Miami’s playmaking safety may be the top free agent on the market in 2025.
There’s still plenty of time between now and next year’s NFL Free Agency. But for Pro Football Focus and many other media outlets, it’s never too early to start looking ahead. (Someone let Chris Grier know!)
On Thursday, PFF released their Top 50 2025 NFL Free Agents. I studied the list front and back, and only two Miami Dolphins players were on the list. One of those players came in at No. 50 — mainly because of his age — while the younger of the two players came in at the very top of PFF’s list.
According to the experts and analysts at Pro Football Focus, the top available 2025 NFL free agent (as of today) is Dolphins’ safety Jevon Holland. The 24-year-old safety will be looking to cash in this offseason, and despite his poor start to the season — and current hand injury — there’s still way too much to love about Holland not to expect it to happen.
Here’s what PFF had to say about the man they call Snowman:
“A second-round draft pick out of Oregon back in 2021, Holland ranked as one of the five highest-graded safeties in two of his first three seasons in the league. Having earned a 60.9 PFF grade through five weeks in 2024, he’s currently on track for a career-low in that category, but there’s a long way to go this season, and his body of work previously speaks for itself.”
Seeing Holland’s name on this list is no surprise. After all, he’s started 47 out of 50 games for Miami, combining for 261 tackles, five interceptions, five forced fumbles, and a touchdown. In those four years, he’s made plenty of game-changing plays and proven to be a leader in the locker room — so it was inevitable. And I would honestly be upset if he weren’t on the list. But No.1 ?! Come on, man! I love Holland, but this was a surprise and really put a pin in the idea that he may re-sign with the Dolphins.
the last time jevon holland played the ravens.⛄️ #tbt #finsup pic.twitter.com/0LWny5SGvd
— josh houtz (@houtz) September 16, 2022
Now, I know what you’re probably thinking.
“Houtz, who cares what PFF thinks? They’re not always right, and there’s plenty of ball to be played.”
While this is true, I can’t help but be reminded that he’s now represented by Athletes’ First, the company behind massive new deals for players like Christian Wilkins, Tua Tagovailoa, and, oh yeah, Deshaun Watson. The list goes on and on of highly-rated players represented by the agency.
Besides that, I can’t help but feel like a deal should have already been done if the plan was to retain Holland. In fact, it feels very similar to the Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt situations. I hope I’m wrong, and I know there are plenty of fans that are down on Holland’s early season play — but many forget the #elite level he’s played at over the years and, quite frankly, the massive hole on the roster that would be left behind at safety. #DecisionsDecisions
jevon holland’s perfectly timed peanut punch late in the third quarter quite literally changed the game for the dolphins, giving them new life. #PayTheMan #MostValuableSnowman pic.twitter.com/qyIp617bTn
— josh houtz (@houtz) September 9, 2024
The only other Dolphins player on PFF’s list of top available free agents in ‘25 is 38-year-old Calais Campbell, who continues to play as well as any defensive lineman in football. So far, in 2024, he has nine tackles and is tied for the team lead in sacks with two.
Couple that with his 17 years of experience and unwavering work ethic, and the only reason he’s this far down the list is that there’s no guarantee he will even continue playing next season.
Here’s what Pro Football Focus had to say about Campbell:
“At 38 years old, Campbell remains an extremely effective defensive lineman. Being on his third team in three years hasn’t slowed down Campbell, who’s posted a 79.8 overall grade and an 82.4 pass-rushing grade — which would be his best since 2016. Campbell has recorded 31-plus pressures in each of the past three years and clearly still has juice left.”
What are your thoughts on Jevon Holland being Pro Football Focus’ top-rated free agent? Do you think he’ll eventually re-sign with the Dolphins, or is this another Christian Wilkins situation where Miami won’t be able to retain their star defender? Are you surprised Calais Campbell is on the list? Let us know in the comments section below!
