We're less than one week away from the start of NFL free agency, which begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 12. But the legal tampering window opens two days before that on March 10 at 12 p.m. ET, where teams will be able to negotiate with free agents before the official start of the new league year.
The 2025 salary cap has been set at a record $279.2 million, and there are a number of teams who have some work to do when it comes to building their rosters. That includes potentially bringing back some impact players currently set to hit the open market.
After taking a look at the pending free agent fits around for each team, our NFL Wire editors identified one in-house free agent (at the time of publication) that each team should prioritize re-signing this offseason.
The Cardinals have almost nobody left in their outside linebacker room if they don't bring back any free agents as Zaven Collins, 2023 second-round pick BJ Ojulari and 2024 fifth-round pick Xavier Thomas are it from last season. The Cardinals used their sixth-round pick from this upcoming draft to acquire Browning from the Denver Broncos, and it has to be assumed they intended on re-signing him. He had two sacks in the team's final two games as he finally got some regular playing time and had 9.5 over two seasons in 2022-2023 before injuries set him back. - Jess Root, Cards Wire
The Falcons have a few notable free agents, including linebacker Matthew Judon, safety Justin Simmons and cornerback Mike Hughes, but center Drew Dalman is the one player they can't afford to lose. The former fourth-round pick has developed into a quality starter on one of the NFL's better offensive lines. With Michael Penix Jr. in place at quarterback, locking up Dalman is a must. The team's biggest challenge will be creating enough salary cap space to keep the 26-year-old in Atlanta. - Matt Urben, Falcons Wire
The Baltimore Ravens have started their offseason retooling, and one of the most significant decisions will involve star left tackle Ronnie Stanley and his future with the franchise. Baltimore will have 21 free agents and several looming contract scenarios that will significantly impact shaping this roster, with limited salary cap space. At 6-6 and 310 pounds, Stanley can use his long frame to dominate opposing edge rushers when he's healthy. He played the entire regular season, answering some questions about his durability, and tied for 11th among offensive tackles with a 92.5% pass block win rate in 2024. The 30-year-old Stanley will enter Free agency, having redeemed himself as one of the NFL's top left tackles. Stanley had a 71.0 grade from PFF (40th), and his 79.6 pass-blocking grade was good for 21st among all NFL tackles. - Glenn Erby, Ravens Wire
The Bills only have two "big fish" pending free agents, Cooper and cornerback Rasul Douglas. In both cases, it seems like these players will test the market and potentially circle back. It's hard to pick between the two. Both are 30 and hitting the market, but Cooper we'll give an edge to because of Buffalo's ability to find cornerbacks much more consistently. Christian Benford is the No. 1 corner ahead of Douglas now and on offense the lack of playmakers there will only be hurt with Cooper's departure. A wrist injury hindered him in Buffalo after being traded to the Bills, but Cooper has fully bought in and could have a much better 2025. - Nick Wojton, Bills Wire
Like a smooth criminal, general manager Dan Morgan swiped Jackson away from the Seattle Seahawks in a slick, under-the-radar trade in late August. For the price of their 2024 seventh-round pick, the Panthers ended up with a solid No. 2 starter across from Pro Bowler Jaycee Horn. Jackson recorded a career-high 13 pass breakups, which also ranked as the fourth-most in the NFL this past season, and a pair of interceptions. Whether they'd want him to run it back as a starter or return as a valuable depth piece, Carolina should look to retain the 28-year-old veteran in the path towards strengthening their historically-bad defense. - Anthony Rizzuti, Panthers Wire
The Bears don't have any big-name free agents that they're expected to re-sign, as they're expected to let wide receiver Keenan Allen and guard Teven Jenkins walk. The offensive line will be a top priority for Chicago this offseason when it comes to filling three (possibly four) starting spots and adding depth. Matt Pryor was a depth piece thrust into a starting role last season, and he proved his worth as a reserve. The Bears could look to bring him back on an affordable, one-year deal to help shore up the team's biggest area of need. - Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire
The Bengals were never going to let Tee Higgins hit the open market and settled for the escalated second franchise tag at $26 million. That out of the way, they want to keep wiggle room for Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson extensions, plus outside additions. While tight end Mike Gesicki might seem like the obvious answer here, the open market could balloon his asking price past what they want to pay. That leaves offensive lineman Cody Ford, who played nearly all five spots this past season. His versatility would make him an excellent sixth linemen for a unit that desperately needs the depth. - Chris Roling, Bengals Wire
This one is a no-brainer. Not only does Nick Chubb want to retire as a member of the Cleveland Browns, but he will be extremely cost-effective. He is 30 years old and is coming off of back-to-back seasons with season-ending lower body injuries. The Browns are going to overhaul the running back room, and bringing back a constant face like Chubb to mentor what will be a young group of running backs makes too much sense given what he means to the franchise and what he will cost the team financially. - Cory Kinnan, Browns Wire
