Ranking the Top 10 2025 NFL Free Agents Ahead of the 2024 Season-Opener

With the start of the 2024 NFL season still a few days away, it may feel entirely too early to start examining the 2024 free-agent market, but it's not. You can bet that several franchises have already begun evaluating next year's player pool and will be monitoring top impending free agents throughout the season.

Thanks to recent contract extensions, the 2024 free-agent pool no longer includes standout receivers CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk. However, next year's class is still set to include a slew of bona fide NFL stars.

Here, Bleacher Report's Kris Knox will examine the biggest names scheduled to hit the market in 2025 and rank them based on past production, player upside, age, positional value and player health. We'll also make some contract projections based on recent contract trends, projected demand and the rest of the free-agent landscape.

Additionally, we'll examine factors that could potentially impact each player's market value over the course of the 2024 season.

Though Lamb and Aiyuk have exited the 2025 market, the receiver pool is still shaping up to be fairly impressive. Four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs is set to be part of the pool thanks to a contract adjustment.

The Houston Texans acquired Diggs from the Buffalo Bills, then eliminated the final three years of his previous contract. Though Diggs will turn 31 between now and the start of 2025 free agency, he should still be one of the more coveted offensive players available.

Diggs' value will likely hinge on his performance in Houston following four stellar seasons in Buffalo. Diggs topped 1,100 receiving yards and caught at least eight touchdown passes in each of those campaigns.

If the 30-year-old can replicate that production in an offense that also features Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz and Robert Woods, he'll likely surge past Amari Cooper as the top "aging" receiver in the 2025 market.

Expect Diggs to command significantly more than the $23 million annual salary that Calvin Ridley got in free agency this year—he's only a year older than Ridley and has a far more impressive resume—though he'll probably fall a bit short of Aiyuk's contract.

Projected Contract Value: Three Years, $84 Million

Pass-rushers always dray interest in free agency, and Haason Reddick should be the top name available if he hits the open market. That's currently a big "if" because the 29-year-old desperately wants a new deal from the New York Jets.

The Jets acquired Reddick in an offseason trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. The problem is that New York didn't make an extension part of the agreement, and Reddick has stayed away from the team ever since reporting for his physical.

Reddick has requested a trade out of New York, though the Jets are still holding out hope that he reports.

"He's gonna know what he needs to do to be ready for Week 1," head coach Robert Saleh said, per Ethan Sears of the New York Post. "He still has plenty of time."

Reddick's value will depend heavily on whether he actually plays in 2024 and for whom. He recorded 27 sacks over the past two seasons and has had four straight years of double-digit sack production.

While Reddick will turn 30 in September, he should still command a contract similar to the two-year, $49 million contract Danielle Hunter received this offseason—assuming he plays and plays well.

Projected Contract Value: Two Years, $53 Million

Asante Samuel Jr. has mostly been a reliable starter for the Los Angeles Chargers in his three seasons. The 2021 second-round pick has been more good than great, but he's coming off the most efficient season of his career.

After allowing opposing passer ratings above 95.0 in each of his first two seasons, Samuel allowed a rating of only 87.4 in 2023.

Starting-caliber cornerbacks are always in demand, young ones even more so. Samuel will only be 25 at the start of 2025 free agency, so he's likely to earn a sizeable payday even if he doesn't show continued growth.

There's a chance that Samuel will have another career year in 2024, though. New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has traditionally built his teams around strong line play, a good running game and a stout defense.

Staying healthy could also play a big factor in Samuel's market value. Health hasn't been an issue over the last two years, but he missed five games as a rookie due to a series of concussions.

If all goes well this season, Samuel could have the most efficient season of his career, emerge as a Pro Bowler and, potentially, become the top corner in an impressive pool. Should that happen, Samuel will have a chance to top the four-year, $76.4 million deal that L'Jarius Sneed signed this offseason.

