The NFL free agency frenzy is about to begin.
Teams can begin negotiating with free agents during the legal tampering period, which starts on March 10 at 12 p.m. ET. Free agents can officially sign with clubs when the new league year kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on March 12.
Davante Adams, Chris Godwin and Sam Darnold are three of the most high-profile free agents available on the offensive side of the football. Where will Adams, Godwin, Darnold and other standout free agents land?
USA TODAY Sports examines the best landing spots for 10 of the top free agents on offense:
Best: fit: San Francisco 49ers
Adams immediately vaulted to the No. 1 offensive free agent when the Jets released him.
The 32-year-old wideout has six straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He might not be the receiver he once was, but he’s not too far removed from being considered the best wideout in the league.
There are rumors that Adams prefers to play on the West Coast. He is originally from the Bay Area. The Chargers are a team that could use a No. 1 wideout like Adams if they lose out on the DK Metcalf sweepstakes. But the 49ers just shipped Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders.
Adams isn’t the yards-after-catch machine Samuel is, but he’s a superior route runner. The route-running ability of Adams combined with Brandon Aiyuk’s skills would be scary in Kyle Shanahan’s West Coast offense.
Best fit: Pittsburgh Steelers
Godwin suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 7 but was one of the NFL’s leading receivers before then. The wideout was on pace for 121 catches, 1,399 yards and 12 touchdowns over a 17-game season.
Godwin is a good possession receiver who can keep the chains moving. The veteran pass catcher knows how to play alongside another standout wide receiver. He spent his entire career in Tampa Bay with Mike Evans.
The Steelers need a wide receiver to pair alongside George Pickens. Furthermore, Godwin would be a good mentor for the mercurial wideout. Pickens was Pittsburgh’s only wide receiver with over 40 catches last season.
Best fit: Houston Texans
Diggs compiled 47 catches, 496 receiving yards and three touchdowns but a knee injury cut his first campaign in Houston to just eight games.
Tank Dell‘s gruesome knee injury creates a hole in the Texans’ wide receiver room despite the team trading for wideout Christian Kirk to help fill the void.
Diggs proved last year that he’s comfortable as a No. 2 wide receiver behind Nico Collins. There are enough opportunities for Collins, Diggs and Kirk to succeed, especially with C.J. Stroud throwing the football. The trio is necessary for Houston to remain in contention.
Best fit: Arizona Cardinals
Cooper didn’t quite live up to expectations after the Bills traded for him in October. He tallied 20 receptions, 297 receiving yards and two touchdowns in eight regular-season games in Buffalo.
The 30-year-old receiver is still a good route runner, but he’s not a No. 1 option at this point of his career. Cooper’s veteran leadership and presence on the field would be advantageous for a player like Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Cardinals’ pass offense. Arizona needs more weapons around Kyler Murray.
Best fit: New York Giants
Is Darnold the quarterback who helped lead the Vikings to a 14-2 record through 17 weeks or the QB who withered down the stretch?
It’s likely somewhere in the middle.
Darnold enjoyed career-highs in every significant statistical quarterback category in 2024, including yards (4,319), touchdowns (35) and passer rating (102.5). However, he regressed in Week 18 and during Minnesota’s wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He had a 55.5 passer rating in the regular-season finale and followed that performance up with an interception, a fumble and indecisive play in the postseason.
In totality, Darnold’s 2024 season was much improved from what we’ve previously seen from the journeyman. Darnold has options. The Vikings could re-sign him, Seattle is rumored to be interested or maybe even the Giants.
I believe Darnold should return to New York, but this time in a blue uniform.
Best fit: Seattle Seahawks
Rodgers, 41, is set to be a free agent. He doesn’t perform at the four-time MVP level he once did, but he’s still a starting-caliber QB. He started to play better during the latter portion of last season. He had a passer rating of at least 90 in four of his final five starts in New York.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider was the Packers‘ personnel analyst to the general manager (2002-2007) and was promoted to director of football operations (2008-2009) while Rodgers was in Green Bay.
The Seahawks don’t have a starting-caliber quarterback on their roster after trading away Geno Smith. Rodgers would be a solid bridge while Seattle searches for its quarterback of the future. The Seahawks have a pair of rising stars in wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kenneth Walker III in the backfield. However, the Seahawks’ O-line needs to improve, and Metcalf wants out.
Best fit: Minnesota Vikings
Jones amassed a career-high 1,138 rushing yards in his first season in Minnesota. He also caught 51 balls for 408 yards. He totaled seven touchdowns from scrimmage. Despite being on the other side of 30, Jones remains a starting-caliber running back. He was a valuable piece for the Vikings during their 14-3 regular season.
Whether the Vikings hand the quarterback keys to J.J. McCarthy or decide to bring back Sam Darnold for another go-round, the team should retain Jones. Jones is the type of running back who can expedite McCarthy’s learning curve, and he’s already shown that he fits in with Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Best fit: Kansas City Chiefs
There were games in which Hopkins played like Kansas City’s best wide receiver, such as a Week 9 performance where he tallied eight catches and two touchdowns. However, Hopkins wasn’t productive during Kansas City’s run to Super Bowl 59. He had just three catches, 29 receiving yards and one touchdown in three playoff games.
Chiefs wide receivers praised Hopkins for the leadership he brought to the receiver room.
Rashee Rice (knee) is expected to return to the field in 2025 and Xavier Worthy showed plenty of promise during his rookie season. Hopkins can serve as the underneath threat in Kansas City. He wants to play for a contender at this stage of his career.
Best fit: Los Angeles Rams
At the start of next season, Allen will be 33 years old and saw his numbers decline during his first year in Chicago. Is that a sign of things to come, or was it a byproduct of Caleb Williams‘ up-and-down rookie season with the Bears? It’s probably both, but Allen remains a savvy route runner.
The veteran wideout operates best out of the slot. Allen’s expertise in the middle makes him a perfect fit for the Rams who are planning to part ways with slot man Cooper Kupp. Allen is a cheaper option than Kupp and can run similar route concepts.
Best fit: Pittsburgh Steelers
Wilson helped the Steelers get into the playoffs, but the team’s passing offense never really got going. He averaged 225 passing yards per game for a Steelers club with the 23rd-ranked offense in the league. He still throws a pretty deep ball but has a propensity to turn down intermediate passes. The 36-year-old QB can still be a capable starter in the right situation.
The veteran quarterback will have more continuity in Arthur Smith’s scheme if he returns to Pittsburgh.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
