Jhelum Mehta
The NFL’s free-agency frenzy is about to kick into high gear. The negotiating window opens Monday, March 9 at noon ET, giving teams a head start on deals before the new league year officially begins Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.
With the salary cap jumping to a record $301.2 million, front offices suddenly have extra room to make splash moves — and that’s great news for players hitting the market, even the under-the-radar ones.
Here’s a quick rundown of the guys poised to secure the bag when the market opens.
Top NFL Free Agents and Where They’ll Go
Defensive Line
Trey Hendrickson — EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals
Trey Hendrickson, 31, doesn’t carry quite the same shine he did a year ago. Instead of entering free agency off back-to-back 17.5-sack campaigns and four straight Pro Bowls, he’s coming off core muscle surgery that limited him to just four sacks in seven games in 2025. Still, front offices know what Hendrickson brings when healthy — a relentless edge rusher who can wreck a pocket. A short-term deal could guarantee him $28 million in 2026, plus $14 million of a $28 million salary in 2027. ESPN still ranks him as the No. 1 free agent on the board, and with 81 career sacks, he’s just 19 away from the century mark — something he could easily hit over the next couple of healthy seasons.
Prediction: Signs with the Buffalo Bills
Corey Pom Oct2022 04
Devin Lloyd — LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Devin Lloyd, 27, turned into the big-play engine of Jacksonville’s opportunistic defense. The linebacker snagged five interceptions last season — including a 99-yard pick-six off Patrick Mahomes — while anchoring a Jaguars unit that thrived on takeaways. Jacksonville may currently be over the cap, but keeping Lloyd should be near the top of the offseason checklist. Expect him to command top-five linebacker money, somewhere in the neighborhood of $18 million per year. With Liam Coen’s coaching staff staying intact after a huge turnaround season, retaining a core defensive playmaker makes plenty of sense.
Prediction: Re-signs with the Jaguars
Odafe Oweh — EDGE, Baltimore Ravens / Los Angeles Chargers
Odafe Oweh got a fresh start at the trade deadline and made it count. After moving from Baltimore to the Chargers, the 27-year-old edge defender racked up 7.5 sacks in 12 games, flashing the disruptive traits that made him a first-round pick. Los Angeles has nearly $100 million in cap space, so keeping him wouldn’t be difficult. But if negotiations get messy, the bidding could heat up quickly. Teams like Tennessee — loaded with cap room and desperate for pass-rush juice — could easily jump into the mix.
Prediction: Signs with the Miami Dolphins.
Jaelan Phillips — EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles
Jaelan Phillips remains a high-upside gamble on the open market. Injuries have followed him, but the 26-year-old flashed real impact after landing in Philadelphia via trade from Miami. Two of his five sacks last season came with the Eagles. His youth works in his favor, and teams may be willing to bet on the upside. If the market doesn’t explode, Phillips could opt for a prove-it deal to reset his value — though a contender could swoop in before that happens.
Prediction: Signs with the Kansas City Chiefs
Jaylen Watson — CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Jaylen Watson has quietly developed into a dependable starter in Kansas City’s secondary. The former seventh-round pick finished 2025 with 64 tackles and two interceptions, proving he can handle a full-time role. With the Chiefs juggling cap priorities, Watson could end up being the affordable piece they choose to keep, especially after moving on from Trent McDuffie.
Prediction: Re-signs with the Kansas City Chiefs
Nahshon Wright — CB, Chicago Bears
Few players boosted their stock in 2025 like Nahshon Wright. After signing a league-minimum $1.1 million deal, Wright emerged as a ballhawk in Chicago’s takeaway-heavy defense, finishing with five interceptions and two forced fumbles while earning a Pro Bowl nod. Cornerback is a thin market this offseason, which could drive Wright’s price tag into the $16 million-per-year range. With several teams needing help in the secondary, he could easily become one of the biggest winners in free agency.
