Ranking the 10 Best NFL Free Agents Available After 2025 Draft

The 2025 NFL draft ended on Saturday. While the excitement of the weekend has subsided, a new wave of free agency begins when the draft ends.

Several undrafted free agents were signed over the last few days, but teams that didn't fill major needs last week will turn back to the veteran market. Luckily, some starting-caliber players remain available, and veterans signed after Monday won't count against the compensatory pick formula for the 2026 draft.

Here, we'll rank the top veteran free agents based on factors like past production, upside, age, positional value and positional market. We'll also examine potential landing spots for each of them based on team needs, scheme fit and any relevant moves that were or weren't made during the draft.

10. QB Aaron Rodgers

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The sheer profile of Aaron Rodgers earns him a spot on our list. For teams still looking for a 2025 starter post-draft, the four-time MVP is the best option available.

Rodgers wasn't great with the New York Jets last season, but his numbers (3,897 yards, 28 TDs, 90.5 rating) were respectable. The 41-year-old can still play, although it's unclear if he even wants to.

"I'm open to anything and attached to nothing. Retirement could still be a possibility," Rodgers recently said on The Pat McAfee Show (h/t ESPN's Brooke Pryor and Rich Cimini).

It feels like it'll either be the Pittsburgh Steelers or retirement for Rodgers. The New York Giants reportedly had interest in him, but they signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston before drafting Jaxson Dart. The Minnesota Vikings were in the market for veteran insurance before acquiring Sam Howell in a draft-day trade.

The Steelers have done little at the QB position aside from taking a sixth-round flier on Will Howard. They also remain open to adding Rodgers.

“I’m not going to forecast the ifs and whens regarding not only him, but any other potential free agent. We’ve had really productive talks with him," head coach Mike Tomlin told NFL Network (h/t Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper).

Rodgers remains one of the NFL's biggest wild cards coming out of draft week.

Best Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers

9. WR Elijah Moore

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Teams that wanted a young, physically gifted wide receiver in the draft but didn't land one should be very interested in Elijah Moore.

Moore, who turned only 25 in March, hasn't played up to his draft status as a 2021 second-round pick. However, he's been a fine ancillary receiver who has consistently produced as a third or fourth option.

The Mississippi product has topped 500 receiving yards in three of his four NFL campaigns and logged a career-best 640 yards in 2023. He also probably hasn't reached his ceiling since he was saddled with poor quarterback play in his stints with the Jets and Cleveland Browns.

Moore can separate, and his straight-line speed (4.35-second 40-yard dash) makes him a threat before and after the catch. He'd be a terrific option for a team that needs a third or fourth receiver and is looking to find a long-term option.

Best Fits: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys

8. G Dalton Risner

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Veteran guard Dalton Risner can't seem to find a permanent home. The 29-year-old spent the last two seasons in Minnesota on one-year deals, but he may not sign with the Vikings for a third time after they used their first-round pick on Ohio State interior lineman Donovan Jackson.

Risner isn't an elite run-blocker, but he has been solid in pass protection. Pro Football Focus graded him 13th among guards in pass-blocking for the 2024 season. He's also been fairly durable, though he did miss seven games early in 2024 due to a back injury.

In Risner's other five NFL seasons, he never played fewer than 15 games. While the Kansas State product will turn 30 in July, he's still young enough to be viewed as a multi-year starter.

Risner should interest teams that need guard depth, run a pass-heavy offense and aren't eager to thrust a rookie into action.

Best Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans

7. G Brandon Scherff

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Brandon Scherff is more than three years older than Risner, but he may be a more attractive option for a subset of teams.

Like Risner, Scherff isn't a top-tier run-blocker at this stage of his career. However, he's still more than adequate in pass protection. Pro Football Focus graded him 19th among guards in pass-blocking this past season.

The five-time Pro Bowler has also been extremely durable in recent years and didn't miss a start in the last three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Scherff probably won't be viewed as a long-term option. However, teams that believe they can contend in 2025 or who are looking to put an experienced veteran in front of a young quarterback should be interested.

Best Fits: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

6. Edge Za'Darius Smith

AP Photo/Rey Del Rio

Za'Darius Smith was released by the Detroit Lions before the start of free agency. However, the 32-year-old wasn't a disappointment in his half-season with the club.

Smith, whom the Lions acquired from Cleveland in a midseason trade, tallied four sacks and 15 quarterback pressures in eight games (seven starts) with the Lions. He ranked second on the team in sacks behind only Aidan Hutchinson, who was limited to five games by a broken leg.

