2025 NFL Free Agent Mock Draft: Projecting Top 10 Picks if Free Agency Had a Draft
Over the next couple of months, NFL fans will witness the two main avenues of offseason player acquisition. First will be free agency, which will unofficially begin with the legal-contract window on March 10.
The draft will follow on April 24-26, and for many incoming rookies, getting to free agency in four or five years will be a massive goal. Prospects can't pick their NFL destinations, and because the league doesn't utilize a lottery system, the previous year's worst teams are, barring trades, at the top of the draft order. First-year contracts are also slotted by the rookie wage scale.
Free agency doesn't work this way. Not only can players pick their destinations on the open market, but they can also cash in with lucrative contracts limited by only what a team can and is willing to spend.
What if free agency and the draft were more similar? Even in a parallel universe, it's hard to imagine the NFL limiting a veteran's earnings potential, but imagine a world in which the worst teams got exclusive negotiating rights with the best free agents.
We'd probably see even more tanking if the NFL's quest for parity extended into free agency.
In this hypothetical exercise, we'll examine how a free-agent draft might look in 2025. We'll utilize the current draft order and pair players with teams based on past production, upside, age, positional value and team needs.
Projected 2025 Cap Space
1 of 11
The NFL, of course, doesn't utilize a draft to settle free agency. The teams with the most available cap space will have a strong chance to land the best veterans, though many players will consider other factors.
Since this is a look at some of the top impending 2025 free agents—at least, those scheduled to be available ahead of the March 4 franchise-tag deadline—it's worth examining how the salary-cap landscape looks.
The following figures are projections that can and will change before free agency officially kicks off on March 12. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the final salary cap is expected to fall between $277.5 million to $281.5 million per franchise.
New England Patriots: $123.9 million
Las Vegas Raiders: $92.7 million
Washington Commanders: $79.5 million
Chicago Bears: $74.7 million
Los Angeles Chargers: $65.7 million
Arizona Cardinals: $63.5 million
Minnesota Vikings: $58.6 million
Cincinnati Bengals: $53.1 million
Pittsburgh Steelers: $50.7 million
Tennessee Titans: $49.8 million
Detroit Lions: $48.5 million
New York Giants: $45.1 million
Green Bay Packers $37 million
Denver Broncos: $36.5 million
San Francisco 49ers: $36.4 million
Los Angeles Rams: $35.8 million
Jacksonville Jaguars: $29.1 million
Indianapolis Colts: $24.4 million
Carolina Panthers: $22.3 million
Philadelphia Eagles: $7.5 million
New York Jets: $7 million
Baltimore Ravens: $6.2 million
Kansas City Chiefs: $3.2 million
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -$3.6 million
Dallas Cowboys: -$4.5 million
Houston Texans: -$4.5 million
Miami Dolphins: -$8.5 million
Atlanta Falcons: -$11.2 million
Seattle Seahawks: -$19.4 million
Buffalo Bills: -$19.6 million
Cleveland Browns: -$33.2 million
New Orleans Saints: -$61 million
1. Tennessee Titans: QB Sam Darnold
2 of 11
The Tennessee Titans "earned" the top pick in April's draft with a 3-14 record. They'll be faced with a tough decision because the Titans need an answer at quarterback, yet top prospects like Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders aren't considered can't-miss players.
If Tennessee's ineptitude was also rewarded with the top pick in a free-agent draft, the franchise could make its draft decision a lot easier by grabbing Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold had a disappointing end to his 2024 campaign, but he was a Pro Bowler, helped deliver 14 wins and will only turn 28 in June. He isn't the top player on Bleacher Report's free-agent big board, but he's the top signal-caller and would help fill a massive void in Tennessee's offense.
Selecting Darnold to open free agency would clear the way for the Titans to draft a high-end positional prospect like Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter, Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham or Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter first overall in April.
