The 5 best NFL free agents at every position for 2025

The 2025 crop of NFL free agents is light on star power. Teams looking for surefire fixes might struggle, even as unheralded veterans sign megadeals against the backdrop of a highest-ever salary cap set to clock in between $277.5 and $281.5 million this offseason.

The good news is there's a deep well of veteran offensive line talent and secondary help, even if many of the names on those lists wouldn't make for coveted football cards. The bad news is, well, if you're looking for a quarterback, tight end or edge rusher you're about to take a calculated risk on a player who probably isn't going to get much a reaction from the local fans.

Who are the best players available? Let's break it down by position.

Quarterback

1. Sam Darnold2024 team: Minnesota Vikings

Darnold is still a bit of a lottery ticket. While his 2024 resurgence burst into flames to end the year, he remains the top option in a weak class of passers. Get him in the right situation and he can thrive once more.

2. Aaron Rodgers2024 team: New York Jets

From a talent standpoint, Rodgers still offers upside, though not nearly at the level he hit even three years ago. From an off-field standpoint, well, good luck.

3. Justin Fields2024 team: Pittsburgh Steelers

4. Russell Wilson2024 team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Fields and Wilson combined to keep Mike Tomlim’s streak of non-losing seasons alive. Wilson beat out Fields for the starting job last year; we’ll see if Pittsburgh opts for the younger dual-threat passer over the more static veteran going forward.

5. Jacoby Brissett2024 team: New England Patriots

Running back

1. Aaron Jones2024 team: Minnesota Vikings

Jones struggled with uncharacteristic fumbles and may be headed for an age-related decline. Still, his 4.5 yards per carry were more than the 4.3 the NFL's Next Gen Stats expected and he continues to bring value as a receiver.

2. J.K. Dobbins2024 team: Los Angeles Chargers

Dobbins is a significant injury risk and can't be counted on to give you 17 games. But his 116 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) were 12th-best in the NFL last season.

3. Rico Dowdle2024 team: Dallas Cowboys

4. Najee Harris2024 team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Harris shows up, plays through pain and gives you hard-earned but average results. There's value to that.

5. Nick Chubb2024 team: Cleveland Browns

Wide receiver

1. Tee Higgins2024 team: Cincinnati Bengals

Higgins is the prize of this year's wideout class... if the Bengals let him get there.

2. Chris Godwin2024 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Godwin was having a phenomenal season before a broken ankle ended it after seven games. His 0.52 expected points added (EPA) per target were his best since 2020 as he put up a 120 catch, 1,400-yard pace in that hot stretch.

3. Amari Cooper2024 team: Cleveland Browns/Buffalo Bills

4. Marquise Brown2024 team: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs tried to make Brown a featured part of the offense after he missed the bulk of the regular season due to injury. It didn't work out as planned, but his ability to run crisp routes and create separation buoys his value in a pass-heavy league.

5. Darius Slayton2024 team: New York Giants

Tight end

1. Zach Ertz2024 team: Washington Commanders

Ertz is still effective in his mid-30s. While his career is winding down, he remains a viable red zone target

2. Juwan Johnson2024 team: New Orleans Saints

More of a big slot receiver than a classic blocker, Johnson’s athleticism can make him a sneaky good pickup this offseason

3. Tyler Conklin2024 team: New York Jets

4. Mike Gesicki2024 team: Cincinnati Bengals

5. Gerald Everett2024 team: Chicago Bears

Offensive tackle

1. Ronnie Stanley2024 team: Baltimore Ravens

Stanley is relatively old (he turns 31 this year) and has been an injury risk in the past. But he’s a proven starter with a Pro Bowl ceiling who can be an asset for a team in dire need of a blindside upgrade.

2. Cam Robinson 2024 team: Jacksonville Jaguars/Minnesota Vikings

Robinson is a perfectly cromulent left tackle whose value may be inflated by a lack of competition on the 2025 open market.

3. Alaric Jackson2024 team: Los Angeles Rams

Jackson is only 27 years old, which makes him one of the youngest members of this year’s crop of tackles with starting experience. That could buttress his value for teams looking for long term solutions.

4. Tyron Smith2024 team: New York Jets

5. Dan Moore Jr.2024 team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Interior offensive line

1. Trey Smith2024 team: Kansas City Chiefs

Smith may be the biggest prize to actually hit the open market. He’s only 26 years old and coming off a Pro Bowl season.

