Cooper Kupp had a short stint in free agency. For plenty of other big-name receivers on the wrong side of 30, the wait continues.
Our list of top 100 free agents has three of them — Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, and Keenan Allen. Others still available include Brandin Cooks and Tyler Lockett.
There are plenty of pass-catchers without objectively big names (and not necessarily over 3o), too. That list includes the likes of Diontae Johnson, Robert Woods, Nelson Agholor, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyler Boyd, and Mecole Hardman.
The fact that so many receivers are available at this point is a sign that the position is becoming in some respects like running back. Every year, young, cheap, healthy, and productive options are available in the draft class.
It’s also likely that plenty of the names listed above (especially the biggest ones) need to have their expectations softened by the phone not ringing.
Really, has there been any buzz about Cooper or Diggs or Allen or Cooks or Lockett? And it’s not for lack of interest in veteran receivers; a lot of them have been signed this week.
Cupp, Davante Adams, and Chris Godwin are the biggest names to get significant deals this week. Others who landed fairly quick contracts include Darius Slayton, Josh Palmer, Dyami Brown, Demarcus Robinson, Mack Hollins, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ashton Dulin, Mike Williams, Trent Sherfield, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Sterling Shepard, Tim Patrick, Braxton Berrios, Dante Pettis, and more.
Even DeAndre Hopkins has gotten signed. Yes, it was a one-year, $5 million deal. But he pounced on the opportunity when it emerged.
That might be the biggest reason why some of the biggest names at the position are still out there. They possibly have had interest, but the numbers might be much lower than they’d like.
The numbers likely won’t get much better. At this point, the risk is that there simply won’t be roster spots by the time they decide to take whatever they can get.
The Bills have added an offensive lineman.
Buffalo announced the club has signed guard Kendrick Green to a one-year deal.
Green, 26, spent the last two seasons with the Texans. He appeared in four games in 2023 and all 17 in 2024 with one start. He was on the field for 178 offensive snaps and 79 special teams snaps.
A third-round pick in 2021, Green started 16 games as a rookie for the Steelers. But in 2022 he did not earn a starting job and was inactive for all 17 games.
Journeyman linebacker Del’Shawn Phillps is headed to Los Angeles for his next stop.
NFL Media reports that he has agreed to terms on a contract with the Chargers. It is a one-year deal for Phillips.
Phillips had 16 tackles and a tackle for loss while appearing in every regular season game for the Texans last season. He had three more tackles in the postseason.
Phillips entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Falcons in 2019 and made his regular season debut with the Bills the next year. He moved onto the Jets in 2021 and then spent the next two seasons with the Ravens. He has 76 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 69 career regular season games.
Long snapper Jon Weeks has spent his entire career in Houston, playing 15 seasons for the Texans. He left Thursday, signing a one-year deal with the 49ers.
The 49ers announced the signings of Weeks along with tight end Luke Farrell to a three-year deal, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson to a two-year deal and cornerback Tre Brown, linebacker Luke Gifford, safety Richie Grant and safety Jason Pinnock to one-year deals. In addition, the team released long snapper Taybor Pepper.
Weeks will replace Pepper on a $1.422 million deal.
Weeks, 39, played all 244 of a possible 244 games for the Texans after joining them as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
After bringing in Ryan Kelly and Will Fries this week, the Vikings are sending off one of their offensive linemen.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Minnesota has agreed to trade guard Ed Ingram to Houston.
Multiple reporters note the Vikings will receive a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for Ingram.
A second-round pick in 2022, Ingram started 32 games in his first two seasons, including all 17 as a rookie. But he was moved off the starting lineup midway through the 2024 season.
In all, Ingram has appeared in 41 games with nine starts. He was on the field for 55 percent of offensive snaps and 20 percent of special teams snaps in games played last year.
The Texans have a one-year agreement with veteran defensive end Casey Toohill, his agency announced Wednesday night.
Toohill, 28, spent last season with the Bills. He played 14 games and totaled 20 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a pass defensed.
