Below is a breakdown of Gregg Rosenthal's Top 101 Free Agents of 2026 according to position. Each player's listed age represents how old he will be on Sept. 7.
Top 101 Position Breakdown
QUARTERBACK
Malik Willis
Green Bay Packers · Age: 27
I see him as the most dynamic quarterback in football as a runner, and his tape in Green Bay showed incredible growth as a passer over his two years with Matt LaFleur. Despite his limited sample size, Willis jumped to the top spot of this ranking based on the same logic that applies to the NFL draft: If a potential franchise quarterback is good enough to be ranked in the top five of a list like this, then he should be placed first, by virtue of the position. The ceiling is the roof.
Kyler Murray
Arizona Cardinals · Age: 28
Although Murray has been streaky as a pro and there are limitations to his game, he's been incredibly productive as a starting QB. The talent is obvious and would provide an immediate upgrade to a number of teams, as long as the head coach is also the right match for him.
A quick note on Murray's status: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports the Cardinals plan to release the former No. 1 overall pick at the start of the new league year (March 11).
Kirk Cousins
Atlanta Falcons · Age: 38
Cousins looked better another year removed from Achilles surgery. He remains too hesitant to stand in against pressure, but can still manage a game like a high-level backup or bridge starter.
Aaron Rodgers
Pittsburgh Steelers · Age: 42
He’d help a team more as a high-octane backup. As a starter, Rodgers finished 31st of 33 qualified passers in success rate. When under pressure, he fell to last place in that category by a huge margin. The greatness comes out in flashes, but it’s hard to anchor a season on.
Marcus Mariota
Washington Commanders · Age: 32
Mariota played some of the best ball of his career behind Jayden Daniels" data-link="/players/jayden-daniels/" data-slug="jayden-daniels"> Jayden Daniels the last two seasons, establishing himself as one of the NFL’s top backup quarterbacks. That’s worth plenty!
RUNNING BACK
Kenneth Walker III
Seattle Seahawks · Age: 27
Walker has the type of running talent you can’t teach, the type that could one day flip a Super Bowl.
Travis Etienne
Jacksonville Jaguars · Age: 27
Etienne has improved as a red-zone threat and in catching designed passes. He ranked in the top 10 among all players in rushes of 20+ and 40+ yards last season. He'll fit comfortably in a running back tandem.
Kenneth Gainwell
Pittsburgh Steelers · Age: 27
Kenny G’s teammates named him MVP of the Steelers in 2025. He’s a passing-down ace as a blocker and receiver.
Tyler Allgeier
Atlanta Falcons · Age: 26
Allgeier was so consistent and rugged that he kept Bijan Robinson off the field for stretches that would drive Falcons fans crazy. He’s a great 1B option in a backfield.
Alec Pierce
Indianapolis Colts · Age: 26
A throwback to the 1970s, Pierce has posted a ridiculous 21.8 yards per reception over the past two seasons. He's been so effective stretching the field that he just joined Hall of Famer James Lofton with rare production, becoming the second player since 1982 to notch consecutive campaigns with six or more receiving touchdowns and an average of 20+ yards per reception (H/T NFL Research). Big plays are at a premium in today’s NFL, and Pierce's skill set is nearly impossible to find.
Rashid Shaheed
Seattle Seahawks · Age: 28
Seattle's Super Bowl run showed both Shaheed’s potential and the risk he comes with. He made a handful of big plays along the way, yet never fully integrated into the Seahawks' system. His penchant for long scores, however, is as rare as his speed.
Mike Evans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Age: 33
There aren’t many true "X" receivers who can win on the outside and physically beat press coverage. Though Evans missed time in 2025, his tape shows he’s still that dude.
Wan'Dale Robinson
New York Giants · Age: 25
Robinson caught 185 passes over the last two seasons from a variety of quarterbacks. His improvement on intermediate and deeper throws shows he can help any offense.
Romeo Doubs
Green Bay Packers · Age: 26
Doubs does everything well as a complementary receiver, especially catching difficult throws. He’s the type of workmanlike wideout who too often is underrated because he lacks flashy traits.
