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2025 NFL free agency predictions: One target for every franchise
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- 2025 NFL free agency predictions: One target for every franchise
NFL free agency is rapidly approaching and teams will soon be making significant changes to their 90-man rosters.
Every NFL team figures to be active in some capacity once the new league year begins. Clubs with ample cap space will have the most buying power and will look to add top players like Tee Higgins , Trey Smith and Josh Sweat to their rosters. Others will take a more measured approach while targeting some value pickups.
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There will also be teams that need to cut costs to get under the salary cap . That will create an extra crop of free agents as they look to swap out higher-cost players for lower-cost veterans on short-term deals.
But which free agents are the best fit for each NFL team? Here's a look at one player that could make sense for every club, from the cap-strapped to the big spenders.
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NFL free agency predictions
Note: For the purposes of this exercise, each team's target is a player not currently on their roster.
Arizona Cardinals
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EDGE Josh Sweat
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No Arizona defender had more than five sacks during the 2024 NFL season ( Zaven Collins ). Sweat had eight during the regular season for the Eagles and wreaked havoc in Super Bowl 59, racking up 2.5 sacks of Patrick Mahomes . Jonathan Gannon coached Sweat for two seasons in Philadelphia , so perhaps he will be interested in using some of the Cardinals' $73.1 million in cap space (fourth-most in the NFL) to land one of the best pass rushers on the open market.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are cap-strapped thanks to the ill-fated Kirk Cousins contract, so they may have to go bargain-hunting for any free-agent additions. Adebo could fit the bill, as he allowed a passer rating of 67 while tallying three interceptions in seven games last season before breaking his leg. Adebo won't turn 26 until July, so the Falcons may be interested in adding him on an incentive-laden deal as he recovers from his serious injury.
Baltimore Ravens
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The left side of Baltimore's offensive line – tackle Ronnie Stanley and guard Patrick Mekari – are both set to be free agents. The Ravens may want to insure at least one of the positions if neither returns. Jackson has been a solid left tackle for the Rams for the last couple of seasons and would represent a younger, healthier alternative to Stanley. He may also be cheaper than Stanley, which will be important to the cap-strapped Ravens, who have just under $6 million in available space.
Buffalo Bills
Speaking of teams with cap issues, the Bills are more than $14 million over the cap, so they will have to make some cuts or restructure some deals to be able to afford free agents. That may limit what the Bills can do in free agency, but they could use a hard-hitting playmaker in the secondary. Reid fits the bill, and stealing the 28-year-old from the Chiefs would help weaken Buffalo's main obstacle toward a Super Bowl berth.
Carolina Panthers
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The Panthers spent the 2024 offseason building up their offense. Now, they need to re-invest in their defense. Specifically, they need to target some pass-rush help, both on the interior and the edge. They can likely get a top pass rusher with the No. 8 pick. Adding an interior rusher like Williams , who had 40 total pressures in 2024, would help further Carolina's rebuild under Dave Canales.
Chicago Bears
The Bears ' entire starting interior offensive line is set to hit free agency in 2025. Chicago could bring back some of its players, like Teven Jenkins or Coleman Shelton , but the Bears could also target a center upgrade like Dalman, who graded as Pro Football Focus' fourth-best center in 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals
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LB Nick Bolton
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Here's another move where an AFC contender gets better at the expense of the Chiefs. Bolton has been a productive, three-down linebacker for Kansas City , eclipsing 100 tackles in three of his four seasons and logging career-best marks in sacks (3) and pass defenses (6) in 2024. The Bengals need a three-down linebacker to replace Germaine Pratt , who requested a trade, and soon-to-be 25-year-old Bolton would be a core building block in Al Golden's defense.
Cleveland Browns
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OT Tyron Smith
The Browns are nearly $30 million over the cap thanks to Deshaun Watson' s fully guaranteed contract. As such, they will be significantly limited in what they can do and how they can free up space to sign free agents. That may make it difficult for them to pursue anything more than a stopgap at their biggest positions of need. Smith is no longer the player he once was but has the left tackle experience needed to help replace Jedrick Wills Jr.
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Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are another team with cap issues, and Jerry Jones' team hasn't been interested in spending much in recent offseasons. That means they will be bargain-hunting. That makes Mostert a nice fit, as Dallas needs to add a veteran running back to its roster. Deuce Vaughn is the only one currently under contract for 2025 and Brian Schottenheimer's teams have typically skewed run-heavy during his career. Pairing Mostert with a rookie from a loaded class would be an ideal situation for the Cowboys.