The Eagles made Toohill a seventh-round pick in 2020, and he played one game for Philadelphia before his release. The Commanders claimed him.
He stayed with Washington through the 2023 season before leaving for Buffalo.
In his career, Toohill has recorded 100 tackles, eight sacks, 21 quarterback hits and 11 tackles for losses with three forced fumbles.
The following are PFT’s top 100 free agents for the start of the 2025 league year. The rankings include prospective unrestricted free agents and released players. The list will be updated as events warrant, with signings, tags and re-signings denoted when announced and/or reported. Players released after initial publication may be added and all 100 players initially on the list will still be listed after any additions.
1. Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. (Franchise tagged by the Bengals on March 3.)
2. Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Seahawks on March 10.)
3. Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith. (Franchise tagged by the Chiefs on Feb. 27.)
4. Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat. (Agreed to four-year deal with the Cardinals on March 10.)
5. Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Bucs on March 10.)
6. Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Ravens on March 8.)
7. Jets cornerback D.J. Reed. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Lions on March 10.)
8. Dolphins safety Jevon Holland. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Giants on March 11.)
9. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Chiefs on March 9.)
10. Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. (Agreed to four-year deal with the Cowboys on March 4.)
11. Chiefs safety Justin Reid. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Saints on March 11.)
12. Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Chargers on March 10.)
13. 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Colts on March 10.)
14. 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Broncos on March 10.)
15. 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Broncos on March 10.)
16. Rams offensive tackle Alaric Jackson. (Agreed to three-year extension with the Rams on February 28.)
17. Vikings offensive tackle Cam Robinson.
18. Falcons center Drew Dalman. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Bears on March 10.)
19. Lions cornerback Carlton Davis. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Patriots on March 10.)
20. Eagles linebacker Zack Baun. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Eagles on March 5.)
21. Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
22. Jets edge Haason Reddick. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Buccaneers on March 10.)
23. Eagles offensive guard Mekhi Becton. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Chargers on March 14.)
24. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
25. Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Vikings on March 10.)
26. Colts offensive guard Will Fries. (Agreed to five-year deal with the Vikings on March 11.)
27. Packers center Josh Myers. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Jets on March 12.)
28. Vikings safety Cam Bynum. (Agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Colts on March 10.)
29. Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Commanders on March 6.)
30. Eagles defensive lineman Milton Williams. (Agreed to sign with the Patriots on March 10.)
31. Lions defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike. (Agreed to new deal with the Lions on March 12.)
32. Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel.
33. Vikings running back Aaron Jones. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Vikings on March 9.)
34. Jets wide receiver Davante Adams. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Rams on March 9.)
35. Raiders safety Tre’von Moehrig. (Agreed to terms with the Panthers on March 10.)
36. Saints tight end Juwan Johnson. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Saints on March 11.)
37. Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper.
38. Steelers running back Najee Harris. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Chargers on March 10.)
39. Lions offensive guard Kevin Zeitler. (Agreed to one-year deal with Titans on March 12.)
40. Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Chiefs on March 8.)
41. Cardinals linebacker Baron Browning. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Cardinals on March 9.)
42. Eagles cornerback Darius Slay. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Steelers on March 12.)
43. Steelers offensive guard James Daniels. (Agreed to three-year deal with Dolphins on March 10.)
44. Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson. (Agreed to three-year deal with Panthers on March 10.)
45. Saints edge rusher Chase Young. (Agreed to three-year deal with Saints on March 10.)
46. Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
47. Colts edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Bears on March 10.)
48. Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton.
49. Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari.
50. Chiefs defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Panthers on March 10.)
51. Falcons safety Justin Simmons.
52. Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Giants on March 10.)
53. Buccaneers offensive guard Ben Bredeson. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Buccaneers on March 10.)
54. Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Chiefs on March 11.)
55. Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Seahawks on March 9.)
56. Vikings edge rusher Patrick Jones. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Panthers on March 10.)
57. Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Bucs on March 7.)
