The NFL trade deadline is behind us for the 2024 season. The teams are almost ready with their rosters, with the exception of end-of-season signings to active rosters due to injuries. Eighteen trades were made from the start of the season until the deadline, with 25 teams involved in either trading players or receiving players.
Many players whose contracts were expiring were expected to be on the move at the deadline, but stayed put. Here are some of the top free agents for next offseason and their stats so far in 2024:
Best NFL Free Agents in 2025
W.R. Higgins T-shirt (Cincinnati Bengals)
Higgins has missed five games this season, but has only missed nine games in the previous four seasons. He is a reliable wide receiver on the field, capable of making contested catches. The Bengals’ passing offense runs through Ja’Marr Chase, but they’re a much more dangerous team with Higgins in the lineup.
W.R. Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Godwin was one of the most productive wide receivers in the league before his season-ending injury in Week 7. The former Pro Bowl wideout is fantastic from the slot and has seasons of 1,000 yards with three different quarterbacks: Jameis Winston (2019), Tom Brady (2021, 2022) and Baker Mayfield (2023).
QB Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings)
-
2024 stats (10 games): 199 of 293 passes, 2,387 yards, 19 touchdowns, 10 interceptions; 46 carries, 166 yards, one touchdown
-
Age next season: 28
Darnold took over as the full-time starter this season in Minnesota and is setting career highs in completion percentage (67.9%), yards per game (238.7) and quarterback rating -back (100.0). However, mistakes have started to occur in recent weeks, with five interceptions combined against the Colts and Jaguars. Minnesota could move on to 2024 first-round pick JJ McCarthy next season, making Darnold a potential starter elsewhere.
S Jevon Holland (Miami Dolphins)
-
2024 stats (eight games): 31 tackles, two passes defended, one forced fumble, one sack; 44.4% completion percentage allowed when targeted (by Data from Sports Info Solutions (SIS))
-
Age next season: 25
Holland has missed two games this season but is considered one of the best safeties in the league, especially against the run. Miami could lose another top player on defense, like they did last offseason. At just 25 years old next season, Holland is expected to land a big contract for a free agent safety. A team might be looking to improve their defense, like the Packers who signed Xavier McKinney last offseason.
G Trey Smith (Kansas City Chiefs)
-
2024 stats (10 games): 587 snaps, zero sacks allowed, three penalties, 12 blown blocks (per SIS data)
-
Age next season: 26
Smith was one of the top picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. A blood clot issue diagnosed in 2018 removed him from many teams’ draft boards. The Chiefs took advantage and Smith hasn’t missed a game in three and a half seasons. Teams are spending more on interior offensive linemen — like Carolina did for Robert Hunt last offseason — so Smith can cash in after a good run in Kansas City.
CB Charvarius district (San Francisco 49ers)
Ward arrived in San Francisco in 2022 and earned every penny of his three-year, $40.5 million contract. He led the league in passes defended last season with 23 and was named second-team All-Pro at cornerback. He has not missed time due to injury since 2021; he was only removed from the roster recently after the death of his daughter. He’ll be older for a corner in 2025 but should attract attention, likely from suitors offering a short-term deal.
OT Ronnie Stanley (Baltimore Ravens)
-
2024 stats (11 games): 607 snaps, one sack allowed, 10 penalties, 16 blown blocks (per SIS data)
-
Age next season: 31
Stanley has not returned to the impressive form he showed during his first four years in the league. Injuries have forced him to miss 32 of a possible 76 games since the start of the 2020 NFL season. He’s healthier this year and offensive tackles can continue to perform well even into their mid-30s. If Stanley stays healthy through the end of the year, he will likely be viewed as at least a plus starter by many teams. It might get something similar to Mike McGlinchey deal from 2023.
CB DJ Reed (New York Jets)
-
2024 stats (nine games): 37 tackles, two tackles for loss, eight passes defended, one sack
-
Age next season: 28
Reed is on track for a career year this season. In nine games, he has allowed a career-low 46.2% coverage completion rate (per SIS data), facing Sauce Gardner, who is having a tough year in 2024. Like Ward, it’s impossible to deny how well he’s playing, but teams will see his age and likely worry about offering him a long-term deal.
kg Dr. Greenlaw (San Francisco 49ers)
-
2023 stats (15 games): 120 tackles, 1.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, four passes defensed
-
Age next season: 28
Greenlaw tore his Achilles tendon in Super Bowl 58 and was one of the most important players on the NFC champion 49ers’ defense alongside All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. He hasn’t taken the field yet this season, but if he looks like he did in 2023 when he does, he should be paid well in free agency for an off-ball linebacker. He is excellent in coverage and very solid against the run, bringing an aggressive attitude to the defense.
NFL 2025 cap space
Three teams have at least $100 million in cap space to spend on players like this group for next season. Here’s what things look like as of November 19 with data from Above the ceiling:
-
New England Patriots: $132.44 million
-
Arizona Cardinals: $113.44 million
-
Las Vegas Raiders: $112.19 million
-
Washington Commanders: $99.75 million
-
Chicago Bear: $82.04 million
-
Los Angeles Chargers: $75.11 million
-
Minnesota Vikings: $74.41 million
-
Cincinnati Bengals: $65.65 million
-
Tennessee Titans: $65.00 million
-
Green Bay Packers: $62.75 million
-
Detroit Lions: $62.06 million
-
Jacksonville Jaguars: $61.57 million
-
Los Angeles Rams: $57.84 million
-
Denver Broncos: $56.48 million
-
Pittsburgh Steelers: $53.92 million
-
Indianapolis Colts: $50.79 million
-
San Francisco 49ers: $48.23 million
-
New York Giants: $42.31 million
-
New York Jets: $33.87 million
-
Carolina Panthers: $33.67 million
-
Philadelphia Eagles: $32.06 million
-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $24.59 million
-
Dallas Cowboys: $24.02 million
-
Kansas City Chiefs: $20.47 million
-
Baltimore Ravens: $17.03 million
-
Houston Texans: $15.79 million
-
Buffalo Bills: $8.11 million
-
Atlanta Falcons: $7.42 million
-
Miami Dolphins: $3.69 million
-
Seattle Seahawks: -$4.96 million
-
Cleveland Browns: -$11.91 million
-
New Orleans Saints: -$62.80 million
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Best NFL Free Agents 2025: Best Free Agents Available