Jauan Jennings
San Francisco 49ers · Age: 29
Everyone’s favorite instigator, Jennings is a rugged receiver who can block, make contested catches and occasionally carry an offense. I want that known.
Deebo Samuel
Washington Commanders · WR · Age: 30
Deebo looked like his old self in Washington for stretches. His burst seems to come and go these days, so a role with reduced snaps could maximize his impact.
Jalen Nailor
Minnesota Vikings · Age: 27
Nailor was stuck behind Justin Jefferson" data-link="/players/justin-jefferson/" data-slug="justin-jefferson"> Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison" data-link="/players/jordan-addison/" data-slug="jordan-addison"> Jordan Addison and didn’t have a quarterback who could throw to the middle of the field in his contract year. He has fans as a speedy slot receiver.
Calvin Austin III
Pittsburgh Steelers · Age: 27
Austin’s short-area quickness never quite caught on in Pittsburgh, but better offensive systems should find a role for him as a quality WR3/4.
Cade Otton
Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Age: 27
Welcome to Cade Otton Island, where you can run any offense you want while never giving an inch in the run game. In our growing two-tight end world, every NFL team needs an Otton.
Isaiah Likely
Baltimore Ravens · Age: 26
On the most important snap of Baltimore's 2025 season, Lamar Jackson trusted Likely, who came through with a leaping downfield grab over Jalen Ramsey" data-link="/players/jalen-ramsey/" data-slug="jalen-ramsey"> Jalen Ramsey. (Ravens fans know what happened next.) That catch was a reminder of Likely’s untapped potential, especially now that he's improved his run-blocking ability.
Chigoziem Okonkwo
Tennessee Titans · Age: 26
There are times Okonkwo looks like a potential All-Pro, running over fools and catching deep passes. At worst, he’ll add versatility in two-tight end sets.
Travis Kelce
Kansas City Chiefs · Age: 36
Kelce moved better in 2025 after a few seasons where he had sluggish starts. The uncertainty about his future and the reality he’s only playing for one team is what keeps him lower on these rankings.
Charlie Kolar
Baltimore Ravens · Age: 27
Difference-making run-blocking tight ends are hard to find. Kolar also seems like he could catch more passes if asked after being buried behind two good players in Baltimore.
Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles · Age: 31
The production was still there for Goedert in 2025, but he isn’t moving or blocking at the same level he was early in his impressive career. He can still improve a lot of offenses if the Eagles move on.
Darren Waller
Miami Dolphins · Age: 33
I’m as surprised as anyone he’s back on this list, but Waller’s scoring explosion was awesome in his comeback with the Dolphins.
This is a 2023 photo of Tight end David Njoku (85) of the Cleveland Browns NFL football team. This image reflects the Cleveland Browns active roster as of Monday, April 17, 2023 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Cleveland Browns · Age: 30
The production and pass-catching consistency came and went during Njoku’s nine-year run in Cleveland, but he still looks athletic enough to be a real asset.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Rasheed Walker
Green Bay Packers · Age: 26
A seventh-round pick in 2022, Walker kept fending off challengers for his bookend spot in Green Bay. He’s probably league average as a starting left tackle, which is worth plenty.
Jermaine Eluemunor
New York Giants
Eluemunor has improved from being a part-time player to one of the most consistent pass-protecting right tackles in football.
Braden Smith
Indianapolis Colts · Age: 30
Smith said he was close to retirement before treating his OCD in 2024. Unfortunately, his previously consistent play at right tackle dipped in 2025, and he’s hitting free agency after a neck injury ended his season.
Jawaan Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs · Age: 28
Taylor became well-known for his penalties in Kansas City, but he’s a solid pass protector when he’s not getting flagged. He was just overpaid with the Chiefs, so he’s in line to hit the market again.
Braxton Jones
Chicago Bears · Age: 27
Left tackles absolutely get a position-scarcity bump on this list. Jones started 44 games as a fifth-round pick for Chicago and would fit on many teams as a swing tackle, at worst.
