NFL free-agency rankings 2025: Top 10 players at each position

Last week, we released The Athletic’s top 150 free agents, a player-by-player look at the best of the class.

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Unfortunately for teams that need roster help, the “best of the class” is relative, as this year’s group is one of the thinnest in recent memory. However, there are clear positions of strength and others featuring great depth, especially along the offensive line and on defense.

Below, we’ve broken up the pool of 150 into top-10 lists for each position. Ages are as of Sept. 4 (the date of the 2025 opener), and overall ranks are in parentheses. Players who have re-signed (like Alaric Jackson) or were franchise-tagged (like Trey Smith) since the top 150 published have been removed. The deadline to use the tag is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Quarterback

It’s not the most enticing group. How many of these 10 QBs will be starters in Week 1 of the 2025 season? Perhaps only one or two, even if a few others compete during training camp. Darnold should start (and get paid handsomely) somewhere, whether picking his team in free agency or being franchise-tagged and traded.

Other quarterback dominoes might determine Rodgers’ landing spot, but it’s not hard to imagine a tepid market for him, given his age and propensity for making unwanted headlines. If interest is minimal, could he retire?

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The Steelers have said they’d like to keep Fields or Wilson, with most signs pointing to the former. That might be Fields’ best path to a starting job, and it might leave Wilson without one, unless Chip Kelly sees the 36-year-old as a good fit in Las Vegas, where Wilson would rejoin Pete Carroll. Fields and Daniel Jones could benefit from the recent resurgence of Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith, but each has his warts. Mac Jones and the quartet below him appear best suited as backups.

Kirk Cousins is a potential addition to this group, despite the Falcons’ insistence that they could keep him as Michael Penix Jr.’s backup. Cousins will be guaranteed $10 million of his 2026 salary if he’s not released by March 17. A trade appears highly unlikely, given his decline in play, age (37 in August) and no-trade clause. If the Falcons release Cousins, he could sign for the veteran’s minimum (just over $1 million) elsewhere while earning his full salary from Atlanta, similar to Wilson’s situation in 2024. Cousins would likely rank below Fields on this list, but he could have some appeal at that price.

Running back

Yeesh. The sequel to the starry 2024 class is about as exciting as “Dumb and Dumber To.” There’s certainly no Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry, and there probably isn’t a Josh Jacobs, either. There might not even be a Tony Pollard.

Jones is a great player, but he’s entering his ninth season and has a history of nagging injuries. The most efficient runner of his era, Chubb averaged just 3.3 yards on 102 carries after returning from his second major knee surgery. Dobbins and Williams also have significant injury histories, although Dobbins looked closer to form last season.

The most durable is Harris, who hasn’t missed a game in four seasons, but he already has 1,277 career touches — only 198 fewer than Chubb in three fewer seasons — while averaging 3.9 yards per carry. The bruising back might flourish behind a quality offensive line, but his résumé shows little more than a compiler.

Dowdle might provide the best bang for the buck after a quietly productive season in Dallas, his first year as a starter. Gainwell and Johnson could merit larger roles, particularly in the passing game.

Agents will hope to ride the wave of the 2024 class to bigger deals, but it’s much easier to imagine this group finding a soft market because of its lack of quality and the excellent crop of backs in the draft.

Wide receiver

This group has plenty of name value, but age and injury concerns will complicate the market. Two of the top three are coming off serious injuries requiring surgery, and four of the top six will turn 31 before the season starts. Even Higgins — who could have double-digit suitors if the Bengals don’t tag him — has question marks: Can he produce like a WR1 without Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase? Will soft-tissue injuries always be a lingering issue?

Update: The Bengals will tag Higgins for the second consecutive year.

Godwin and the Buccaneers are working toward a new deal, but most of these wideouts should hit the market. Diggs and Cooper might have the most upside of the over-30 crew, but Diggs must prove he’s healthy following a torn ACL, and Cooper’s stock slipped down the stretch (albeit while playing through a wrist injury) with Buffalo.

Teams seeking speedy role players will have options: Beyond Slayton, Moore and Brown, the class also includes the Rams’ Tutu Atwell, Commanders’ Dyami Brown, Chargers’ Joshua Palmer and Saints’ Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Gesicki is included here instead of at tight end because he aligned inline for only 27 designed rushes over 503 total snaps in 2024.

Tight end

Tight end is usually thin in free agency, and 2025 is no different, but Johnson has the talent to draw a big payday.

It’s hard to imagine Ertz wanting to leave Washington after his resurgent season. Tremble is comfortably the best blocker available (with some untapped upside as a receiver), while Conklin might be the most well-rounded. Ricard is primarily a fullback but often aligns at tight end and is an excellent blocker.

Offensive tackle

It’s rare to have so many experienced starting tackles available, especially left tackles, even with the Rams re-signing Jackson. Stanley, Dan Moore, Smith, Robinson and Wills have all been predominantly on the left side, and Beachum and Jaylon Moore have significant experience there. There’s usually desperation at such an important position, but there are a surprising number of teams seemingly already set.

