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NFL free agency best fits: Top landing spots for the 25 best available players
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- NFL free agency best fits: Top landing spots for the 25 best available players
NFL free agency is just around the corner.
The NFL's legal tampering period begins on March 10 while the new league year starts at 4 p.m. ET on March 12. There are several prominent players from around the league that could be on the move this offseason.
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FREE AGENCY: Predicting where will Tee Higgins, top 10 free agents land
Tee Higgins , Trey Smith , Chris Godwin and Sam Darnold are a few offensive players who might be wearing different uniforms next year. While defensive standouts such as Jevon Holland , Khalil Mack and Josh Sweat some defenders who could be headed elsewhere.
Where might the top free agents land? USA TODAY Sports examines the best fits for the top 25 free agents.
NFL free agency best fits
Tee Higgins , wide receiver (2024 team: Bengals )
Best fit: Los Angeles Chargers
Higgins is the big prize on the free agent market, as he 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.
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Justin Herbert lacks weapons. The Chargers are in desperately need of an X receiver to play alongside of slot man Ladd McConkey .
Trey Smith, guard (2024 team: Chiefs )
Best fit: Houston Texans
Smith is one of the best guards in the NFL. He posted a 75% run block win rate during the regular season, via ESPN.
Based on Super Bowl 59, the Kansas City Chiefs can ill-afford to weaken their O-line. But the Chiefs might not be able to afford the standout guard. Houston could swoop in.
Chris Godwin , wide receiver (2024 team: Buccaneers )
Best fit: Pittsburgh Steelers
Godwin suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 7 but was one of the NFL's leading receivers before then. He was on pace for 121 catches, 1,399 yards and 12 touchdowns over a 17-game season.
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Pittsburgh doesn't have a reliable wide receiver outside of George Pickens . Godwin produces when he's on the field. He can also be a mentor for Pickens who sometimes doesn't play up to his potential.
Jevon Holland, safety (2024 team: Dolphins)
Best fit: Minnesota Vikings
Holland has a lot of range as a safety and is an anchor in the defensive backfield. The safety has 301 tackles, 25 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and five interceptions in 60 career regular-season games.
Minnesota can certainly revamp its safety room. Veteran Harrison Smith is contemplating retirement and Camryn Bynum is a free agent. Holland would be a huge boost of youth and athleticism to the Vikings defensive backfield.
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DAVANTE ADAMS : Chargers, 49ers among best fits if Jets trade WR
D.J. Reed , cornerback (2024 team: Jets )
Best fit: Atlanta Falcons
Reed is a bit undersized at 5-9, but he has good coverage skills. He allowed a 57% completion percentage and two touchdowns when targeted during the 2024 NFL season.
Reed could reunite with former Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in Atlanta. The new Falcons DC knows Reed's skillset well.
Ronnie Stanley , tackle (2024 team: Ravens )
Best fit: Baltimore Ravens
Stanley has battled injuries during his career but was durable for the Ravens in 2024. He started every game for Baltimore and established himself as the top left tackle available in free agency.
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The Ravens are still a Super Bowl contender. It'll behoove Baltimore to bring Stanley back.
Stefon Diggs , wide receiver (2024 team: Texans)
Best fit:Houston 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.
The Texans have a void at wide receiver after Tank Dell's gruesome knee injury . Dell likely won't return for the 2025 season. Nico Collins and Diggs fit well in Houston offense in limit action.
Khalil Mack, edge (2024 team: Chargers)
Best fit: Los Angeles Chargers
Mack has long been a disruptive edge rusher, winning the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and making it to nine Pro Bowls. He has been the Chargers' best and most consistent pass rusher over the last four seasons.
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Joey Bosa is a potential cut candidate. The Chargers could save approximately $25 million by releasing him. Mack isn't quite the disruptive force he once was, but he still makes plays and is a veteran leader.
Amari Cooper , wide receiver (2024 team: Bills )
Best fit: Arizona Cardinals
Cooper joined the Bills via trade in October but never connected with Josh Allen . Cooper turns 31 in June but is still a very good route runner.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was asked to be Arizona top wide receiver on Day 1. He performed well but didn't quite live up to expectations. Cooper's veteran leadership and presence on the field would be advantageous for Harrison and the Cardinals pass offense.
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Zack Baun , linebacker (2024 team: Eagles)
Best fit: Philadelphia Eagles
Baun enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, racking up a career-best 151 tackles and 3.5 sacks while forcing five fumbles. He had a team-high seven tackles and one interception in Super Bowl 59. The linebacker earned himself a big payday this offseason.
The Eagles can't let Baun walk out the door after his breakout year. The 28-year-old was named a first-team All-Pro and is entering what should be the prime of his career.
Jan 5, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws passes during pregame warmups before their game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Sam Darnold, quarterback (2024 team: Vikings)
Best fit: Las Vegas Raiders
Darnold posted career-highs in every major statistical quarterback category, including yards (4,319), touchdowns (35) and passer rating (102.5). However, he reverted back to his journeyman QB form in his final two games of the season.
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J.J. McCarthy appears ready to take the reigns at quarterback in Minnesota. The Raiders are searching for a starting quarterback. Darnold and Raiders head coach Pete Carroll both have a USC connection.
Josh Sweat, edge (2024 team: Eagles)
Best fit: Los Angeles Rams
Sweat led the Eagles with eight sacks and tallied 54 pressures during the regular season. The edge rusher produced a game-high 2.5 sacks in what was a dominant Super Bowl 59 performance.