Jamaree Salyer
Los Angeles Chargers · OT
Salyer’s stretch on the blind side for the Chargers late last season changed my opinion of him and should change his market. He’s definitely a left tackle, and teams could do a lot worse with Salyer as a third tackle or bridge starter.
Sean Rhyan
Green Bay Packers · Age: 25
Rhyan held up at right guard in 2024 and as a replacement starter at center in 2025. Young potential starters will be hard to find in his market.
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Tyler Linderbaum
Baltimore Ravens · Age: 26
Dynamic in the running game, Linderbaum quickly established himself as a top-10 center in Baltimore. Some struggles holding up as a pass protector won’t stop him from becoming the game’s highest-paid center, because young players this good don’t often reach free agency.
Alijah Vera-Tucker
New York Jets · Age: 27
A borderline Pro Bowl guard when he’s right, Vera-Tucker is coming off a torn triceps suffered just days before the season started. But that's not an injury that is worrisome long-term, so he looks like an outstanding buy-low candidate.
David Edwards
Buffalo Bills · Age: 29
Consistent plus starters at guard get paid huge money in free agency. Edwards has been one of the best free-agent signings (2023) of the Brandon Beane era.
Connor McGovern
Buffalo Bills · Age: 28
Ollie Connolly proposed on NFL Daily that an interested team like the Raiders could sign McGovern and David Edwards together to fix their interior line, an idea that I heartily cosign.
Zion Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers · Age: 26
Jim Harbaugh said Zion Johnson was so great so many times it eventually came true. He's developed into a complete guard who is best positioned on the left side.
Isaac Seumalo
Pittsburgh Steelers · Age: 32
The former Eagle played his best football in Pittsburgh over the past three seasons, which is why it’s odd the Steelers haven’t re-signed him yet.
Cade Mays
Carolina Panthers · Age: 27
There’s a center shortage in the NFL, and Mays drew praise as a fill-in starter in 2025. There will be a market for him.
Wyatt Teller
Cleveland Browns · Age: 31
A huge success story for most of his seven years in Cleveland, Teller said goodbye after a confusing campaign where he still looked like a solid starter before a benching and injury ended his season. He’s at an age where good starting years should still be ahead.
Ed Ingram
Houston Texans · Age: 27
The Texans acquired a gaggle of reclamation projects last offseason, hoping one would stick. It turned out to be Ingram, who now might leave for more money.
Kevin Zeitler
Tennessee Titans · Age: 36
Zeitler might not fit in every system, but PFF is still grading him as one of the top right guards in football. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him follow offensive line coach Bill Callahan from Tennessee to Atlanta.
EDGE RUSHER
Jaelan Phillips
Philadelphia Eagles · Age: 27
No NFL player made himself more money in 2025. After dealing with devastating injuries in back-to-back seasons, Phillips was excellent in Miami, then helped transform the Eagles defense with his complete arsenal. His best should still be ahead of him.
Trey Hendrickson
Cincinnati Bengals · Age: 31
Only one season removed from finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Hendrickson hits free agency again, this time as a 31-year-old coming off core muscle surgery. He’s a boom-or-bust signing for a team looking to get over the hump.
Odafe Oweh
Los Angeles Chargers · Age: 27
Oweh exploded as a pass rusher after being acquired by the Chargers in early October, finally finishing the plays he often missed in Baltimore. He’s not a great run stopper, but that’s not what teams pay for in free agency.
Boye Mafe
Seattle Seahawks · Age: 27
Mafe’s film is more intriguing than his stats. He is an incredible athlete who plays hard and can handle a variety of roles. He’s worth the premium he’ll cost.
Kwity Paye
Indianapolis Colts · Age: 27
Paye is more of an edge-setter than a great pass rusher; it’s telling that the Colts kept him around on his fifth-year option for last season but have not extended him. Some team will be dazzled by the physical potential of the former first-rounder.
