The first few waves of NFL free agency have come and gone. Going into training camp, there are still plenty of talented free agents available who could contribute for a team this year.
Oftentimes, veteran free agents will take their time signing with a team. They may be just doing their due diligence, looking for the right fit going into the new year. In other cases, the team may realize they’re short on talent at a certain position, giving the veterans a call in hopes of fixing that need.
Heading into training, here are the top NFL free agents still available and which teams should consider signing each of them.
Gus Edwards, RB
Raiders, Commanders, Ravens
The Los Angeles Chargers’ starting running back to kick off 2024, Gus Edwards, slowly found himself phased out of their offense. He ended the year with 365 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 101 carries, giving him a career-low 3.6 yards per carry.
At 30 years old, Edwards shouldn’t be expected to serve as anyone’s bell cow back at this stage. However, the 238-pound bruiser is still a capable short-yardage back. The Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders stand out as teams who need RB depth, and a reunion with the Baltimore Ravens as a backup could make sense, too.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB
49ers, Falcons, Bears
2022 was a big year for Jeff Wilson Jr., as he finished with 860 rushing yards between his time with both San Francisco and Miami. Slowly but surely, the Dolphins fazed him out of the offense in favor of players like De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert, and Jaylen Wright. Wilson had just 16 carries in 2024.
Wilson offers some value as a special-teams coverage player, which could give him an edge over offense-only free agent backs on the market. Teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears could use another RB to compete for a roster spot. Going back to San Francisco might not be out of the question given his scheme familiarity.
Amari Cooper, WR
Patriots, Broncos, Raiders, 49ers
Arguably the top free agent still available, Amari Cooper has a tremendous track record and was a Pro Bowl just two seasons ago. Though he had 1,250 receiving yards in 2023, he dipped down to 547 yards between stints in Cleveland and Buffalo in 2024. Neither team used him as the top target he had previously been.
Cooper deserves a chance at a starting role to prove he still has a lot left in the tank. The five-time Pro Bowl could make sense for WR-needy teams pushing for a deep playoff run like the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers. Likewise, younger teams like the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders could value his veteran leadership.
Keenan Allen, WR
Chargers, Vikings, Broncos, Steelers
Keenan Allen didn’t have a bad year in 2024 by any means; it just wasn’t up to his standard. He finished with a career low in yards per game in his lone season in Chicago. However, he still finished top 50 in all key receiving categories with 70 catches, 744 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Beautiful ball from Caleb Williams and incredible grab by Keenan Allen
Unc still got it pic.twitter.com/ZbxScfrS73
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) December 22, 2024
At 33 years old, Allen isn’t the athlete he once was, and he wasn’t ever an elite speedster at his peak. However, he’s still an incredibly smart slot receiver who knows how to work himself open. There’s still plenty of value he can bring as a No. 3 receiver for a playoff contender, assuming he doesn’t just jump back in with the Chargers.
Gabe Davis, WR
49ers, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs
Just one year into his three-year deal, the Jacksonville Jaguars released Gabe Davis after a disappointing 2024 season that ended in a season-ending torn meniscus. A lackluster Jaguars offense didn’t do him any favors, but he still finished with a career-low 20 catches for 239 yards.
Davis is only 26 years old, so he should have plenty of football left in him, even after his injury. He would be best suited in an offense that allows him to maximize his vertical capabilities. That said, keep an eye on some playoff contenders to consider him on a discounted one-year deal before he signs another contract next offseason.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR
Giants, Jets, Steelers, Retirement
Availability has been an issue for Odell Beckham Jr., having missed 40 games since 2020. He’s coming off a disappointing year with the Miami Dolphins, playing in nine games and catching just nine passes for 55 yards and no touchdowns.
At this stage, OBJ projects best as a veteran mentor off the bench for young receivers. A reunion with the New York Giants has been floated around, slotting him in as a mentor to young star Malik Nabers. He has a couple of options to compete for a roster spot, but if he’s not interested in being on the bubble, retirement could be an option.
