Matt Johnson
Ahead of NFL free agency, there’s a ton of buzz about top starters like Kyler Murray, Kenneth Walker and Alec Pierce. All three players are poised to cash in on the open market and there are several high-end players behind them. However, there are also some lesser names who deserve more attention.
Let’s dive into our list of the most underrated NFL free agents in 2026 on the offensive side of the football, highlighting one player at each position.
Related: Winners, Losers from First Big Week of the 2026 NFL Offseason
QB: Marcus Mariota
We certainly understand the buzz surrounding Malik Willis. NFL teams loved his physical tools entering the league and while things did not work out with the Tennessee Titans, he looked remarkable in his limited playing time with the Green Bay Packers. Just entering his late-20s, Willis completed 78.7 percent of his pass attempts with a 6-0 TD-INT line, averaged 10.9 yards per attempt and put up a 134.6 passer rating on 89 attempts across 11 games. Plus, he is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the NFL. He will, however, cost upwards of $20 to $25 million in terms of average annual value to land.
Marcus Mariota certainly is not in that tier of dual-threat quarterbacks and no franchise would expect the 32-year-old quarterback to be an answer for the foreseeable future. However, it is worth noting that Mariota put up a 14-7 TD-INT ratio with a 63.8 percent completion rate, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt with a 93.4 passer rating over the last two seasons on 271 attempts. He will come at a fraction of the cost and we think clubs like the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets should give him serious consideration as a cost-effective bridge starter.
Related: 2026 NFL Free Agency Predictions for Top Quarterbacks
RB: Kenneth Gainwell
If the reports come to fruition that it is going to cost $10-plus million to sign Travis Etienne, we will go ahead and say that Kenneth Gainwell is the second-best option among the running backs in NFL free agency. He is coming off an age-26 season where he actually averaged a higher true yards per carry (4.4 vs. 3.9) than Etienne while also ranking higher in yards per route run (1.59 vs. 1.14), yards per touch (5.5 vs. 4.7) and Breakaway Run rate (5.3 percent vs. 3.5 percent). Gainwell is one of the best pass-catchers at his position in the NFL, and while he might not be able to handle the same workload, more teams are taking a committee approach anyway. Whatever team signs Gainwell is getting an impact player and a much better value.
Related: NFL Free Agency Predictions for Top Running Backs
WR: Jalen Nailor
Working behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, wide receiver Jalen Nailor has had limited opportunities to produce since he came into the league. He has still put up 69 receptions for 1,066 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 144 targets over the past four seasons. There is a reason, as Alec Lewis of The Athletic reported, that at least 10 teams are eyeing Nailor in NFL free agency. He will be a signing that flies under the radar when it happens, but Nailor could put up good WR2 numbers depending on where he lands and he will make a positive impact regardless of the situation.
Related: Predicting Landing Spots for Top NFL Free Agent Wide Receivers
TE: Darren Waller
There were plenty of reasons to be skeptical about what Darren Waller had left in the tank ahead of last season when he decided to unretire. To his credit, after a year away from football, the 33-year-old tight end averaged 11.8 yards per reception and put up his highest touchdown total (six) since his 2020 Pro Bowl selection with the Raiders. Standing at 6-foot-6, Waller still proved he can be a very effective receiving threat at tight end. Given it will only take a one-year deal at a low cost to sign him, Waller could prove to be an underappreciated addition for an offense.
OL: Isaac Seumalo
Isaac Seumalo is one of the best offensive linemen available in all of NFL free agency. The reason the former Pittsburgh Steelers guard makes our list is because for the casual fan, he is not a big name and headlines will not be made when he lands a deal this offseason. With that said, he ranked fourth among interior linemen in ESPN’s run-block win rate (77 percent) and placed third in pass-block win rate (97 percent). He is one of the best guards in football; that is proven over the last two seasons, and he will be a monumental addition to support both the run game and protect the quarterback for whatever team lands him.
