Free agency begins on March 10 with the negotiating period for teams and free agent players. It’s an annual way for teams to bolster their rosters ahead of the NFL draft by signing players from other teams.
These signings can be a massive boost for teams. Look no further than the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The team signed running back Saquon Barkley and linebacker Zack Baun in free agency last offseason and both had career seasons, especially Barkley.
Free agency isn’t always rosy, though. Last offseason, the Atlanta Falcons gave quarterback Kirk Cousins the biggest contract in free agency and the team turned to rookie Michael Penix Jr. before the end of the season.
This year, there are plenty of talented players hitting free agency on both sides of the ball. There are players at high-profile positions on offense especially who should command top salaries in this free agency cycle.
Here’s how we ranked the top 25 free agents on offense for 2025.
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2025 NFL free agency: Top 15 offensive players
1. WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
This one’s pretty easy. Higgins would be the No. 1 wideout on most NFL teams but plays on a team featuring wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who led the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17).
Higgins will be 26 in the 2025 NFL season and is coming off a career-high 10-touchdown season in 2024. Health is a concern after he missed 10 regular season games over the last two years but players like him don’t hit free agency often.
Cincinnati may use the franchise tag on him to keep him off the open market.
2. QB Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
Darnold’s journey from No. 3 overall pick in 2018 to Pro Bowl quarterback in 2024 seems long but he’ll be just 28 years old in the 2025 NFL season. That’s around the time most quarterbacks enter their prime.
A career year with the Vikings in 2024 fizzled out in the playoffs with a rough performance against the Los Angeles Rams. He’ll still likely command a top-10 salary given a down quarterback year in the draft and plenty of quarterback-needy teams.
3. OG Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs’ offensive line struggled as a whole in the Super Bowl, Smith included. But the right guard was one of the Chiefs’ best offensive linemen in the regular season. At time of publishing, Kansas City is spending roughly $65 million in 2025 on center Creed Humphrey, guard Joe Thuney and tackle Jawaan Taylor. They can’t afford to bring Smith back.
Smith is a mauling blocker in the running game and is just 26 years old. He’s missed just one game in four years as a starter in Kansas City. After free agent guards Robert Hunt, Damien Lewis and Jonah Jackson got big payouts in 2024, Smith could get near-record money for a guard.
4. OT Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens
Stanley’s career had been marked by injuries entering 2024. The Ravens’ first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft had missed significant time in the previous four seasons.
Then Stanley had one of his best seasons in 2024 and played every game for the Ravens en route to his second Pro Bowl appearance. He’ll turn 31 right before free agency starts but tackles are regularly playing into their mid-30s in the NFL.
Teams looking for tackle help will have to weigh his injury history against his recent production.
5. WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Godwin was on pace for a resurgent season in 2024 before a gruesome, season-ending ankle injury in Week 7. That was the first time he’d failed to play at least 12 games in a season in his career.
Godwin will be 29 in the 2025 season and likely has at least a few more solid seasons ahead of him. He’s a proven player in the slot who could be a good No. 2 option in the passing game for teams around the league.
6. C Drew Dalman, Atlanta Falcons
Dalman dealt with injuries in 2024 and played just nine games but had a career season. He put up a career-best blown block rate of just 1.3%, per Sports Information Solutions (SIS) data, and will turn 27 during the 2025 season.
Dalman’s by far the top center on the market. He’s a top run blocker who thrives in zone schemes and could bring stability for a team with a young quarterback looking for a long-term answer at the position.
7. OT Alaric Jackson, Los Angeles Rams
Jackson had a career year in 2024 protecting Matthew Stafford’s blind side. Not bad for an undrafted free agent. That year could see him earn a top deal given his age (27 in the 2025 season) and outlier size at 6-foot-7 and 345 pounds.
8. OG Will Fries, Indianapolis Colts
Fries suffered a season-ending broken tibia in Week 6 but was playing at a career-high level before that injury. He’ll be 27 in the upcoming season and has played in multiple spots along the offensive line before settling in at guard. His game wasn’t predicated on athleticism so the injury likely won’t shy teams away too much.
9. OT Cam Robinson, Minnesota Vikings
Robinson went from Jacksonville to Minnesota midseason and was a solid starter at left tackle. He’ll turn 30 during the season and likely won’t command a big deal but should get interest from multiple teams.
10. OG Mekhi Becton, Philadelphia Eagles
Becton moved inside to guard with the Eagles in 2024 and had a resurgent season. He improved in pass protection to complement his skills as a run blocker. At 26 years old next season, he will be highly sought after among interior offensive linemen.
11. WR Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills
Cooper was traded midseason to the Bills from the Cleveland Browns but still finished 2024 with career-lows in receiving yards (547), receiving touchdowns (four) and yards per game (39.1). He’ll turn 31 before the season so he’s far from a top threat in the passing game but can shore up the position for another contender, as he did in 2024.
12. C Josh Myers, Green Bay Packers
Myers had a standout season in 2024 with a career-low 1.8% blown block percentage, per SISdata, and just one holding penalty and zero sacks allowed. He’s a better run blocker than pass blocker at this stage but he’ll turn 27 years old ahead of the 2025 season. Like Dalman, Myers should get attention for teams needing a center.
13. WR Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans
Diggs tore his ACL in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. Even before that, he was on pace for his lowest yards per game average since 2018. Diggs will turn 32 next season and may see a down market considering his age and injury concern.
14. QB Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
Fields performed well as the Steelers’ starter in 2024 before fellow free agent Russell Wilson took over. He’ll be 26 by the start of next season with an impressive skillset as a runner. After seeing former first-round quarterbacks Darnold and Baker Mayfield turn their careers around in their late 20s, teams could view Fields in a similar way.
15. OG Teven Jenkins, Chicago Bears
Jenkins was initially drafted as a tackle but transitioned to guard and was a solid starter for the Bears. He finished the 2024 season ranking 13th among all guards in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. He’ll be just 27 when next season starts with plenty of years ahead of him.