Oct 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images With the 2024 NFL season in the books, it’s naturally time to look forward to 2025, and the first thing on every GM’s agenda is going to be sifting through the available free agents to find the guys they want to help them remake their team.
What’s the common theme? Youth. Just one of the top 10 available free agents has hit the age of 30. The average age of this group is 27.2. And the top four players on our list are even younger, with an average age of 25.5.
Yes, teams want to get better. But they also want to get value, and the younger they go, the less chance they end up with a guy who will hit a wall before the end of their contract.
With that in mind, here are our top 10 NFL free agents for the spring of 2025.
1. WR Tee Higgins, Bengals
The Bengals, who went 9-8 in 2024, were a much better 8-4 with Higgins in uniform, underscoring the kind of impact the big-bodied wide receiver has had over five seasons in Cincinnati. The 26-year-old would have been a hot property last season, too, had he not been franchise tagged.
2. G Trey Smith, Chiefs
Smith is just 25; he has a winning pedigree with two Super Bowl titles, and he has missed only one game in his first four NFL seasons with the Chiefs. Plus, one could argue Smith is just now hitting his stride, being whistled for a career-low two penalties during the Chiefs’ AFC Championship winning run in 2024.
3. QB Sam Darnold, Vikings
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) reacts as he walks off the field after losing to the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Objectively, the 27-year-old Darnold probably isn’t a top-three player. This ranking is more a reflection of the importance of the position he plays and the relative lack of other appealing options. Darnold had a career year in 2024 with 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns for the 14-3 Vikings, and now he’s set to cash in.
4. S Jevon Holland, Dolphins
Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) runs for a touchdown past Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (8) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Holland is young (24) yet accomplished, with four good seasons in Miami under his belt. With 25 passes defended, five interceptions and 301 tackles, Holland has shown equal propensity for patrolling the middle of the field and coming up to attack the run.
5. T Ronnie Stanley, Ravens
The oldest player on this list (30), Stanley nevertheless stood out with a Pro Bowl turn in 2024, rebounding from a series of injuries that cost him time in previous seasons. The missed time might actually work to the 2019 All-Pro’s advantage a little, in that there’s now less wear on the tires.
6. CB D.J. Reed, Jets
Dec 18, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed (4) celebrates a defensive stop against the Detroit Lions during the second half at MetLife Stadium. credits: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports Reed has traditionally graded out very well among the services, including PFF, who gave him a 70.1 coverage grade in 2024 (31st in the league). The 28-year-old is rarely talked about in the company of the best corners in the league, but Jets fans would be sure to miss him and his 32 pass breakups (over three seasons) should he depart.
7. WR Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
Oct 21, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) is carted off the field after an apparent injury against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Higgins is the most coveted prize at wide receiver, but Godwin, 28, shouldn’t rank far behind on most teams’ boards. Last year’s injury-plagued campaign broke a streak of three straight 1,000-yard seasons, but Godwin has been a consistent performer operating opposite Mike Evans and he can do so elsewhere.
8. EDGE Josh Sweat, Eagles
Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat (94) in action against the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field. credits: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports To the victors go the spoils, and for any Eagles players set to hit the market, that’s great news. Super Bowl winners always tend to get rewarded, and the 27-year-old Sweat, who had 2 1/2 sacks in the Super Bowl after an eight-sack regular season, is very well positioned now.
9. T Cam Robinson, Vikings
![Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson (74) reacts to a catch being confirmed in favor of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter of a preseason matchup Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] credits: Corey Perrine / USA TODAY NETWORK](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/1739630256915)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson (74) reacts to a catch being confirmed in favor of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second quarter of a preseason matchup Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] credits: Corey Perrine / USA TODAY NETWORK Like Stanley, Robinson plays a premier position, so a little extra mileage (29 years old) won’t hurt him as much as some other guys. Robinson was a midseason trade acquisition for the Vikings from the Jaguars and is known for his pass-blocking acumen. He didn’t miss a contest in ‘24.
10. LB Zack Baun, Eagles
Feb 3, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun (53) talks to the media during Super Bowl LIX Opening Night at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images A number of Eagles are set to capitalize on their Super Bowl victory with big deals. For the 28-year-old Baun, fresh off a critical interception of Patrick Mahomes in that game to cap a stellar 2024 season (151 tackles), that may be especially true.
Honorable Mentions:
LB Nick Bolton, Chiefs
S Justin Reid, Chiefs
WR Amari Cooper, Bills
Edge Khalil Mack, Chargers
DT Osa Odighizuwa, Cowboys
DT Milton Williams, Eagles
C Drew Dalman, Falcons
CB Carlton Davis, Lions
RB Aaron Jones, Vikings
WR Stefon Diggs, Texans
