Best Landing Spots for Top Defensive Free Agents Before NFL Training Camp

NFL free agency in July? What?

Every year, a few notable veterans are still on the free-agent market well into the summer. Most end up finding a home either by the start of training camp or shortly after it begins as teams look to fill holes on their respective rosters. 

So, let’s play matchmaker and pair the top defensive free agents with three teams who could use their services.

The players selected are based on B/R alum and current ESPN analyst Matt Bowen’s July 1 ranking of the best unsigned players. In addition to touching on how each team is the best landing spot, we’ll also shine a light on why each player is still available.

CB Rasul Douglas

AP Photo/Peter Aiken

Age: 29 (turns 30 on August 29)

At 6’2” with 32⅜" arms, Douglas is a long cornerback who uses his limbs well to make plays on the ball. The eight-year pro has racked up 19 interceptions and 79 pass breakups during his tenure in the NFL. 

However, he’s coming off one of the worst years of his career with no picks and just five pass breakups, which is tied for a personal low and the second-fewest of his career, respectively. The former Buffalo Bill also allowed a 123.7 passer rating when targeted and posted a 58.9 coverage grade last season, per Pro Football Focus. 

Combine that with his age, and it makes sense why Douglas is available. Still, plenty of teams could use some help at cornerback and would benefit from at least bringing him into training camp.

Los Angeles Rams

Head coach Sean McVay made it no secret that he was interested in bringing back Jalen Ramsey, whom the Miami Dolphins recently traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After missing out on the Ramsey sweepstakes, the Rams could still use some help at cornerback as they make another Super Bowl push with the aging Matthew Stafford at quarterback.

Green Bay Packers

Douglas revived his career with the Packers in 2021, and a reunion would make a lot of sense. After moving on from Jaire Alexander last month, Green Bay is expected to start Nate Hobbs and Keisean Nixon at outside cornerback. 

Both Hobbs and Nixon are better at nickelback, though, so adding Douglas could allow one of them to move back to their more natural position.

Minnesota Vikings

Staying within the NFC North, the Vikings could use some help in their secondary after deciding not to bring Stephon Gilmore back. 

Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers are currently expected to start on the boundary, but those two were backups with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, last season. Adding Douglas would upgrade the cornerback room in Minnesota.

CB Asante Samuel Jr.

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

Age: 25 (turns 26 on October 3)

Heading into the 2024 season, it looked like Samuel would be one of the top cornerbacks available during free agency. 

The first three years of his career were impressive, as he racked up six interceptions and 35 pass breakups in 46 regular-season games with the Los Angeles Charger (43 starts). Adding to that, he had a monster performance in his lone playoff game with the Chargers, picking off three passes and breaking up six in total.

However, the 2021 second-round pick played only four games last fall after a shoulder injury put him on injured reserve. Making matters worse, he said this has been a lingering issue that he’s been dealing with his entire life, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and he had neck surgery in April.

Still, some team should be willing to take a chance on a young corner who's had impressive production when healthy.

New Orleans Saints

Fowler also reported that Samuel met with the Saints in May. That pairing would make a lot of sense, as New Orleans is looking to rebuild and could use some help at cornerback after trading Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders in November and letting Paulson Adebo walk in free agency. 

Arizona Cardinals

While second-round pick Will Johnson could end up being the Cardinals' top cornerback as a rookie, he also has significant injury concerns, which is why the Michigan product slid in the draft. 

The Cardinals are a young, up-and-coming team that could use some reinforcements in the secondary, which could make Samuel a fit with what they're building in the desert.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are seemingly trending toward a rebuild this season, especially after trading away Jalen Ramsey. That deal created a need at corner, which could give Samuel a chance to play right away and potentially be a part of the long-term plan in Miami.

NB Mike Hilton

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Age: 31 (turns 32 on March 9)

Out of all the players featured here, it's perhaps most surprising that Mike Hilton is still available. The only logical explanation is that he’s on the wrong side of 30 and is pigeonholed into one role in the secondary at this point in his career. However, the eight-year veteran has a long track record of being a quality nickelback.

The former Pittsburgh Steeler and Cincinnati Bengal has developed a reputation as a disruptor in the running game. He's racked up 66 career tackles for loss, including 12 in each of the last two seasons. On top of that, he’s produced solid or better run-defense grades from Pro Football Focus for six campaigns, topping out at a career high 91.7 in 2024.