Most would expect to see DT Osa Odighizuwa in this space, as the interior is key to DC Matt Eberflus' defense. But he's never converted his pressures into sacks and for the money he's going to command, a DT should have both, especially considering who he's played with. Turpin, a restricted free agent, hasn't received fair usage, but can be an integral offensive weapon and not just a special teamer. Give him a three-year deal and more opportunities than just a gadget guy. He can help. - K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire
After giving left tackle Garett Bolles an extension,the Broncos do not have any musts in their re-sign category this offseason. Denver GM George Paton has said the team wants to re-sign DL D.J. Jones, and both backup QBs - Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson - are pending free agents as well. Since the list is limited to one player, we'll go with Jones. He's 30 years old now, but Jones has been a reliable defensive tackle for Denver over the last three seasons, starting all 48 games he's been available. Of the team's pending free agents, Jones is perhaps the most notable and possibly the most likely to be re-signed. - Jon Heath, Broncos Wire
Barnes finally hit his stride in Detroit after taking over the SAM role in the defense. It allowed him to use his pass-rushing skills while also leaning on his stout run defense and impressive tackling power. The Lions defense was never able to capably replace him after he was lost with a knee injury in Week 3, trying several different options with varying levels of futility. Keeping him brings strength and stability to a position of growing importance for Detroit's defense. As long as Barnes is healthy, he gets the slight nod over starting CB Carlton Davis here. - Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire
A no-brainer here. McManus connected on 20 of 21 field goals and all 30 extra points across 11 regular season games after joining the Packers in October. After a year and a half of trying (and failing) to find a stable kicker in the post-Mason Crosby era, the Packers were fortunate to have McManus available, and he delivered two game-winning kicks and a perfect 3-for-3 performance on kicks over 50 yards. McManus is almost 34 years old, and he'll cost a little extra to retain, but the Packers want him back. Expect a deal to get done that keeps McManus in Green Bay for at least the 2025 season. For a team with big aspirations next season, having a quality and reliable kicker is worth every penny. - Zach Kruse, Packers Wire
Note: Packers signed McManus to a three-year, $15.3 million extension on March 4
Derek Barnett deserves some consideration, but given a need for a stable WR2, Diggs is the only logical option. He was on pace for another 100-catch season before the torn ACL and C.J. Stroud said they were just hitting their stride entering mid-October. Depending on how Diggs' market looks, he could benefit from returning to Houston on a short-term contract to better his odds in 2026. Expect Houston to make an offer, though other teams could present a deal the Texans can't match. - Cole Thompson, Texans Wire
In an offseason where there should be a focus on bringing in outside competition, re-signing Will Fries needs to be a top priority for GM Chris Ballard. Prior to his injury, Fries was operating as one of the best guards in football by PFF's metrics, and without him on the roster, a massive hole then has to be filled at right guard. Naturally, the focus for the Colts offense will be on Anthony Richardson, but success starts up front with the play of the offensive line.- Paul Bretl, Colts Wire
There aren't many candidates here. The Jaguars' two highest-profile free agents are Brandon Scherff and Andre Cisco, but my gut says they end up elsewhere, and the Jaguars go in a different direction. So instead, I'll go with tight end Luke Farrell. At a minimum, depth at this position group is needed, and Farrell, with his ability as a blocker and he can also impact the passing game, that makes him a good fit for Liam Coen's offense with that well-rounded skill set. Re-signing him won't break the salary cap bank, nor does it stop the Jaguars from continuing to add to this position group. - Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire
Wharton is Kansas City's most underrated defender and played a major role in the Chiefs' run to Super Bowl LIX last season. It isn't likely that an extension for Wharton would hamstring Kansas City's ability to add talent in free agency, and given that the Chiefs have needs at multiple positions, maintaining continuity will be a top priority for general manager Brett Veach. If Kansas City lets Wharton walk in free agency, the Chiefs will need to fill yet another position ahead of their 2025 campaign. - John Dillon, Chiefs Wire
There are two ways you could look at this. There is who is the most likely to be re-signed and who their most valuable free agent is. If we're talking about the former, it's probably LB Robert Spillane. If it's the latter - and it sounds like it is - it's Nate Hobbs. The former fifth round pick has been a starting cornerback on this team since day one. He seems to be flying under that radar a bit, but, make no mistake, his market will be robust if he were allowed to test it and he'd be worth it. He's one of the best slot cornerbacks in the league, with a rare combination of coverage abilities and tackling abilities. His only potential sticking point could be his injury history, having missed 16 games in his four-year career. - Levi Damien, Raiders Wire
