The Top NFL Free Agents In 2026

Now that the confetti has flown, the Lombardi Trophy has been hoisted, and a rare MVP was bestowed, it’s appropriate to look ahead at free agency. Eligible players are free to sign with new teams beginning on March 11th, just over four weeks away.

Just under one year ago, NFL franchises spent $3.73 billion on talent acquisition in the free agent market, and this year’s free agency class hopes to surpass that behemoth figure. Here are the top available players on the market.

The Hogs Are Here To Eat

Offensive tackles are paid more on average than any other position in the NFL, besides quarterbacks. It makes perfect sense, after all – they’re tasked with setting the edge, neutralizing the oppositions’s best pass rushers, and creating clean pockets for their quarterbacks.

One of the top right tackles able to sign with a new team is Braden Smith. Originally drafted 37th overall in the second round of the 2018 draft, Smith’s peripheral advanced metrics don’t make general managers salivate. He finished 2025 ranked 50th out of 89 tackles, per Pro Football Focus

But there’s more than meets the eye; Smith was 36th in pass blocking – a 71.9 grade, right behind Ronnie Staley and Colton McKivitz, both of whom being regarded as two of the best at the position. Smith also allowed just 26 pressures all year long, 15th-best in the NFL. That’s better than Super Bowl champions Charles Cross and Jordan Mailata.

Whichever team signs Braden Smith will get a work-in-progress as a run blocker, but Smith’s pass protection skills are in the upper echelon of the league – and he’s not even 30 yet, so a long-term contract won’t be hindered by longevity concerns.

Another coveted prize bull is Jermaine Eluemunor. Once a Texas A&M afterthought who was selected 159th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2017, Eluemunor has transformed himself into a workhorse; he’s missed just three games since 2022. He also formed one of the NFL’s top tackle tandems with Andrew Thomas over the past two seasons with the New York Giants.

Eluemunor ranked 20th out of 89 in pass blocking in 2025, and he relinquished just 19 pressures, which was fourth-best in football.

Building in the trenches isn’t the most exhilarating maneuver, but – at the risk of stating the obvious – football games are won and lost in the trenches. Just ask the Seahawks.

Ran For Dollars In Dallas

Javonte Williams was a different running back when he suited up for the Denver Broncos. In four mostly underwhelming campaigns in the Mile High City, the North Carolina product racked up four yards per carry and averaged 44.3 rushing yards per game.

A change of scenery often does wonders for players, especially if they sign with the Dallas Cowboys. Williams eclipsed the millennium mark for the first time in his career in 2025 after accruing 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Quite a bargain for a guy who inked a one-year, $3.5 million deal a year ago.

Williams finished 2025 ranked ninth in rushing, sixth in rushing yards after contact, and second in broken tackles. He’ll be just 26 next season. The Cowboys have held preliminary discussions with Williams on a potential extension, but nothing concrete has materialized yet.

No Plethora Of Pass Catchers

The wide receiver market was oversaturated by ring-chasing, established veterans in 2025. Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp, and Josh Palmer all signed deals for $29 million or more. That won’t be the case this go-around.

Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, Deebo Samuel, and Dyami Brown have all been around the block – especially Evans, whose Hall of Fame career may not conclude just yet, per his agent. While they’re all serviceable, they don’t have the clout of the aforementioned wide receiver free agent class, at least after Evans.

Drawing the most offers from front offices among players at his position this March will be Jauan Jennings. Regarded as criminally underrated around the NFL, Jennings was overshadowed by Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk. But all of them have either since departed from the San Francisco 49ers or succumbed to injuries this season, other than “C-Mac”, who just won Comeback Player of the Year.

Jennings was second on the 49ers in receiving yards behind McCaffrey, and first in touchdown receptions, with nine. He’d be an ideal fit for teams in need of a high-quality possession receiver or squads looking to fortify their pass catcher depth. On a lot of teams right now, Jennings could even be WR1.

Recruiting The Beast From Buffalo

Connor McGovern has been one of the best centers in the NFL for the better part of a decade now, and he’ll certainly get paid as such.

Durable and reliable, the Pro Bowler’s Pass Blocking Efficiency – a proprietary Pro Football Focus stat that quantifies pressure allowed on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks allowed – was listed at ninth-best among all centers in 2025.

Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs is currently the highest-paid NFL center in average annual value (AAV, for short), total value, and fully guaranteed money. Humphrey’s AAV of $18 million easily dwarfs McGovern’ previous contract with the Bills that had an AAV of $7.45 million. 

Saying Sayonara To Cincinnati

If there’s one thing the Cincinnati Bengals are good at, it’s having contract standoffs with franchise stalwarts . Defensive end Trey Hendrickson joined the club of Who Dey stars who’ve had public feuds with team owner and general manager Mike Brown.

Immediately after a 2024 campaign in which Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro, led the NFL in sacks (17.5) and finished third in pressures (83), he and the Bengals began a grotesque stalemate. After refusing to trade or extend Hendrickson in the 2024 offseason, the Bengals’ brass gave him permission to seek a trade in March 2025.

It was reported that a major point of contention between both Hendrickson and the team is the Bengals’ extension offer did not have guaranteed money beyond the initial year of the contract. Two weeks before Christmas, Hendrickson was placed on injured reserve because of a hip/pelvis injury that required surgery.

Hendrickson played in just seven games last year; he logged four sacks and three tackles for loss.

While the 2017 third-round pick out of Florida Atlantic University is 31 and may have some detractors, this is a man with four seasons of double-digit sack totals in the last six seasons. Hendrickson underwent core muscle surgery two months ago, and will be fully ready for the 2026 season.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Bengals are expected to part ways with Hendrickson, and he’ll have ample suitors. “The relationship has essentially run its course, and the tag will be well above $30 million. Perhaps they could swing a sign-and-trade, but losing him to free agency could equate to a third-round compensatory pick in return if Cincinnati plays it right. The top free agent rusher will have plenty of suitors. Several teams in need of a pass rusher should look into him, including the Cowboys, Buccaneers and Colts”, Fowler said.

End Of My NFL Free Agency Rant

The off-season is taking shape as quickly as the regular season ended. In what’s a weak free agent market, there are still plenty of players whose services will be in great demand.

Free agency is right around the corner, and the world’s most lucrative professional sports league will continue to dominate the headlines as player movement begins in the coming weeks.