This is, supposedly, the NFL offseason, but if you’re feeling like you may be suffering from a case of whiplash, there’s a good reason for that.
The Super Bowl came and went on Feb. 9. Two weeks later, the NFL world descended on Indianapolis for the annual scouting combine. And next week, free agency kicks off.
Essentially, the action never stops in the NFL. As a result, multitasking is a crucial strength for general managers. By week’s end, front offices across the league will have finalized their game plan for free agency. Monday, at noon ET, the legal tampering period begins. Wednesday, the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET.
The NFL salary cap is set at $279.2 million — a jump of roughly $24 million from last season — so every team will have some money to spend. How much varies on a case-by-case basis, and as a result, some teams will rely more heavily on the draft than free agency to fill holes, and others will go on spending sprees. Regardless, needs will be met next week. And so, we’re looking into our crystal ball and offering you one free-agent target prediction for every team.
Arizona Cardinals: Edge Haason Reddick
The 2017 Cardinals first-round pick is a free agent after a frustrating 2024 when he was traded from the Eagles to the Jets, who both declined to grant his wishes for a long-term contract extension. Now Reddick hits the open market, and his former team makes a lot of sense. The Cardinals need pass-rushing help after no player managed more than five sacks in 2024, and the team ranked 13th in this statistic. After a lengthy holdout, Reddick appeared in only 10 games for the Jets, starting two of them. But he recorded double-digit sacks in the four seasons prior and could fill a big need for Arizona.
Atlanta Falcons: Edge Khalil Mack
The Falcons ranked 31st in the league in sacks last season, with just 31. They need pass-rushing help in the worst way, and would be wise to find help in this department in both free agency and the draft. Although not brimming with spending money, they need to find a way to free up some cash, and Mack — named to the Pro Bowl the last three seasons with the Chargers — would seemingly fit well.
Baltimore Ravens: FS Tre’von Moehrig
The Ravens have decisions to make with a number of their own players, including left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who is set to hit free agency. But as far as outside free agents go, they need help in their secondary, where a lack of speed and impact plays hampered their efforts. Moehrig would fill a big need at free safety after racking up 104 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and two interceptions for the Raiders last season.
Buffalo Bills: WR Hollywood Brown
Easing pressure on Josh Allen is the name of the game, and the Bills need a field-stretching wideout to give their offense a greater home-run threat. Brown missed the bulk of last season with the Chiefs with injury, but now healthy again, he could provide a nice spark.
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Carolina Panthers: DT D.J. Jones
While Bryce Young displayed encouraging signs of growth, the Panthers remain a ways off from contention, and upgrading their defense is a high priority. Jones is among the most disruptive interior defensive linemen on the market, and he has ties to Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero from their time together in Denver. Jones would provide a veteran presence on a defense that is expected to feature multiple rookies next season.
Chicago Bears: C Drew Dalman
Positioning Caleb Williams for success is priority No. 1 for Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles, and based on the moves they made this week (trading for Rams lineman Jonah Jackson and Chiefs lineman Joe Thuney), supporting Williams begins with solidifying the offensive line. So look for the Bears’ new coach and fourth-year GM to work to further bolster this unit. A reliable center like Dalman would go a long way toward helping Williams find comfort in the pocket, and also would bolster a run game that can serve as a valuable security blanket for the second-year quarterback.
Cincinnati Bengals: G Brandon Scherff
Working out long-term extensions for Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase are among the Bengals’ top offseason priorities. But Cincinnati also must further fortify its offensive line, especially following the cost-cutting release of guard Alex Cappa. A potential target: Scherff, the five-time Pro Bowl selection and fifth pick of the 2015 draft. After leaving Washington, Scherff battled injuries with Jacksonville. But when healthy, he’s a force in the trenches and would make life easier for Joe Burrow.
Cleveland Browns: QB Kirk Cousins
That’s IF the Falcons wind up cutting the 36-year-old Cousins now that they’re all-in on second-year pro Michael Penix Jr. Cousins makes so much sense for the Browns, who appear unlikely to have Deshaun Watson for some time because of the setback he experienced in his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon. Cousins played under Browns coach Kevin Stefanski when the latter was offensive coordinator in Minnesota and seemingly would be able to make a seamless transition to the Browns.
The Steelers declined Najee Harris’ fifth-year option. (Dale Zanine / Imagn Images)
Dallas Cowboys: RB Najee Harris
Jerry Jones committed malpractice by neglecting to address the running back position last offseason. Perhaps he has learned from his mistake and will devote resources to it now to give first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer and quarterback Dak Prescott a better shot at success. Harris played in every game over the past four seasons for the Steelers, but Pittsburgh declined his fifth-year option. He rushed 263 times for 1,043 yards (4.0 average) and six touchdowns last season.
Denver Broncos: WR Amari Cooper
The Broncos badly want a veteran wide receiver to pair with second-year pro Bo Nix. With the Bengals taking Tee Higgins off the free-agent market by using the franchise tag on him for a second straight offseason, Cooper is among the best options available. The 30-year-old never seemed to fully settle in with Buffalo after a midseason trade, but he should fit well with Sean Payton’s offense.