K'Lavon Chaisson
New England Patriots · Age: 27
A much-criticized first-round pick in Jacksonville, Chaisson has rebuilt his career with the Raiders and Patriots over the last two seasons, providing excellent juice off the edge.
Khalil Mack
Los Angeles Chargers · Age: 35
Mack is still a ferocious run stopper and pocket pusher but would best be used in a rotation.
Joseph Ossai
Cincinnati Bengals · Age: 26
After returning to the Bengals on a one-year deal, Ossai recorded a career-high 43 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. He’ll do better in the market this time around.
Joey Bosa
Buffalo Bills · Age: 31
Bosa took over a few games early last season and proved to be a quality pickup overall for the Bills. But he faded badly and ultimately hurt his team in the playoffs.
Arnold Ebiketie
Atlanta Falcons · Age: 27
Ebiketie got boxed out for snaps in Atlanta last season by two highly drafted rookies despite winning his pass-rush reps more regularly. He’s going to get more money than people -- especially Falcons fans -- expect.
Bradley Chubb
Miami Dolphins · Age: 30
After missing the entire 2024 campaign while rehabbing a torn ACL, Chubb posted 8.5 sacks last season -- a mark that somewhat masks an overall dip in pressures and wins. He could probably play more efficiently with fewer snaps.
A quick note on Chubb's status: Although he isn't technically ticketed for free agency in March (he's still under contract through 2027), NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reports the Dolphins intend to release the former Pro Bowler this offseason. Sounds like he'll get the post-June 1 designation.
A.J. Epenesa
Buffalo Bills · Age: 27
The best defenses have quality edge rushers coming off the bench. Epenesa fits in as a strong No. 3 who does the dirty work.
Kingsley Enagbare
Green Bay Packers · Age: 26
As a young edge player who creates havoc in the running game, Enagbare is a rotational player at worst heading into his second contract.
Haason Reddick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Age: 31
Reddick looked better than his lack of production in Tampa showed, but it’s admittedly been a few years since he put it all together for a full season.
Cameron Jordan
New Orleans Saints · Age: 37
Jordan recorded 10.5 sacks in 2025 at age 36 after combining for six during the previous two seasons. The more important number might be a different "two," as in the amount of games Jordan has missed in his entire 15-year career.
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Detroit Lions · Age: 31
The well-traveled edge player emerged as a top-12 sack artist out of nowhere at age 30 for Detroit.
Malcolm Koonce
Las Vegas Raiders · Age: 28
Koonce didn’t look right coming off his torn ACL, which sidelined him for the entire 2024 campaign. A year further removed from surgery, it’s worth betting on a bounce-back season from the former third-rounder, who emerged late in 2023 as a rising pass rusher.
Da'Shawn Hand
Los Angeles Chargers · Age: 30
A bargain for the Chargers last season, Hand was L.A.'s most consistent interior player outside of Teair Tart.
Jadeveon Clowney
Dallas Cowboys · Age: 33
No one has earned his role as Mr. 101 more convincingly than Clowney, a near-annual fixture on this list. I thought that run was over before he started sacking fools straight off the couch in 2025, just like he'll do for the next 25 years.
DEFENSIVE LINE
John Franklin-Myers
Denver Broncos · Age: 29
It's crazy to think the Rams cut Franklin-Myers after his rookie year. Since then, he's earned more than $40 million on two veteran contracts and is headed for a third. Defensive tackles are aging better than ever lately, and JFN's old Jets friend Robert Saleh is a head coach again, in Tennessee.
Calais Campbell
Arizona Cardinals · Age: 40
There’s no official word about whether Campbell will retire. It’s outrageous how he continually winds up being the best defensive lineman -- or close to it -- on every team he joins, with his 40th birthday (Sept. 1) now on the horizon.
D.J. Reader
Detroit Lions · Age: 32
Run-stuffing nose tackles used to stick around the league forever. So here’s to Reader occupying blockers like Ted Washington and Pat Williams once did until he’s 40.
Dre'Mont Jones
Baltimore Ravens · Age: 29
Jones immediately led the Ravens in pressures after they acquired him in a trade, resulting in a career-best 55. The last time he hit free agency on a high like this, Seattle gave him a big contract.
