Top Sleeper 2025 NFL Free Agent Signings

When free agency rolls around in mid-March each year, chatter flies around about the top names on the market and the biggest contracts. Plenty of analysis is done on the best and worst signings that cycle (including by us!) and how these new faces will impact their teams and the wider NFL landscape.

But every year, some sneaky under-the-radar signings turn out to have massive effects. An older defensive tackle signed for the veteran minimum will play a key role down the stretch for a playoff team, or some team’s No. 4 receiver will become a fantasy football darling due to injuries. Last year, we saw the Eagles pick up LB Zack Baun for just $3.5 million, and he turned in one of the best linebacker seasons we’ve seen in years, earned himself a massive payday and transformed the Philly defense en route to a Super Bowl.

So who could those signings be this year? Expecting one of these small deals to hit the way Baun did would be unreasonable, but perhaps some of these players can parlay their way into a resurgence, a bigger deal down the line? At the very least, some will play important roles for their new squads. Let’s take a look at some of the potential sleeper deals this free agency cycle:

Cardinals OLB Baron Browning, two years $15 million

Acquired last year in a midseason trade with the Broncos, Browning helped fill the void BJ Ojulari left when he went down with a season-ending injury. The Cardinals needed some more juice in their pass rush, and Browning provided exactly that. He had a pair of sacks in eight games with his new team, making an impact despite a limited role.

Retaining him on a $7.5 million APY contract has a chance to age extremely well. Originally an off-ball linebacker at Ohio State, Browning eventually moved to edge defender in Denver, breaking out in 2022 with five sacks and fueling the Broncos’ pass rush. He followed that up in 2023 with another four sacks in just ten games, and now he’ll have some stability in Arizona.

You have to know what you’re getting in Browning. He is the definition of a designated pass rusher, with poor run defense metrics and a combined total of 70 tackles across his last three seasons. But he can get after the quarterback, which is exactly what he’s paid to do. He’s had a steadily-increasing PFF pass-rushing grade each of the last three years, culminating in a solid 76.3 grade in 2024. When allowed to pin his ears back and go, he can really produce.

Panthers C Austin Corbett, one year $4 million

A former second-round pick of the Browns, Corbett was traded to the Rams in his second year and landed in Carolina when his rookie contract expired. He can play both guard and center, manning a guard spot initially and transitioning to center in 2024. After a stellar first season with the Panthers, he’s played a combined nine games across the last two seasons due to injury. 

Still, despite the injury concerns, Corbett was a solid center when in the lineup last year. He’s a decent pass blocker in particular, which should help Panthers QB Bryce Young stay upright in a crucial season. Bringing Corbett back also provides Carolina with stability on their offensive line, something they desperately need.

Eagles OLB Azeez Ojulari, one year $4 million

A second-round pick by the Giants out of Georgia in 2021, Ojulari has struggled to stay on the field in recent seasons, but is always productive when he’s out there. He’s never graded out well in PFF’s system, but he has 22 sacks in four years in New York, despite missing large chunks of each of the last three seasons.

The Eagles are going through some personnel changes at edge rusher. Brandon Graham retired and Josh Sweat signed with the Cardinals, leaving Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt and Bryce Huff as the starters for now. Huff has come up in trade rumors and it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see the Eagles address this position in the draft, but there’s a real opportunity for Ojulari to carve out a nice role with this defense and put up some numbers. He signed a classic prove-it contract and has a chance to cash in if he has a strong season. 

Raiders CB Eric Stokes, one year $4 million

Stokes was a surprise first-round pick by the Packers in 2021 after blowing up the Combine. He had a quality rookie season in which he totaled 55 tackles and snagged an interception. Since then, his career has been marred with injuries — he played just 12 games between 2022-2023 before returning to the lineup full-time last season.

To this point in his NFL career, Stokes hasn’t proven he can be a reliable starting corner. He’s never had a PFF grade for a season above 65.3, but he’s shown flashes. During his time in Green Bay, he had 23 forced incompletions and 100 tackles. He’s athletic and finally healthy, and could see a jump in production in Las Vegas. Raiders HC Pete Carroll has a strong track record with defensive backs and clearly saw something worth betting on in Stokes. 

Broncos LB Dre Greenlaw, three years $35 million

A three-year, $11.6 million APY deal for a linebacker isn’t exactly bargain shopping. But Greenlaw sits outside the top 10 highest-paid linebackers in the league, and I think this deal has a chance to age quite well.

Greenlaw is coming off a season he missed most of due to suffering a torn Achilles in the 2024 Super Bowl. He played in two games to close the year but didn’t look like himself, potentially attempting to return a little too soon. This likely lowered his price tag on the open market, though Denver handing him this contract means they had to feel good about his prognosis moving forward.

When healthy, Greenlaw is one of the best linebackers in the league. Excellent PFF grades of 82.0, 73.7, 79.6, and 71.5 over the last four years showcase his consistency, and he’s versatile too. He’s graded out well in both run defense and pass coverage — a true three-down linebacker built for the modern game. With the Broncos, he’ll be the “quarterback of the defense,” and he’ll have a chance to shine once again.