We are less than 100 days from the start of the NFL regular season. Mandatory minicamps begin this month and training camp starts in July.
Roster construction is a fluid process throughout the NFL calendar. Impact players are still available in free agency as teams get ready for mandatory minicamp.
Will Aaron Rodgers finally make a decision this month? Veteran wide receivers Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen are surprisingly still unsigned. Safeties Justin Simmons and Julian Blackmon have yet to find a home.
Who are the top remaining NFL free agents and where is the best fit for each? USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon explores the best landing spots for his top 10 free agents.
Best fits for top remaining NFL free agents
1. Amari Cooper, WR (2024 teams: Browns, Bills)
The 30-year-old receiver never quite built a connection with Josh Allen after he was traded to Buffalo midseason. However, Cooper is still a smooth route runner and a possession receiver who can create separation. A total of 75% of his targets came on short and intermediate routes.
Best fit: Marvin Harrison Jr. is a candidate to make a leap this season, but the Cardinals have Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch as their second and third wide receivers. Cooper would be a considerable upgrade and a mentor in Arizona’s WR room.
2. Aaron Rodgers, QB (2024 team: Jets)
The Rodgers waiting game continues. All indications point toward Rodgers and the Steelers. Pittsburgh’s reluctance to use a top pick to draft a quarterback and their inactivity to pursue a passer serves as evidence the team believes Rodgers will ultimately land in the Steel City. Yet, the waiting game continues.
Best fit: The Steelers have an obvious hole at the top of their quarterback depth chart.
3. Keenan Allen, WR (2024 team: Bears)
Allen isn’t too far removed from breaking the Chargers single-season receptions record in 2023. However, there were signs of slippage in his lone season in Windy City. Some of his decline in production could be attributed to the difficulties of catching passes from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Best fit: The 49ers traded Deebo Samuel and Ricky Pearsall has a hamstring injury. Samuel would give Brock Purdy a nice security blanket in the slot.
4. J.K. Dobbins, RB (2024 team: Chargers)
Dobbins rushed for a career-high 905 yards and equaled a season-high nine touchdowns in 13 games during his lone season in LA. However, he missed four games due to a knee injury, as various injuries have plagued Dobbins’ entire career; he has never started more than 11 games in a season.
Best fit: A backfield-by-committee approach could help Dobbins remain healthy for a full season. The Dolphins have De’Von Achane as their lead back but lack a reliable option behind him after they released Raheem Mostert. Miami averaged four yards per carry last year, tied for the third worst in the league.
5. Justin Simmons, S (2024 team: Falcons)
Simmons was regarded as one of the top safeties in the NFL just a few seasons ago. He’s produced at least 60 tackles and two interceptions in each of the past eight seasons. The 31-year-old safety is a four-time second-team All-Pro.
Best fit: The Chiefs love veteran safeties. They had Tyrann Mathieu and most recently Justin Reid. The club signed Mike Edwards for his second stint in Kansas City, but the team is missing a captain at safety.
6. Julian Blackmon, S (2024 team: Colts)
Blackmon’s coming off of back-to-back seasons with at least three interceptions and 85 tackles. His 73.5 coverage grade ranked 15th amongst qualifying safeties, per Pro Football Focus.
Best fit: The Panthers’ defense allowed a league-high 35 touchdown receptions and allowed a 105.4 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks. Carolina needs to shore up its secondary if it wants to be competitive in 2025.
7. Asante Samuel Jr., CB (2024 team: Chargers)
Samuel played just four games before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the remainder of 2024. He allowed under a 63% completion percentage when targeted in his first three seasons. He’s lined up mainly as an outside corner but can play in the slot.
Best fit: The Saints had the NFL’s 27th-ranked pass defense a year ago. Are Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor both ready to be starting cornerbacks? The Saints did reportedly bring Samuel in for a visit.
8. Kyzir White, LB (2024 team: Cardinals)
White produced 137 tackles in 17 starts in Arizona last year. He’s tallied four straight seasons of at least 90 tackles.
Best fit: The Browns had an 83.7% tackle efficiency percentage, which ranked last in the NFL for the second consecutive season, per Next Gen Stats. Cleveland’s 2025 second-round pick linebacker, Carson Schwesinger, should help in that department. The team would double down on a weakness with the acquisition of White.
9. Za’Darius Smith, Edge (2024 teams: Browns, Lions)
Smith registered nine sacks between the two teams he played with last year. The veteran edge rusher has produced at least 61 pressures in each of the past three seasons.
Best fit: Smith is at his best when he plays opposite a standout pass rusher at this stage of his career. A sign that points right back to where he played last year in Detroit. Lions star edge Aidan Hutchinson was cleared to return for football activities in late May.
10. Gabe Davis, WR (2024 team: Jaguars)
Davis had four straight seasons of at least 500 receiving yards before it was snapped in what was a down year with the Jaguars.
Best fit: Davis is best suited as a secondary pass-catching option. He could play that role on a Giants team with Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton on the roster. Davis reportedly met with the Giants following his release from Jacksonville.
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