NFL Analysis
3/7/25
8 min read
2025 NFL Free Agency: 5 Most Underrated Players Heading Into Legal Tampering Period
The 2025 unrestricted free agent class is one of the worst in recent memory, and that’s unfortunate, considering several teams have nearly $100 million in cap space to spend. Several of the top free agents (Tee Higgins, Osa Odighizuwa, Trey Smith) were all taken off the market due to the franchise tag or long-term extension this week.
It’s not a top-heavy group, with Milton Williams arguably being the best player available on the open market. However, this is a deeper class with several starting-caliber players available at the right price. Finding the right fit for each player will be key.
Here are five under-the-radar names to watch next week as free agency opens.
5 Most Underrated Free Agents
Marquise Brown, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (27.7)
One of the positions that has a crazy amount of depth in free agency is wide receiver. There are several names available that even the most casual NFL fans would recognize (Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, etc). And then there is another tier of receivers, including Darius Slayton, Chris Godwin, and Keenan Allen, who all should be paid well.
However, one player who hasn’t gotten enough attention is Marquise “Hollywood” Brown from the Kansas City Chiefs. He missed almost all of the 2024 season with a shoulder injury but did return late in the year and played well in the playoffs when his number was called.
It wasn’t that long ago that the Cardinals traded a first-round pick for Brown during the 2022 draft with the hope that he could be their No. 1 receiver. While that didn’t end up being the case, he still was a useful player whenever he was on the field.
Injuries will likely hurt Brown’s value in free agency, but he is just 27 and is one of the few receivers in the class with speed. The Chiefs will likely try to retain him, but he could be one of the biggest values in free agency, assuming he can stay healthy and get with the right offense.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys (26.8)
Despite the running back explosion in free agency last year, don’t expect the same fireworks this time around. The overall class is much weaker, and the 2025 draft class is one of the best we’ve seen in years. There will be starting-caliber running backs available well into Day 3 of the draft, and that could cause teams to ignore free agency for the time being.
Najee Harris and Aaron Jones are the two backs that are expected to command the most money on the open market, but one name to watch is Rico Dowdle, who had a breakout season with Dallas. Dowdle started 15 games last season, racking up 1,328 yards from scrimmage. But that doesn’t even tell the full story.
Dowdle averaged just 10 carries per game in the first six weeks of the season, and he was even inactive in Week 8 when Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook played ahead of him. But from Week 9 on, Dowdle averaged 18 attempts per game and 95 yards from scrimmage. In the final two months of the season, Dowdle averaged 4.8 yards per carry and was one of the league’s most effective running backs.
Dowdle isn’t a home-run hitter, and he’s had some injury problems throughout his career. But there isn’t a lot of wear and tear on his body after just 387 touches in five seasons. A team searching for a physical, no-nonsense runner would love to add Dowdle to the roster. Expect him to earn more money in free agency than you would expect, as he’s proven he can handle a big workload and still be efficient.
Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets (25.2)
Jamien Sherwood is far from a household name, but he might be the best free-agent linebacker available now that Zack Baun is off the market. There are other well-known names that are available (Lavonte David, Bobby Wagner, Nick Bolton), but Sherwood is very likely to be the best player in 2025 and beyond.
A backup for most of his career, Sherwood got a chance to become a full-time starter in 2024 and didn’t look back. He led the NFL in solo tackles with 98 and finished the year with 158 total tackles to go along with 10 tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Sherwood was a safety at Alabama and worked out with the defensive backs during his pro day. However, poor testing numbers for safety (4.76 40-yard dash at 216 pounds) forced him to move down to the box and play linebacker. That move saved his career, as he will now earn a nice payday in free agency.
Teams searching for young, well-rounded linebackers who can rack up tackles in the middle of the field will love Sherwood. And there is a good chance the Jets will do everything in their power to make sure that he doesn’t leave next week. Keep an eye out for where he lands, as he could end up being one of the biggest steals in free agency.
Julian Blackmon, S, Indianapolis Colts (26.5)
2025 is another year with a lot of safety depth in free agency, and one of the players who should receive a bigger contract than you would think is Julian Blackmon of the Indianapolis Colts. Since being selected in the third round of the 2020 draft, Blackmon has started 62 games for the Colts and has recorded 10 interceptions.
Blackmon has always been a strong playmaker, but his versatility could get him paid this offseason. He played a lot in the slot and in the box during the 2023 season but moved back to his free safety role for the majority of the 2024 season.
Blackmon is at his best when he can be a true free safety and roam the middle of the field, but the fact that he can come down and play in the box will make him a fit on almost any defense. He's a willing tackler and has racked up more than 85 tackles in back-to-back seasons. However, his coverage ability is what makes him such an intriguing target in free agency.
At only 26, Blackmon already has a strong resume and has a bunch of experience playing in multiple defenses. Expect Jevon Holland, Tre’Von Moehrig, and Justin Reid to get big money at the safety position. But don’t be surprised if Blackmon ends up being the best value.
Dan Moore Jr., OT, Pittsburgh Steelers (26.4)
Of all the players on this list, Dan Moore Jr. will be the highest-paid in free agency. However, that’s just because of the positional value, as teams are constantly searching for capable offensive tackles.
Some pretty good tackles are expected to be available, including Ronnie Stanley, Cam Robinson, Tyron Smith, and Morgan Moses. However, all four of those players are old. Robinson is the youngest at 29.4, and there is a good chance that he commands nearly $20 million a year on the open market.
That’s why someone like Moore could be an intriguing option for a team leading a left tackle. Moore was a late fourth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2021 NFL Draft, but he was a Day 1 starter and has since started 69 games (including playoffs) in the last four seasons. Pittsburgh has used multiple first-rounds with the idea of replacing him, but he kept beating out everyone who has challenged him for the left tackle job.
Moore is only 26 years old and has improved every year in the NFL. And while he’ll never be a Pro Bowl left tackle in the NFL, he can be a competent starter who is reliable and durable. And on the open market, that might pay him $15 million per season for a team looking for a starter on the left side.
Moore is far from a great player, but his age, durability, and reliability make him an intriguing option in free agency. Look for him to get a massive pay raise early next week.
