Best NFL Free Agents Available as of 7/7/2025

Free agency is slow right now, but it’s certainly not over. Plenty of impactful players are there for the taking, and they should all be signed once they find the right fit and acceptable contracts. June 1 has also passed, so new signings no longer impact a team’s compensatory draft pick formula. I thought we’d reassess the free agency landscape and see who’s still out there. We’ve got a mix of different positions here, but no QBs this time around. Conversely, the safety and receiver options are very deep this cycle. Now then; here are the 10 best NFL free agents that are still available as of 7/7/2025 (in no particular order)!

RB Gus Edwards

Normally, you can snag a quality rotation back at most times of the year. That’s true right now, but Edwards still stands out among the available options. As part of a Harbaugh-coached team for his entire career, Edwards boasts a 4.7 YPC average, though his lone season with the Chargers was filled with injury. Durability could be a concern given his bruising style, but he’d be a great two-down back as part of a committee. Punishing runners have the ability to wear down a defense, as his replacement in Baltimore (Derrick Henry) proved so well. Edwards would fit any team with a downhill rushing scheme (man or zone).

WR Keenan Allen

Long a favorite of mine, Allen was an odd fit in Chicago last year once they drafted Rome Odunze. Offensive line issues wrecked the passing game, but Allen didn’t seem to look slower than his past self. Despite the Bears having too many mouths to feed, Allen still caught 70 passes for 744 yards and 7 TDs. Operating best out of the slot, Allen can upgrade pretty much any WR room. His trademark skills, i.e., elite route running and soft hands, tend to age well. At 33 years old, one of two situations is right for him: playing for a contender (preferred) or joining a team with a young QB who would be aided immensely by his presence.

WR Amari Cooper

I’m actually not sure why Cooper remains unsigned. A quiet stretch last year with Buffalo notwithstanding, the guy produces everywhere he goes, regardless of the QB. I thought for sure that he’d get signed after the June 1 cutoff for free agents impacting the compensatory pick formula. He’s only 31 years old and a year removed from back-to-back 1100-yard seasons. Maybe Cooper isn’t a true #1 wideout anymore, but he’d be a fantastic WR2. He should be on any contender’s radar, and he might even command a decent salary on a 1-year deal. If this is Cooper’s mercenary period, it’s ring-hunting time.

G Brandon Scherff

At the start of his career, Scherff was a fantastic guard, but injuries dampened how we viewed him. With age (he’s now 33), he has left his prime, but he remains an above-average blocker. Better yet, Scherff hasn’t missed a game in 3 years with Jacksonville. NFL teams (all 32 of them) constantly look for linemen. Scherff would be the starter for half of the league’s squads or a premier backup for every one of them. In particular, his pass blocking is still excellent, and that’s what teams crave most. I wonder if this is a case of a veteran not wanting to suffer through training camp, because he absolutely belongs on a roster.

OT Jedrick Wills

A former first-round pick, Wills began his career as an extremely promising left tackle. However, the past two years saw him alternate between injury and subpar performance. Things came to a head last year when he sat out despite the Browns wanting him to play hurt. A divorce with Cleveland was much needed, but given the dearth of quality linemen, someone should’ve given Wills a chance by now. The man remains physically gifted and just 26 years old. Maybe his “business decision” (his words) left a bad taste in teams’ mouths, but first-round linemen have nine lives. He’ll get scooped up soon enough.

EDGE Za’Darius Smith

Few players as productive as Smith switch teams as often as him without off-the-field problems. Smith has none of those, but he’s still looking for his 4th team since 2022. He began the 2024 season with 5 sacks in Cleveland, and he earned 4 more upon being traded to Detroit. With all of the Lions’ injuries, Smith was a godsend to that defense. The team SHOULD bring the 32-year-old back, and there may indeed be some mutual interest. If the two sides can’t seal the deal, other NFC North teams might want to pounce, as should every other team that needs an edge rusher. Which is just about all of them.

LB Kyzir White

The most under-the-radar free agent on this list, White has spent the past two seasons in Arizona. Despite their overall poor defense, White played quite well. Off-ball LBs aren’t prioritized with draft capital or cash, but every team needs them. I’m not saying that White will be this year’s Zack Baun, but he was wildly productive in 2024. White earned 137 tackles (9 for loss), 2.5 sacks, and 3 PBUs. That sort of outfit is welcome anywhere, and it wasn’t a fluke. He has posted similar stats on a yearly basis, though his actual effectiveness peaked last season. Based on his position, White shouldn’t cost much as a solid addition.

CB Asante Samuel Jr

Undersized and coming off a season marred by injury, Samuel might not be the ideal CB target. The former Charger is a feisty player with good ball skills though, and he had 2 INTs in each of his first two seasons. He did that playing outside, but I think he’d be great in the slot. There, his size wouldn’t be a disadvantage, while his athleticism would be a major plus. Samuel has good bloodlines and is just 25 years old. While a prove-it deal may be necessary, I wouldn’t fault a team giving a multiyear deal to a player with his profile. .A team like Miami, who just traded Jalen Ramsey away, should come calling, as should many others.

S Justin Simmons

This poor guy ends up on the list every year. Following 8 years in Denver, Simmons needed to wait before finding a home in Atlanta for 2024. The lofty heights of his 6-INT 2022 campaign may not have been there, but he still picked off 2 passes and made 62 tackles. Simmons’ problem is that safeties are becoming easier and cheaper to acquire. That has him waiting once again for a landing spot. His talent remains good, and at 31, he’s not too old for a safety. With Pittsburgh trading Minkah Fitzpatrick, that contending team has an open FS spot. That makes the Steelers a prime option for someone like Simmons.

S Julian Blackmon

It seems like we always have a surplus of quality safeties available. That’s the nature of the position in the modern NFL I suppose. Blackmon is another underappreciated free safety. I realize that the Colts’ defense was mediocre last season. However, Blackmon was certainly not to blame. He amassed 86 tackles and 3 INTs as a stalwart defender both deep in the defensive backfield and closer to the line of scrimmage. If not for his position, a 26-year-old with Blackmon’s track record would have signed a hefty contract in free agency. One team with a secondary need is going to find itself a huge bargain in Blackmon.