially Trey Hendrickson, they’ll need to make multiple additions on the edge. Chase Young seems like a worthy flyer of an investment.

No. 35: WR Darius Slayton
Past team: New York Giants
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Signed with: New York Giants

Assuming the Buccaneers lose Chris Godwin in free agency — as we are assuming here with a prediction he lands in New England — Tampa Bay will need to add a receiver or two this offseason. Slayton would give them a solid option, while they might look for a slot presence in the draft as well.

No. 36: CB Rasul Douglas
Past team: Buffalo Bills
Prediction: New England Patriots

Patriots fans are clamoring for Travis Hunter with the fourth-overall pick, but adding Douglas in free agency gives them an option across from Christian Gonzalez should Hunter come off the board with one of the first three selections.

No. 37: EDGE Azeez Ojulari
Past team: New York Giants
Prediction: Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are in dire need of help at edge rusher and have said they have plans in free agency. The 24-year-old is precisely the kind of move that makes sense to add youth at the position and potentially someone who can make a name for himself on a new team.

No. 38: WR Tyler Lockett
Past team: Seattle Seahawks
Prediction: Carolina Panthers

The Panthers need a low-cost, high-skill veteran receiver who can work the outside. Lockett is the kind of burner the team needs, and there’s ample familiarity between HC Dave Canales and GM Dan Morgan after their time together in Seattle.

No. 39: RB Najee Harris
Past team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Prediction: Las Vegas Raiders

With the Geno Smith trade the Raiders are likely out of the market for a quarterback with the sixth-overall selection. Both WR and RB are needs for Las Vegas, making Ashton Jeanty an option for them in that spot. But should the Raiders go in a different direction and address WR in the draft, Harris is another means of adding to their running game.

No. 40: CB Kristian Fulton
Past team: Los Angeles Chargers
Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers
Signed with: Kansas City Chiefs

With the assumption Asante Samuel Jr. finds a suitor on the open market, the Chargers work to keep Fulton in the mix for 2025.

No. 41: OL Mekhi Becton
Past team: Philadelphia Eagles
Prediction: Tennessee Titans

I think Becton’s market is going to be interesting to watch. Does he remain at guard, or try and get tackle money in free agency? His best year was as an emphatic run blocking guard, but someone is going to bank on the potential.

No. 42: WR Dynami Brown
Past team: Washington Commanders
Prediction: Buffalo Bills
Signed with: Jacksonville Jaguars

With Khalil Shakir signed to a new deal Buffalo has their option in the slot, but they need a receiver on the outside that can stress defenses and give Josh Allen a playmaker on the boundary. Dyami Brown could return to Washington, but the Bills make a great deal of sense.

No. 43: DT Calais Campbell
Past team: Miami Dolphins
Prediction: Detroit Lions

At 38-years-old the allure for Campbell will be trying to get that ring before his career comes to an end. There’s a need in Detroit, and he’d fit well here both from a scheme and personality perspective, but also the money will be right

No. 44: OL Patrick Mekari
Past team: Baltimore Ravens
Prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars
Signed with: Jacksonville Jaguars

Mekari is a below-average run blocker, which isn’t great for a guard — but he’s a very solid pass protector that the Jaguars are in need of. We know inside-out is how teams are building offensive lines now, which makes this a good fit.

No. 45: EDGE Joey Bosa
Past team: Los Angeles Chargers
Prediction: San Francisco 49ers
Signed with: Buffalo Bills

It might be a short-term deal to pair up the Bosa bros, but there will be a lot of internal pressure to do it. This is a very 49ers move to shore up their pass rushing.

No. 46: S Camryn Bynum
Past team: Minnesota Vikings
Prediction: Cleveland Browns
Signed with: Indianapolis Colts

Cleveland needs some help in the middle of the field, and Bynum gives them a solid option at free safety.

No. 47: CB Milke Hilton
Past team: Cincinnati Bengals
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Once again the Bucs look to overhaul their secondary in a cheap, effective way. Hilton would add to a struggling unit and help morph Tampa Bay from being one dimensional.

No 48: QB Russell Wilson
Past team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Prediction: New York Giants

Russ doesn’t cook anymore, he microwaves soup. At this point he’s probably a backup in the NFL, but the Giants are in such a bad spot at QB that they’ll likely take a flier on him to be their bridge QB.

No. 49: QB Jameis Winston
Past team: Cleveland Browns
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers

Jameis is the perfect backup for a high-end team. He’s a positive force in the locker room, doesn’t create drama, and performs when called for. We have the Steelers re-signing Justin Fields, so they need a steady backup in case things go off the rails.

No. 50: EDGE DeMarcus Lawrence
Past team: Dallas Cowboys
Prediction: Washington Commanders

This would be a low-stakes, rotational pass rushing move for the Commanders who have cap space to make moves. Lawrence would bolster the unit as a whole and has familiarity with Dan Quinn from their time in Dallas.