George Kittle on why the 49ers front offense should prioritize OL & DL help in the draft
49ers TE George Kittle says San Fran should target offensive and defensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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NFL free agency begins in March. Wide receivers are expected to be in high demand once the legal tampering period starts on March 10 and the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 12.
Tee Higgins is the consensus top free-agent wide receiver available. Will Higgins move on from Cincinnati, or can the Bengals afford to re-sign him? While Higgins is the most prized free-agent wideout, there are plenty of starting caliber wide receivers on the open market headlined by Chris Godwin, Stefon Diggs and Amari Cooper.
Where will the top free-agent pass catchers go? USA TODAY Sports analyzes the best fits for the top free-agent wide receivers this offseason.
Best fit: Los Angeles Chargers
Higgins is the most coveted free-agent wide receiver this offseason. He is the No. 1 player in USA TODAY Sports’ top 25 free agents list.
Higgins, Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have flirted with the idea of running it back. But Cincinnati won’t be able to afford Higgins while Burrow is one of the highest-paid players in NFL history, and Chase desires to be the wealthiest wide receiver in football.
Burrow publicly stated he’ll restructure his contract to keep the trio together, but are the Bengals prepared to back up the Brinks trucks? Teams are expected to offer Higgins approximately $30 million annually to become a No. 1 receiver.
The New England Patriots have over $119 million in salary cap space, and the Chargers have more than $63 million to spend in free agency, per Over the Cap. Higgins would seamlessly fit in as an X receiver in Los Angeles, with Ladd McConkey in the slot and Quentin Johnston as the Z receiver.
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 compliment George Pickens. Plus, Godwin would be a good mentor for the mercurial wideout. Pickens was Pittsburgh’s only wide receiver with more than 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 void in the Texans’ wide receiver room. Diggs proved last year that he’s comfortable as a No. 2 wide receiver behind Nico Collins.
There are enough opportunities for Collins and Diggs to succeed, especially with C.J. Stroud throwing the football.
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: 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. Xavier Worthy showed plenty of promise in his first season. Hopkins can serve as the underneath threat in Kansas City. He wants to play for a contender at this stage of his career.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