Detroit Lions: Edge Azeez Ojulari
The Lions are hoping leading pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson makes a complete recovery from a fractured left tibia and fibula, but their defense could really use an impactful running mate for the fourth-year defensive end. Ojulari is a pass rusher who should come at a fairly affordable rate. He has played just one full season (an eight-sack rookie campaign in 2021), he has been used primarily in his career as a situational pass rusher and is coming off a toe injury that limited him to 11 games in 2024. Teaming Ojulari with Hutchinson could translate into a boost for Detroit.
Green Bay Packers: Edge Josh Sweat
Sweat made himself some money with his impactful performance for the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. He’s expected to hit the open market, where he’ll draw a good bit of interest. The Packers have needed a difference-making pass rusher, and Sweat seemingly could step in and fill that void.
Houston Texans: WR Stefon Diggs
Diggs’ lone season with the Texans came to an abrupt end with a Week 8 torn ACL. He was putting up solid numbers (47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns), so the Texans would do well to bring him back to help ensure continuity for C.J. Stroud. The Texans have plenty of needs and limited cap space, but Diggs would check a big box.
Indianapolis Colts: QB Daniel Jones
Jones’ time in New York ended with a late November release, and he spent the rest of 2024 learning from Kevin O’Connell while buried on the Vikings’ depth chart. Given the questions that still loom over Anthony Richardson, the Colts will look to add another quarterback, and Jones makes some sense. He will not break the bank, and after coming in and initially learning behind Richardson, the 2019 first-round pick could wind up earning playing time as an experimental starter should Richardson continue to struggle.
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Jacksonville Jaguars: G Mekhi Becton
The Jaguars have hit the reset button once again, hiring rookie head coach Liam Coen and first-year general manager James Gladstone. Getting the most out of Trevor Lawrence is the key to success, and the Jaguars know they have to upgrade the interior of their offensive line. Becton, who just helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl, would fill a key need.
Kansas City Chiefs: LT Ronnie Stanley
The Eagles made it abundantly clear in Super Bowl LIX the Chiefs need to upgrade Patrick Mahomes’ offensive line. After utilizing a patchwork line in 2024, look for Kansas City to devote resources in free agency and the draft to solidify the unit. Stanley, who has spent his entire career with the Ravens and just made his second Pro Bowl appearance, would give Mahomes a reliable blind-side protector.
L.A. Chargers: C Ryan Kelly
Like last season, general manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh are expected to take a conservative approach to spending in free agency. They do, however, need to solidify the heart of their line, and Kelly — a four-time Pro Bowl selection who has spent his entire career with the Colts — could help them do that.
L.A. Rams: WR Davante Adams
With the Rams working to trade Cooper Kupp, Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford will need another target to pair with Puka Nacua. Adams is now available after the Jets released him on Tuesday. The six-time Pro Bowl wideout still has plenty left in the tank, and McVay boasts the creativity needed to maximize Adams’ skill set.
Las Vegas Raiders: QB Russell Wilson
After a failed pursuit of Matthew Stafford, the Raiders will turn their attention to another veteran quarterback who can serve as a bridge to their future. Pete Carroll and Wilson spent 10 seasons together in Seattle, so a reunion makes a lot of sense. The Raiders could then decide whether to draft a quarterback or wait for a more robust draft class in 2026 to find Wilson’s successor.
Miami Dolphins: S Talanoa Hufanga
The Dolphins seem likely to lose Jevon Holland to free agency, so that will leave defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver in need of a difference-making safety. Hufanga has battled some injuries, but when healthy is as impactful as they come, having garnered All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2022 (his last healthy season).
Sam Darnold could remain with the Vikings despite their decision not to franchise-tag him. (Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)
Minnesota Vikings: QB Sam Darnold
The Vikings opted against franchise-tagging Darnold, which subjects them to the risk of losing the quarterback to free agency. But they should still do what it takes to bring him back for another season. Doing so would give them a chance to build on last season’s success rather than risk taking steps backward if J.J. McCarthy isn’t ready after missing all of last season with a torn meniscus.
New England Patriots: DT Milton Williams
The Patriots have plenty of needs as they try to surround second-year quarterback Drake Maye with a quality supporting cast. But look for defensive-minded coach Mike Vrabel to stress fortifying that side of the ball as well by adding impact players to dominate in the trenches. Williams, who just helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl, could rank among the centerpieces of the defense.
New Orleans Saints: WR Darius Slayton
Derek Carr needs another weapon and the steady Slayton, who has averaged 720 receiving yards and four touchdowns a season, with 15 yards per catch, could fit nicely as a sidekick to Chris Olave while giving new coach Kellen Moore’s offense additional firepower.
New York Giants: QB Aaron Rodgers
It’s hard to say how appealing the Giants would be to Rodgers, because they seemingly have a ways to go before they are ready to contend. But the Giants certainly need a quarterback after ending the Daniel Jones experiment last season and swinging and missing at Matthew Stafford. Could Rodgers be the answer? A young receiver like Malik Nabers does make New York a little more attractive.
New York Jets: QB Carson Wentz
The Jets have Tyrod Taylor still under contract, but look for them to bring in another midlevel veteran for competition given that they seem unlikely to have a shot at drafting a top-flight quarterback. Wentz spent last season behind Patrick Mahomes and while not a franchise savior, he could compete for bridge duty.
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Philadelphia Eagles: Edge Baron Browning
The Eagles have some of the best interior linemen in