Free agency is less than a week away, meaning there are certainly players slated to hit the market who will get sizable deals.
However, it's not always about the big names when it comes to free agency.
ESPN's Ben Solak went through the list of free agents and **[identified 14 players](https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/44121626/2025-nfl-free-agency-steals-contracts-carlton-davis-rico-dowdle-justin-reid)** who he believes could be steals of the offseason wherever they land.
Solak's list included 10 defensive players, beginning with cornerback Carlton Davis III.
Davis played 13 games for the Lions last season before landing on Injured Reserve. But he was productive when he played, notching 11 passes defensed, two interceptions, one forced fumble and two tackles for loss.
For Solak, Davis showed he could be a No. 1 cornerback and could benefit from finding a specific style of defense.
_"His play in 2024 was still that of a scheme-versatile corner with sufficient press-man skills… A defense that asks Davis to play a little more zone will better fit his skill set."_
Solak also had another cornerback on his list in Paulson Adebo, who saw his season cut short by injury this past year but could be an intriguing option wherever he lands.
Adebo has been a heavily productive player and a ballhawk, notching 10 career interceptions and 43 passes defensed throughout his four seasons.
_Twenty-eight passes defended in only 22 games. That's the sixth most by a defensive back in the past two seasons, and everyone above him played at least 25 games… Adebo is a high-risk, high-reward player who will draw flags on late downs and extend opponent drives. But the risk isn't that terrible: He has given up only two touchdowns over the past two seasons, giving up a passer rating of only 61.6 as the nearest defender in coverage, per NFL Next Gen Stats._