Denver Broncos
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CB Mike Hilton
Ja'Quan McMillan is set to be a free agent in 2025. The Broncos could bring him back, but they could also bring an experienced veteran like Hilton in to add another top performer to the team's high-quality defense. Hilton had six pressures playing the slot in 2024, good for the 11th-best in the NFL, and is a great run defender.
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Detroit Lions
Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson figure to be two of the Lions' top three cornerbacks in 2025, but they may need to replace Carlton Davis if he doesn't return in free agency. Ward is coming off a down year but was a second-team All-Pro in 2023 after logging five interceptions and a league-best 23 pass defenses. Ward would bring a hard-nosed physicality to the cornerback position that would quickly endear him to Dan Campbell, so this marriage could certainly work.
Green Bay Packers
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WR Stefon Diggs
Diggs might not be a true No. 1 receiver anymore, but the Packers should still be intrigued by his availability. His inside/outside versatility would allow the team to change his and Jayden Reed 's alignment to create advantageous matchups while taking some pressure off the oft-injured Christian Watson to play every snap. Diggs is coming off a torn ACL, so the Packers may be able to land him on a one-year deal.
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Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times in 2024 compared to 38 times as a rookie. Houston needs to correct that trend and better protect its quarterback in 2025. Part of that will involve improving the interior offensive line. Daniels can play all three interior positions and is still just 27 years old. He is coming off a torn Achilles, so the Texans, who are barely over the cap entering the 2025 offseason, could easily make the room needed to sign him to a short-term deal.
Indianapolis Colts
Lou Anarumo's defenses in Cincinnati thrived when Jessie Bates was with the team. He may want to find a similar do-it-all safety with top-tier playmaking skills. Holland fits the bill and would finally fill the Colts' long-time need for a dynamic safety.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
Brandon Scherff is a free agent this offseason. The Jaguars could bring back the stalwart right guard for another season, but they could also look to get younger at the position with Scherff set to turn 34 in December. Fries turns just 27 in April and has blossomed into one of the best guards in the NFL. Signing him comes with the added benefit of weakening the Colts, so the Jaguars' new general manager could get off to a good start with a move like this.
Kansas City Chiefs
Could Stanley actually land with the Chiefs? Kansas City is slightly over the cap, so opening the space needed to sign him would take some work. That said, if Patrick Mahomes restructures his contract, the Chiefs may be able to free up enough space to make some splashes. Signing Stanley, who has long been a quality left tackle in Baltimore, would qualify.
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Las Vegas Raiders
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QB Sam Darnold
Las Vegas has the cap space needed to make multiple splashes, but they need to add a quarterback after Gardner Minshew , Aidan O'Connell and Desmond Ridder combined for an 80.05 passer rating in 2024. The Raiders aren't guaranteed to land the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders , so Darnold looks like a good stopgap with upside. The soon-to-be 28-year-old is coming off his best-ever season under Kevin O'Connell but should come at a reasonable price after imploding in Minnesota 's final two games.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers rotated their right guards at times last season, with Trey Pipkins and Jamaree Salyer splitting time at the position. Signing Jenkins would eliminate the need to do that, though either he or Zion Johnson would have to flip sides to fit that hole. Jenkins allowed just 17 pressures with the Bears in 2024 and is a rock-solid run blocker. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman would love him.
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Los Angeles Rams
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LB Dre Greenlaw
The Rams made the playoffs last season despite ranking 25th in defensive EPA. They need to work on that side of the ball and could use some help at linebacker with starters Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder both hitting free agency. Greenlaw is a three-down linebacker who is excellent against the run. Sean McVay has played against him plenty and may relish a chance to coach him.
Miami Dolphins
Miami's three top guards – Liam Eichenberg , Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn – are all set to be free agents. The Dolphins are $5.4 million over the cap, so they will need to bargain hunt even after they free up some space. Zeitler turns 35 in March but graded as Pro Football Focus' No. 3 guard in 2024. He still has enough left in the tank but shouldn't break the bank in the twilight of his career. He played on a one-year, $6 million deal with the Lions in 2024.
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Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are set to undergo an overhaul in the secondary, as four of their top five cornerbacks are set to be free agents. Bringing back Byron Murphy should be high on Brian Flores' wish list, but grabbing a slightly larger cornerback like Davis to replace Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin would also be ideal. Davis is coming off a strong season with the Lions and signing him would weaken Minnesota's divisional rival.