58. Commanders edge rusher Dante Fowler. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys on March 14.)
59. Vikings safety Harrison Smith. (Agreed to one-year deal to return to Minnesota on March 12.)
60. Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas.
61. Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Bills on March 11.)
62. Steelers quarterback Justin Fields. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Jets on March 10.)
63. Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Raiders on March 10.)
64. Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Bengals on March 10.)
65. Commanders safety Jeremy Chinn. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Raiders on March 10.)
66. Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane. (Agreed to sign with the Patriots on March 10.)
67. Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Seahawks on March 14.)
68. Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins.
69. Bears offensive lineman Teven Jenkins.
70. Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Jaguars on March 10.)
71. Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Falcons on March 11.)
72. Ravens offensive guard Patrick Mekari. (Agreed to sign with the Jaguars on March 10.)
73. Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen.
74. Cowboys defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Seahawks on March 12.)
75. Commanders tight end Zach Ertz. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Commanders on March 8.)
76. Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bengals on March 10.)
77. Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Seahawks on March 9.)
78. Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. (Agreed to one-year deal with Ravens on March 11.)
79. Colts center Ryan Kelly. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Vikings on March 10.)
80. Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis. (Agreed to sign with the Jaguars on March 1.)
81. Colts safety Julian Blackmon.
82. Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Bengals on March 8.)
83. Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo. (Agreed to sign with the Giants on March 10.)
84. Dolphins defensive lineman Calais Campbell.
85. Falcons edge rusher Matthew Judon.
86. Colts linebacker E.J. Speed.
87. Jaguars offensive guard Brandon Scherff.
88. Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore. (Agreed to four-year deal with the Titans on March 10.)
89. Chargers defensive tackle Poona Ford. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Rams on March 10.)
90. Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson.
91. Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Panthers on March 12.)
92. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston.
93. Cardinals outside linebacker Kyzir White.
94. Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Chargers on March 10.)
95. Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Packers on March 10.)
96. Jets offensive tackle Morgan Moses. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Patriots on March 10.)
97. Broncos inside linebacker Cody Barton. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Titans on March 10.)
98. 49ers defensive lineman Javon Hargrave. (Agreed to terms with Vikings on March 11.)
99. Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills.
100. Rams defensive tackle Bobby Brown. (Agreed to terms with the Panthers on March 10.)
101. Jaguars safety Andre Cisco. (Agreed to a one-year deal with Jets on March 10.)
102. Cowboys edge rusher Chauncey Golston. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Giants on March 10.)
103. Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Colts on March 11.)
104. Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers on March 11.)
The Texans are signing linebacker Nick Niemann to a two-year deal with a max value of $6.5 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports.
The Chargers made Niemann a sixth-round pick in 2021, and he spent his first four seasons with the team.
He has played 64 games with three starts, seeing action on 363 defensive snaps and 1,298 on special teams. He played 80 percent of the special teams snaps last season, on the field for 290 plays.
Niemann has 86 career tackles, including 21 last season.
He also has added an interception and a forced fumble.
The Texans are trading for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and they are holding onto one of their own safeties as well.
According to multiple reports, they have agreed to a new deal with M.J. Stewart.
This will be Stewart’s third contract with Houston. He signed a two-year deal as a free agent in 2022 and re-signed with the team last year.
Stewart has been a core special teams player throughout his time with the Texans. He made 13 tackles and had a fumble recovery in 17 games last year and has 75 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery over his entire run with Houston.
The Texans have brought back a key defensive piece.
According to multiple reports, the Texans have agreed to terms with Mario Edwards on a two-year deal.
The initial numbers indicate Edwards’ contract is worth $9.5 million.
Edwards, 31, appeared in 13 games with 12 starts for Houston last season, recording 3.0 sacks, three tackles for loss, and eight QB hits. He then posted another 1.5 sacks in two postseason games.
A Raiders second-round pick in 2015, Edwards has also appeared in games for the Giants, Saints, Bears, Titans, and Seahawks.
In 127 career contests, he’s tallied 24.5 sacks with 31 tackles for loss and 60 QB hits.
