• Ben SolakMar 6, 2025, 06:05 AM ET
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      Ben Solak joined ESPN in 2024 as a national NFL analyst. He previously covered the NFL at The Ringer, Bleeding Green Nation and The Draft Network.

Let’s tell it like it is: The 2025 free agent class is not very good. The best names were Tee Higgins and Trey Smith, neither of whom made it beyond the franchise tag stage. On ESPN’s top 100 list, the best remaining players are Ronnie Stanley, a 31-year-old tackle with a tough injury history; D.J. Reed, the CB2 from the Jets looking for a CB1 job; Chris Godwin, who … well, Godwin is actually very good and I would pay him a lot of money (but even he is 29 with an injury history). Sam Darnold ranks fourth.

This is bad news for fans of cellar-dwelling teams looking for a one-year makeover, but those rarely work anyway. It is, however, excellent news for sharp teams. The competitive edge in this free agent class isn’t the size of the wallet, but the keen eye of the evaluator. Though there aren’t any slam dunk players, there is plenty of value to be had in the second, third and fourth tiers of NFL starters. Remember: The Eagles’ defense did not ascend to Super Bowl heights because of the $51 million they gave edge rusher Bryce Huff last offseason, but the $3.5 million they gave linebacker Zack Baun. Great free agency wins are more often on the margins than they are in the center.

The list of potential free agent steals is massive — so many players can improve as they recover from injury, join competitive teams or fit into new schemes. I distilled my list down to 14 players. Some are household names who are simply underappreciated in the current free agent discourse; some are indie bands you might not have heard of yet, but they’re going to blow up once people start listening to their music.

Here are my steals for the 2025 class:

coverage:
Grading biggest deals | Best available free agents
Offense free agent tiers | Defense free agent tiers
Franchise tag deadline winners, losers

CB Carlton Davis III

2024 team:Detroit Lions | Age entering 2025 season: 28

Davis, like many of the 2025 sleeper free agents, ended the season on injured reserve. Though other players are coming off major injuries that might affect their athleticism moving forward, Davis is recovering from a broken jaw. But his absence has made it easy to forget just how valuable he was to Detroit before its injury-riddled implosion: He was the clear CB1 in a man coverage-heavy defense.

There are three 28-year-old starting cornerbacks in this free agent class: Davis, Charvarius Ward and D.J. Reed. Each is a little different in style, and Davis has a much longer injury history than the other two — he has never played a full season in his seven-year career. But his play in 2024 was still that of a scheme-versatile corner with sufficient press-man skills, and he had the toughest role of the three. I would feel more comfortable paying Davis as my CB1 over the next two seasons than Reed, who peaked as CB2 in New York with Sauce Gardner on the opposite side.

A defense that asks Davis to play a little more zone will better fit his skill set. The Ravens and Colts need a veteran starter at outside corner who can play a variety of coverages, which Davis can handle well. Two intradivisional rivals — the Packers and Vikings — could also lose key cornerback starters in Jaire Alexander (a candidate to be released) and Byron Murphy Jr. (a free agent) respectively, and Davis makes sense for both.

The Lions will endeavor to re-sign Davis, but if he hits the open market at a discount relative to Reed and Ward, he should offer the best value in a deep cornerback class. I expect Davis to get somewhere around a three-year, $42 million deal, and that multiple teams will be interested.

G Will Fries

2024 team:Indianapolis Colts | Age entering 2025 season: 27

I’ll give every non-Colts fan reading this $5 if they can tell me what school Fries was drafted from, and in which round. (I’m not going to actually do that; I don’t have that much money.) A relative unknown in the larger NFL scope, Fries — a 2021 seventh-rounder out of Penn State — won the starting right guard job in just his second season. He is not the most physically imposing blocker the league has ever seen, but he’s quick, technically sound and still has enough power to uproot smaller defensive tackles. From Week 10 in 2022 (when he won the job) to Week 5 in 2024 (when he fractured his fibula), Fries was clearly one of the best young guards in football.

Fries’ market is a fascinating one relative to that of a Mekhi Becton, who is the exact opposite: often unbalanced or unsound technically, but an absolute mauler and a keystone player of a supersized rushing attack. Becton’s background as a first-round pick, his splashy plays on tape and a little Jeff Stoutland shine from his season in Philadelphia probably will get him paid in this cycle — and for some teams, Becton is a better fit than Fries. But Fries is the better player, especially on gotta-have-it downs in pass protection.

