NFL Free Agents We Can't Believe Haven't Signed a Contract with New Team Yet

In the late spring stage of NFL free agency, some veterans are waiting for a call, and others are weighing their options. Even so, it's hard to believe that teams have yet to sign guys who don't have a clear reason for being on the open market.

At 41, Aaron Rodgers is contemplating retirement. So we know why he's still unsigned. 

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Asante Samuel Jr. underwent neck surgery in April, and with a checkup ahead in July, teams have a reason to monitor his recovery before attempting to sign him.

But what about the other top free agents available? 

We'll profile 10 notable veterans who should be on rosters and link them to potential landing spots.

WR Keenan Allen

AP

WR Keenan Allen

At 33, Keenan Allen can still help a playoff contender or young quarterback with his reliable hands and ability to find the end zone once his team reaches the red zone. He has a career 68.1 percent catch rate and recorded nine of his last 14 touchdowns with a reception within 16 yards of the goal line.

In 2024, Allen caught 70 passes for 744 yards and a team-leading seven touchdowns with the Chicago Bears. He moved the chains for a first down on about 61 percent of his receptions. If teams can look beyond Allen's age, he can be a dependable No. 2 option in a passing attack.

The San Francisco 49ers could open the season without Brandon Aiyuk, who is recovering from a torn ACL and MCL. According to general manager John Lynch, Demarcus Robinson might be subject to a three-week suspension.

The 49ers signed Brock Purdy to a five-year, $265 million extension. As running back Christian McCaffrey ages, San Francisco's high-paid signal-caller must carry more of the offensive load, and to do that, he needs a full deck of pass-catchers.

With the absence of Aiyuk and uncertainty around Robinson, Allen would be a solid fit to round out three-receiver sets alongside Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall. He's also an upgrade over Robinson and would allow the 49ers to slowly ease Aiyuk back into action.

Potential landing spots: San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets

S Julian Blackmon

FR171182 AP

S Julian Blackmon

Still in his prime, Julian Blackmon should be on a team by now. Though he's spotty with his consistency in deep coverage, the 26-year-old has made several plays on the ball over the last two seasons, recording 12 pass breakups and seven interceptions.

In recent years, Blackmon has also made plays in run support. In 2023, he logged a significantly higher number of total tackles compared to his first three seasons and registered a career-high five tackles for loss.

Blackmon still has some upside as a safety who can play in deep coverage and fill the box on early downs. 

The Miami Dolphins will have an open competition at the safety position after they let Jevon Holland walk in free agency. Miami is unlikely to re-sign 33-year-old Jordan Poyer, who wants to finish his career with the Buffalo Bills.

Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis are vying for the starting safety spots. Blackmon has more career starts (62) than Melifonwu and Davis combined (36). He can be a game-changing playmaker in Miami's unsettled secondary.

Potential landing spots: Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WR Amari Cooper

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Amari Cooper has been in the NFL for 10 years, so it's hard to believe he will turn 31 in June. Typically, receivers with his experience and five Pro Bowls on their resumes are closer to or in their mid-30s. 

Even though Cooper is coming off a down year largely because of injuries, he's still a technical route-runner. Also, the veteran-savvy receiver saw a notable increase in his catch rate after the Cleveland Browns traded him to the Buffalo Bills, improving from 45.3 to 62.5 percent.

In a decent quarterback situation, Cooper can be a 1,000-plus-yard receiver. If the Pittsburgh Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers, the 41-year-old would appreciate Cooper's route running in contrast to DK Metcalf's limited route tree.

If Cooper prefers to play with a young quarterback like Josh Allen, the Washington Commanders could be an option if the interest is mutual. With Deebo Samuel and Cooper, Jayden Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, would continue to ascend as one of the league's most promising signal-callers.

Potential landing spots: Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders

RB J.K. Dobbins

AP Photo/AJ Mast

Unfortunately for J.K. Dobbins, he had his most productive season in the year preceding a strong incoming running back class. Teams likely preferred fresh legs over a six-year veteran with an extensive injury history.

Nonetheless, Dobbins showed he can carry most of the workload if necessary, accumulating a career-high 195 carries for a personal-best 905 yards with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. Though he missed four games because of a knee injury, clubs can pair him with a young counterpart to preserve both players.

Dobbins can be an effective No. 2 running back behind Alvin Kamara with the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Kellen Moore may look to take some pressure off whoever wins the starting job following Derek Carr's retirement announcement.

Rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler will compete for the starting job. Because of the inexperience among the candidates, the Saints may lean on their ground game. If so, Dobbins can carve out a significant role over inconsistent third-year tailback Kendre Miller on early downs.

Potential landing spots: New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders

CB Mike Hilton

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Despite his production as one of the league's top slot cornerbacks, Mike Hilton remains available. At that position, he's an above-average cover defender, allowing a career 82 passer rating, and has recently been a consistent playmaker in run support, recording 12 tackles for loss in 2023 and 2024.