Prediction: Signs with the New England Patriots
Bryan Cook — S, Kansas City Chiefs
Another graduate of Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive pipeline, Bryan Cook enters free agency at just 26 with valuable playoff experience under his belt. After posting 85 tackles last season, Cook should draw plenty of interest. Kansas City would like to keep him, but if the market heats up, another contender could swoop in.
Prediction: Signs with the Cincinnati Bengals
Quay Walker — LB, Green Bay Packers
Quay Walker does a little bit of everything in Green Bay’s defense. The 25-year-old has posted four straight 100-tackle seasons, including 128 last year, while adding nine career sacks and 29 tackles for loss. The Packers declined his $14.7 million fifth-year option, making him one of the more intriguing linebackers available. Opinions around the league vary — some see him pushing for elite linebacker money, while others peg him closer to $10 million annually.
Prediction: Signs with the Las Vegas Raiders
Joey Bosa — LB/EDGE, Buffalo Bills
Joey Bosa’s first season in Buffalo wasn’t dominant in the sack column — he finished with five — but he still led the NFL with five forced fumbles, proving he can still disrupt offenses. With Buffalo tight against the cap, the Bills may opt to get younger at the position. That could open the door for a reunion with his brother Nick Bosa in San Francisco.
Prediction: Signs with the San Francisco 49ers
John Franklin-Myers — DL, Denver Broncos
John Franklin-Myers has quietly become a steady pass-rush contributor in Denver. After posting seven sacks in 2024, he topped it with 7.5 sacks in 2025, playing a key role in a Broncos defense that helped power a run to the AFC Championship Game. Coming off a modest two-year, $15 million deal, he’s due for a bigger payday this time around
Prediction: Signs with the Indianapolis Colts
K’Lavon Chaisson — EDGE, New England Patriots
K’Lavon Chaisson’s career has taken a remarkable turn. After struggling early in Jacksonville and bouncing around the league, the former first-rounder finally found his groove in New England. On a one-year, $3 million deal, Chaisson delivered 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles, helping power a defense that made a Super Bowl run. Expect him to cash in — potentially tripling last year’s salary.
Prediction: Re-signs with the Patriots
Arnold Ebiketie — EDGE, Atlanta Falcons
Arnold Ebiketie was squeezed out of Atlanta’s rotation after the Falcons invested two first-round picks in rookie edge rushers. After posting 12 sacks across 2023-24, he managed just two last season. A fresh start could help him rediscover that pass-rush juice, likely on a one-year “prove-it” deal worth $6–8 million.
Prediction: Signs with the Washington Commanders
Trevon Diggs — CB, Free Agent
Trevon Diggs might be the biggest wild card in this class. The former All-Pro corner once commanded $19 million per year, but after getting released by both Dallas and Green Bay, his stock has taken a hit. He still owns an 11-interception season, but didn’t record a single pass breakup in 2025. Teams could view him as a low-risk, high-reward reclamation project.
Prediction: Signs with the Tennessee Titans
Bryant Cook — S, Seattle Seahawks
Part of Seattle’s loaded 2022 draft class, Bryant Cook has transitioned smoothly from cornerback to safety. Over the past two seasons, he’s logged seven interceptions while becoming a key piece of the Seahawks’ secondary. But with several young players due for extensions after a Super Bowl run, Seattle may not be able to keep everyone.
Prediction: Signs with the Kansas City Chiefs
Bradley Chubb — EDGE, Miami Dolphins
Bradley Chubb bounced back nicely in 2025, recording 8.5 sacks after missing the previous season with a torn ACL. While his last contract paid him $18 million annually, his next deal should land closer to $12–14 million per year. Several teams could line up for his services, including Baltimore or Carolina, but a playoff contender could ultimately win the bidding war.
Prediction: Signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offensive Line
Tyler Linderbaum — C, Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Linderbaum has quietly become one of the best anchors in the league’s interior O-line. The 25-year-old has stacked three straight Pro Bowl nods and graded as PFF’s No. 4 center in 2025. Baltimore declined his pricey fifth-year option (around $24 million), but that doesn’t mean he won’t get paid. He’s likely to reset the market for centers — or at least push past Creed Humphrey’s $18M-per-year benchmark. Whether he sticks in Baltimore or follows familiar faces like John Harbaugh or Todd Monken elsewhere remains to be seen.