The guard market has been robust in recent years, so finding a good deal for Fries is tricky — if a team wants to land him, it will almost certainly have to overpay. Jon Runyan got $30 million over three years from the Giants last year at a similar age to Fries. Two years ago, 29-year-old Shaq Mason got $36 million over three years from the Texans. Fries has comfortably played better than both for multiple seasons.

Fries probably will shoot to beat the deals that Ben Powers (four years, $51.5 million) and Damien Lewis (four years, $53 million) got when they changed teams last offseason, and could even get into Kevin Dotson range (three years, $48 million) if the market for guards is as strong as it was a year ago. The Chargers are a strong possibility, as are the Patriots, who can move Mike Onwenu along the line. One other team to watch? The Cowboys, who for the first time in a decade, have a hole at right guard to fill after the retirement of Zack Martin.

RB Rico Dowdle

2024 team:Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2025 season: 27

A lightbulb went on for Dowdle late last season. From Weeks 1 through 12, he had minus-24 rushing yards over expectation in what was largely a timeshare with Ezekiel Elliott. After that, Dowdle had plus-85 rushing yards over expectation, in a role in which he consistently had 15 or more carries. He isn’t the most explosive back and won’t break tackles the way elite runners do, but on the season, he ranked eighth among all running backs in success rate. He is a grinder who only got to become that grinder late, both in the 2024 season and in his contract with the Cowboys, as he spent much of his first few years on the bench behind Elliott and Tony Pollard. That developing role, along with only two rushing touchdowns (because the Cowboys loved Elliott so much) and two lost fumbles, hurt his season numbers.

The question is what value Dowdle can bring if he’s not given 15-plus carries a game. Can he tranfer his more explosive, splashy play from the end of the season into another committee role — as that’s likely what awaits him in free agency? Teams without a clear committee should add Dowdle and use him as their 1A back, and if he outproduces the other options, ramp up his volume to that of an every-down ball carrier.

Though Dowdle didn’t get many pass-protection opportunities relative to Elliott, he’s fine in that regard, and he had 39 receptions last season. He can give teams late-down production if they need it.

Offenses with plenty of handoffs to dole out should add Dowdle. He’s a good, young option for a team that might want an elite back at some point but has other more important gaps to fill. The Raiders make perfect sense for Dowdle, or the Broncos if Sean Payton wants to stick with a committee approach. Should the Chargers get priced out of J.K. Dobbins‘ market in free agency, Dowdle is a great fit for that offense and could easily outproduce Dobbins. The two-year deals signed by Zack Moss ($8 million) and Austin Ekeler ($8.43 million) are good comps for a Dowdle contract, indicating he has a clear role but won’t be handed starter-level volume without proof of concept.

LB Jamien Sherwood

2024 team:New York Jets | Age entering 2025 season: 25

In watching Sherwood’s 2024 film, I expected to see another run-and-chase linebacker who solves his problems with athleticism but lacks enough coverage instincts to be a clear three-down linebacker. Not so. He is more than a splashy athlete — he’s better than I thought at playing through contact and dropping into coverage. If I had to hang my hat on one player from this class rising from national unknown to leaguewide star on their second contract, I’d put it on Sherwood.

Sherwood is a high-impact linebacker because of his range and tackling prowess. He flies around with the speed of a converted safety, but he is under control and has the requisite change of direction, strength and length to make tackles in space. He lacks stopping power given his slighter frame, but so does Fred Warner. It’s worth it when you can truly hawk ball-carriers from sideline to sideline. Watch Sherwood hit 20.7 mph, per NFL Next Gen Stats’ tracking data, to pursue Josh Allen on this play — preposterous stuff.

Sherwood started at middle linebacker after C.J. Mosley went down because of toe and neck injuries, though his better role is probably as a weakside linebacker who can be kept clean more often. Another level of his play could be unlocked if he joins a blitz-heavy defense that uses his length and explosiveness as a situational pass rusher. He actually has the on-field impact that other safety converts at the position purport to have — Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Foyesade Oluokun — and his best ball is still ahead of him. If there’s a Zack Baun in this class, he’s right here.

