2025 NFL Free Agents Teams Should Consider Pairing with Top Trade Targets
The 2025 scouting combine is underway, and NFL free agency is set to open its legal-contact window on March 10. As is always the case this time of year, the trade market is beginning to heat up, and there is no shortage of notable players who could be moved.
While trading for a marquee player can help address an issue, that alone won't always solve a problem or help make a middling team a contender.
During the 2024 season, for example, the New York Jets acquired Davante Adams to help bolster a struggling passing attack. It helped, but it wasn't enough to save the league's 24th-ranked offense or make New York a playoff team.
During the offseason, though, franchises seeking top-end talent aren't limited to the trade market. Between trades, free agency and the draft, teams can throw multiple darts at problem areas in the hopes of turning things around quickly.
With this in mind, let's examine some of this offseason's top trade targets—those who are reportedly available or soon could be—and pair each with an impending free agent to form logical two-pronged additions.
Myles Garrett and Azeez Ojulari
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Cleveland Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett announced during Super Bowl week that he has formally requested a trade. The Browns continue to say that they have no interest in moving the 29-year-old.
"Understand the trade request and everything, but our stance really has not changed," Browns general manager Andrew Berry said at the combine, per NFL.com's Nick Shook.
For any team looking to dramatically improve its pass rush in a hurry, however, Garrett looms as the trade target of 2025. And, unless the team acquiring Garrett already boasts a quality complementary pass-rusher, it shouldn't stop there.
Garrett, who was the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, has been a tremendous player in Cleveland. Yet, he's almost always been subject to double teams and could be even more productive with a potent sack artist opposite him.
Trading for Garrett and then signing Azeez Ojulari in free agency could pave a quick path to a potent pass rush. While Ojulari has rarely been a full-time starter with the New York Giants, he's been productive when given opportunities. Though he made only five starts in 2024, the 24-year-old recorded six sacks, 10 QB hits and seven tackles for loss.
Why target Ojulari and not a more prominent player like Khalil Mack or Josh Sweat? Money. Garrett is already set to carry a $19.7 million cap hit in 2025, and he'll likely receive an extension and a sizeable raise if he does land with a new team. Ojulari has a modest projected market value of only $7.6 million annually.
Cooper Kupp and Darius Slayton
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The Los Angeles Rams won't be trading quarterback Matthew Stafford, it appears. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Los Angeles has reached an agreement with its signal-caller on a contract restructure that will keep him in L.A. this season.
However, the Rams are looking to move on from 31-year-old wideout Cooper Kupp. At least, that's the word from the receiver himself.
"I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships," Kupp said in a statement in early February.
There are multiple reasons why a receiver-needy team might consider a play for Kupp. He's an experienced veteran, a savvy receiver and a high-level producer when healthy.
However, acquiring Kupp would carry risks as well. He's entering the back end of his career and hasn't played more than 12 games in a season since 2021 because of injuries.
Any team trading for Kupp should make sure it has reliable depth at receiver. Adding Darius Slayton in free agency would help provide that.
Slayton has never been a bona fide star with the Giants, but he's been consistently productive and dependable. He had 573 receiving yards as New York's No. 2 receiver in 2024—despite seeing putrid quarterback play—and has played at least 16 games in each of the past three seasons.
With six seasons on his resume, the 28-year-old could also help add experience to a team's receiver room.
Kupp and Slayton would also make for a financially reasonable duo. Kupp is set to carry a base salary of $12.5 million in 2025, while Slayton has a projected market value of $15.8 million annually.
A team could add both receivers for less than $30 million, which, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, is a number that impending free agent Tee Higgins is expected to top this offseason by himself.
Deebo Samuel and Mike Gesicki
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Kupp isn't the only notable receiver already on the trade block. The San Francisco 49ers announced early in the offseason that they're open to honoring Deebo Samuel's trade request, and their stance does not appear to have changed since.
"He's asked for a fresh start and I think we're going to honor that," 49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters at the combine.
Samuel is in the final year of his contract and is set to carry a base salary of just $1.2 million. The potential concern for teams interested in Samuel is that he isn't a truly elite wideout and saw a big dip in production this past season.
After tallying 892 receiving yards and 225 rushing yards in 2023, Samuel had just 670 receiving yards and 136 rushing yards in 2024.
Samuel's value lies in his versatility. A dynamic runner and receiver, the 29-year-old can add new options for whichever offense employs him in 2025. As a go-to downfield receiver, however, he carries question marks.
A team willing to lean into Samuel's multi-faceted skill set should consider also adding tight end Mike Gesicki in free agency. Gesicki, who caught 65 passes for 665 yards with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, is versatile in his own way.
Though the 29-year-old is not a major asset in the running game, he's a very capable receiver who can produce coming off the line or in the slot. Like Samuel, he could become a proverbial chess piece capable of keeping defenses off-balance by moving around the formation.
With a projected market value of just $6.7 million annually, Gesicki also figures to be one of free agency's bargains. By targeting him and Samuel, a team could bolster its passing attack and its offensive options on a budget—aside from, of course, the trade-capital cost of acquiring Samuel.