Tyler Boyd, WR
Steelers, Commanders, Browns
Tyler Boyd isn’t an elite athlete at wide receiver, but he’s a sure-handed slot receiver who has a high route-running IQ that helps him get open, even at 30 years old. He can still bring value to an NFL team.
Coming off the worst season of his career since 2017, nobody’s going to be paying Boyd the big bucks to sign with their team. However, he’s a crafty veteran who dropped just one of his 56 targets last season. Teams looking for a slot free agent or just some veteran mentorship would be wise to look his way for a cheap option.
DJ Chark, WR
Cowboys, Texans, Saints, Retirement
After starting 11 games in 2023, DJ Chark saw his numbers plummet in 2024 with the Chargers. He missed the first two months of the season due to a hip injury, catching just four passes all year for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Chark himself has stated that retirement is on the table for him, citing not wanting to relocate his family as a reason. With him living in Louisiana, he could be an option for teams in the south. If he finds no suitors there, retirement seems likely.
Hayden Hurst, TE
Jaguars, Colts, Falcons
A solid producer at tight end his first few years in the NFL, Hayden Hurst turns 32 in August and had just eight catches for 73 yards last season for the Chargers. Given the state of their tight end room last year, not being able to produce there isn’t a great sign for Hurst.
Hurst brings veteran leadership and experience to the table, making him a potential backup option for teams with young, unproven tight ends as starters. Brenton Strange of the Jaguars and Tyler Warren of the Indianapolis Colts would be good potential mentees. A reunion in Atlanta as a backup to Kyle Pitts could be an option, too.
Gerald Everett, TE
Raiders, Falcons, Lions
Gerald Everett was high enough in demand last offseason to net a two-year, $12 million contract from the Bears. They barely used him; he had just eight catches for 36 yards all year. Now, he finds himself a free agent going into training camp.
Everett surpassed 50 receptions both times in his two previous seasons with the Chargers. He overlapped with Falcons OC Zac Robinson with the Rams and played for Raiders coach Pete Carroll during his one season in Seattle. Both could make sense as landing spots, as could the Detroit Lions as a backup to Sam LaPorta.
Matt Judon, EDGE
Patriots, Lions, Bears
Prior to 2023, Matt Judon had made the Pro Bowl four years in a row. He had four sacks in his first four games but tore his bicep early in the 2023 season. In 2024, he was traded from the New England Patriots to Atlanta, where he was unable to return to his Pro Bowl form.
Judon had 5.5 sacks last year, so while he didn’t play like he did in his prime, he can still rush the passer a bit. A reunion with the Patriots could make sense, while other teams in need of pass rush help, like the Lions and Bears, would be wise to look his way.
Za’Darius Smith, EDGE
Lions, Bears, Patriots
Za’Darius Smith has become a reliable pass-rushing mercenary over the last few seasons. Playing for four teams in the last four seasons, he’s tallied 37 sacks over his last 66 games. That checks out to 9.5 sacks over a 17-game average. Last season, he split time between Cleveland and Detroit, notching nine sacks for the 2024 season.
Za’Darius Smith among EDGE defenders since 2022:
🔹 18.9% pass rush win rate (6th)
🔹 16.1% pressure rate (6th)
🔹 90.2 pass rush grade (8th)Your newest Detroit Lion 💪 https://t.co/0Xc7BsA1bs pic.twitter.com/lr2GESthrh
— PFF DET Lions (@PFF_Lions) November 5, 2024
Given his performance there last season, it could make sense for him to return to Detroit. However, the Bears and Patriots are two more pass-rush-needy teams on the verge of playoff contention who could view Smith as the missing piece to help their defense get to the next level.
Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE
Lions, Bears, Patriots
Another edge rusher who fits the “pass rusher for hire” archetype, Jadeveon Clowney has played for six teams in the last seven years. He’s signed late into the offseason twice before in his career, making it no surprise that he’s holding out as a free agent for the right opportunity.