Hilton is also effective at rallying and tackling in coverage and has decent ball production with 13 interceptions and 56 pass breakups during his NFL career.

In other words, the old man at least deserves a shot to prove himself against the young bucks. The team that gets him could land a starting slot corner.

Las Vegas Raiders

Nate Hobbs manned the inside for the Raiders over the better part of the last four seasons. But Hobbs signed with the Green Bay Packers in free agency, and Las Vegas didn’t replace him. Also, having a strong veteran voice could be just what the young position group needs to develop moving forward.

Dallas Cowboys

Similarly, the Cowboys let long-time nickel Jourdan Lewis walk this past offseason without adding another clear option to replace him. Adding Hilton could keep DaRon Bland on the boundary while allowing the Cowboys to be patient with Trevon Diggs and rookie Shavon Revel Jr. as both recover from torn ACLs.

San Francisco 49ers

This pairing would depend on what the plan is with Deommodore Lenoir this season.

Lenoir made his money at slot corner over the last two years, but he may play on the boundary more in 2025 after Charvarius Ward’s departure in free agency. So, there might be room for the 49ers to bring in a veteran nickel ahead of training camp.

Edge Za'Darius Smith

AP Photo/Rick Osentoski

Age: 32 (turns 33 on September 8)

For the last decade, all Za'Darius Smith has done is be a productive pass-rusher with five different teams. He’s racked up 69 career sacks in 140 games, including nine with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions in 2024. 

However, the soon-to-be 33-year-old has never been known as a stout run defender and is getting up there in age, likely pushing him into a pass-rush specialist role moving forward. But a team that’s in the market for a veteran who can contribute on third downs should at least kick the tires on the three-time Pro Bowler.

Detroit Lions

Sometimes it’s just best to stay where you are. The Lions clearly got production out of Smith, whom they acquired in a midseason trade. He was just a salary-cap casualty this offseason.

Despite that, Smith told USA Today’s Tyler Dragon that he’s still interested in returning to Detroit. The Lions could use another edge-rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, too.

Chicago Bears

The pass-rusher has also been linked to the Bears, via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, so staying in the NFC North and reuniting with Ben Johnson is a possibility.

With Dayo Odeyingbo taking the early-down responsibilities and sliding inside in passing situations, Smith would be a great complement on the edge with Montez Sweat.

Washington Commanders

The Commanders are striving to take advantage of Jayden Daniels’ rookie contract by adding veterans to push for a Lombardi Trophy. However, Dante Fowler, who led the team in sacks with 10.5 sacks last year, returned to the Dallas Cowboys during free agency. So, the Commanders defense could use a pass-rusher to help replace that production.

Edge Jadeveon Clowney

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

Age: 32 (turns 33 on Feb. 14)

While Jadeveon Clowney never developed into the sure-fire Hall of Famer many expected him to be coming out of college, he has put together a long career as a solid all-around edge defender.

The 2014 No. 1 overall pick has racked up 58 sacks and 108 tackles for loss over the last decade-plus, and he was a decent contributor for the Carolina Panthers last year. He posted 5.5 sacks and nine TFLs to go along with 44 total pressures and 24 "defensive stops," according to Pro Football Focus. 

However, Clowney missed three games due to injury in 2024, which has been a consistent theme throughout his career. He’s only played in a full season’s worth of games twice in 11 years.

That, combined with being on the wrong side of 30 years old, is likely why the Panthers let him go during free agency and is part of the reason he’s still unsigned. But a team looking for help on the edge should at least give the veteran a call.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles’ defense took a lot of hits this offseason, including losing Josh Sweat in free agency. While Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt are expected to take over, in addition to pass-rush specialists Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche, it couldn’t hurt to bring in Clowney as an insurance policy.

Los Angeles Rams

While Los Angeles has a couple of promising young edge defenders in Jared Verse and Byron Young, the position group and defensive line are young as a whole. The veteran could be a good depth piece and voice in the meeting room as the team looks to make a Super Bowl run.

Green Bay Packers

Lukas Van Ness hasn’t lived up to his predraft billing so far, yet he’s scheduled to be the Packers’ starting defensive end opposite Rashan Gary this season. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Packers to add Clowney to create competition for Van Ness during training camp.