Age and injury will limit the market for much of this group, but probably not for Stanley, who had a strong season and eased concerns about his surgically repaired ankle. The Ravens should be motivated to keep him.

Dan Moore isn’t a stalwart, but he’s young, healthy and experienced, which should help him find a multiyear deal. Many of the others could wind up on smaller pacts with limited guarantees.

Guard

All 10 of these players could be starting in the right circumstances, but there are plenty of question marks after the Chiefs tagged Smith, a rarity for an interior lineman.

Fries had an excellent start to 2024 before a season-ending broken leg. Daniels is coming off a torn Achilles and Hernandez a torn ACL, while Becton, Jenkins and Scherff also have extensive injury histories. Becton and Bredeson each have only one year of reliable play on their résumés. Zeitler is as steady as they come but turns 35 on Saturday, and Banks has shown flashes but lacks consistency.

This group should provide some bargains, but who is the best bet? Your guess is as good as mine.

Center

Center is typically thin in free agency, but it also tends to be a wise position to invest in. Dalman should appeal to several teams — especially those that specialize in outside-zone run schemes — despite missing half of 2024 with an ankle injury. Myers and Kelly could also be in demand as experienced starters, but Myers is coming off a career-worst season in pass protection, and Kelly was already in decline before having knee surgery.

Defensive tackle

Quality defensive tackles always seem to be available in free agency, and though 2025’s class can’t match the star power of 2024’s, it’s probably a deeper group, with a variety of sizes and play styles. Williams will be the most coveted because of his pass-rush ability; he’ll likely top $20 million annually with a chance to hit $25 million.

Hargrave and Odighizuwa — a candidate to be tagged by Dallas — can also get after the quarterback, especially in one-gap, attacking schemes. A 2021 second-round pick who started his career slowly, Onwuzurike could entice teams with high-level flashes he showed after bulking up in 2024.

Jones, Ford and Tart are the best run-pluggers available, but several others outside the top 10 excel in this area, too. With so many options and a loaded draft class along the defensive line, the free-agent market could bear several bargains at the position.

Edge

The deepest position in the top 150, with 20 players making the list, this group still does not compare to 2024’s, which included three star-level talents at the top and several other impact rushers in the top 10. Sweat is no slouch, but he’s not on the same level as Brian Burns, Danielle Hunter or Josh Hines-Allen. Mack remains a force against the run and pass, but he turned 34 last month and said in January he was considering retirement.

Koonce might be this year’s Jonathan Greenard — a talented, under-the-radar youngster who blossoms on his second contract — but he must prove he’s healthy after tearing his ACL before the 2024 season. Odeyingbo, Ossai, Browning and Ojulari are also intriguing upside bets, though each has some holes in his game.

Dipping into the veteran market will carry risk, but Young, Reddick and Lawrence are impact players when at their best. Teams looking for pass-rush specialists will find plenty of options further down the board.

Linebacker

It’s a great year to need a linebacker. Baun’s All-Pro season in 2024 was no fluke, and Greenlaw is a top-five player at the position when healthy. How motivated will their teams be to keep them?

Jones and Bolton are proven starters coming off rookie contracts who would provide stability anywhere they go. Sherwood might have more upside than either, as a converted safety who showed high-level flashes in his first year as a starter in 2024.

The rest of this group might not have upside, but teams could find quality starters without great expense as long as they are willing to accept some limitations.

Cornerback

Cornerback is right behind edge for the deepest position in the class, with 19 players in the top 150, tied with wide receiver for second most. It’s also a strong group at the top, featuring several proven starters, along with useful contributors down the board.

Ward’s market could be shaped by his desire to be closer to Texas. Reed, an excellent No. 2 CB, could command No. 1 CB money. Murphy might also be in demand, although fit will be important after he thrived in Brian Flores’ highly schemed defense.

Durability concerns could impact Davis’ market, but the more intriguing health-related questions are about Adebo (who broke his femur in October) and Samuel, who missed most of 2024 with stinger issues in his shoulder that he said he “was born with.” Both appeared on track for large contracts before injuries cropped up, complicating their futures.

Safety

Most of the top five are at their best closer to the line of scrimmage, led by Reid. He would probably have ranked behind Xavier McKinney and Antoine Winfield Jr. in 2024’s class, but his versatility and tackling will make any defense better.

Hufanga and Holland are a year or two removed from their best seasons, but the upside is obvious with both. Moehrig thrived while playing more strong safety in 2024, and Chinn is also at his best in the box.

For teams needing more of a free safety, Williams and Simmons are worthwhile buy-low candidates. Cisco and Blackmon have flashed their range on the back end, but inconsistency and injury history might temper their markets.

Melifonwu has the talent to be the gem of the entire class if he lands in the right spot and stays healthy.

(Photos of Aaron Jones, left, and Milton Williams: Steph Chambers, Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)