Dan Graziano
Multiple Authors
NFL free agency is unpredictable. But that is not going to cease us from making an attempt to foretell it.
With the NFL’s authorized negotiating window set to open at midday ET Monday and the new league yr beginning at 4 p.m. ET subsequent Wednesday, it is time to begin determining who’s going the place and for how a lot cash. So this represents what I believe would possibly occur subsequent week with 20 of the top free agents, primarily based on the reporting I’ve finished on and round free company up to now.
Some of those projections will look foolish every week from now. Some of them might look completely good. But this can be a snapshot of how the folks across the NFL I’m speaking to are sizing issues up with a number of days to go, understanding in fact that a lot can change over the course of 1 frantic weekend. So take pleasure in. Get mad. Get your hopes up. But it doesn’t matter what, prepare for some massive contracts.
Jump to a participant:
Willis | K.Walker | Etienne | Pierce | Evans
Shaheed | Doubs | R.Walker | Linderbaum
Hendrickson | Phillips | Oweh | Mack | Mafe
Franklin-Myers | Lloyd | Q.Walker | Brown
Watson | Cook | Others
Contract projection: Two years, $44 million with $32 million assured
This would characterize a $1 million-per-year enchancment over the contract Justin Fields signed with the Jets final yr. That deal paid Fields $20 million assured in 2025 and ensures $10 million of his $20 million wage in 2026. Willis would not have practically as a lot NFL sport expertise as Fields did this time final yr, however he has higher vibes round him than Fields did after his Pittsburgh benching and will have a number of groups . Willis has six profession begins, together with one final season, and he has thrown six TD passes to zero interceptions over the previous two years (together with three dashing scores).
Predicted touchdown spot: Arizona Cardinals
Contract projection: Three years, $44 million with $22 million assured
The Super Bowl MVP hits free company with the advantage of a market stuffed with groups wanting for explosive playmakers on the operating again place. With Breece Hall having set the market with a $14.3 million franchise tag from the Jets, Walker can play a number of groups off one another and land at simply above that quantity with the primary yr (and a bit of the second yr) absolutely assured. He ran for 1,027 yards final season and might make performs out of the backfield as a move catcher (31 receptions).
Predicted touchdown spot: Washington Commanders
Contract projection: Three years, $39 million with $20 million assured
Much like Walker, Etienne has a number of groups and might proceed a surprisingly good yr for the highest of the free agent RB class. Jacksonville drafted two operating backs in final yr’s draft, so it could transfer on from Etienne. The 27-year-old was eleventh in dashing final season at 1,107 yards.
Predicted touchdown spot: Tennessee Titans
Contract projection: Three years, $80 million with $55 million assured
The franchise tag for Pierce would have been $27.3 million if the Colts had determined to apply it to him moderately than placing the transition tag on QB Daniel Jones. Indy would nonetheless wish to have Pierce again, however after main the league in yards per reception every of the previous two years, he’ll have a market that might drive the worth up past that mark. This places him proper behind the franchise quantity however with extra ensures than only one yr.
Predicted touchdown spot: Los Angeles Chargers
Contract projection: One yr, $15 million absolutely assured
Evans may have different groups , and probably even providing extra money. But he has solely ever performed for the Buccaneers, and that relationship is powerful sufficient that I’ll have to see him in a distinct uniform earlier than I consider it. Like teammate Chris Godwin Jr. a yr in the past, Evans ought to check the free agent waters earlier than deciding to remain in Tampa Bay. Injuries restricted him to 368 yards final season, however he cracked 1,000 yards in every of his earlier 11 years within the league.
Predicted touchdown spot: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
0:46
Riddick: Mike Evans will likely be in excessive demand
Louis Riddick and Booger McFarland react to Mike Evans enjoying in 2026 and being set to be a free agent.