Now, this is a proverbial double dip that the Titans may actually be able to make this offseason. Tennessee has more available cap space than most and could afford Darnold's four-year, $160.5 million projected market value.
2. Cleveland Browns: OT Alaric Jackson
3 of 11
Because of the disaster that is Deshaun Watson's contract, the Cleveland Browns may be willing to gamble on a rookie QB with the second overall pick. Getting a signal-caller on a rookie deal may provide Cleveland's only chance of being competitive while paying Watson $72.9 million to take up a roster spot.
Even if Darnold were on the board, the Browns might prefer Sanders or Ward on a rookie deal.
If Cleveland hopes to rely on a first-year signal-caller, though, it must find an answer at left tackle. Jedrick Wills Jr. proved not to be the answer and will likely depart in free agency this year.
Alaric Jackson of the Los Angeles Rams would be an ideal target in a free-agency draft. Cleveland would have to creatively structure his contract—Jackson has a projected market value of $16 million annually—but the 26-year-old would help solve the Browns' second-biggest offensive need.
Though Jackson has only been a full-time starter for the past two seasons, he's played well for the Rams. Pro Football Focus ranked him 18th among all offensive tackles for the 2024 season.
Jackson's age and upside make him a more attractive "draft" option than more proven tackles like the 30-year-old Ronnie Stanley or the 29-year-old Cam Robinson. Cleveland probably won't find the cap space to make this addition work in the real world. If the Browns' 2024 struggles gave them a chance to secure a dependable left tackle, however, they'd almost certainly jump on the opportunity.
.jpg?w=256 "Chiefs Giants Football")
3. New York Giants: G Trey Smith
4 of 11
Like the Titans and Browns, the New York Giants need a long-term answer at quarterback. If Darnold were off the board in a free-agent draft, however, New York would know that it could draft either Sanders or Ward in April.
Regardless of how the Giants might view the 2025 rookie QB class, there isn't a free-agent signal-caller worthy of the third overall selection. Justin Fields has upside but an inconsistent resume. Russell Wilson is 36 and past his prime.
Instead of overdrafting a quarterback, the Giants could simply snag Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith, the top-ranked player on the B/R board.
Smith, who will only turn 26 in June, is an elite run-blocker who can more than hold his own in pass protection. Pro Football Focus ranked him 14th overall among all guards for the 2024 season.
Adding Smith would also address a position of need for the Giants. New York has its franchise left tackle in Andrew Thomas, but it could use help along the offensive interior—both to protect its next quarterback and to boost a rushing attack that ranked 18th in yards per carry last season.
Even if the Giants aren't sold on whichever rookie QB is still available at No. 3 in April, taking Smith in March would make a ton of sense. It's a move New York may actually consider this year, even if Smith's projected market value of $19.7 million annually is high. Great teams are often built from the inside out.
4. New England Patriots: WR Tee Higgins
5 of 11
There's a very real chance that Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins won't be available next month, at least, not in free agency. Cincinnati is reportedly interested in keeping its No. 2 receiver and probably won't simply let him walk.
"Higgins could get an extension, get tagged or end up in tag-and-trade talks," The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. wrote on Sunday.
If Higgins does hit the open market, he'll be a logical target for the New England Patriots. Soft-tissue injuries have been a concern over the past two seasons, but Higgins is a big-play threat who has amassed 4,595 receiving yards in five seasons and who turned just 26 in January.
The Patriots, meanwhile, desperately need to find reliable receivers to pair with second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Higgins is expected to command more than $30 million per year, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, but New England leads the NFL in projected cap space.
This is a very sensible pairing that could materialize if Higgins reaches free agency. It's also a pairing that would make a ton of sense in a free-agent draft.
The 2025 rookie class features some talented and intriguing receiver prospects—like Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan and Mississippi's Tre Harris. However, the Patriots could easily afford to double-dip at receiver or carry more flexibility into April's draft.
