- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 557,673
- Reaction score
- 48
The 2025 NFL Draft is over, but roster building isn’t complete.
Teams typically search through the free agent market to fill any areas they missed during the draft.
High-level free agents remain available. Wide receivers Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen are still on the open market. Meanwhile, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is apparently mulling over his NFL future.
On defense, former second-team All-Pro safety Justin Simmons, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and edge rusher Za'Darius Smith have yet to be signed.
OTAs begin this month, and mandatory minicamps start in June. Will most of the best remaining free agents sign before the NFL’s offseason programs ramp up? USA TODAY Sports ranks the top 10 free agents available:
Last season was a down year for Cooper in terms of his production. The 30-year-old receiver never quite built a connection with Josh Allen after he was traded to Buffalo midseason. However, Cooper is still a smooth route runner and a possession receiver who can create separation. A total of 75% of his targets came on short and intermediate routes. A Cowboys reunion seemed possible, but Dallas acquired George Pickens on Wednesday.
All indications point toward Rodgers and the Steelers. Rodgers was even spotted throwing passes to new Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. Why would Rodgers train with Metcalf if he doesn’t intend to sign in Pittsburgh? The Steelers’ reluctance to use a top pick to draft a QB is further evidence. Yet, the Rodgers saga continues (for now).
Allen isn’t too far removed from breaking the Chargers single-season receptions record in 2023. The veteran wideout didn’t have the same production during his lone year in Chicago. There were signs of slippage in his age-32 season, but some of that could be attributed to the difficulties of catching passes from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Chicago let Allen walk and replace him with rookie second-round selection Luther Burden III.
Dobbins rushed for a career-high 905 yards and equaled a season-high nine touchdowns in 13 games during his lone season in LA. But Dobbins missed four games due to a knee injury. Injuries have plagued Dobbins’ entire career; he’s never started more than 11 games in a season but he’s productive when he is healthy. The Chargers replaced Dobbins with Najee Harris and 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton.
Simmons was regarded as one of the top safeties in the NFL a few seasons ago. He formed a nice safety combo with Jessie Bates in Atlanta. He’s produced at least 60 tackles and two interceptions in each of the past eight seasons. The 31-year-old safety is a four-time second-team All-Pro. Atlanta appears fine moving on from Simmons after selecting safeties Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. in this year’s draft.
Blackmon has been a stalwart defender in the Indianapolis secondary for the last five years. He’s coming off of back-to-back seasons with at least three interceptions and 85 tackles. Blackmon’s 73.5 coverage grade ranked 15th amongst qualifying safeties, per Pro Football Focus.
Samuel played just four games before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Los Angeles has since moved on at cornerback. The 5-foot-10 corner isn’t the surest of tacklers, but he allowed under a 63% completion percentage when targeted in his first three seasons. He’s lined up mainly as an outside corner but can play in the slot.
White produced 137 tackles in 17 starts in Arizona last year. He was the Cardinals’ best tackler at linebacker, but the team signed Akeem Davis-Gaither who could be White’s replacement. White, at 29 years old, is still an athletic linebacker. He’s tallied four straight seasons of at least 90 tackles.
Smith will turn 33 right around Week 1 of the 2025 season. He registered nine sacks between the two teams he played with last year. The veteran edge rusher has produced at least 61 pressures in each of the past three seasons. Smith’s at his best when he plays opposite a standout pass rusher at this stage of his career.
The Jaguars released Davis on Wednesday despite signing him to a three-year contract last year. He had career-lows in catches (20) and receiving yards (239) in 2024. The wideout became expendable when Jacksonville signed Dyami Brown in free agency and, most notably, traded up to draft receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter last month. Davis is best suited as a third receiving option.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amari Cooper, Aaron Rodgers lead best remaining NFL free agents
Continue reading...
Teams typically search through the free agent market to fill any areas they missed during the draft.
High-level free agents remain available. Wide receivers Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen are still on the open market. Meanwhile, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is apparently mulling over his NFL future.
