The official begin of free company — one of many extra anticipated dates on the NFL calendar — is March 12 at 4 p.m. ET. Groups, nevertheless, can start negotiating Monday with unrestricted free brokers.
Forward of those main dates, Yardbarker NFL writers determine one prime free agent from one other membership that every AFC crew ought to signal. (2024 regular-season information are in parentheses.)
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS (13-4) | Kansas Metropolis WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown | With a market worth of roughly $8M per season, per Spotrac, Brown affords loads of upside for a crew already $10M over the cap. Brown missed the Chiefs’ first 15 video games with a shoulder damage final season, however with 3,735 yards receiving and 28 TD catches in his six-year profession, he may give the Payments what he couldn’t provide Kansas Metropolis.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-9) | Philadelphia RG Mekhi Becton | Miami guards Liam Eichenberg, Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn are impending free brokers, and the Dolphins are working as if beginning left sort out Terron Armstead will not be again, per the Sun Sentinel’s David Furones. Becton excelled at guard throughout Philadelphia’s Tremendous Bowl run, and at 6-foot-7 and 363 kilos, he’s two inches taller, 58 kilos heavier and eight years youthful than Armstead.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-13) | Baltimore LT Ronnie Stanley |
According to a report by the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed, Baltimore’s Professional Bowl left sort out is taken into account a high goal for brand spanking new head coach Mike Vrabel and government vp of participant personnel Eliot Wolf. Pro Football Focus famous Vederian Lowe, the crew’s present left sort out, allowed 5 sacks and dedicated 13 penalties final season. He’s thought of the NFL’s 69th-best sort out by PFF.
NEW YORK JETS (5-12) | New York Giants WR Darius Slayton | The Jets want a large receiver to exchange Devante Adams, and their most suitable option might have already got a locker at MetLife Stadium. The 28-year-old speedster led the Giants in receiving in 4 of six seasons with the crew and will deliver the Jets the deep menace they wished once they signed former Charger Mike Williams (12 catches, 166 yards) to a one-year, $10M contract in 2024. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS (10-7) | Dallas RB Rico Dowdle | Dowdle — who tied for the league’s Twelfth-most dashing yards (1,079 in 16 video games) in 2024 — could possibly be a possible discount for the Broncos. Spotrac estimates the 26-year-old’s market value is a one-year deal value $6.2M yearly.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (15-2) | Cincinnati DT B.J. Hill | Chris Jones, Siaki Ika and Fabien Lovett are the only DTs under contract for the Chiefs in 2025, so investing within the place could be clever. In 15 video games in 2024, Hill had a career-high seven tackles for loss.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4-13) | Minnesota QB Sam Darnold | Giving the previous New York Jets dud a mega-deal would carry danger, however he may excel underneath new head coach Pete Carroll. In 2024, Darnold ranked fifth within the league in landing passes (35 in 17 video games).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-6) | Chicago WR Keenan Allen | Why wouldn’t the Chargers think about a reunion with Allen? When the wideout performed for the membership from 2013-23, he made six Professional Bowls. The 32-year-old stays productive, as he recorded 70 receptions for 744 yards and 7 landing catches in 15 video games in 2024. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5) | Philadelphia LB Josh Sweat | The Ravens have a stable pass-rushing corps led by Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy and Tavius Robinson, however they want one other difference-maker off the sting to recover from the hump within the AFC. Sweat has racked up 25.5 sacks and 61 quarterback hits over the previous three seasons, and he was an enormous purpose the Eagles dominated the Chiefs within the Tremendous Bowl.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8) | Chicago guard Teven Jenkins | The Bengals desperately must improve each guard spots, and Jenkins may instantly step in as a protector for QB Joe Burrow, Though his damage historical past is a tad regarding, Jenkins ranked 15th among 125 qualified guards final season in Professional Soccer Focus’ pass-blocking grade.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-14) | Indianapolis QB Joe Flacco | The Browns received’t be able to compete for the AFC North title anytime quickly, so what’s vital now could be successful again the Cleveland followers and bringing optimistic vibes again to the group. The final time Browns followers had been pleased was when Flacco went 4-1 down the stretch in 2023 to guide Cleveland to the playoffs.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) | Tampa Bay WR Chris Godwin | George Pickens is a precious deep menace for the Steelers, however this offense wants a trusty possession receiver for Russell Wilson, Justin Fields or whoever may be at QB. Godwin is likely one of the finest slot WRs within the NFL, and he could possibly be out there at a reduction due to his damage historical past. — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7) | Jacksonville RG Brandon Scherff | The ten-year veteran lineman has performed for the division rival Jaguars the previous three seasons. According to Pro Football Focus, Scherff solely allowed 17 complete pressures (and no sacks) in 591 strain alternatives in 2024.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-9) | N.Y. Jets LB Jamien Sherwood |
According to NFL Pro, Sherwood ranked fifth final season within the league in stops, or tackles that lead to unfavourable anticipated factors added (EPA), for an offense. Indianapolis completed the season twenty ninth in yards allowed (361.2), struggling to cease the run and go, making inside linebacker a place of want.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-13) | Dallas CB Jourdan Lewis | The Jaguars, who allowed 257.4 passing yards per game last season, want one of many high corners on this 12 months’s free-agent class. NFL Pro data reveals that amongst certified defensive backs, Lewis ranked thirteenth in protection EPA when the closest defender, permitting 40 receptions for 381 yards on 59 targets.
TENNESSEE TITANS (3-14) | Tampa Bay WR Chris Godwin | It may be troublesome to pry Godwin from the Buccaneers, the one franchise the eight-year veteran has known as dwelling. However the Titans should assume huge when addressing their underwhelming depth at large receiver, and Godwin, who averaged an NFL-high 52.1 yards after the catch per game, would elevate their ceiling. — Eric Smithling