If I could get Sherwood on a three-year deal for $22.5 million, as the Vikings gave toBlake Cashman after his emergence with the Texans, I’d do it in a heartbeat. It sounds as if the Jets know what they have and don’t want to let him out of the building — he’d be an interesting fit for Aaron Glenn’s defense, which employed much heavier linebackers in Detroit, but I trust Glenn to find a way to maximize this kind of a playmaker. If Sherwood leaves New York, I could see big offers coming from the Cardinals, Steelers, Rams or Broncos. The fit with Vance Joseph in Denver? Incredible.

S Justin Reid

2024 team:Kansas City Chiefs | Age entering 2025 season: 28

Reid is approaching his third contract, having played his rookie deal with the Texans and completed a three-year deal with the Chiefs. Yet he’s only 28, despite how his 106 regular-season games (and 13 playoff appearances) make him seem. And he’s still quite good.

Reid is a prototypical split-field safety. You don’t want him covering the deep middle, as he never has been a player with sideline-to-sideline range, but he’s reliable when stepping down and tackling from depth.

Reid is also a clear “coach on the field” player who gets the rest of the defense set against motion and shifts. His leadership and intelligence would be a good addition to any defense even if he weren’t still playing at an impactful level.

It would appear the Chiefs have been preparing for Reid’s departure in recent drafts, as they selected Bryan Cook and Jaden Hicks on Day 2 of the 2023 and 2024 drafts, respectively. They just created tons of cap space with the trade of guard Joe Thuney, so perhaps Reid’s continued strong play has changed their plans. If that cap room goes elsewhere and Reid heads into free agency, he should cash in. Safety has been an oddly profitable market in free agency, where most acquisitions end up overwhelming: Reid, Jessie Bates III, Xavier McKinney, Quandre Diggs and Julian Love all represent sizable safety deals that proved solid investments for the acquiring team.

Budda Baker and Kyle Dugger both signed recent extensions at Reid’s age, cashing in at $18.4 million and $14.5 million averages respectively, on four-year deals. Reid probably will come in between the two, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him sacrifice a little money for a three-year deal instead. He probably will be the most expensive player on this list of steals, and might seem miscast as a “free agent steal” when he’s a well-known player about to make top-10 money. But I don’t see him on many “Top X free agents” lists, and he belongs there. Reid is best on a young defense in need of leadership and tone-setting: The Jaguars and Panthers are good landing spots, as are the Colts and Giants.

CB Paulson Adebo

2024 team:New Orleans Saints | Age entering 2025 season: 26

Adebo produces on the field. That alone should get him some significant attention: 18 passes defended in 2023, and another 10 in 2024 before a broken femur ended his season after seven games. The injury was serious, so Adebo comes with some major risk that will depreciate his contract numbers in free agency. I expect him to sign a one-year deal for a starting job and try to reenter free agency in 2026 after a healthy season.

But still. Twenty-eight passes defended in only 22 games. That’s the sixth most by a defensive back in the past two seasons, and everyone above him played at least 25 games. If a team can add a second year to his contract, it should.

Adebo is a high-risk, high-reward player who will draw flags on late downs and extend opponent drives. But the risk isn’t that terrible: He has given up only two touchdowns over the past two seasons, giving up a passer rating of only 61.6 as the nearest defender in coverage, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Among cornerbacks with at least 500 coverage snaps over the past two seasons, only Derek Stingley Jr. and L’Jarius Sneed measure out better. Adebo was defending mostly WR2s opposite Marshon Lattimore, but that meant he dealt with a disproportionately high target rate (20.9%), which he handled with aplomb, as opposing quarterbacks avoided Lattimore.

Teams with open CB2 spots that like to play press coverage should seek out Adebo. He’d be a great fit in Detroit if Davis leaves in free agency, and Kansas City should target him given its CB2 issues this season. If the Patriots aren’t snagging a corner in the top five of the draft, Adebo also makes sense there opposite Christian Gonzalez. I like Adebo on a two-year deal worth $9 million per season, but with a structure that probably will lead to either a cut or an extension in 2026.

Edge Malcolm Koonce

2024 team:Las Vegas Raiders | Age entering 2025 season: 27

I am just fascinated to see what Koonce’s market looks like. When he last played, he had eight sacks and three forced fumbles opposite Maxx Crosby in Las Vegas — but that was in 2023. Koonce sustained a knee injury just days before last season began and underwent season-ending surgery. His last snap was on Jan. 7, 2024.

