Story by
Top 25 remaining NFL free agents entering 'legal tampering window'
- Story by
- Top 25 remaining NFL free agents entering 'legal tampering window'
The unofficial start to NFL free agency started fast and furious.
Several big-name players agreed to terms with teams. Wide receiver Chris Godwin decided to stay put in Tampa Bay and cornerback D.J. Reed is taking his talents to the Motor City. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold is headed to the Pacific Northwest and Justin Fields is going to the Big Apple.
Advertisement
All free agents are allowed to officially sign with teams at 4 p.m. ET on March 12, the official start of the new league year . There's been a flurry of activity, but there are still several impact players remaining in free agency.
Here are USA TODAY Sports' top 24 free agents available:
1. Stefon Diggs , wide receiver (2024 team: Texans)
Diggs suffered a torn ACL during his first season in Houston and seems more suited as a No. 2 receiver at this stage of his career. Still, he racked up 47 catches, 496 receiving yards and three touchdowns in eight games, and should be a high-quality secondary receiver as he prepares for his age-32 season.
Advertisement
2. Amari Cooper , wide receiver (2024 team: Bills)
Cooper joined the Bills via trade in October but never connected with Josh Allen . He had 20 catches, 297 receiving yards and two touchdowns in eight regular season games and caught just six passes for 41 yards in the postseason. Cooper turns 31 in June but is still a sharp route runner.
3. Justin Reid , safety (2024 team: Chiefs)
Reid is an anchor in the defensive backfield for the Chiefs. He led the team in tackles in 2023. He's a reliable safety and a sure tackler. He's tallied over 80 tackles in all three seasons in Kansas City .
4. Aaron Rodgers , quarterback (2024 team: Jets )
Rodgers' tenure in New York will ultimately go down as a failure. He suffered a season-ending Achilles tear just four plays into his Jets debut in 2023 and led the team to a 5-12 record in what was a tumultuous 2024 season. There is some silver lining, though. Rodgers performed better during the latter portion of the year. He had a 91-or-above passer rating in four of his final five contests.
Advertisement
5. Cam Robinson , tackle (2024 team: Vikings)
The Vikings traded for Robinson to help stabilize their left tackle position after Christian Darrisaw went down. Robinson filled in nicely in Minnesota . He started in 10 games for the Vikings. At 29 years old, he still has plenty of productive years left.
6. DeAndre Hopkins , wide receiver (2024 team: Chiefs)
Hopkins turned into Kansas City's top wide receiver in 10 regular-season games. If Hopkins wasn't 32 years old, he'd be much higher on this list. He's not the prolific receiver he once was but is still a productive X receiver with sure hands.
Advertisement
7. Keenan Allen , wide receiver (2024 team: Bears)
Allen will be 33 years old at the start of next season. He saw his numbers decline during his first year in Chicago . Is the dip in production a sign of things to come, or was it a byproduct of Caleb Williams ' up-and-down rookie season with the Bears? It's probably both, but Allen remains a savvy route runner.
8. Joey Bosa , edge (2024 team: Chargers )
Bosa is still a productive edge rusher when on the field. He was limited to 18 total starts the past three years due to various injuries. His $36.4 million cap hit in 2025 made him unattainable for the Chargers . He's tallied 72 career sacks in nine seasons.
Advertisement
9. Russell Wilson , quarterback (2024 team: Steelers )
Wilson helped the Steelers get into the playoffs, but the team's passing offense never really got going. He averaged 225 passing yards per game for a Steelers club that had the 23rd ranked offense in the league. He still throws a pretty deep ball but has a propensity to turn down intermediate passes. The 36-year-old QB can still be a capable starter in the right situation.
10. J.K. Dobbins , running back (2024 team: Chargers)
Dobbins rushed for a lifetime-best 905 yards in his first year with the Chargers. He has a career average of over five yards a carry. But injuries have followed Dobbins throughout his NFL tenure.
Advertisement
11. Evan Engram , tight end (2024 team: Jaguars )
A pass-catching tight end, Engram caught 114 balls in 2023. A torn labrum limited him to just nine games last season.
12. Justin Simmons , safety (2024 team: Falcons)
Simmons was regarded as one of the top safeties in the NFL a few seasons ago. He formed a nice combo with Jessie Bates in Atlanta . He's still a starting safety but not the perennial All-Pro that he was during his days in Denver .
13. Julian Blackmon , safety (2024 team: Colts)
Blackmon started 62 career games in Indy. He's registered at least three interceptions and 86 tackles the past two seaons.
Advertisement
14. Teven Jenkins , guard (2024 team: Bears)
The Bears were comfortable letting Jenkins walk after they revamped their interior O-line. Jenkins was responsible for four sacks and 17 pressures in 738 snaps.
15. Kristian Fulton , cornerback (2024 team: Chargers)
Fulton had a rebound year in Los Angeles . He allowed a 62.5% completion percentage as the Chargers' starting outside corner.
16. Dante Fowler , edge (2024 team: Commanders)
Fowler is coming off one of his best seasons as a situational pass rusher. He led the Commanders with 10.5 sacks. The former top-5 pick will be 31-years old at the start of next season. He might be best as a situational pass rusher at this stage of his career.
Advertisement
17. Azeez Ojulari , edge (2024 team: Giants)
Ojulari flashed during his rookie season when he tallied a career-best eight sacks. His rookie year is still his best statistical season. The potential is there but needs to show development as an edge rusher.
18. Asante Samuel Jr. , cornerback (2024 team: Chargers)
Samuel started the season as the Chargers' starting corner. He ended the year in unheralded fashion on injured reserve after 11 games. He has solid coverage skills but not a sure tackler.
19. Mekhi Becton , guard (2024 team: Eagles)
Becton revitalized his career with the Eagles. He allowed three sacks and 25 pressures at right guard. After a rocky start to his career at tackle with the Jets, the former first-round pick seems to have found a home at guard.
Advertisement
20. Kyzir White , linebacker (2024 team: Cardinals)
White produced 137 tackles in 17 starts in Arizona last year. He's an athletic linebacker who's had four straight seasons with at least 90 tackles.
21. Demarcus Lawrence , edge (2024 team: Cowboys )
A foot injury cut Lawrence's 2024 season to just four games. He was the Cowboys ' second-best pass rusher when healthy. He'll be 33 years old at the start of next season.
22. Levi Onwuzurike , defensive tackle (2024 team: Lions )
Onwuzurike started 10 games for an injury-riddled Lions defense. His 13 QB hits in 2024 were by far a career high. He's a defensive tackle who can take another leap this year.
Advertisement
23. Josh Myers, center (2024 team: Packers )
Myers allowed one sack and 29 pressures in 1,006 snaps this past season. He's a durable center who's started at least 16 games for three straight years.
24. Za'Darius Smith, edge (2024 team: Lions)
Smith filled in nicely with the Lions after the Browns traded him. He had nine total sacks between the two teams. He'll be 33 years old in September but can still be a quality pass rusher.
25. Mike Williams , wide receiver (2024 team: Steelers)
Williams never quite looked the same following a 2023 knee injury. Williams was never a speedy receiver, but can he regain some of his pre-injury explosiveness? He's a big-bodied pass catcher with great hands.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL free agency: 25 best available free agents
