CBS Sports Senior Writer Pete Prisco published his rankings of the top 100 NFL free agents of 2025 on Wednesday, including three Detroit Lions in the mix.
Prisco is a longtime NFL reporter and current analyst for CBS.
His best three available free agents in the NFL are quarterback Sam Darnold, wide receiver Tee Higgins and outside linebacker Josh Sweat. The first Lions player on the list falls just outside the top 10.
Carlton Davis – Rank 13
Prisco called Davis a “top cover player” who’s earned a multi-year deal after just one season with the Lions.
Davis, 28, caught two interceptions for the year to go along with six pass breakups. He ranked 29th overall among cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, though he couldn’t finish the season after suffering a broken jaw in Week 15.
The Lions traded for Davis last offseason to be the pillar of former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s man-coverage-focused secondary, but injuries and ineffectiveness along the defensive line hindered the overall success of the unit for the majority of the season.
Kevin Zeitler – Rank 32
Zeitler is the fifth-best guard available in Prisco’s rankings, and he’s one of few listed who had a Pro Bowl-caliber season.
PFF listed Zeitler as the fifth-best guard in the league for the 2024-25 season, and gave him the third-best run-blocking grade of the year. However, the only knock to Zeitler is his age. He’ll be 35 when the season starts, likely keeping interested teams from investing too much in his abilities long term.
Levi Onwuzurike – Rank 47
Despite his potential, Onwuzurike fell in Prisco’s rankings due to his past injury woes.
After missing significant time due to injury in his second season, Onwuzurike returned in 2023 and had his best NFL season so far in 2024. He appeared in 16 games and showed he can be a reliable member of any defensive line rotation.
Onwuzurike earned the 33rd-best PFF grade among interior defenders in 2024, racking up 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble on the season.
At age 27, he’ll still have gas left in the tank as long as he can stay on the field to contribute.