(*20*)
Contract projection: Three years, $40 million with $20 million assured
It seems like Shaheed may have a market exterior of Seattle, the place he was a significant a part of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run as a receiver and a return man. His pace is engaging to quite a lot of groups, and people who swing and miss on Pierce might be very joyful signing Shaheed at a decrease value. He had 687 receiving yards between the Seahawks and Saints, and together with the playoffs, he scored three return TDs (two kickoffs, one punt).
Predicted touchdown spot: Washington Commanders
Contract projection: Three years, $49 million with $30 million assured
Doubs remains to be 25 years outdated (turns 26 in April) and is considered by groups as a receiver who can thrive in quite a few completely different schemes. He might be the man this yr that you simply take a look at and say, “Wow, he got that much?” Doubs caught 55 passes for 724 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2025.
Predicted touchdown spot: San Francisco 49ers
Contract projection: Four years, $80 million with $50 million assured
A 3-year starter for the Packers and a confirmed left sort out who simply turned 26, Walker ought to do very effectively in a league that is all the time wanting for good offensive linemen. His 93.8% move block win fee was eleventh amongst tackles final season. With 2024 first-round decide Jordan Morgan set to take over at left sort out in Green Bay, Walker will get to check the market and may land a deal much like the one Dan Moore Jr. got from the Titans a yr in the past.
Predicted touchdown spot: Cleveland Browns
Contract projection: Four years, $90 million with $60 million assured
This can be a mean wage of $22.5 million per yr, which might blow the highest off the middle market. Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey is at present the highest-paid center at $18 million per yr. But by hitting unrestricted free company at age 25 in an offseason the place a ton of groups are wanting for beginning facilities and guards, Linderbaum ought to money in big-time due to a bidding struggle between a number of groups — one in all which simply had its 27-year-old heart retire unexpectedly this week.
Predicted touchdown spot: Chicago Bears
1:26
Can the Bears discover a appropriate substitute for heart Drew Dalman?
Louis Riddick and Kimberley A. Martin break down the importance of Bears star heart Drew Dalman saying his retirement.
Contract projection: Three years, $84 million with $42 million assured
Hendrickson is hitting free company at 31 years outdated and coming off a season during which he performed solely seven video games. But he had 17.5 sacks in every of the 2 seasons earlier than that, and groups consider he can nonetheless be a difference-maker on a short-term deal. This one would assure him $28 million in 2026 together with $14 million of a $28 million 2027 wage. So, he’d lastly get the future-year assured cash the Bengals would not give him. And maybe he will get it whereas reuniting with former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in Indianapolis.
Predicted touchdown spot: Indianapolis Colts
Contract projection: Four years, $92 million with $32 million assured
Phillips comes with that damage historical past, however he performed effectively for the Eagles after being traded to Philadelphia from Miami on the deadline — they usually have a minimum of some curiosity in making an attempt to maintain him. Two of his 5 sacks final season got here in Philly. He’s a younger free agent (nonetheless simply 26), and that helps mitigate the damage danger somewhat. It’s attainable he does a one-year prove-it deal someplace if his market would not do what he hopes it does. And it is also attainable a division rival snatches him away.
Predicted touchdown spot: Washington Commanders
Contract projection: Four years, $76 million with $42 million assured
Oweh was an enormous hit with the Chargers after they acquired him in a commerce deadline cope with Baltimore. He had 7.5 sacks in 12 video games in L.A., together with three extra within the staff’s playoff loss to the Patriots. Los Angeles has huge wants on the inside of the offensive line, and I already predicted a giant WR deal from it for Pierce. But with Khalil Mack additionally hitting free company, the Chargers would possibly stretch to maintain a mutually helpful relationship alive.
Predicted touchdown spot: Los Angeles Chargers
Contract projection: One yr, $18 million
At 35 years outdated, it seems like Mack has reached the year-to-year portion of his profession. He can nonetheless be an enormous assist to a contender — he had 5.5 sacks in 2025 — and a few staff would possibly see him because the participant it has been lacking. In this case, we’re sending him to a staff that will likely be seeking to repeat as Super Bowl champs and is probably going shedding quite a few key players on each side of the ball in free company.
