Amari Cooper to Cowboys and More Ideal Free-agent Landing Spots After 2025 NFL Draft

With the 2025 NFL draft now complete, another wave of free agency has begun. Signings no longer count against the compensatory-pick formula, so teams are now free to fill any remaining holes on their rosters.

Many well-known veterans are still lingering on the open market and will be scooped up before the start of training camp. These players didn't garner much interest prior to the draft due to injury concerns, slipping production or advancing age, but they're now the best remaining ways to patch up problem areas.

With that in mind, let’s highlight ideal landing spots for five of the top remaining free agents.

Keenan Allen to New York Giants

AP

The New York Giants completely overhauled their quarterbacks room this offseason. They signed veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency and then traded up to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25 overall.

These passers now need the Giants to give them better targets.

Big Blue’s current receiving corps consists of a bona fide star in Malik Nabers and not much behind him. 2022 second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson and 2023 third-rounder Jalin Hyatt have both gotten off to slow starts to their respective careers, and veteran Darius Slayton isn’t likely to take a leap in his seventh NFL campaign.

With the Giants’ brass facing a mandate from owner John Mara to put a winning product on the field in 2025, they need to onboard at least one more quality pass-catcher after not selecting any receivers in this year's draft.

Keenan Allen fits the bill as a proven receiver with a long history of production throughout his decorated NFL career.

Allen is fresh off a disappointing 2024 showing with the Chicago Bears, but being stuck on the league’s worst offense last season limited his ability to contribute. The 12-year vet is only a year removed from the latest of his six Pro Bowl seasons and still has the potential for more as he gears up for his age-33 campaign.

Whether he ends up establishing a potent veteran battery with Wilson or serves as a safety net for the developing Dart, Allen should be able to carve out a meaningful role working as the Giants' No. 2 option behind Nabers.

Amari Cooper to Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

The Dallas Cowboys made the surprising decision to forego selecting any wide receivers in the 2025 draft. With Jonathan Mingo and Jalen Tolbert as the top options behind superstar wideout CeeDee Lamb, Dallas desperately needs to find some reinforcements in free agency.

Reuniting with veteran pass-catcher Amari Cooper looks to be Dallas’ best path forward. According to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "there is building team interest" in bringing Cooper back after he spent three-and-a-half seasons in Dallas from 2018-2021.

It remains to be seen how much Cooper has left in the tank going into his age-31 campaign. He had only 250 yards and two touchdowns on 24 receptions for the Cleveland Browns last season before being dealt to the Buffalo Bills at the trade deadline. He wasn't much better in Buffalo, finishing with 20 catches for 297 yards and two touchdowns in eight games.

However, Cooper is only one season removed from the latest of his five career Pro Bowl nods, and he posted some of his best numbers while working with Dak Prescott in Dallas. The 10-year veteran finished his Cowboys tenure with 3,893 yards and 27 touchdowns on 292 receptions.

With the Cowboys in desperate need of a proven No. 2 receiver to augment Lamb, they should be looking to lock Cooper up before he signs elsewhere.

Aaron Rodgers to Pittsburgh Steelers

AP

The Pittsburgh Steelers have left the door open for Aaron Rodgers to come finish his career in western Pennsylvania. Despite parting ways with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson this offseason, Pittsburgh elected to largely bypass quarterbacks during the 2025 draft outside of taking a sixth-round flier on Will Howard.

The Steelers' quarterbacks room currently consists of veteran journeymen Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson in addition to Howard. They have little chance of contending this year without bringing Rodgers aboard.

However, Rodgers isn't the guaranteed franchise savior he once was, especially after his disappointing run with the New York Jets.

While Rodgers did return from the Achilles tear that sidelined him for the 2023 season, the Jets went 5-12 in his 17 starts last year. He completed only 63 percent of his throws for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, was sacked 40 times and threw 11 interceptions.

Rodgers hasn’t earned a Pro Bowl nod since 2021—which was also the last of his four MVP seasons—and has gone 14-21 as a starter since then. He's now waffling between returning for his age-42 season or retiring after two decades in the NFL.

Steelers owner Art Rooney II claimed that Rodgers “does want to come here,” while head coach Mike Tomlin said they've had “really productive talks” with the aging signal-caller. Those are positive signs for a team that has otherwise largely run out of alternatives and will likely suffer through a lost season without Rodgers.

Asante Samuel Jr. to Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

It’s somewhat shocking that Asante Samuel Jr. is still up for grabs. The cornerback got off to a strong start with the Los Angeles Chargers and appeared to be trending toward a solid career before his fourth NFL season was marred by injuries.

Samuel was limited to four appearances in 2024, and those health issues appear to be giving teams serious pause when it comes to signing him.

Despite suffering from “stinger symptoms” that Samuel was born with and landed him on IR in Week 6 last year,  the cornerback has been a consistent asset when healthy. He appeared in all 34 games between the 2022-23 seasons and tallied 120 tackles, 24 pass breakups, four interceptions and a fumble recovery in that span.

Samuel has been steady in coverage, too. He allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete only 60.4 percent of their throws against him and gave up just three touchdowns in 2024. He allowed a career-best 55.2 percent completion rate in 2022 and gave up only 626 yards despite being targeted 87 times that year.

Now going into his age-26 season, Samuel could still have his best years ahead of him. A young, rebuilding team like the Cleveland Browns should be interested in taking a flier on him.

Cleveland's 2025 draft class, which includes a pair of elite defensive prospects in No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham and No. 33 overall pick Carson Schwesinger, could be transformative. However, the Browns didn’t bolster their secondary in the draft, and they could use some youth at cornerback to augment star Denzel Ward.

With incumbent nickel Greg Newsome II potentially on his way out via trade, Samuel could be the perfect replacement.

Za’Darius Smith to Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Rick Osentoski

Za’Darius Smith is looking for a new home after the Detroit Lions waived him at the start of the new league year.

Smith fared well in Detroit despite having to learn a new system following a midseason trade from the Cleveland Browns. Between both teams, Smith suited up for all 17 games and contributed nine sacks, 35 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hits and a pass breakup.

Although Smith didn't earn a fourth career Pro Bowl nod or reach the double-digit sack mark for the fourth time, he still has plenty of tread left on his tires and can contribute to a contender.

The Los Angeles Chargers should be right in the mix this year, but they need some extra juice on the edge after parting ways with longtime pass-rusher Joey Bosa. They still have Khalil Mack, but Smith could solidify a stout Jim Harbaugh defense that didn’t add anyone other than Oregon defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell during the first two days of the draft.