On defense, former second-team All-Pro safety Justin Simmons, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and edge rusher Za'Darius Smith have yet to be signed.
OTAs begin this month, and mandatory minicamps start in June. Will most of the best remaining free agents sign before the NFL’s offseason programs ramp up? USA TODAY Sports ranks the top 10 free agents available:
Top 10 remaining NFL free agents
1. Amari Cooper, wide receiver (2024 teams: Browns, Bills)
Last season was a down year for Cooper in terms of his production. The 30-year-old receiver never quite built a connection with Josh Allen after he was traded to Buffalo midseason. However, Cooper is still a smooth route runner and a possession receiver who can create separation. A total of 75% of his targets came on short and intermediate routes. A Cowboys reunion seemed possible, but Dallas acquired George Pickens on Wednesday.
2. Aaron Rodgers, quarterback (2024 team: Jets)
All indications point toward Rodgers and the Steelers. Rodgers was even spotted throwing passes to new Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. Why would Rodgers train with Metcalf if he doesn’t intend to sign in Pittsburgh? The Steelers’ reluctance to use a top pick to draft a QB is further evidence. Yet, the Rodgers saga continues (for now).
3. Keenan Allen, wide receiver (2024 team: Bears)
Allen isn’t too far removed from breaking the Chargers single-season receptions record in 2023. The veteran wideout didn’t have the same production during his lone year in Chicago. There were signs of slippage in his age-32 season, but some of that could be attributed to the difficulties of catching passes from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Chicago let Allen walk and replace him with rookie second-round selection Luther Burden III.
4. J.K. Dobbins, running back (2024 team: Chargers)
Dobbins rushed for a career-high 905 yards and equaled a season-high nine touchdowns in 13 games during his lone season in LA. But Dobbins missed four games due to a knee injury. Injuries have plagued Dobbins’ entire career; he’s never started more than 11 games in a season but he’s productive when he is healthy. The Chargers replaced Dobbins with Najee Harris and 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton.
5. 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 safety combo with Jessie Bates in Atlanta. He’s produced at least 60 tackles and two interceptions in each of the past eight seasons. The 31-year-old safety is a four-time second-team All-Pro. Atlanta appears fine moving on from Simmons after selecting safeties Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. in this year’s draft.
6. Julian Blackmon, safety (2024 team: Colts)
Blackmon has been a stalwart defender in the Indianapolis secondary for the last five years. He’s coming off of back-to-back seasons with at least three interceptions and 85 tackles. Blackmon’s 73.5 coverage grade ranked 15th amongst qualifying safeties, per Pro Football Focus.
7. Asante Samuel Jr., cornerback (2024 team: Chargers)
Samuel played just four games before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Los Angeles has since moved on at cornerback. The 5-foot-10 corner isn’t the surest of tacklers, but he allowed under a 63% completion percentage when targeted in his first three seasons. He’s lined up mainly as an outside corner but can play in the slot.
8. Kyzir White, linebacker (2024 team: Cardinals)
White produced 137 tackles in 17 starts in Arizona last year. He was the Cardinals’ best tackler at linebacker, but the team signed Akeem Davis-Gaither who could be White’s replacement. White, at 29 years old, is still an athletic linebacker. He’s tallied four straight seasons of at least 90 tackles.
9. Za'Darius Smith, edge (2024 teams: Browns, Lions)
Smith will turn 33 right around Week 1 of the 2025 season. He registered nine sacks between the two teams he played with last year. The veteran edge rusher has produced at least 61 pressures in each of the past three seasons. Smith’s at his best when he plays opposite a standout pass rusher at this stage of his career.
10. Gabe Davis, wide receiver (2024 team: Jaguars)
The Jaguars released Davis on Wednesday despite signing him to a three-year contract last year. He had career-lows in catches (20) and receiving yards (239) in 2024. The wideout became expendable when Jacksonville signed Dyami Brown in free agency and, most notably, traded up to draft receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter last month. Davis is best suited as a third receiving option.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amari Cooper, Aaron Rodgers lead best remaining NFL free agents
Continue reading...