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Harold Landry III and Josh Sweat
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Garrett might be the top target of teams in need of pass-rushing help. However, he's not the only option on the trade market. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Tennessee Titans have given Harold Landry III permission to seek a trade this offseason.
Landry missed the 2022 season with a torn ACL but has largely been a reliable and productive pass-rusher otherwise. He had nine sacks and 15 quarterback hits this past season, and he played all 17 games in 2021, 2023 and 2024. He also logged 31.5 combined sacks in those three seasons.
With two years left on his contract and a reasonable $17.5 million base salary, Landry is a solid Plan B for teams that can't secure Garrett.
Since Landry's salary is a fraction of those earned by the league's premier pass-rushers—Nick Bosa tops the market at $34 million annually—a team could target him and a premier free agent to strengthen its pass rush quickly.
Teams that need a defensive boost should strongly consider acquiring Henry and making a run at impending free agent Josh Sweat. The Philadelphia Eagles standout played a huge role in the team's Super Bowl LIX win, notching 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss in that game.
Sweat also logged eight sacks during the 2024 regular season and was graded as the 28th overall player among 211 edge-rushers by Pro Football Focus.
The top-ranked pass-rusher and No. 3 overall player on Bleacher Report's latest free-agent big board, Sweat could be a game-changer for a new team. Pairing him with Landry could give said team a dominant pass rush at a team-friendly price point.
Sweat has a projected market value of $18.8 million annually, meaning, theoretically, that he and Landry could be added for a little more than the cost of one top-end edge-defender.
Jaire Alexander and D.J. Reed
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Good cornerback help is hard to find, which is why several teams will likely be interested if Jaire Alexander can be had at a reasonable price. According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, the Green Bay Packers are "willing to listen" to trade offers for the two-time Pro Bowler.
When healthy, Alexander is one of the league's better cornerbacks. In 2022, for example, he allowed an opposing passer rating of only 63.7 in coverage. The issue is that the 28-year-old has been limited to 14 games over the past two seasons by injuries.
Alexander is also set to carry a cap hit of $16.2 million in 2025. If a team is willing to gamble on his availability, it had better be sure of its overall talent and depth at the position.
This is why New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed should enter the equation. The 28-year-old is an impending free agent and has started 46 of a possible 51 games over the past three seasons. He's also been an extremely effective starter in New York.
Reed allowed an opposing passer rating below 90.0 in all three seasons with the Jets.
Trading for Alexander and signing Reed as a free agent could provide a massive boost to a team's secondary. Would it be financially costly? Yes, as Reed has a projected market value of $14.7 million annually. However, it's a positional double dip that could turn an underwhelming cornerback group into a great one overnight.
Germaine Pratt and Zack Baun
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Does your favorite NFL team feature a lackluster linebacker group? It wouldn't if it made a play for Germaine Pratt and Zack Baun.
Pratt, a Cincinnati Bengals defensive captain, requested a trade in mid-February, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Per Rapoport, Pratt had a "close" relationship with former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who was fired after the 2024 season.
The 28-year-old was Cincinnati's leading tackler last season and finished the year with 143 tackles, five tackles for loss, six passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He'd be a terrific addition to any defense that needs an off-ball linebacker, and he'd come with a reasonable base salary of $5.3 million.
Pratt isn't the only talented linebacker who may be available this offseason. Baun is scheduled to be a free agent and is coming off a spectacular first campaign with Philadelphia.
Baun tallied 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles in 2024 while allowing an opposing passer rating of 80.5 in coverage. With a projected market value of $9.7 million annually, Baun will be a bit pricier than Pratt, but adding the pair would in no way be financially crippling.
14 linebackers currently make more than $15 million annually by themselves.
There's no guarantee that Baun will reach the open market—the Eagles have made re-signing him a priority, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer—but he's an impending free agent who should be targeted by virtually every team considering Pratt.
Jonathan Allen and Milton Williams
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In Super Bowl LIX, the Eagles showcased just how much a powerful defensive front can impact a game. Philadelphia dominated the Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and it did so without blitzing a single time.
Teams looking to emulate Philly's success at the line of scrimmage should consider a pair of talented NFC East defensive linemen. Milton Williams, who shined on the biggest stage, is one and is scheduled to be a free agent.
Williams recorded seven tackles for loss, five sacks, 10 quarterback hits and 12 QB pressures during the regular season before adding two sacks and a forced fumble in the Super Bowl. With a projected market value of $12 million annually, he could be a relative bargain in free agency.
19 defensive tackle currently earn more than $12 million annually. Christian Wilkins landed a deal worth $27.5 million annually last offseason.
Teams in need of defensive line help should look to pair Williams with Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. The 30-year-old missed nine games in 2024 because of a pectoral injury, but he's a two-time Pro Bowler who can be incredibly disruptive at the point of attack.
In 2023, Allen recorded 5.5 sacks, 22 quarterback pressures and 10 tackles for loss. The Commanders, though, are willing to talk trade.
"Everything's still on the table in terms of whether it's trade or staying here or whatever," general manager Adam Peters told reporters.
With a $15.5 million base salary in 2025, Allen is on the pricier side. Theoretically, though, a team could add him and Williams for roughly what the Las Vegas Raiders paid to add Wilkins a year ago.
*Contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.
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