NFL Analysis
2/12/25
12 min read
2025 NFL Free Agency: Predicting Where This Year's Top WRs Land
The offseason is here, and free agency begins on March 12. The start of the new league year brings a flurry of moves, including trades, veteran cuts, and splashy free-agent deals that excite everyone for September to arrive. With fantasy football playing into how we view everything in the NFL, there's a special interest in where the top free-agent wide receivers land.
The need for playmaking is at an all-time high. While Philadelphia proved that championships are still won and lost in the trenches, it'd be unfair to undermine the importance of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith's roles in their Super Bowl journey. Contenders and rebuilding teams want immediate upgrades that fast-track their efforts.
We're predicting new landing spots for the top eight free-agent wide receivers in this class. While some other stars may become available via trade or release, this crop stands out above the rest with their talent and production.
Predicted Landing Spots for Top Free Agent WRs
Predicting players to return to their previous team is not as much fun as projecting them to land elsewhere, so we've identified the best new home for all eight receivers. Some are more likely than not to re-sign with their previous team, so we've made note of that where applicable.
Tee Higgins: New England Patriots
Several red flags with Tee Higgins will give any potential suitor some hesitation before going all-in with a $100 million offer with more than $40 million guaranteed. He's missed five games in each of the last two years and has dealt with lower-body injuries to his thighs, ankle, and hamstrings. It's not ideal for a 6-foot-4 receiver to have nagging pulls and strains.
However, his resume is impressive, and his style of play is uncommon. New England should especially take favor to the 26-year-old considering its lack of playmaking at the position and need to help Drake Maye. Teams will realize the risk is worthwhile for a player in his prime who is good for at least 900 yards and six touchdowns when he's fairly healthy.
Tee Higgins, WOW pic.twitter.com/Hwcwjj79GB
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) December 16, 2023
A return to Cincinnati would be more about Higgins' desire to stay with Joe Burrow and the Bengals than maximizing his earnings. New England doesn't have the reputation of being a big spender, but being armed with more than $120 million in cap space, a new head coach in Mike Vrabel, and Maye makes it an obvious fit. Vrabel should particularly be interested after he saw what A.J. Brown could do for a talent-deficient offense while they were in Tennessee together.
There will be many good suitors with money who will chase Higgins if he sees the market. But I think it makes the most sense for New England to strike with their cap advantage and even overpay if necessary. Otherwise, Higgins could easily stay where he's at or find another contender like Washington or the Chargers attractive.
Stefon Diggs: Detroit Lions
There's certainly a big-name familiarity with Stefon Diggs, but it's unfair to expect him to produce at a star level moving forward. Suffering a torn ACL midway through this season means his stock and cost should be perfect for contending teams to get involved. Houston may want to smooth out his giant cap hit with a multi-year deal, or it could spread the cap hit with a June 1 release.
Diggs is now primarily a slot receiver who relies on his hands, quickness, and toughness to move the chains and be a situational threat. He caught 47 of 64 targets for 496 yards and three scores in eight games. Turning 32 in November, Diggs' next deal will be incentive-based. Teams planning on playing in the playoffs can rest a little easier knowing Diggs should be fully recovered by his birthday, if not sooner.
Detroit would make a lot of sense if Houston moved on. During the last couple of years, the Lions have made do with several random receivers as their third option, including Tim Patrick and Josh Reynolds. Diggs is a little different than both of those guys because he wins underneath more than being a splash play hunter, but Detroit may want a steady option without Ben Johnson making everything work cohesively.
Keenan Allen: Kansas City Chiefs
The first question teams will have about Keenan Allen is whether his 2024 season was an aberration or a sign of what he has left in the tank as he turns 33 this offseason. The Chicago Bears were a mess throughout the year, and Allen appeared to play himself into shape as the season progressed, but it's hard to imagine his sharp decrease in efficiency was all about his surrounding situation.
Having played at least 13 games in seven of the last eight years, an in-shape Allen can still be an asset for any offense. We could see Ben Johnson wanting the 12-year veteran to return. If he doesn't, expect Allen to start ring chasing and hunting for landing spots that prolong his career.
This is as ridiculous a throw as you will see -- Caleb Williams' second touchdown pass to Keenan Allen. Over the outstretched hands of the DT and LB, over the CB in tight coverage, and into Allen's hands with less than a yard of end zone left. Just preposterous. pic.twitter.com/9sevy4jqVX
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) October 14, 2024
After Allen had spent 11 seasons facing Kansas City, the Chiefs could look to swap out one older receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, with another in Allen. Hopkins was a bust of an acquisition, and the uncertain future of Hollywood Brown and instability with Rashee Rice means the Chiefs need another body who can win from the slot at a reasonable price.
Reliability at the catch point and comfort finding soft spots in the defense is an especially attractive part of Allen's fit with Kansas City. This would likely be a short-term deal that helps the Chiefs look to reload in the wake of their Super Bowl defeat.
Chris Godwin: Washington Commanders
After spending eight seasons in Tampa Bay, I'll admit it's hard to fathom Chris Godwin ever dons another jersey. However, even though the Buccaneers are coming off a great year, Godwin missed 10 games with an ankle injury. They're up against the salary cap limit before the flurry of restructures is surely coming.