Sheldon Rankins
Houston Texans · Age: 32
Rankins has made this list at least three times over the years, and he’s still getting it done as a pass rusher who gets up the field.
David Onyemata
Atlanta Falcons · Age: 33
Just when it looked like the Manitoba product was nearing the end of a sneaky-excellent NFL career, he put up another season with 600+ snaps as a strong run defender.
Khyiris Tonga
New England Patriots · Age: 30
The fullback snaps were fun. The defensive tackle snaps where he ran over double teams were better.
Logan Hall
Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Age: 26
The lack of interior defensive linemen hitting free agency after their rookie contracts should help Hall get a deal with a team looking for a rotational option.
LINEBACKER
Devin Lloyd
Jacksonville Jaguars · Age: 27
There aren’t many three-down linebackers in the league right now who can rush the passer. Lloyd just earned second-team All-Pro honors in Year 4, though his improvement actually started in his third season. His next team should get his best years -- if the Jaguars aren't able to keep him.
Kaden Elliss
Atlanta Falcons · Age: 31
One of the most underrated players of his generation, Elliss is one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in football. In Atlanta, he played more than 1,000 snaps for three straight years at a high level.
Leo Chenal
Kansas City Chiefs · Age: 25
Name a spot on the field, and Steve Spagnuolo used Chenal there for the Chiefs. He’s the rare player athletic enough to effectively spy Lamar Jackson" data-link="/players/lamar-jackson/" data-slug="lamar-jackson"> Lamar Jackson. But can he handle more than 500 snaps in a season?
Nakobe Dean
Philadelphia Eagles · Age: 25
Teams need speed, and Dean has it. His best tape would put him in the top 20 of this list, but it’s hard to ignore his injury history and occasional lapses in coverage.
Quay Walker
Green Bay Packers · Age: 26
It will be telling to see if Walker's old defensive coordinator in Green Bay, Jeff Hafley, pursues him now that he's head coach in Miami. While the speedy former first-round pick improved over his first four pro seasons, he never quite mastered the linebacker instincts worthy of a big contract.
Justin Strnad
Denver Broncos · Age: 30
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph clearly loves Strnad, who thrived during the last two seasons as a fill-in blitzing linebacker. He’s earned a bigger role.
Demario Davis
New Orleans Saints · Age: 37
A linebacker in his late 30s shouldn’t keep making the impact Davis does on a down-to-down basis. He’s a one-man communication system.
Devin Bush
Cleveland Browns · Age: 28
One of the most surprising players to receive All-Pro consideration in 2025, the former Steelers first-rounder cashed in on all his potential in Cleveland. Can he do it away from former Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger" data-link="/players/carson-schwesinger/" data-slug="carson-schwesinger"> Carson Schwesinger?
Quincy Williams
New York Jets · Age: 30
An All-Pro in 2023, Quinnen Williams" data-link="/players/quinnen-williams/" data-slug="quinnen-williams"> Quinnen Williams’s brother has gone through cornerback-style volatility in his career. That’s not necessarily what you want at linebacker, but he can still fit in many systems.
Eric Wilson
Minnesota Vikings · Age: 31
Wilson’s blitzing breakout season in Brian Flores' Vikings defense was such a blast to watch that it would've felt wrong leaving him off this list.
CORNERBACK
Jamel Dean
Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Age: 29
By pure statistical profile (success rate, quarterback rating and EPA per target), Dean was one of the best cornerbacks in football last year. His roller-coaster career and tendency to leave games with injury dims his value, but not below what Carlton Davis" data-link="/players/carlton-davis/" data-slug="carlton-davis"> Carlton Davis received a year ago.
Jaylen Watson
Kansas City Chiefs · Age: 27
There is a risk Watson could decline if playing in defense that is not run by the Chiefs' Steve Spagnuolo. There is also a risk in underestimating a player who was a capable starter in the Super Bowl as a rookie and only improved after that.