The Chargers have a handful of key internal free agents, but Mack sits atop the list. Since arriving in Los Angeles, Mack has been integral in rushing the passer and defending the run off the edge. Despite being 34 years old this upcoming season, Mack still has plenty of juice left in him. In 2024, he finished first on the team in quarterback pressures (54) and second in sacks (6). He also had the second-highest PFF run defense grade among edge rushers (88.0). - Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire
The Rams' 2025 free-agent class is somewhat underwhelming, especially now that Alaric Jackson is being re-signed to a three-year, $57 million deal. That leaves players such as Demarcus Robinson, Ahkello Witherspoon and Tutu Atwell as the team's top pending free agents, but I'll go with someone else: Michael Hoecht. The Rams kept Hoecht as a restricted free agent last year and it paid off. He had his best season yet and became a valuable third edge rusher behind Jared Verse and Byron Young. He also blocked three kicks this past season, bringing a ton of value on special teams. He struggles when dropping into coverage but for someone who's only played outside linebacker for a few years after being a defensive tackle previously, he continues to improve. The Rams should bring him back in 2025. - Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire
At the end of the 2024 season, Campbell made it pretty clear that his career may be over. But even at age 38, the future Hall of Famer was a defense-changing force for the Dolphins. His 82.3 grade from PFF led all Miami defensive players and was his highest since his last season with the Jaguars in 2019. His play made it clear that Campbell still had gas in the tank and if he's ready to suit up for another year, the Dolphins simply can't let him leave the building.
As it stands right now, Zach Sieler is the only starting-quality defensive lineman under contract in 2025. While Campbell isn't a long-term solution for the Dolphins by any stretch, he provides much-needed stability and leadership to a team with accountability and discipline issues. - Adam Stites, Dolphins Wire
Coming off a year that saw him set a career-high in interceptions (6) and tackles (81), Byron Murphy Jr. is set for a major payday. The Vikings have the money to bring him back but it will have to be at the right price. He showed he fits into what the Vikings and Brian Flores look for in a cornerback. Every cornerback on the roster is a free agent so getting him back would allow the team to build the position out from there. - Andrew Harbaugh, Vikings Wire
Jonathan Jones would probably be the most popular answer here, but the veteran cornerback is turning 32 years old this year. The Patriots need to get younger at the No. 2 option across from Christian Gonzalez. With that in mind, it's a better move for them to prioritize a younger player, like linebacker Christian Elliss.
The former undrafted free agent went from a glorified special-teamer to a surprise defensive contributor last season. He racked up a career-high 80 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, five pass deflections and one interception. At only 26 years old, Elliss is beginning to emerge as a playmaker who could be even better under Mike Vrabel and the new Patriots coaching staff. - Jordy McElroy, Patriots Wire
While Young would be moving to outside linebacker in Brandon Staley's new 3-4 scheme, not much would change in his real responsibilities: get after the quarterback. That's something he did well last year, ranking 15th around the league in pressures at both Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Reference. Keeping him as a tag-team partner for Carl Granderson (who ranked 20th and 18th in pressures at each outlet) is crucial because the Saints don't have anyone else behind them. Cameron Jordan didn't rank inside the top 100 and Isaiah Foskey is an unknown quantity. If they can't retain Young, their pass rush will be in serious trouble, and they may have to force a pick at the position in the draft to make up for it. - John Sigler, Saints Wire
There aren't many impending free agents the Giants should re-sign and that speaks volumes about how poor the roster build has been under general manager Joe Schoen. Wide receiver Darius Slayton is the most obvious option but he's inclined to test the market and will likely land a larger deal than the Giants care to offer. That led us to settle on return man Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who is extremely explosive and fills multiple roles. With greater health and a more talented roster around him, Smith-Marsette could position himself in the conversation for the most impactful return men in the NFL. Those types of rare talents are worth hanging onto, and he'll likely come at a team-friendly cost. - Dan Benton, Giants Wire
Despite the Jets having plenty of pending free agents this offseason, Sherwood sticks out like a sore thumb as the pick. Last year was his first season as a full-time starter as he filled in for CJ Mosley essentially for the entire campaign. Sure, the Jets defense had their hiccups, but Sherwood was not one of them in 2024. If new head coach Aaron Glenn sees Sherwood fitting into his defense, this re-signing will get done. - Nick Wojton, Jets Wire