But Koonce’s film from 2023 was truly excellent. A smaller, but dense edge rusher, he has the exact menu of explosiveness, speed-to-power, and bend that teams like in a secondary rusher. He can play on all three downs as a high-effort run defender who can knife through gaps, and he shines on passing downs with quick wins both around and through opposing tackles. Koonce’s 15.6% pressure rate in 2023 ranked 20th among all edge rushers. He won’t win against top-flight athletes at tackle, but he more than fits the bill as an EDGE2 sowing disruption and taking advantage of double-teams sent the other direction.

When a player sit out a full season, I always expect them to stay with their current team and take a one-year deal to rebuild their image. If Koonce doesn’t remain a Raider, the smart teams that deploy deep rotations at edge rusher will pounce on a low-cost, high-ceiling opportunity. Expect the Ravens, Chiefs, Bills and Eagles to all be interested in what could be a one-year, $12-million deal with some splash incentives — but projecting a contract number on a player who sat out a full season is very, very tricky. If he’s expected to be fully healthy, the number could be far larger.

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McAfee and crew react to Maxx Crosby’s Raiders extension

“The Pat McAfee Show” crew reacts to news of Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby signing a three-year extension that makes him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

The deep cuts

Everyone I identified above could very well sign a solid contract on Day 1 of free agency. Everyone below … probably will not. But even if they don’t get big contracts and clear starting roles, I like all of them to provide value in the right schemes. These are good but imperfect players who are a critical part of any successful team. Coaches get paid to turn these guys into contributors.

Bears LB Jack Sanborn: I love a hard-nosed strongside linebacker who allows teams to actually play in base defense — something needed more and more as offenses increasingly invest in heavier running games. Sanborn isn’t a great athlete, but he holds his own in coverage and presents a challenge at the point of attack. Teams looking to replicate the Chiefs’ handy deployment of Leo Chenal should give Sanborn a call.

Eagles CB Isaiah Rodgers: The headlines out of Philadelphia are the releases of Darius Slay Jr. and James Bradberry IV, but Rodgers — who was CB3 and had plenty of action when Slay missed snaps this season — is the player to watch. A rangy corner with man coverage traits, his developmental arc was halted by a year-long suspension in 2023 after an investigation for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. But he is only 27 and is a high-upside depth defender.

Commanders CB Noah Igbinoghene: The former Dolphins first-round pick looked like a bust before Dan Quinn moved him to the slot in Washington. Igbinoghene received starting reps only after injuries and poor play above him shuffled the depth chart, but he played solid ball in the nickel and should be given another starting shot at a CB3 spot, in Washington or elsewhere.

Buccaneers G Ben Bredeson: The left guard was unspectacular but rock solid on a one-year deal this past season, and will look to leverage that into a multiyear extension somewhere. Bredeson has played on both sides of the line, which will increase his value for teams with multiple open spots. It’s worth noting he played for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and was drafted by John Harbaugh’s Ravens when Greg Roman was offensive coordinator. The Chargers need some guards.

Raiders Edge K’Lavon Chaisson: Chaisson has played in 72 games. In the first 66: six sacks. In the past six: four sacks. In fact, in his one season with the Raiders as a designated pass rusher, he had as many sacks (five) as he did in four years with the Jaguars. He does not have the tools to be anything more than a designated pass rusher, but if he’s finally putting together his physical gifts into a strong pass rush profile, he adds value as a third-down ringer on a deep defensive line.

Chargers DT Poona Ford: You know who is always good? Ford. He’s not an elite pass rusher or truly dominant nose tackle, but his versatile frame allows him to play anywhere from nose to 3-tech, eat some double-teams and win with quickness to create splash plays. Ford was on a near-minimum one-year deal with the Chargers, but he was integral to their defensive approach. He should get a nice pay bump on a team (the Chargers or otherwise) that asks their defensive tackles to switch between one-gapping and two-gapping.

Saints TE Juwan Johnson: As a tight end who converted from wide receiver, Johnson isn’t for everyone. He’s not an impactful blocker from a three-point stance so he must be paired with a viable “Y” tight end on a team that wants to feature 12 personnel. But for smart offensive coordinators, he represents a mismatch problem that can put stress on opposing defensive game plans. He’s great in a play-action heavy offense, and had a career year under Klint Kubiak in New Orleans accordingly. If you want your own version of Isaiah Likely in Baltimore, give Johnson a call.