It's possible Tampa Bay is ready to get cheaper and younger at receiver, allowing Godwin to walk and replacing him with second-year stud Jalen McMillan. If Godwin hits the market, he'll see no shortage of suitors. But there's one landing spot that is the best fit for him.
Thanks to Jayden Daniels' breakthrough, Washington will be a popular landing spot for mock trades and free-agent signings. Flush with money and featuring a well-liked coaching staff, Washington will win most recruiting battles if they want to. Its quest to add a great No. 2 receiver next to Terry McLaurin is one race it could spend a lot on.
Godwin primarily wins from the slot, logging at least 61 percent of snaps there in five of his last six seasons. Washington may like Luke McCaffrey, but the third-round rookie wasn't good enough to dissuade them from chasing Godwin and utilizing both receivers in various alignments. Instead, this would be more of an upgrade on Jamison Crowder and Olamide Zaccheaus than McCaffrey.
Amari Cooper: Dallas Cowboys
Amari Cooper was a bust for the Buffalo Bills, failing to provide any type of meaningful impact in the playoffs despite seeming to be a perfect fit for Josh Allen. Now, at 31, Cooper needs to go back to a situation where the scheme prioritizes timing, and the quarterback rewards players in contested catch situations. Buffalo just doesn't play that way.
There are plenty of other franchises that do, though. Miami, both Los Angeles teams, and Washington fit, but Dallas is the best spot for Cooper.
Amari Cooper has now played 16 games with the Dallas Cowboys (including playoffs):
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 9, 2019
98 catches; 1,408 yards; 12 TDs pic.twitter.com/TNe8isabNT
Dak Prescott and Cooper combined for a tremendous four-year stretch during which Cooper averaged just under 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns a season. While Cooper had some issues with drops before his stint in Cleveland, he was a better playmaker than Dallas had in years until CeeDee Lamb showed up. The opportunity to pair Cooper with Lamb again should be enticing and affordable.
DeAndre Hopkins: Los Angeles Chargers
On the surface, Kansas City's acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins was perfect. Reliable, crafty, and ageless, Hopkins' game should've meshed perfectly with Patrick Mahomes. Instead, he caught only two of eight targets for 29 yards and one touchdown in the postseason and had one of the ugliest drops ever seen in the Super Bowl.
It felt like the door might be open for a return to Kansas City until the Super Bowl atrocity played out. Now, the Chiefs may as well revamp the unit around Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice so they can get more dynamic. That would leave the 33-year-old Hopkins looking for his fourth team in as many years.
Contenders should still kick the tires on Hopkins despite this year being a struggle. At this point in his career, Hopkins might need more of a YOLO-passer than Mahomes is and someone who wants to throw outside of the numbers more. Los Angeles with Justin Herbert looks like that fit.
Consider that Mahomes targeted receivers outside of the numbers only 34.2 percent of his attempts in 2024 compared to Herbert's mark of 41.2 percent, and it's easy to see there are better opportunities for Hopkins under Jim Harbaugh. It'd also be wise to go somewhere with less competition for those targets, and the Chargers have arguably the worst receiving unit in the NFL.
Dyami Brown: Pittsburgh Steelers
The 2025 NFL Draft receiver class isn't overly deep or fast, so teams will want to buy their way out of forcing an early-round pick at the position.
While the 25-year-old Dyami Brown was on the field for about 40 percent of snaps and caught only 30 passes for 308 yards and one touchdown in the regular season, his team-leading 229 yards on 14 receptions in the postseason opened eyes. An incentive-laden deal will await Brown in free agency as teams chase his speed.
Pittsburgh's wide receiver room has to be the least explosive in the NFL. While the Steelers figure out what they want to do with George Pickens, the theoretical trio of Pickens, Brown, and Roman Wilson sure works on paper. Each has a clear role and strengths that could work for their 2025 starting quarterback.
TOUCHDOWN
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024
DYAMI BROWN DEEP TO END THE SECOND HALF AND THE COMMANDERS ARE ROLLING.
THIS LOOKED SO EASY FOR JAYDEN DANIELS.
I AM VERY HAPPY.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/hAcuXAfjnL
That latter point is a pivotal question in itself for Pittsburgh this offseason, but whether it's Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers, or Jaxson Dart under center, they need weapons in place. Brown is risky because of the small sample of success from this season, but he's a calculated gamble for teams looking to win in the margins with value deals.
Elijah Moore: New York Giants
Through four seasons in the NFL, there are still some questions about how to best utilize Elijah Moore. His efficiency spiked in 2023 after Cleveland inserted Joe Flacco into its lineup and asked Moore to play outside more and run deeper routes. His role reverted back to being a slot player in 2024, and Moore was good but wasn't more productive.
Teams will ask themselves this offseason what a receiver averaging 540 yards and 2.5 touchdowns a year is worth and how Moore can produce better.
Just 25 years old and competent as a vertical slot target and possession option with a low career drop rate of only 5.2 percent, Moore raises the floor of a unit. Looking at the New York Giants' barren receiving corps outside of Malik Nabers reveals a group that has to be overhauled. The only other notable talent in the room might be Wan'Dale Robinson, who is a small slot merchant.
There might be some overlap in terms of Robinson's and Moore's alignments, but their best areas of the field are quite different. Brian Daboll could deploy both at the same time, and they'd naturally slide into comfortable roles behind a new No. 2 receiver and Nabers.