In 17 games with the Browns and Lions last season, Smith totaled nine sacks, a number he has reached in four of the last six seasons. While Smith isn't a No. 1 edge-rusher at this stage of his career, he can be a high-end complement for any team looking for more sack production.

Smith should draw the most interest from teams that believe they can win now and already have one established sack artist on the edge.

Best Fits: Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers

5. WR Keenan Allen

AP Photo/Scot Tucker

Last season with the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Keenan Allen didn't appear as fast or as shifty as he regularly did early in his career. However, the 33-year-old was still a productive contributor in a very underwhelming offense.

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struggled with the speed and complexity of NFL defenses, and the Bears ranked a lowly 31st in net yards per pass attempt. Allen still managed to catch 70 passes for 744 yards and seven touchdowns.

Allen can't run or shake coverage like he once did, and he's also dealt with soft-tissue injuries in recent years. However, he's still a savvy route-runner with reliable hands who can use spacing and leverage to get open.

Allen would be a great fit for a team looking to develop a young quarterback. His experience would be valuable, and he could serve as a high-end security blanket as a third or fourth receiver.

Best Fits: Tennessee Titans, New York Giants

4. WR Amari Cooper

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

We'll rank Amari Cooper just ahead of Allen even though he was less productive with the Browns and Buffalo Bills than Allen was with the Bears last year. Cooper caught 44 passes for 547 yards and four touchdowns between the two teams.

It's worth noting that Cleveland saddled Cooper with dismal quarterback play before sending him to Buffalo, where he had to learn an entirely new playbook. Two years ago, the 30-year-old caught 72 passes for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns.

While Cooper seemed a shade slower in 2024 than in 2023, he's still a terrific route-runner with the size (6'1", 211 lbs), strength and hands to serve as a quality No. 2 receiver or possession specialist on the perimeter. The five-time Pro Bowler has also been fairly durable throughout his NFL career.

Like Allen, Cooper would be a strong option for teams that want to pair a young quarterback with a veteran pass-catcher. A return to Buffalo, which didn't draft a receiver before taking Kaden Prather in Round 7, could also make sense.

Best Fits: Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints

3. S Justin Simmons

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Even though Justin Simmons is 31 years old, he remains an above-average coverage safety. The two-time Pro Bowler and four-time second-team All-Pro spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons and again thrived.

Last season, Simmons logged 62 tackles and seven passes defended while allowing an 81.9 opposing passer rating. He probably won't be back in Atlanta this season, though.

The Falcons drafted defensive backs Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. and will likely use both rookies in a rotation with veteran starter Jessie Bates III.

While Simmons may not garner serious interest from rebuilding teams like Atlanta, teams that believe they can contend and need help on the back end should have him on their radar.

Best Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins

2. CB Asante Samuel Jr.

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There's a reason why some teams may have been hesitant to target Asante Sameul Jr. before the draft. He dealt with stinger issues that limited him to four games in 2024, and those stinger symptoms have been a persistent ailment that the cornerback was "born with," according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper.

So, medical checks will be important. However, Samuel is still a 25-year-old cornerback who has been tremendously effective when healthy.

Samuel allowed an opposing passer rating of 87.4 in coverage last year and has allowed an opposing passer rating below 100 in all four of his NFL seasons. He logged 35 pass deflections and six interceptions in his first three seasons.

While most cornerback-needy teams should have some level of interest in Samuel after the draft, those willing to take a chance to add long-term secondary help would make the most sense. Samuel should be favored by teams in the rebuilding process that didn't land a corner early over draft weekend.

Best Fits: Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns

1. CB Rasul Douglas

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Veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas doesn't have the same upside as Asante Samuel Jr. However, the 29-year-old has been incredibly productive in the past and doesn't carry significant medical concerns, either.

Douglas had a down season with the Bills in 2024—he allowed an opposing passer rating of 122.0 in coverage—but he was terrific over the previous few seasons. He allowed an opposing passer rating of just 38.6 in nine games with Buffalo in 2023, and he logged 14 interceptions between 2021 and 2023 with the Bills and Green Bay Packers.

Over the past four seasons, Douglas has recorded an impressive 45 passes defended.

Douglas is a long (6'2", 209 lbs), physical perimeter corner who should heavily interest teams that need cornerback help and have realistic playoff aspirations in 2025.

Best Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins