Ranking the top 25 players in free agency

It’s not too early to think about next year.

After all, there are only four teams left in the NFL. The other 28 clubs are already thinking about the 2025 season.

Even though Super Bowl 59 is on the way, one of the NFL’s most exciting periods is just around the corner: free agency. The NFL’s legal tampering period begins March 10 and the new league year begins March 12 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

There are several big-name free agents and impact players available who can help teams reach the conference championship next year. Tee Higgins, Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson and Keenan Allen are among the most intriguing names that could hit the open market.

There are plenty of others who could start in just a few months or add depth to NFL rosters in need. USA TODAY Sports ranks the top 25 free agents heading into the 2025 season.

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NFL Free Agency: Top 25 Players, Ranked

1. Tee Higgins, wide receiver (Team 2024: Bengals)

Higgins would be a No. 1 wide receiver on most teams outside of Cincinnati. He’s an X-receiver with good hands and a nice catch radius. He’s 26 years old, so he’s probably in the prime of his career right now.

2. Trey Smith, guard (Team 2024: Chiefs)

Smith, one of the NFL’s best guards, had a 75% run-block win rate in the regular season, according to ESPN. Smith did not allow a sack in 1,115 snaps during the regular season.

3. Chris Godwin, wide receiver (Team 2024: Buccaneers)

Godwin was one of the premier receivers in the NFL before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 7. Godwin had four 1,000-yard seasons. He can be a No. 1 wideout or a No. 2 high-end option. He will be 29 years old when next season begins.

4. Jevon Holland, Security (Team 2024: Dolphins)

Holland has great range as a safety and is an anchor in the defensive backfield. He had a bit of a down year in 2024, but many players who wore a Dolphins jersey did. The safety has 301 tackles, 25 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and five interceptions in 60 career regular season games.

5. DJ Reed, cornerback (Team 2024: Jets)

Reed allowed a 57% completion rate and two receiving touchdowns this season. At 5-9, he is a bit undersized but has good coverage skills.

6. Ronnie Stanley, get involved (Team 2024: Ravens)

Stanley is the top left tackle on the open market. He allowed two sacks and 35 pressures in 1,062 snaps at left tackle. He was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2019. He has struggled with injuries in recent years but has started every game for Baltimore this year.

7. Stefon Diggs, wide receiver (Team 2024: Texans)

Diggs’ first year in Houston was cut short due to a torn ACL. He had 47 catches, 496 receiving yards and three touchdowns in eight games. He was primarily a No. 1 receiver but might be better suited as a No. 2 receiver at this point in his career.

8. Khalil Mack, Margin (Team 2024: Chargers)

Mack told reporters that he was thinking about retiring. The only reason he drops to No. 8 is because he turns 34 in February. The 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is still a disruptive edge rusher. The nine-time Pro Bowler has been the Chargers’ best and most consistent pass rusher since his arrival in 2022.

9. Amari Cooper, wide receiver (2024 team: Bills)

The Browns traded Cooper to Buffalo in October. He didn’t really connect with Josh Allen on the field. In eight games with the Bills, he had 20 catches, 297 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He had just two catches for eight yards in Buffalo’s first two playoff games. He’s still a very good route runner despite being unproductive in Buffalo.

10. Zack Baun, Linebackers (Team 2024: Eagles)

Is Baun’s breakout 2024 season a blip or a trend? Baun recorded a career-best 151 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2024. His performance earned him his first-ever Pro Bowl honor and he was named first-team All-Pro. Before this year, he had never had a year with more than 30 tackles. His next contract will likely be based on the success story after a successful year.

11. Sam Darnold, quarterback (Team 2024: Vikings)

Sam Darnold posted career highs in every major quarterback statistical category, including yards (4,319), touchdowns (35) and passer rating (102.5). However, he returned to his veteran QB form in his final two games of the season. In Week 18, he posted season-lows in completion percentage and passing yards, and his first playoff game was a disaster.

12. Josh Sweat, Edge (Team 2024: Eagles)

Sweat produced a team-high eight sacks and totaled 54 pressures during the regular season. The edge rusher will turn 28 in March. He could climb up this list if he finishes the postseason strong.

13. Haason Reddick, Edge (Team 2024: Jets)

Unfortunately for Reddick, most of the headlines he made during the season were due to his long absence. Reddick’s holdout did not result in overtime. Reddick made the Pro Bowl in each of his two seasons in Philadelphia before moving to New York. His streak of four straight seasons with at least 11 sacks was snapped this year.

14. Nick Bolton, linebacker (Team 2024: Chiefs)

Bolton wears the green dot for the Chiefs defense. The inside linebacker recorded a team-best 106 tackles during the regular season. He recorded at least 100 tackles in three of the last four seasons.

15. Justin Reid, security (Team 2024: Chiefs)

Reid is an anchor in the Chiefs’ defensive backfield. He led the team in tackles in 2023. He is a reliable safety and a sure tackler. He recorded over 80 tackles in all three seasons in Kansas City.

16. Talanoa Hufanga, security (2024 team: 49ers)

Hufanga suffered a torn ACL in 2023 and has struggled with injuries this year. When healthy, he’s a playmaker at safety. In 2022, he was named first-team All-Pro after recording a career-best 97 tackles, four interceptions and two sacks.

17. DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver (Team 2024: Chiefs)

Hopkins became Kansas City’s top wide receiver in 10 regular-season games. If Hopkins wasn’t 32 years old, he would be much higher on this list. He’s no longer the productive receiver he once was, but he’s still a productive X-receiver with sure hands.

18. Charvarius Ward, cornerback (2024 team: 49ers)

Ward was a 2023 Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro. He had his worst year in three seasons with the 49ers, but it was a bad year overall in San Francisco. The 28-year-old corner allowed a 61% completion rate and five touchdowns in 2024.

19. Cam Robinson, tackle (Team 2024: Vikings)

The Vikings traded Robinson to stabilize their left tackle position after Christian Darrisaw went down. Robinson filled in well in Minnesota. He started 10 games for the Vikings. At 29, he still has many productive years ahead of him.

20. Aaron Jones, running back (Team 2024: Vikings)

Jones posted a career-high 1,138 rushing yards in his first season in Minnesota. He also added 51 catches for 408 yards. The 30-year-old running back still has plenty left in the tank.

21. Keenan Allen, wide receiver (Team 2024: Bears)

Allen’s numbers declined after a career year in 2023 with the Chargers. Allen will be 33 years old at the start of next season. Is he in decline or was his performance in 2024 a byproduct of a rookie quarterback in Chicago? The answer is probably a combination of both. But he’s still an accomplished route runner.

22. Byron Murphy, cornerback (Team 2024: Vikings)

Murphy recorded career highs in tackles (81) and interceptions (6). His interceptions were the third-most in the NFL this season. His performance earned him his first Pro Bowl invitation.

23. Carlton Davis, cornerback (Team 2024: Lions)

Davis could be the No. 1 cornerback on many teams. Unfortunately for the Lions, Davis was part of a series of defensive injuries suffered by Detroit. He ended the year injured due to a broken jaw. He started 13 games for Detroit and posted a 55% completion rate.

24. Drew Dalman, center (Team 2024: Falcons)

Dalman allowed two sacks and ten pressures in 554 snaps at center. He missed time due to an ankle injury, but finished the year with six straight starts.

25. Russell Wilson, quarterback (Team 2024: Steelers)

Wilson helped the Steelers reach the playoffs, but the team’s passing offense never really got going. Wilson averaged 225 yards per game. He still throws a fairly deep ball, but tends to deflect intermediate passes. Wilson can still be a capable starter in the right situation.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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