Za’Darius Smith, Stephon Gilmore Among Top Players Available

It’s the toughest time of the NFL season for players. Players will move around as teams finalize their rosters for the 2025 season. With the regular season fast approaching, teams can make pivotal moves, both additions and subtractions, to allow them flexibility to play with their rosters to get a leg up on the competition.

A few free agents who have had significant NFL success are still on the market. They could find a home for the upcoming season as roster cuts occur.

Top NFL Free Agents on the Market

Entering crunch time, NFL teams need to find ways to get their rosters to maintain the best 53 players to help them win games. It’s a wild period as teams fluctuate, as players are put on the market and picked up from the market as teams finalize their rosters.

Take a look at the top free agents currently available for pickup.

Zadarius Smith, EDGE

Za’Darius Smith has been a strong edge presence throughout his 10 years in the NFL. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler and has 69.0 sacks in his career. Last season, he played for the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns, racking up nine sacks, 17 QB hits, and 35 tackles. Teams seeking defensive line help will look into Smith, as multiple contenders have checked in on Smith, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

With free agency picking up a bit this week, one name to watch is Za’Darius Smith, who finished with nine sacks last year.

Multiple contending teams have checked in on Smith, who is training and waiting on the right situation. pic.twitter.com/bAj1mXXq3y— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 26, 2025

Teams in contention need disruptors on the defensive line, especially when the playoffs roll around. Letting the elite quarterbacks have as much time as they want is not ideal, so getting pass rushers like Smith can be pivotal to elevating a team to its next level.

Stephon Gilmore, CB

If this were a few years ago, Stephon Gilmore would have been off the market as soon as it opened. As a former Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First-Team All-Pro, Gilmore has been a lockdown corner throughout his career.

Even at 34 years old, he’s got more juice left in the tank. He racked up one interception in 15 games for the Minnesota Vikings and can help out a team struggling to keep receivers in check. Perhaps the most encouraging sign for prospective teams is his availability starting at least 15 games over the last three years.

Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE

Another veteran edge rusher remains on the market, as Jadeveon Clowney is again looking for a new home. Clowney has been floating around the league, playing for six teams in his last seven seasons. Just one year removed from a career-high 9.5 sacks, last season in Carolina, he had 5.5 sacks with 11 QB hits.

Yet again, Clowney might be finding a new home, as teams that need to bolster their pass rush could call on him.

Shaq Mason, OG

The offensive line is essential to protecting franchise QBs, and teams take an interest in offensive line depth. Shaq Mason is a ten-year veteran with over 152 NFL games, with 147 starts. Despite his struggles with the Houston Texans last season, Mason can be a pivotal depth player to a roster suffering losses to their offensive line options.

Free agent OG Shaq Mason is still better than a lot of starting guards in the NFL. 15 examples showing how he wins pic.twitter.com/2UAfdoVrJf

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) June 24, 2025

The two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots has more to give to an NFL franchise. With rosters up in the air, teams could turn to a veteran like Mason to shore up their options in the trenches.

Marcus Williams, FS

The Baltimore Ravens let Marcus Williams go in the offseason after three years there. Williams has been a consistent defender throughout his career until he was benched in 2024. Last season, he had no interceptions and just two pass deflections.

However, he has eight years of NFL experience and can give a franchise some veteran experience on the back end of a defense.