Predicting Landing Spots for Top 2025 NFL Free Agents Left on the Market
It’s slim-ish pickings now in NFL free agency. March is behind us, and everyone is turning their attention to this month’s draft.
That said, some dominoes still have to fall.
Let’s look at the top free agents still on the market and make some predictions on where each will land.
10. QB Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
1 of 10
Why he’s one of the best available: Reputation and legacy, nothing more. Rodgers wouldn’t make this list based on what he’s done since the start of 2022, but he still deserves credit and some benefit of the doubt for what he did before that.
Why he’s still available: After he was unable to deliver in a two-year run with the Jets that was plagued by a major injury and mediocre play, New York released Rodgers in February. Since then, his limited market has moved slowly.
Where he could land: All signs point to Pittsburgh, as the potentially competitive Steelers have lost Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and lack the draft capital to make a move in that realm. It appears the two sides will make this happen, but you never know with an enigmatic character like Rodgers.
9. WR Elijah Moore, Las Vegas Raiders
2 of 10
Why he’s one of the best available: A former early-second-round pick with elite speed can still offer plenty in this league, especially considering that Moore just turned 25.
Why he’s still available: It hasn’t panned out in New York or Cleveland, but in his defense, that was New York and Cleveland.
Where he could land: He’s been tied to the Raiders, who make the most sense as a team that needs a field-stretcher for Geno Smith. The Broncos, Cardinals, Rams and Giants also make sense.
8. LB Kyzir White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 of 10
Why he’s one of the best available: At the very least a reliable role player with three triple-digit-tackle seasons on his resume, White is still on the right side of 30 and is coming off possibly the best season of his career with 137 tackles and a top-20 PFF grade in run defense among qualified players at his position.
Why he’s still available: A so-so playmaker at a non-premium position who might be on the verge of a decline may have to wait for the draft as teams consider younger, cheaper alternatives in the early rounds.
Where he could land: With E.J. Speed gone, the Colts have come to a lot of minds. I think he’s more likely to land with a team that is more deeply in the playoff conversation. It’s a toss-up between the Buccaneers and Rams, both of whom need talent in the second level. We’ll go with Tampa because it doesn’t know when Lavonte David might fall off a cliff.
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7. S Justin Simmons, Miami Dolphins
4 of 10
Why he’s one of the best available: The veteran was a second-team All-Pro just a year ago and is one of the best ball-hawking defensive backs of this era.
Why he’s still available: Simmons is 31, and older safeties rarely get much love in NFL free agency. He’s not the player he once was, and he could be a victim of circumstances as plenty of defensive backs remain on the open market.
Where he could land: I’d expect both the Dolphins and Eagles to be in on both Simmons and Julian Blackmon after the draft dominoes have fallen, but Miami has less money to spend and will settle for the older and less expensive of the two.
6. DB Mike Hilton, Minnesota Vikings
5 of 10
Why he’s one of the best available: One of the top slot cover men of the last decade, the former Steeler and Bengal can still offer plenty with his experience and could even excel with a move to safety.
Why he’s still available: Also 31 and beyond his prime at a position that hasn’t generated great supply-and-demand dynamics in free agency, Hilton is waiting for the right opportunity after the Bengals apparently saw that the younger and cheaper Dax Hill could move into his former role.
Where he could land: Even with Byron Murphy Jr returning., the contending Vikings simply lack talent and depth at corner. An experienced and not-too-expensive addition like Hilton would be huge. They could use him in a multitude of ways.
5. CB Rasul Douglas, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Why he’s one of the best available: The steady veteran intercepted 13 passes between 2021 and 2023, and he was stellar in coverage as well. He should still have some gas in the tank at 29.
Why he’s still available: Douglas is far from young at a crowded position on the market and he’s coming off a poor campaign in Buffalo.
Where he could land: Jourdan Lewis is on board, but a desperate Jaguars team needs someone else outside opposite Tyson Campbell. Douglas fits the bill perfectly. This is a no-brainer if they don’t draft Will Johnson in the top 10.
4. S Julian Blackmon, Philadelphia Eagles
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Why he’s one of the best available: Still just 26, the extremely versatile former third-round pick has intercepted seven passes the last two seasons combined.
Why he’s still available: He’s not a superstar and he doesn’t excel at one particular thing, and see above regarding a clear safety logjam. It also doesn’t help any of these guys’ cases that a lot of teams could be waiting to see what happens in a draft with plenty of intriguing defensive backs. The latest mock draft from the B/R NFL Scouting Department has eight DBs going off the board in Round 1.
Where he could land: The defending champions make a ton of sense as they look to replace the departed C.J. Gardner-Johnson over the top.
3. WR Amari Cooper, Seattle Seahawks
8 of 10
Why he’s one of the best available: The five-time Pro Bowler is still just 30 and went over 1,200 yards for Cleveland in 2023.
Why he’s still available: Teams might be apprehensive about trusting a player who has lacked consistency for much of his career and struggled to produce while dealing with nagging injuries in 2024.
Where he could land: The Raiders should be in on Cooper too, but we’re giving them the younger, speedier and cheaper Moore. Seattle now has money to spend and the need for an X or Z receiver like Cooper to work with Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
2. RB J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos
9 of 10
Why he’s one of the best available: Finally healthy and happy in Greg Roman’s offense, the 2020 second-round pick was a strong Comeback Player of the Year candidate with 1,058 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns for the Chargers in 2024.
Why he’s still available: Even at 26, running backs with spotty injury histories don’t wield much leverage on the open market.
Where he could land: Denver and Las Vegas are the top two teams to watch as Dobbins potentially stays in the AFC West. At least the Raiders brought in Raheem Mostert, while the Broncos lost Javonte Williams and could be more desperate because they’re closer to contender status.
1. CB Asante Samuel Jr., Arizona Cardinals
10 of 10
Why he’s one of the best available: Still 25, Samuel recorded multiple interceptions in each of his first three NFL seasons and has suffered just three touchdowns in coverage the last two years. The talent and pedigree are there.
Why he’s still available: He’s been one-dimensional and can’t tackle, and he’s coming off an injury-marred campaign with the Chargers.
Where he could land: Among the teams in need of cornerback help, the Cardinals have the most money to spend as well as room to be a little patient with a player arguably still developing. And it’s worth noting they’ve already shown interest.
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