2. Drew Dalman2024 team: Atlanta Falcons

3. Mekhi Becton2024 team: Philadelphia Eagles

Is Becton a guard or tackle? He’s shined at both positions, but injuries derailed his time on the edge in New York. He reinvented himself as a massive ground-mover for the world champions. A raise is due.

4. Will Fries2024 team: Indianapolis Colts

5. James Daniels2024 team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Interior defensive line

1. Osa Odighizuwa2024 team: Dallas Cowboys

Odighizuwa has been one of the most consistent interior pass rushers of the last two year, recording a pressure rate over 11 percent each season for the Cowboys. He's helped Micah Parsons soar -- and may have priced himself out of Dallas in the process.

2. Milton Williams2024 team: Philadelphia Eagles

Williams was vital to Philadelphia's relentless pass rush, recording a career high 35 pressures in 2024.

3. Levi Onwuzurike2024 team: Detroit Lions

4. Javon Hargrave2024 team: San Francisco 49ers

Hargrave will be 32 years old in 2025 and missed most of 2024 due to injury. Still, he's a potent defender even in a diminished state.

5. Tershawn Wharton2024 team: Kansas City Chiefs

Edge rushers

1. Josh Sweat2024 team: Philadelphia Eagles

Sweat may be limited outside his pass rushing, but he’s an absolute force when he’s on. Look no further than his 2.5 sacks to annihilate Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense in Super Bowl 59.

2. Malcolm Koonce2024 team: Las Vegas Raiders

Koonce finished 2023 with eight sacks in his final nine games playing alongside Maxx Crosby. Then he missed all of 2024 due to injury. He’s a lottery ticket, but one with a huge payout.

3. Khalil Mack2024 team: Los Angeles Chargers

Mack is beginning to slow down but remains a rock solid pass rusher and veteran leader headed into his age 34 season.

4. Chase Young2024 team: New Orleans Saints

5. Dayo Odeyingbo2024 team: Indianapolis Colts

Linebacker

1. Zach Baun2024 team: Philadelphia Eagles

Baun rewarded the Eagles’ faith by emerging as one of the best off-ball linebackers in football after transitioning from edge rusher. Now he has to prove he can continue to thrive – potentially away from Philadelphia’s deep, hard-hitting defense.

2. Dre Greenlaw2024 team: San Francisco 49ers

Greenlaw played only two games after rehabilitating the torn Achilles he suffered at Super Bowl 58. Assuming he’s back to full strength, he’s a game-changer.

3. Nick Bolton2024 team: Kansas City Chiefs

Bolton is hitting free agency after arguably his worst season as a pro. He’s still a valuable starter, even after a subpar 2024.

4. Jamien Sherwood2024 team: New York Jets

5. Ernest Jones2024 team: Tennessee Titans/Seattle Seahawks

Cornerback

1. Charvarius Ward2024 team: San Francisco 49ers

2. D.J. Reed2024 team: New York Jets

The man holding down the other sideline from Sauce Gardner continued to provide rock solid play and punish opposing quarterbacks who tried to avoid Gardner’s presence. While he’s nearing 30, he should continue to provide above-average coverage the next two years.

3. Byron Murphy2024 team: Minnesota Vikings

Murphy was a big reason why Vikings’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores could afford to be aggressive. Blitzes were insured with solid one-on-one coverage from a Minnesota secondary that exceeded expectations last fall.

4. Asante Samuel Jr.2024 team: Los Angeles Chargers

5. Paulson Adebo2024 team: New Orleans Saints

Adebo doesn’t turn 26 until July. He hasn’t allowed a passing rating over 71.0 in coverage either of the last two seasons.

Safety

1. Jevon Holland2024 team: Miami Dolphins

Holland had a quiet 2024 but remains a versatile presence who can be equally disruptive erasing deep throws or run plays.

2. Tre’Von Moehrig2024 team: Las Vegas Raiders

Moehrig is an NFL unicorn – a star defensive back drafted and developed by the Raiders. He can do everything and may thrive in a more stable defense in 2025.

3. Talanoa Hufanga2024 team: San Francisco 49ers

If he stays healthy, he could be the biggest bargain of 2025. He’s missed 17 games the last two seasons, so that’s a big “if.”

4. Justin Reid2024 team: Kansas City Chiefs

5. Julian Blackmon2024 team: Indianapolis Colts

Special teams

1. P Tress Way2024 team: Washington Commanders

2. K Nick Folk2024 team: Tennessee Titans

3. P Jamie Gillan2024 team: New York Giants

4. K Brandon McManus2024 team: Green Bay Packers

5. K Austin Seibert2024 team: Washington Commanders

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 best NFL free agents at every position for 2025