It’s never too early to start thinking about next year.
After all, there are only four teams left in the NFL. Another 28 clubs are already considering the 2025 season.
Even with Super Bowl 59 in the way, one of the most exciting times in the NFL is approaching free agency. The NFL’s legal tampering period begins March 10, and the new league year begins March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.
There are several big-name free agents and impact players who could help the team win a conference championship next year. Tee Higgins, Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson, and Keenan Allen are some of the most interesting names that could hit the open market.
There are plenty of other players who could become starters or add strength to struggling NFL rosters in just a few months. USA TODAY Sports ranks the top 25 free agents entering the 2025 season.
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NFL Free Agents: Top 25 Players Ranked
1. Tee Higgins, wide receiver (2024 team: Bengals)
Higgins would be the No. 1 wide receiver on most teams outside of Cincinnati. He is an X receiver with good hands and a good catch radius. He’s 26 years old, so he’s probably just entering his prime.
2. Trey Smith, guard (2024 team: Chiefs)
According to ESPN, Smith, one of the best guards in the NFL, posted a 75% run block win percentage during the regular season. Smith did not allow a sack in 1,115 snaps during the regular season.
3. Chris Godwin, wide receiver (2024 team: Buccaneers)
Godwin was one of the leading receivers in the NFL until he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 7. Godwin had four 1,000-yard seasons. He can be a No. 1 wideout or a high-end No. 2 option. He will be 29 years old when next season begins.
4. Jevon Holland, Safety (2024 Team: Dolphins)
Holland is a wide-ranging safety and the anchor of the defensive backfield. 2024 was a bit of a down year for many players in a Dolphins uniform. The safety recorded 301 tackles, 25 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, and five interceptions in 60 regular season games.
5. DJ Reed, cornerback (2024 team: Jets)
Reed is shooting 57 percent from the field this season and has allowed two touchdowns. At 5-9, he is a little undersized but has good coverage skills.
6. Ronnie Stanley, tackle (2024 team: Ravens)
Stanley is the top left tackle on the open market. He allowed two sacks and 35 pressures on 1,062 snaps at left tackle. He was named first team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2019. He has battled injuries in recent years, but started every game for Baltimore this year.
7. Stefon Diggs, wide receiver (2024 team: Texans)
Diggs’ first year in Houston was cut short due to a torn ACL. In eight games, he had 47 catches, 496 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He has primarily functioned as a No. 1 receiver, but he may be better suited as a No. 2 receiver at this point in his career.
8. Khalil Mack, Edge (2024 team: Chargers)
Mack told reporters he was considering retirement. The only reason he fell to No. 8 is because he turns 34 in February. The 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year remains a devastating edge rusher. The nine-time Pro Bowler has been the Chargers’ best and most consistent pass rusher since joining in 2022.
9. Amari Cooper, wide receiver (2024 team: Bills)
The Browns traded Cooper to Buffalo in October. He hasn’t established much of an on-field connection with Josh Allen. He had 20 catches, 297 receiving yards and two touchdowns in eight games against the Bills. In Buffalo’s first two playoff games, he has only had two catches for eight yards. Despite his lack of production in Buffalo, he is still a good route runner.
10. Zach Baun, linebacker (2024 team: Eagles)
Is Baun’s breakthrough in 2024 a temporary thing or a trend? Baun recorded a career-high 151 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2024. His performance earned him his first Pro Bowl honor and was named first-team All-Pro. Until this year, he had never had more than 30 tackles. His next contract will likely be based on an upward trajectory after a stellar year.
11. Sam Darnold, quarterback (2024 team: Vikings)
Sam Darnold set career highs in every major statistical quarterback category, including yards (4,319), touchdowns (35) and passer rating (102.5). However, he returned to journeyman QB form in the final two games of the season. Week 18 saw his lowest completion percentage and passing yards of the season, making his first playoff game a disaster.
12. Josh Sweat, Edge (2024 team: Eagles)
Sweat recorded a team-high eight sacks and 54 pressures during the regular season. The edge rusher turns 28 in March. If he finishes well in the postseason, he could move up on this list.
13. Haason Redick, Edge (2024 team: Jets)
Unfortunately for Redick, the biggest news he made during the season concerned his long-term holdout. Redick’s holdout did not extend. Redick made the Pro Bowl in each of his two seasons in Philadelphia before being traded to New York. His streak of four consecutive seasons with at least 11 sacks ended this year.
14. Nick Bolton, linebacker (2024 team: Chiefs)
Bolton wears green dots for the Chiefs defense. The inside linebacker recorded a team-high 106 tackles during the regular season. He has recorded at least 100 tackles in three of the past four seasons.
15. Justin Reid, Safety (2024 Team: Chiefs)
Reed is the anchor of the Chiefs’ defensive backfield. He led the team in tackles in 2023. He’s a reliable safety and a solid tackler. He recorded over 80 tackles in all three seasons in Kansas City.
16. Talanoa Hufanga, safety (2024 team: 49ers)
Hufanga suffered a torn ACL in 2023 and battled injuries this year. He’s a safe playmaker when healthy. In 2022, he recorded a career-high 97 tackles, four interceptions, and two sacks and was named first-team All-Pro.
17. DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver (2024 team: Chiefs)
Hopkins was Kansas City’s top wide receiver through 10 regular season games. Hopkins would be higher on this list if he wasn’t 32 years old. While he’s not the prolific receiver he once was, 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, and an overall down year in San Francisco. The 28-year-old corner had a 61% completion rate and five touchdowns in 2024.
19. Cam Robinson, tackle (2024 team: Vikings)
The Vikings traded Robinson to stabilize the left tackle position after Christian Darrisaw went down. Robinson filled in well in Minnesota. He started 10 games for the Vikings. At 29 years old, he still has many productive years left.
20. Aaron Jones, running back (2024 team: Vikings)
Jones had a career-high 1,138 rushing yards in his first season with Minnesota. He also had 51 catches for 408 yards. The 30-year-old running back still has plenty of energy left.
21. Keenan Allen, wide receiver (2024 team: Bears)
Allen’s numbers have decreased since 2023 during his career with the Chargers. Allen will be 33 years old at the start of next season. Is he fading, or was his 2024 performance a byproduct of Chicago’s rookie quarterback? The answer is probably a combination of both. But he’s still a smart route runner.
22. Byron Murphy, cornerback (2024 team: Vikings)
Murphy set career bests in tackles (81) and interceptions (six). His interceptions were tied for third-most in the NFL this season. His performance earned him an invitation to the Pro Bowl for the first time.
23. Carlton Davis, cornerback (2024 team: Lions)
Davis could be the No. 1 corner for many teams. Unfortunately for the Lions, Davis was part of the defensive injuries suffered by Detroit. He finished the year on injured reserve with a broken jaw. He started 13 games with Detroit and had a complete game percentage of 55%.
24. Drew Dalman, Center (2024 Team: Falcons)
Dalman allowed two sacks and 10 pressures in 554 snaps at center. Although he missed the game due to an ankle injury, he finished the season as a starter for the sixth straight year.
25. Russell Wilson, quarterback (2024 team: Steelers)
Wilson helped the Steelers reach the playoffs, but the team’s passing offense never really took off. Wilson averaged 225 passing yards per game. He still throws the ball pretty deep, but tends to reject intermediate passes. Wilson can still be a capable starter in the right situation.
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