- The Steelers nonetheless want a beginning quarterback: Veteran Aaron Rodgers has restricted choices at this level, making Pittsburgh his greatest match except he prefers to retire.
- The Dolphins might goal Asante Samuel Jr. for his or her skinny secondary: Pending an anticipated Jalen Ramsey commerce, Miami’s cornerback depth chart lacks sustained manufacturing.
- Final probability to say 25% off PFF+: Use code DRAFT25 and unlock entry to participant grades, fantasy instruments and the 2025 Draft Guide.
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
The subsequent large occasion on the NFL calendar, about two and a half months away, is the beginning of coaching camp, the place we’ll study extra about every crew’s roster development and 2025 NFL Draft picks. Until then, rosters are removed from finalized, and high quality gamers are nonetheless obtainable within the later levels of free company.
Here are the highest touchdown spots for one of the best remaining free brokers.
QB Aaron Rodgers: Pittsburgh Steelers
When the New York Jets launched Rodgers in March, it appeared possible that he would have yet one more alternative as a beginning quarterback within the NFL. Fast-forward almost two months, and it now seems there are solely two logical choices for Rodgers: the Pittsburgh Steelers or retirement.
The Steelers make loads of sense as a vacation spot, as Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin have each publicly expressed curiosity in hammering out a deal. The rumors are heating up after the Steelers opted to not draft a quarterback till the sixth spherical (187th general), choosing Ohio State‘s Will Howard. At the second, Mason Rudolph sits atop the depth chart.
In George Pickens and D.Ok. Metcalf, whom Pittsburgh acquired from the Seahawks in March, the Steelers have two receivers who can take over a sport at any second. Since the beginning of 2022, Metcalf ranks fourth within the league with 48 contested catches and Pickens ranks sixteenth with 39. They will surely profit from taking part in with a quarterback like Rodgers, who will discover the weaknesses in a protection and provides his receivers an opportunity.
Rodgers is properly previous his prime, however the future Hall of Famer can nonetheless get it accomplished, rating 14th out of 41 qualifying quarterbacks with a 76.3 PFF passing grade this previous season. The Steelers’ roster is sweet sufficient to make some noise with Rodgers within the fold; it simply comes down as to if Rodgers is up for the problem at this stage of his profession.
Aaron Rodgers’ Career PFF Grades
WR Amari Cooper: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys put collectively among the best 2025 NFL Draft lessons as certainly one of three groups (Cardinals and Panthers) to earn an A+ grade, touchdown a number of impression gamers and getting great worth in comparison with the PFF large board. Dallas’ greatest picks got here on Day 2 within the type of Donovan Ezeiruaku (forty fourth general, seventeenth on PFF large board) and cornerback Shavon Revel (76th general, forty fourth on the massive board).
For pretty much as good as their draft was, the Cowboys didn’t tackle the vast receiver place, which is extremely skinny behind All-Pro CeeDee Lamb. Jalen Tolbert (60.7 PFF general grade) and the not too long ago acquired Jonathan Mingo (46.8) sit atop the depth chart, however neither strikes concern into opposing defenses as second or third choices within the passing sport.
Cooper spent final season with the Browns and Bills however had a down yr by his requirements, dropping his most passes in a season (eight) since 2017. There is sufficient upside to take an opportunity on the soon-to-be 31-year-old, as he’s earned a PFF receiving grade of 70.0 or increased eight occasions in his 10-year profession.
The greatest years of Cooper’s NFL profession got here in a earlier stint with the Cowboys from 2018-2021. He earned a career-high 84.2 PFF general grade in 2019, good for ninth greatest amongst 122 qualifying vast receivers that season.
AARON RODGERS’ FIRST TOUCHDOWN AS A JET ✈️ pic.twitter.com/U7gxy4E04p
— PFF (@PFF) September 10, 2024
CB Asante Samuel Jr.: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins entered free company in determined want of secondary assist, and that was earlier than information broke that All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and the crew have mutually determined to discover a commerce. No commerce was accomplished over draft weekend, however that wasn’t a lot of a shock, given the crew will save $5.9 million in cap house in the event that they wait till June 1.
The prime three cornerbacks on the Dolphins’ depth chart proper now are Kader Kohou, Storm Duck and Cam Smith. Kohou has been dependable, averaging 887 snaps and grading out to no worse than 64.5 over his first three seasons. Duck performed 359 snaps as an undrafted free agent rookie final yr, ending the yr with a 55.5 PFF general grade to rank 96th out of 116 qualifying cornerbacks. Smith was a second-round decide in 2023 however has struggled to earn taking part in time, totaling simply 155 snaps over his first two years. The Dolphins prioritized the trenches early within the draft and didn’t take a cornerback till the fifth spherical (Jason Marshall Jr. out of Florida).
Samuel performed simply 4 video games final season earlier than being positioned on injured reserve with a shoulder harm. He was wonderful in 2022 and 2023, rating among the many prime 30 cornerbacks in PFF general grade, breaking apart 20 passes and intercepting 4 others over that span. Still simply 25 years outdated, Samuel brings youth, pedigree and confirmed manufacturing on the NFL stage — a probably large enhance to the Dolphins’ secondary transferring ahead.
CB Rasul Douglas: Minnesota Vikings
Douglas is coming off a disappointing season by which he ranked 102nd out of 116 qualifying cornerbacks with a 53.9 PFF general grade. He was robust the earlier three years, incomes a career-best 81.0 PFF general grade in 2023.
The eight-year veteran has been a ballhawk within the NFL, recording at the least seven cross breakups in six totally different seasons and choosing off 14 passes from 2021-2023. Durability is a optimistic in Douglas’ sport, as properly. He has averaged 984 snaps per season since 2022.
The Vikings might want to exchange Stephon Gilmore, and Douglas is a pure slot in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme. Minnesota had simply 5 draft picks within the draft, and none had been used on a defensive again, suggesting the crew was assured it might tackle its cornerback depth by way of free company.
Zach Wilson 🎯 Rasul Douglas pic.twitter.com/XyIWxkqC1X
— PFF (@PFF) November 19, 2023
CB Mike Hilton: Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders desperately wanted to improve their secondary after they had been the worst crew within the NFL in PFF protection grade (32.0) final season. Las Vegas added two offensive weapons with their first two picks within the 2025 NFL Draft after which chosen proficient cornerback Darien Porter out of Iowa State at 68th general.
Porter is a former vast receiver who ranks above the ninety fifth percentile in top and size however by no means performed cornerback full time previous to 2024. He was wonderful in his first yr on the place, incomes a 90.1 PFF protection grade for the season.
While the sky is the restrict long run for Porter, it’s price noting he’s inexperienced and can want time to transition to the NFL stage. A veteran presence within the secondary — one thing free agent Mike Hilton brings — could be a welcome addition to the crew.
Hilton has been among the best slot defenders within the NFL over the previous decade. He had his struggles in 2024 however ended the yr on a excessive observe, with 4 consecutive robust video games to shut out the season. Hilton turned 31 years outdated in March however has earned PFF protection grades of 70.0 or increased in six of the previous eight seasons and would offer a direct improve for the Raiders.