The Eagles don't typically prioritize the linebacker position, but things have changed; the Super Bowl champions have a significant decision to make. Zack Baun has a true rags-to-riches story, signing a one-year deal with Philadelphia last offseason under the guise that he'd have a chance to earn snaps as a pass rusher and potential special teams dynamo. Fast-forward a full calendar year, and Baun earned the Eagles' starting inside linebacker job. He propelled that opportunity into a Pro Bowl nod and All-Pro honors. Now, a star linebacker set to enter free agency, Baun finished fifth in the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year voting and is set to cash in. Baun was outstanding in his first year, recording 150 tackles, 11 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 5 QB hits, 14 QB pressures, five forced fumbles, an interception, and a fumble recovery while playing 95 percent of the snaps before resting in Week 18. In the Eagles' NFC Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers on January 12, Baun logged eight tackles, one interception, and one pass deflection. Baun had six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended in the divisional-round win over the Rams. - Glenn Erby, Eagles Wire
If the Steelers want to even hope to be competitive in 2025, re-signing Justin Fields is their best chance. Fields went 4-2 as a starter in 2024 before being benched in favor of Russell Wilson but he handled it like a professional and now has an opportunity to prove he should have been the starter all along. All the other Steelers needs created by in-house free agents can be filled in other ways but there isn't a quarterback on the market who can give the Steelers what Fields can. - Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire
Greenlaw's market is a significant question mark because of the Achilles injury he suffered in Super Bowl LVIII that cost him the first 14 weeks of the 2024 season. He also dealt with a calf injury just four snaps into his second game after returning that cost him the final two games of the year. While the questions about his injury linger, his impact for the 49ers isn't in question. They struggled to replace him last year with De'Vondre Campbell and a sprinkling of second-year linebacker Dee Winters. When Greenlaw finally did play the first half of the 49ers' Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, his presence had an immediate effect in what became one of San Francisco's best defensive performances of the year. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh badly wants Greenlaw back according to the Athletic's Matt Barrows, and general manager John Lynch said the team is already in contact with Greenlaw's representatives about a new contract. San Francisco's first attempt at replacing Greenlaw didn't go well. They'd be wise to not go into the 2025 campaign needing to replace him again. - Kyle Madson, Niners Wire
The Seahawks took a trip to the bargain bin last offseason when it came to linebackers with veterans Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker. Once it became evident this was not working, Seattle quickly cut ties with both and acquired Ernest Jones IV from the Titans midseason. The acquisition of Jones was a revelation, and completely revitalized the Seahawks' multi-year long problem when it came to defending the run. In ten games played for Seattle, Jones ended the season No. 3 on the team with 94 total tackles. Jones established himself as a legitimate difference maker in the middle of the defense, something the Seahawks have not had when future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner wasn't on the field for them. - Kole Musgrove, Seahawks Wire
The popular answer would be Chris Godwin, but the emergence of Jalen McMillan and Mike Evans still being his Hall of Fame self helps that position. The Bucs have no other help at linebacker and David showed that despite being 34 years old, he still has a lot left in the tank. He can be an extreme value in terms of money, and they need that as a cash-strapped team. The team has been mocked Jihaad Campbell often, but even if they land him in the draft, he needs help because the Bucs cannot rely on just a rookie to lead this group. - Andrew Harbaugh, Bucs Wire
The Titans are already thin at wide receiver and allowing one of their more consistent options to walk would only add to their woes. While not overly dynamic, he is tough and can do the dirty work. Coming off a career season with 32 receptions for 497 yards and nine touchdowns, he accomplished that in 13 games after starting the season buried on the depth chart. The coaching staff would love to have him back, but realizes there will be a market for his services. But with a receiving corps that lacks experience and playmaking ability beyond Calvin Ridley, they may not be able to afford to let him go. - Mark Mihalko, Titans Wire
The Commanders have several free agents they'd prefer to keep. Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, Tress Way, Dante Fowler, and Dyami Brown all come to mind. The one they'd probably choose over the rest is Wagner. Wagner will be 35 next season and has obviously lost a step. Yet, he remained among the NFL's most productive linebackers and never came off the field. Washington would be wise to have someone lined up to serve as the future Hall of Famer's understudy. Wagner's influence goes beyond just gameday, but in the locker room and on the practice field. Wagner will likely only require a one-year and the two sides should get it done before free agency. - Bryan Manning, Commanders Wire