Clowney had 5.5 sacks last year for the Carolina Panthers, and he totaled 9.5 sacks in Baltimore the year before. He’s hardly a long-term solution for a team’s defensive line, but he’s as good a placeholder as possible. Any of the previously mentioned pass-rush-needy teams would be a good landing spot for him.
Asante Samuel Jr., CB
Chargers, Dolphins, Vikings, Packers
Still just 25 years old, Asante Samuel Jr. underwent neck surgery in April after missing all but four games of 2024 due to a shoulder injury. The medicals will have to clear out for him, but he’s proven to be a reliable starting cornerback with 26 pass deflections between 2021 and 2023.
If Samuel’s healthy, a reunion with the Chargers could make sense. However, they saw good play last year from young corners Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still. Teams like the Dolphins, Vikings, and Packers are all playoff contenders in need of proven starting cornerbacks. They would be wise to do their homework on Samuel.
Rasul Douglas, CB
Dolphins, Colts, Eagles, Packers
Rasul Douglas has been a reliable playmaker for much of his NFL career. From 2021 to 2023, he had a combined 14 interceptions, 40 pass deflections, and three pick-sixes. His production fell back down to Earth in 2024, though, as he didn’t intercept a single pass last year for the Buffalo Bills.
The aforementioned Dolphins and Packers could make sense, especially since the latter was the team where Douglas became an impact starter. The Colts could use another veteran to compete with Jaylon Jones. At the same time, it wouldn’t hurt the Eagles to add competition for Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson for that final starting role in their secondary.
Stephon Gilmore, CB
Dolphins, Eagles, Cowboys, Packers
Stephon Gilmore turns 35 years old in September, so it’s no surprise that he’s hardly the Defensive Player of the Year-caliber player he once was. However, the five-time Pro Bowler has bounced around the league the last few seasons as a stopgap starting cornerback.
It would still make sense for the Cowboys to add at cornerback. https://t.co/XZMRk7zqd7
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) July 5, 2025
A reunion with the Cowboys could be in the cards, seeing as though their projected starter alongside Trevon Diggs is currently Kaiir Elam. Other than that, there are plenty more cornerback-needy teams who could view Gilmore as a band-aid solution and a mentor for their younger defensive backs.
Mike Hilton, CB
Falcons, Rams, Raiders
At his peak, Mike Hilton was arguably the top nickel cornerback in the NFL. Between stints in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, he’s put together a strong example as to why the slot cornerback is an extremely valuable position on the field.
Hilton is 31 years old but still playing at a high level. He’s reached PFF grades above 70.0 in each of his last four seasons. Nickel-needy teams would be wise to give him a call. The Los Angeles Rams stand out as a contender with slot cornerback questions, and the Falcons and Raiders could both make sneaky pushes, too.
Justin Simmons, S
Eagles, Chiefs, Bills, Panthers
After eight seasons with the Broncos, Justin Simmons spent 2024 with the Falcons, finishing with 62 tackles and two interceptions in 16 games. It wasn’t the All-Pro level of play he’s displayed in recent years, but he was still a serviceable starter on the back end.
As a four-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler, Simmons may want to look for a chance to win a Super Bowl in 2025. Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Buffalo are all perennial Super Bowl contenders, where he could push for a starting job. Though not at the same level, Carolina could give Simmons a good opportunity to start, as well.
Julian Blackmon, S
Eagles, Chiefs, Panthers, Cowboys
Julian Blackmon turns just 27 years old in August, so he still has plenty left in the tank. He’s a versatile defensive back who can cover as a deep safety and defend in the box at a pretty high level. He has seven interceptions between his last two seasons with the Colts.
The aforementioned Eagles, Chiefs and Panthers could look at Blackmon on a one-year rental and see if he’s capable of becoming a long-term answer for them at safety. Keep an eye on Dallas as a landing spot, as former Colts DC Matt Eberflus is now the defensive coordinator there.