Projected Contract Value: Four Years, $75 Million

Samuel might have the more notable name, but New Orleans Saints standout Paulson Adebo was the more dependable cornerback in 2023.

The 2021 third-round pick experienced a career campaign after some ups and downs during his first two NFL seasons. Last season, Adebo recorded 18 passes defended, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an impressive 60 solo tackles.

Adebo also allowed an opposing passer rating of only 62.7 in coverage.

However, it's going to take a few things for Adebo to fully maximize his market value in 2023. For one, he'll have to stay healthy after missing two games in 2023 with a hamstring injury and part of this year's camp with a groin injury.

Adebo will also have to prove that his strong campaign last season was no fluke. He was far less dependable in 2022, allowing an opposing passer rating of 119.6 in coverage.

It wouldn't hurt for the Saints to be relevant in the playoff race either. New Orleans won nine games last season, and if Adebo has a big hand in getting the Saints to the playoffs, he should cash in with one of the league's top cornerback contracts.

Projected Contract Value: Four Years, $78 Million

Garett Bolles may not end up being the top left tackle available by the time 2025 free agency rolls around. However, the 32-year-old should be in position for another payday.

After missing all but five games in 2022 with a broken leg, Bolles returned last season to start all 17 games for the Denver Broncos. He played 100 percent of the offensive snaps in his starts, something he's done in three of the past five seasons.

While Bolles does have an undesirable penchant for generating holding calls, he remains one of the NFL's more reliable pass blockers. Last season he was responsible for eight penalties but only three sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.

Left tackle is still a premium position, and right now, Bolles appears to be the best who will be available in 2025—though, if Ronnie Stanley and/or Cam Robinson rebound from injury-impacted campaigns, that could change.

That said Bolles isn't likely to sniff the market-leading money tackles like Tristan Wirfs ($28.1 million annually) and Penei Sewell ($28 million) received this offseason. Several tackles will be headed to market, and some promising prospects are likely headed to the 2025 draft.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department had two left tackles—LSU's Will Campbell and Texas Kelvin Banks Jr.—go in the first 18 selections of its July mock draft.

Expect Bolles' next deal to be a bit lower than the three-year, $60 million extension Taylor Decker signed in July.

Projected Contract Value: Three Years, $54 Million

Are fans going to get excited about an interior offensive lineman in free agency? Probably not, but NFL teams are.

Guards became a coveted commodity this spring, with players like Jonah Jackson, Robert Hunt, Chris Lindstrom and Landon Dickerson all receiving massive paydays in free agency or via extension.

Dickerson currently leads the guard market with a contract worth $21 million annually. Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs will have a very good shot at topping that number whenever he signs his next deal.

Smith has started 50 regular-season games and 10 playoff contests for the Chiefs in the three years since they made him a sixth-round pick out of Tennessee. Last season, he was responsible for eight penalties but only two sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus—numbers that compare favorably to Dickerson's—nine penalties and three sacks, per PFF.

According to PFF, Smith also had a higher run-blocking grade than Dickerson last season.

While Smith may not have a Pro Bowl on his resume yet, he's a terrific, durable guard for a perennial contender, and he's only 25 years old. It'll be fairly surprising if Kansas City doesn't lock him up well before the offseason.

The Chiefs made center Creed Humphrey the league's highest-paid center late last month. They'll probably follow suit with Smith sooner than later.

Projected Contract Value: Four Years, $85 Million

Like interior linemen, defensive tackles have become en vogue over the past few seasons. Like Smith, Alim McNeill is a terrific young player for one of the NFL's top 2024 contenders.

The Detroit Lions standout played a big role (no pun intended) during the team's run to the NFC title game last season In 13 games, McNeill recorded 32 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble, six tackles for loss and 13 quarterback pressures.

Interior defenders who can plug gaps, stonewall ball-carries and pressure opposing quarterbacks will always be coveted on the open market. The 24-year-old McNeill will likely generate added interest in 2025 because many of the other top defensive tackles—like Cameron Heyward (36), Quinton Jefferson (32) and B.J. Hill (30)—are on the older side.

