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- Top remaining NFL free agents: Christian Wilkins leads best players still available</p>
<p>Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAYAugust 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM</p>
<p>We're well into training camp across the NFL as all 32 franchises get into the latest stage of offseason preparations for the 2025 NFL season.</p>
<p>This mandatory portion of offseason training gives coaching staffs across the league a chance to gauge their in-house talent. Roster cuts are still weeks away as teams will eventually whittle their active rosters down to 53 players.</p>
<p>As these offseason activities continue, teams may look elsewhere for an infusion of talent. That can be due to personnel not playing up to expectation or bad injury luck.</p>
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<p>There are still some viable options on the free agent market at multiple positions. Quarterback is the glaring exception; Aaron Rodgers finally putting pen to paper and signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers took the top veteran off the market.</p>
<p>But if teams are looking for help, especially in the second level of the defense, there are solid options to bolster their roster.</p>
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<p>Here are the top 10 remaining free agents as minicamps continue across the NFL — plus three potential fits for each one:</p>
<p>Top 10 remaining free agents1. DT Christian Wilkins</p>
<p>The Las Vegas Raiders released Wilkins just one season into a four-year contract he signed last offseason. He's recovering from a serious foot injury but still has plenty of value even as he reaches his age-30 season.</p>
<p>There are some questions about his exit from Las Vegas and the Raiders will attempt to recoup some guarantees from his big-money contract. As he's getting back to full health, he may be best suited for a rotational role but could be an impact player on a per-snap basis. That will make him intriguing for many contenders or teams looking to shore up the interior line depth on defense.</p>
<p>Potential fits: Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers</p>
<p>2. WR Amari Cooper</p>
<p>Cooper is entering his age-31 season but never built his game on speed. A mid-season trade brought him to Buffalo last year and he played well before a lingering wrist injury derailed his production.</p>
<p>At this stage of his career, he can be a solid possession option on a team looking for a proven commodity in the receiver room. Just as the Bills did when trading for him last season, a contender could look to the five-time Pro Bowler to safeguard against injuries.</p>
<p>Potential fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers</p>
<p>3. CB Asante Samuel Jr.</p>
<p>Samuel Jr. played just four games in 2024 before heading to injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Prior to that, he was a productive nickel cornerback with 35 passes defensed and six interceptions combined through his first three seasons.</p>
<p>The main reason Samuel Jr. is not currently signed to a roster is medical concerns. He underwent neck surgery in April and will get a check up in July.</p>
<p>If healthy, Samuel Jr. is a no-brainer to bring on board. He's entering his age-26 season, far from the common cornerback drop-off, and can be an above-average starter at nickel.</p>
<p>Potential fits: Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints</p>
<p>4. S Justin Simmons</p>
<p>Despite making the All-Pro second-team roster every year from 2021 to 2023, the Denver Broncos opted against re-signing Simmons last offseason. He ended up in Atlanta on a one-year deal and played well enough to have a role in 2025.</p>
<p>He's entering his age-32 season but is far from a liability in coverage or run defense. A team with questions at safety could do much worse than a one-year deal for Simmons. He could be ideal for a team facing injuries at one safety spot or relying on young players to make a leap.</p>
<p>Potential fits: Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs</p>
<p>5. WR Gabe Davis</p>
<p>Davis struggled along with the rest of the Jacksonville Jaguars' offense last season before a torn meniscus ended his season. He's entering his age-26 season and, if fully healthy, could be a productive player for many teams.</p>
<p>He's not going to be a primary pass-catcher in an offense but a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver role could be a good fit. Given his speed, he could help open things up for other weapons in the offense. Teams with</p>
<p>Potential fits: Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals</p>
<p>6. LB Kyzir White</p>
<p>If you're curious the impact White had in Arizona, look no further than Cardinals' defensive coordinator Devin Rallis giving his youngest child the middle name Kyzir in White's honor. White's bounced around first with the Chargers before spending the 2022 season in Philadelphia and following former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to Arizona in 2023 and 2024.</p>
<p>He finished second on the team in total tackles with 137 and had a career-high 2.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus' grades point to a linebacker that's better against the run than pass; White finished 50th among qualifying 189 linebackers in run defense but 174th in coverage.</p>
<p>Teams looking for depth at the position or a run-stuffing linebacker for early downs should give White a look.</p>
<p>Potential fits: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams</p>
<p>7. Edge Za'Darius Smith</p>
<p>Smith may be entering his age-33 season but he just had nine sacks in 2024 for the Browns and Lions. He's a big, strong pocket-pushing edge presence and that's reflected beyond the traditional stats. PFF graded Smith 21st out of 211 qualifying edge rushers in pass rush and 33rd overall.</p>
<p>Given his age, he may be most effective in a rotational role. That's ideal for a contender looking to add another experienced player to the edge rusher rotation who can provide great per-snap results. Smith's played that role before most recently with Detroit but also in 2022 with the Minnesota Vikings.</p>
<p>Potential fits: Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers</p>
<p>8. CB Stephon Gilmore</p>
<p>Gilmore is far from his Defensive Player of the Year heights from 2019. At 34 years old, he'd be one of the older cornerbacks in the NFL in 2025.</p>
<p>He spent the 2024 season in Minnesota and started 15 games for the Vikings. He was solid in that role with nine passes defensed and one interception. PFF ranked him 93rd out of 222 qualifying cornerbacks for his on-field performance. He was better by their grading as a run defender (28th out of 222) than in coverage (118th). Teams could do a lot worse for an injury replacement than him.</p>
<p>Potential fits: Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams</p>
<p>9. CB Rasul Douglas</p>
<p>Another veteran cornerback still on the market, Douglas started 15 games for the Bills in 2024 and posted five passes defensed and a forced fumble. He's entering his age-30 season with stops in Philadelphia, Carolina and Green Bay prior to Buffalo.</p>
<p>He didn't grade out as well on PFF as Gilmore did in 2024. He ranked 133rd among qualifying cornerbacks overall and 128th in coverage. He's likely still a good depth piece for teams loading up for a postseason run but may not be on the level to take a starting job in 2025.</p>
<p>Potential fits: Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Chargers</p>
<p>10. G Brandon Scherff</p>
<p>Scherff is entering his age-34 season but hasn't missed a game in the last three years. He started all 17 games for the Jaguars in 2022-24 and was a solid starter last year, especially in pass protection. Pro Football Focus graded him 19th out of 136 qualifying guards league-wide in pass blocking compared to 97th in run blocking.</p>
<p>His durability and statistics should make him a good option for a team that has questions on the interior. A team with playoff aspirations could do much worse than signing him on as insurance in case of an ill-timed injury. He could also offer help up front for a team with a young or new quarterback who needs to be protected as much as possible.</p>
<p>Potential fits: Houston Texans, Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL free agents: Christian Wilkins leads 10 best remaining</p>
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