New England Patriots
The Patriots desperately need to upgrade their offensive line around Drake Maye . Smith is the best blocker available in free agency, as the 6-6, 322-pounder is a road-grade run blocker who consistently performed well with the Chiefs. The only glitch for the Patriots is that he and Mike Onwenu play the same position. That said, Onwenu (6-3, 250 pounds) can kick out to right tackle or flip to left guard and give the Patriots a beefy interior blocking unit.
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New Orleans Saints
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WR Keenan Allen
The Saints have kicked the can down the road enough that they are a whopping $54.1 million over the cap entering the 2025 NFL offseason. That will significantly limit their ability to make significant signings. Going after a veteran like Allen, who turns 33 in April, might suffice. The Saints need a No. 2 receiver across from Chris Olave and Allen could fill that void on a reasonable contract.
New York Giants
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WR Chris Godwin
The Giants need to be in win-now mode with Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen on the hot seat. That will require the team to find plug-and-play starters in free agency and build up the team's offense around whoever will play quarterback. The Giants seem likely to land a rookie quarterback, so adding weapons around Malik Nabers will be critical. Godwin was Tampa Bay 's top receiver last season before suffering a season-ending ankle dislocation and would be a great slot addition for New York.
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New York Jets
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OT Cam Robinson
Aaron Glenn is coming to the Jets from the Lions, who built one of the NFL's best offensive lines during his time there. Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey may try replicating that success in New York. Signing Robinson would give the team an experienced left tackle who could allow Olu Fashanu to kick over to right tackle and plug one of the Jets' biggest holes, as Morgan Moses is a free agent.
Philadelphia Eagles
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EDGE Chase Young
If the Eagles lose Josh Sweat in free agency, they may take a swing on a high-upside player like Young, who will only be 26 during the 2025 NFL season. Young hasn't yet developed into a double-digit sack artist as many expected after his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2020, but he had 66 pressures with the Saints last season (seventh-most at his position, per PFF).
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Pittsburgh Steelers
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CB D.J. Reed
Donte Jackson is set to be a free agent but the Steelers may look for an upgrade over him across from Joey Porter Jr. anyway. Reed looks like a good fit, as the 28-year-old has long been excellent in coverage for the Jets. His size (5-9, 188 pounds) shouldn't be an issue for the Steelers either, as Porter (6-2, 193 pounds) will be able to guard larger receivers.
San Francisco 49ers
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LB Zack Baun
Let's be honest: the 49ers should probably focus on retaining at least one of their own free agents from the trio of Greenlaw, Ward and Talanoa Hufanga . But if they look outside their roster for a replacement, they could be intrigued by what Baun achieved during his lone season in Philadelphia. The 28-year-old became an All-Pro and notched 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles while helping the Eagles win a Super Bowl. Pairing him with Fred Warner may help soften the potential loss of Greenlaw.
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Seattle Seahawks
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OT Morgan Moses
The Seahawks are another team with offensive line woes and very little cap space. That puts them in the market for a lower-cost veteran who can be a plug-and-play starter at one of the four positions not occupied by left tackle Charles Cross . Moses has 158 career starts, mostly at right tackle, and shouldn't be too expensive ahead of his age-34 season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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EDGE Matt Judon
The Buccaneers don't have a lot of cap space, so they may find themselves bargain-hunting a bit. Judon is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, as he generated just 4.5 sacks and 25 pressures. However, he was traded to the Falcons just a month before the regular season, so perhaps the Buccaneers can sell themselves on him regaining his form with a full offseason in Todd Bowles' system.
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Tennessee Titans
Look, Rodgers may not be a perfect fit in that Tennessee probably isn't a Super Bowl contender with him, but he would provide the team with a solid bridge quarterback. That could be useful to the Titans, who have said they won't pass on a generational talent with the No. 1 pick. Adding Rodgers would free them up to target Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter – the consensus top players in the draft – with that selection and worry about finding a successor to Rodgers later.
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Washington Commanders
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WR Tee Higgins
The Commanders have a lot of cap space available but a lot of pending free agents to take care of. Bobby Wagner , Dante Fowler , Jeremy Chinn and Zach Ertz are just a few players Washington would probably like to re-sign. That said, the biggest upgrade they could find would be a No. 2 receiver across from Terry McLaurin . Higgins is the top wide-out available. His size and contested-catch abilities would complement McLaurin well.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL free agent predictions 2025: One perfect fit for all 32 teams