Maye appears to be the future at quarterback, but New England has holes almost everywhere else on its roster.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: S Jevon Holland
6 of 11
The Jacksonville Jaguars have their quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, along with a budding star receiver in Brian Thomas Jr. Reloading a defense that ranked 31st overall and 27th in points allowed last season should be high on Jacksonville's offseason to-do list.
With that in mind, targeting one of this year's best young defenders in a free-agent draft would be logical. In this hypothetical mock, the Jags select Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland.
Holland, who will only turn 25 next month, is coming off a bit of a down year by his standards. The Oregon product was limited to 15 games by a broken hand and didn't record an interception after logging five over his first three seasons. However, he did allow an opposing passer rating of only 89.0 in coverage.
The Jaguars could use a dependable playmaker on the back end of their defense and may view free safety as a particular priority. Andre Cisco allowed an opposing passer rating of 110.9 last season and is also scheduled to become a free agent.
Holland may not be a top target for the Jaguars in the real world because of his price point. He has a projected market value of $15.1 million annually, which would put his contract in the top 10 of NFL safety deals. With the freedom to find a team-friendly structure through a free-agent draft, though, he could be a perfect fit for Jacksonville.
New defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile has some familiarity with the standout safety, having served as Miami's linebackers coach during Holland's first three seasons.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Edge Josh Sweat
7 of 11
The Las Vegas Raiders need a quarterback, and they may take a flier on a QB like Fields, Wilson or Daniel Jones this offseason. In a veteran-draft world, however, none of them would be worth the sixth overall selection.
Las Vegas would be far more likely to target a signal-caller in the draft or explore a trade for a veteran like the Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford.
According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Raiders have already shown interest in Stafford.
This would be a logical spot to select Philadelphia Eagles pass-rusher Josh Sweat. The 27-year-old is coming off a 2.5-sack performance in Super Bowl LIX and ranked 28th overall among 211 edge-rushers by Pro Football Focus in 2024.
Las Vegas could use a high-end complement opposite Maxx Crosby, and adding Sweat would address that need. The Raiders appeared to have a promising second sack artist in 2023, when Malcolm Koonce tallied eight sacks. However, Koonce missed all of 2024 with a knee injury and is set to be a free agent next month.
Sweat may be a real-world target for the Raiders in 2025, given the value he'd provide opposite Crosby. He has a projected market value of $18.8 million annually, but Las Vegas trails only New England in terms of projected cap space. In this hypothetical draft, he's the pick at No. 6.
7. New York Jets: CB D.J. Reed
8 of 11
Here's an interesting aspect of a hypothetical free-agent draft. Teams could use it to retain a player who otherwise might not be interested in staying put. Teams can currently do that by applying the franchise tag. Here, the New York Jets use the seventh pick to bring back cornerback D.J. Reed, who appears more interested in testing the market.
"I'm ready to go to free agency, bro," Reed told Go Long's Tyler Dunne. "I'm ready to see what's next for me."
Ahead of Reed should be a lot of open-market interest and a lucrative contract. The 28-year-old has started every game in which he's appeared for New York, and he's performed at a very high level.
This past season, Reed allowed an opposing passer rating of only 87.1 in coverage.
With a projected market value of $14.7 million annually, Reed may find himself outside of the Jets' price range. New York can free up $9.5 million in cap space by releasing Aaron Rodgers with a post-June 1 designation, plus another $30 million by releasing Davante Adams.
Even then, the Jets could struggle to field an enticing offer to Reed while also budgeting extensions for players like Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson. That's assuming Reed would even be open to a return.
In this mock, the Jets do what every NFL team does during the actual draft and remove player interest from the equation. They use the seventh overall pick to keep one of their top defensive contributors in the fold.
8. Carolina Panthers: WR Chris Godwin
9 of 11
Using the eighth overall pick on a 29-year-old receiver who is coming off of a season-ending ankle injury might seem like a reach. It would be, but teams reach for needs all the time in the NFL draft. Why would things be any different in a free-agent draft?