Of course, McNeill will need to build on what he accomplished last season and stay on the field to remain one of free agency's top targets. He missed four games with a knee injury last season.

McNeill might not match the deals that Christian Wilkins ($27.5 million annually) and Justin Madubuike ($24.5 million) got this offseason because he doesn't have their raw numbers. Given the growing demand for good defensive tackles, though, he might not be far behind them.

Projected Contract Value: Four Years, $90 Million

While Charvarius Ward will turn 29 next May, he should be the top cornerback available in 2025 free agency. There are a few reasons for this, including his status as a defensive leader for the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers signed Ward to a three-year, $40.5 million deal in 2022 free agency, and he has far out-performed that contract. Ward has started all 17 games in each of the past two seasons and has remained a reliable piece of the defensive puzzle.

Last year, Ward recorded a league-high 23 passes defended, five interceptions and 72 tackles. he allowed an opposing passer rating of just 64.5 in coverage.

Ward deserves to be among the league's highest-paid cornerbacks, and that's unlikely to change, barring injury or a massive San Francisco collapse—which feels unlikely, but the Eagles' 2023 breakdown was unexpected too.

For Ward, adapting to new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen will be key. Sorensen will be San Francisco's third defensive coordinator in as many seasons.

Ward might top the extension A.J. Terrell signed this offseason, worth $20.3 million annually. With several good corners slated to hit the market, though, he might come in just a bit below that number.

Projected Contract Value: Three Years: $60 Million

While several quality veteran receivers are scheduled to be available next spring, Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins is the top young option. The 25-year-old has recorded two 1,000-yard campaigns in four seasons and has averaged 63.5 receiving yards per game.

Higgins' numbers might not seem overly impressive, but it's worth considering that he's been Cincinnati's No. 2 option behind Ja'Marr Chase for three of his four campaigns—he had 908 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie despite playing only 10 games with Joe Burrow.

There's a chance that Higgins could emerge as a viable No. 1 receiver in a different offense. And even if he's only a high-end No. 2, those players are becoming increasingly valuable in today's NFL.

The recent extensions of DeVanta Smith ($25 million annually) and Jaylen Waddle ($28.3 million) serve as proof.

For Higgins to reach that kind of money, though, he'll need to play a full season and return to being a 1,000-yard pass-catcher. The 2020 second-round pick missed time with rib and hamstring injuries in 2023.

A strong campaign should put Higgins in the $25 million club, and here's a scenario in which he goes even higher. If Chase's contract hold-in goes deep into the regular season and Higgins puts up legitimate No. 1 receiver numbers, he's going to get No. 1 receiver money in free agency.

Projected Contract Value: Four Years, $100 Million

While Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott might not be a truly elite signal-caller, he's set to be the best one to hit the open market since Tom Brady did it in 2020. He's coming off a season with 4,516 passing yards, a league-high 36 touchdown passes and a career-best 105.9 quarterback rating.

Theoretically, the Cowboys could sign Prescott to an extension anywhere between now and next spring, though they don't appear to be in any rush.

"We just don't need to get it done before the season," franchise owner Jerry Jones said, per Clarence Hill of DLLS.

What the Cowboys can't do is franchise-tag Prescott in the offseason. His current contract forbids it. That's why if Dallas isn't willing to make Prescott the league's highest-paid quarterback, he's very likely to hit the market.

Whether or not Prescott is actually deserving of a deal that surpasses those of Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love ($55 million annually each), he's probably going to get it. Prescott is a high-level quarterback in a league that doesn't even have enough average ones, and multiple teams will be interested.

Spotrac puts Prescott's projected market value at $55.1 million annually. However, the next-man-up nature of contracts and the supply-and-demand nature of free agency could have him earning much more than that with another strong season.

Projected Contract Value: Four Years, $209 Million

*Contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.