Sweat changed is representation, which is a sign he's seeking a big pay raise. Will the Eagles be able to re-sign him? He'll have plenty of suitors, especially after his play in Super Bowl 59. Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and Sweat would form an imposing pass rush duo.
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Haason Reddick , edge (2024 team: Jets)
Best fit: Las Vegas Raiders
The most news Reddick made during the season came from his lengthy holdout . He recorded just one sack in 10 games after skipping part of the season, snapping a streak of four straight seasons with at least 11 sacks.
The Raiders have the salary cap space to splurge on a pass rusher to pair with Maxx Crosby .
Nick Bolton , linebacker (2024 team: Chiefs)
Best fit: Kansas City Chiefs
Bolton has been steady and productive for the Chiefs. He led the team with 106 tackles during the regular season and has recorded at least 100 tackles in three of his last four seasons.
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Bolton wears the green dot and is the captain of the Chiefs defense. It would be a big loss for Kansas City's defense if he bolts in free agency.
Justin Reid , safety (2024 team: Chiefs)
Best fitKansas City Chiefs
Reid is an anchor in the defensive backfield for the Chiefs. He's a reliable safety and a sure tackler. He's tallied over 80 tackles in all three seasons in Kansas City. He's by far the team's best safety.
Reid declared he wants to be back in Kansas City after the team's blowout Super Bowl 59 loss.
Talanoa Hufanga , safety (2024 team: 49ers )
Best fit: Denver Broncos
Hufanga has been banged up the last two seasons, playing just a combined 17 games while dealing with a torn ACL and other injuries.
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Hufanga is one of the NFL's better safeties when he's on the field. Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Pat Surtain and Hufanga would be a scary duo in Denver's defensive backfield.
DeAndre Hopkins , wide receiver (2024 team: Chiefs)
Best fit: Baltimore Ravens
Hopkins turned into Kansas City's top wide receiver in 10 regular-season games, but had a quiet postseason run.
The Diontae Johnson experiment didn't workout in Baltimore. Maybe the Ravens give Hopkins a try. Hopkins desires to play for a contender at this point in his career.
MORE: DeAndre Hopkins gets defensive over refs, 'touchy calls' in Super Bowl vs. Eagles
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Charvarius Ward , cornerback (2024 team: 49ers)
Best fit: Detroit Lions
Ward allowed a 61% completion percentage and five touchdowns in 2024. He was a 2023 Pro Bowl and a second-team All-Pro at cornerback.
The Lions had the 30th ranked pass defense in the NFL last season. Lions cornerback Carlton Davis is slated to hit free agency.
Cam Robinson , tackle (2024 team: Vikings)
Best fit:Kansas City Chiefs
The Vikings traded for Robinson to help stabilize their left tackle position after Christian Darrisaw went down. Robinson filled in nicely in Minnesota. At 29 years old, he still has plenty of productive years left.
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The Chiefs must fortify their offensive line after a disastrous showing in Super bowl 59. Their left tackle spot was a revolving door this year.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) runs with the ball against the Green Bay Packers.
Aaron Jones , running back (2024 team: Vikings)
Best fit: Minnesota Vikings
Jones produced a career-high 1,138 rushing yards in his first season in Minnesota.
Maybe Jones and the Vikings can agree on a team-friendly deal. A veteran running back would benefit J.J. McCarthy entering his second season – which would essentially be a redshirt rookie year.
Keenan Allen , wide receiver (2024 team: Bears)
Best fit: Los Angeles Rams
Allen will be 33 years old at the start of next season and saw his numbers decline during his first year in Chicago . However, he is still a savvy route runner.
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Allen reportedly said he'll only play in Chicago or Los Angeles next year. A reunion with the Chargers seems unlikely since he and Ladd McConkey both operate primarily out of the slot. The Rams would be intriguing.
Byron Murphy , cornerback (2024 team: Vikings)
Best fit: Minnesota Vikings
Murphy earned his first Pro Bowl invitation after registering a career-best 81 tackles and six interceptions.
Murphy's play warrants strong consideration for the Vikings to bring him back.
Carlton Davis, cornerback (2024 team: Lions)
Best fit: Jacksonville Jaguars
Davis started 13 games for the Lions in 2024 and helped improve their cornerback room, which was a weakness in 2023. Unfortunately, he suffered a fractured jaw late in the season.
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The Jaguars had the NFL's worst pass defense in 2024, allowing 257 yards per game. Jacksonville could use a lot of help in its secondary.
Drew Dalman , center (2024 team: Falcons)
Best fit: Atlanta Falcons
Dalman allowed two sacks and 10 pressures in 554 snaps at center. He missed time because of an ankle injury but finished the year with six straight starts.
Do the Falcons really want to let their starting center walk when he's already established a rapport with Michael Penix Jr. ? Dalman is the top center on the open market.
Russell Wilson , quarterback (2024 team: Steelers)
Best fit: Pittsburgh Steelers
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Wilson helped the Steelers get into the playoffs, but the team's passing offense never really got going. The Steelers are probably going to bring back either Wilson or Justin Fields . Fields has the higher upside at this point in their respective career.
The are rumors that the Steelers could re-sign Wilson for another go around. Fields figures to have a few suitors elsewhere.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL free agency: Best fits for top 25 free agents