Hilton turned 31 in March. Teams have shown they are hesitant to invest in older slot cornerbacks. However, the eight-year veteran hasn't shown any decline entering his ninth year. He can play 70 percent or more of the defensive snaps and shore up holes in a team's run defense and shallow coverage areas.

The Las Vegas Raiders lost slot cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency. Darnay Holmes, who played in defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's system during his time with the New York Giants, is the front-runner for the open position. 

Hilton has more experience and a stronger track record for making plays on all three downs than Holmes, though. If the Raiders are looking for a more proven talent in the slot, Hilton should be atop their free-agent target list.

Potential landing spots: Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys

G Brandon Scherff

AP Photo/John Raoux

Brandon Scherff is one of the league's top pass-blocking guards. Because of his skill set, he's made five Pro Bowl rosters, most recently in 2021. 

Though Scherff didn't rack up the accolades in his last three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he kept defenders away from the quarterback last season, allowing zero sacks while on the field for 625 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. 

It's also worth noting that Scherff struggled with injuries early in his career, but he hasn't missed a game since the 2021 term. 

The Cincinnati Bengals should have signed Scherff long ago. With a pass-centric offense, they must do a better job of protecting Joe Burrow, who tied for the fourth-most sacks (48) taken last year. 

Guards Cordell Volson and Cody Ford are below-average starters. The former had a rough 2024 season with his pass-blocking assignments. Scherff would be a much-needed upgrade on the right side of the offensive line.

Potential landing spots: Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts

S Justin Simmons

AP Photo/ Jason Allen

Justin Simmons has aged past his prime. That said, he's rarely come off the field over the last seven years and continues to find the ball in coverage.

Since 2018, Simmons has played at least 98 percent of his team's defensive snaps in a season and recorded 28 interceptions, picking off at least two passes in all nine of his campaigns.

Last year with the Atlanta Falcons, Simmons allowed an 81.9 passer rating in coverage, a better rating than in his 2023 Pro Bowl year (89.1). With his playmaking ability in center field, he can shore up a secondary at the deep safety spot.

According to NFL Network's Brian Baldinger, Simmons wants to suit up for the Philadelphia Eagles in a reunion with Vic Fangio, who coached him in Denver. 

If the Eagles pass on Simmons, he could fit with the Carolina Panthers alongside Tre'von Moehrig. In Carolina, Simmons would reunite with one of his former defensive coordinators, Ejiro Evero.

Potential landing spots: Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles

EDGE Za'Darius Smith

AP Foto/Rey Del Rio

Last season, when the Detroit Lions needed to shore up their pass rush after Aidan Hutchinson suffered a fractured fibula and tibia, they acquired Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns. Smith filled the role adequately, logging 15 pressures and four sacks in eight outings with the Lions. 

Yet Detroit opted to re-sign injury-prone edge-rusher Marcus Davenport, who has played in six games over the last two years, and cut Smith.

At 32, Smith will likely draw interest from teams that need a designated closer on the edge. Based on his half-season production with the Lions, he can fill that role.

The Washington Commanders have Dorance Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell set to bookend their defensive line. Smith would be their best pass-rusher. 

Last season, Armstrong served as a full-time starter for the first time in his career. He logged a career-high 24 pressures and five sacks, though the 27-year-old has some upside in a prominent role. In five years, Ferrell hasn't recorded more than 4.5 sacks in a season.

Smith tallied nine sacks for the 2024 term, more than Armstrong and Ferrell combined. 

Potential landing spots: Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans

QB Carson Wentz

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Because of the importance of the quarterback position, primary backup signal-callers have solid league value, which is why it's surprising to see Carson Wentz, who has 94 career starts at 32 years old, still available.

Wentz started for three teams between 2016 and 2022, though he's settled into a backup role over the past two years. He combined for just two starts with the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs in 2023 and 2024. In those two outings, Wentz completed 29 out of 43 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

At this stage of Wentz's career, he can be a high-end bridge or spot starter. The 10-year veteran would have a decent chance to beat out rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler in a battle for the New Orleans Saints' starting position.

Wentz can also be a cheap alternative option for the Pittsburgh Steelers if Aaron Rodgers retires. He's more mobile and has a bigger arm than projected starting quarterback Mason Rudolph, two quarterback traits that can open up offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's playbook with DK Metcalf on the roster. 

Potential landing spots: New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers

LB Kyzir White

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

On the open market, only the top linebackers are rewarded with lucrative deals, and Kyzir White should be in that group.

Since his final year with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021, White has aged well. He's racked up 110-plus tackles and played in every game for three of the previous four seasons. 

In 2023 and 2024, White played 95 and 94 percent of the defensive snaps, the highest snap counts in his career, and made a significant impact. He registered nine tackles for loss and allowed just one touchdown in both terms.

If the Las Vegas Raiders signed White, he would fill one of their glaring post-draft roster needs. The Silver and Black signed Elandon Roberts and Devin White, two linebackers who played less than 45 percent of their team's defensive snaps last year. 

Also, the Raiders' new linebackers have either struggled or seen minimal action on passing downs in recent years. Kyzir White is more equipped to handle coverage assignments in the middle of the field.  

Potential landing spots: Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.