Predicted touchdown spot: Seattle Seahawks
Contract projection: Three years, $48 million with $25 million assured
Seattle is making an attempt to maintain as lots of its free brokers as it could, however the Super Bowl champs are seemingly going to lose a few of them. With the Seahawks’ capability to draft and coach Mike Macdonald’s confirmed capability to scheme up stress, I determine Mafe will get a payday someplace else and the Seahawks belief of their capability to switch him. Mafe had simply two sacks final season, however he had 9 in 2023.
Predicted touchdown spot: New England Patriots
Contract projection: Three years, $40 million with $15 million assured
Franklin-Myers turns 30 in September, so he may not get the eye a number of the youthful guys on the line of defense market get. But he has been a productive a part of among the best defenses within the league the previous two years in Denver, and we now have him reuniting together with his former Jets coach, Robert Saleh.
Predicted touchdown spot: Tennessee Titans
Contract projection: Four years, $56 million with $40 million assured
Hitting the open market at 27 years outdated following a second-team All-Pro season, Lloyd will generate curiosity from quite a few groups seeking to improve on the off-ball linebacker spots. This permits him to get a deal that simply tops the one Zack Baun bought from the Eagles in free company one year ago, from the staff he performed for final yr.
Predicted touchdown spot: Jacksonville Jaguars
Contract projection: Three years, $42 million with $20 million assured
Opinions appear to fluctuate on Walker, who’s solely 25, had 128 tackles in 2025 and appears certain to go away Green Bay for a new staff. Some assume he might push for high-end linebacker cash, within the excessive teenagers on common. Others have him nearer to $10 million per yr. We’ll cut up the distinction and ship him to a staff that has cash to spend and desires assist in every single place on the protection.
Predicted touchdown spot: Las Vegas Raiders
Contract projection: Three years, $30 million with $15 million assured
A surprisingly buzzy identify ultimately week’s mix, the 26-year-old Brown ought to draw curiosity from a number of groups. He pulled in two interceptions final season in Jacksonville. And he ought to land a robust deal from a staff wanting for CB assist however unwilling or unable to spend within the Riq Woolen/Jaylen Watson/Jamel Dean finish of the market.
Predicted touchdown spot: Philadelphia Eagles
Contract projection: Three years, $50 million with $20 million assured
The Chiefs need to maintain any individual, proper? Watson has been a great participant for them (two interceptions final season), and preserving him would not value what they had been going to need to pay Trent McDuffie on an extension.
Predicted touchdown spot: Kansas City Chiefs
Contract projection: Three years, $42 million with $20 million assured
Another graduate of the Steve Spagnuolo Academy, Cook hits the market at 26 and with high-level playoff expertise on his résumé. After he had 85 tackles for them final season, the Chiefs will attempt to maintain him however may not supply sufficient.
Predicted touchdown spot: Houston Texans
Five different fascinating conditions
Taysom Hill, TE: One of the league’s really distinctive players turns 36 in August. Would Sean Payton carry his outdated Swiss Army knife to Denver?
Brandon Aubrey, Ok: The Cowboys will seemingly put a second-round restricted free agent tender on him if they cannot signal him to an extension quickly. Would some staff be prepared to present them a second-rounder and make Aubrey the league’s highest-paid kicker?
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR: A sneaky buzzy identify the previous few days, Robinson had 280 targets and 185 catches over the previous two seasons with the Giants. Former Giants coach Brian Daboll is the new offensive coordinator in Tennessee, the place the Titans want dependable dudes for Cam Ward to focus on.
David Edwards, G: A full-time starter at guard for Buffalo the previous two years, Edwards is a free agent together with Bills heart Connor McGovern. Buffalo most likely cannot maintain each, and with a ton of groups wanting for guard and heart assist, Edwards is a reputation I’ve heard quite a bit currently.
K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge: He’s 26 years outdated and had a pleasant yr for the AFC champion Patriots, who might be looking for massive names on the edge rusher place. That might make Chaisson a stable get for another staff wanting for upside.