Targeting Chris Godwin would make sense for the Carolina Panthers for multiple reasons. The biggest is that Carolina needs to put a better supporting cast around third-year quarterback Bryce Young.
Adam Thielen led the Panthers with just 615 receiving yards in 2024. Godwin, who amassed 576 yards in just seven games last season, would immediately step in as Young's new and much-needed go-to target.
Godwin would also fit with head coach Dave Canales, who spent the 2023 season with the wideout as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator.
Now, there's a very good chance that Godwin won't make it to 2025 free agency. Tampa has made it very clear that it would prefer to retain the receiver for the foreseeable future.
"Hopefully can come to an agreement with him because Chris means the world to this organization," Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said, per ProFootballTalk's Josh Alper.
Carolina may be able to outbid the Buccaneers for Godwin, who has a projected market value of $22.5 million annually. In a veteran-draft world, the Panthers could simply use their first-round pick to steal a dynamic player away from a division rival.
9. New Orleans Saints: Edge Azeez Ojulari
10 of 11
The New Orleans Saints will probably be in the quarterback market this offseason. However, they probably wouldn't consider a veteran QB here, since they wouldn't find a clear upgrade over Derek Carr in a veteran draft.
The Saints could find better value by using the ninth overall pick on Giants pass-rusher Azeez Ojulari. New Orleans has a need along the edge, as defensive tackle Bryan Bresee led the team in sacks last season, while Chase Young is set to be a free agent. Ojulari is young (25 in June) and carries a tremendous amount of upside.
Though Ojulari missed the final six games of 2024 with a toe injury, he finished the year with six sacks, seven tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits in 11 games. He was even better as a rookie in 2021, finishing that campaign with eight sacks, 27 QB pressures and 13 quarterback hits.
In both 2022 and 2023, Ojulari largely served as a rotational defender, as New York made Kayvon Thibodeaux the focal point of its pass rush.
In New Orleans, Ojulari could become a difference-maker alongside Bresee and Carl Granderson. Unfortunately, the Saints could struggle to add a defender of his caliber on the open market.
Ojulari has a projected market value of just $7.6 million annually. However, it's going to take a substantial amount of salary gymnastics just for the Saints to become cap-compliant this offseason. A free-agent draft, however, could give New Orleans a chance to add a promising young player at a position of need.
10. Chicago Bears: DT Milton Williams
11 of 11
The Chicago Bears have plenty of cap space and could end up being a prime destination for top free agents. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams oozes upside, and new head coach Ben Johnson was the headliner of the 2025 coaching cycle.
Much of Chicago's 2025 focus will rightfully be on building the offense and developing Williams. However, the Bears need to improve a defense that ranked 29th in yards per carry allowed, 31st in net yards per pass attempt allowed and 27th overall last season.
Adding Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams would help achieve that goal. The 25-year-old recorded 24 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks and 12 QB pressures during the regular season before putting on a show in Super Bowl LIX.
Williams finished the NFL championship game with four tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. As a pass-rusher, he graded second among 219 interior defenders in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.
While Chicago's biggest needs reside along the offensive line—and it could be tempted by Stanley, despite his age—Williams would provide immense value at 10th overall. He's entering his playing prime and could be a long-term building block in the Bears' defensive front.
With a projected market value of $12 million annually, Williams will be a very realistic target for the Bears in free agency. Of course, there's no guarantee that he'll be interested in joining a rebuild after finding success on the NFL's biggest stage. In a veteran draft setting, however, the Bears could ensure that Williams brings his talents to Chicago.
*Cap, contract and market information via Spotrac unless otherwise noted.
.jpg?w=480 "Chiefs Giants Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Browns Monken Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Giants Lions Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Rams Reveal New Unis, Logo 👀")
.jpg?w=600 "WR's Message to NFL Teams 🗣️")