Alontae Taylor
New Orleans Saints · Age: 27
Taylor is a blast to watch and a pain to play against. His lapses in judgement decreased under Saints DC Brandon Staley while playing in the slot, but he’s a boom-or-bust signing.
Tariq Woolen
Seattle Seahawks · Age: 27
Woolen had a wild time over the course of his rookie contract, going from Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate to benched to playing the role of hero and goat in a two-play sequence in the NFC Championship Game. He is cornerback volatility incarnate.
Nahshon Wright
Chicago Bears · Age: 27
A veteran of the show Last Chance U, Wright turned his career around with a breakout ballhawking season in Chicago. While that will be tough to repeat, he fits Dennis Allen’s defense incredibly well.
Cordale Flott
New York Giants · Age: 25
I’m as surprised to rank Flott this highly as the Giants surely would be to see him here, given the way they kept trying to play former first-round pick Deonte Banks" data-link="/players/deonte-banks/" data-slug="deonte-banks"> Deonte Banks over him. Flott gave us no choice!
Joshua Jobe
Seattle Seahawks · Age: 28
An afterthought signing in Seattle, Jobe took over a starting job late in the 2024 season and never gave it up. It would make sense to return him to a Seahawks secondary with a lot of free agents.
Montaric Brown
Jacksonville Jaguars · CBAge: 27
A slow-roasting late-round pick, Brown fit like a glove in defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s scheme. He was productive on the ball and did well matching up downfield with receivers like Alec Pierce" data-link="/players/alec-pierce/" data-slug="alec-pierce"> Alec Pierce.
This is a 2023 photo of Greg Newsome II (20) of the Cleveland Browns NFL football team. This image reflects the Cleveland Browns active roster as of Monday, April 17, 2023 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Jacksonville Jaguars · Age: 26
If I was making this list a year ago, Newsome would easily be in the top 50. For stretches of his career, he's looked electric on tape. Can he put it all together consistently?
Kader Kohou
Miami Dolphins · Age: 27
Don’t forget about Kohou after he missed all of last season with a partially torn ACL. Before that, he was an above-average starting slot defender who was particularly dynamic in run support.
Trevon Diggs
Green Bay Packers · Age: 27
I would buy low on Diggs after a brutal stretch of injuries and unhappiness with the Cowboys -- especially if I was old partner Dan Quinn.
Cobie Durant
Los Angeles Rams · Age: 28
Twenty-nine starts over the last two seasons on a good Rams defense should get Durant looks in the second phase of free agency.
Bryan Cook
Kansas City Chiefs · Age: 27
Cook loves to hit and is a sure tackler; he played with an almost unhealthy level of confidence in 2025. His versatility fits perfectly in modern defenses, making him our top safety in a deep market.
Coby Bryant
Seattle Seahawks · Age: 27
Bryant prevented big plays, made a few of his own and was strong coming down to stop the run from his deep safety position.
Nick Cross
Indianapolis Colts · Age: 24
A stat stuffer unlocked by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Cross creates pressures and run stuffs. He’s someone you can structure a defense around.
Kamren Curl
Los Angeles Rams · Age: 27
A player who can handle any assignment without making errors, Curl seems likely to leave Los Angeles, because the Rams extended Quentin Lake" data-link="/players/quentin-lake/" data-slug="quentin-lake"> Quentin Lake late in the regular season.
Jaquan Brisker
Chicago Bears · Age: 27
If not for his history of concussions, Brisker would be ranked much higher on this list. He fulfilled his 1980s-style enforcer potential last season.
Jalen Thompson
Arizona Cardinals · Age: 28
Thompson just finished an effective stint on a three-year, $36 million extension in Arizona. He’d be better known if he played anywhere else.
Kevin Byard
Chicago Bears · Age: 33
It would be a shame to see Byard leave Chicago, where he all but ran the show for a playmaking secondary.
Reed Blankenship
Philadelphia Eagles · Age: 27
Blankenship is coming off a rocky season. The end called into question how much of his playmaking resulted from his ideal surroundings.