Prediction: Signs with the Tennessee Titans
David Edwards — G, Buffalo Bills
David Edwards has been one of Buffalo’s best value signings, locking down a starting guard spot for just $6 million across two seasons. That bargain deal is about to expire in a big way. With projections nearing $20 million per year, Edwards is about to cash in. The Bills would love to keep the O-line intact, especially with Joe Brady now running the show, but cap realities could force them to pick and choose which linemen stay.
Prediction: Signs with the New York Jets
Rachaad White — RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rachaad White is a do-it-all back who’s averaged about 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 50 catches per season in Tampa. But after losing touches to Bucky Irving, it looks like White’s time in Tampa is up. He’s best suited as part of a two-back committee, giving offenses a reliable receiving threat out of the backfield. Anything north of $5 million annually might be a stretch given his efficiency numbers, but his versatility keeps him attractive.
Prediction: Signs with the Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III — RB, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker caught fire at the perfect time. The Seahawks back delivered four playoff touchdowns and capped the run with a Super Bowl MVP performance after rushing for 1,027 yards in the regular season. With Breece Hall’s $14.3M franchise tag setting the RB market, Walker is positioned to play multiple teams against each other and land a deal just north of that number — likely with a fully guaranteed first year.
Prediction: Signs with the Kansas City Chiefs
Malik Willis — QB, Green Bay Packers
Malik Willis might be the ultimate wild card of this free-agent class. The QB market is thin, and the upcoming draft class isn’t exactly stacked either — meaning teams desperate for a starter could overpay. Willis only has six career starts, but his Green Bay stint has been efficient: six TDs, zero picks, and a 79% completion rate over the last two seasons. With the right system, someone might gamble on the upside.
Prediction: Signs with the Las Vegas Raiders
Aaron Rodgers — QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers is staring down a familiar offseason question: retire or run it back. The 41-year-old hasn’t made a Pro Bowl in four years, but his 24 TDs and seven INTs in 2025 showed he can still sling it. With Mike McCarthy now in Pittsburgh, the fit makes sense. If Rodgers returns on another team-friendly deal around $14 million, he could help the Steelers make noise in a wide-open AFC North.
Prediction: Re-signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Evans — WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans in another jersey still feels weird. The future Hall of Famer has been a Bucs lifer, and despite injuries limiting him to 368 yards last season, he had 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons before that. Teams will line up with offers, but Tampa Bay might ultimately keep its franchise legend around.
Prediction: Signs with the Kansas City Chiefs
Rashid Shaheed — WR/Returner, Seattle Seahawks
Rashid Shaheed was pure electricity after Seattle snagged him at the trade deadline. He became the only player in the NFL with both a punt and kickoff return TD, and even added another kickoff score in the playoffs. On top of that, he chipped in 59 catches for 687 yards. Teams that value special-teams juice could push his market to around $15 million annually.
Prediction: Signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jauan Jennings — WR, San Francisco 49ers
Jauan Jennings has been a red-zone weapon for the 49ers, hauling in 15 touchdowns over the last two seasons. But his efficiency numbers — 643 yards on 90 targets — might cap his market somewhat. If his price tag climbs north of $20 million annually, San Francisco might have to think twice.
Prediction: Re-signs with the 49ers
Travis Etienne Jr. — RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Etienne has been Jacksonville’s workhorse runner, topping 1,100 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. But the Jaguars also liked what they saw from rookie Bhayshul Tuten. The franchise tag at $14.5M feels steep for a running back, so a multi-year deal around $8M annually seems more realistic — if Jacksonville wants to keep him.
Prediction: Signs with the New Orleans Saints
Romeo Doubs — WR, Green Bay Packers
Romeo Doubs has been the definition of steady production in Green Bay: roughly 50 catches, 600 yards, and five TDs per season. He flashed big-play ability in the playoffs too, posting 124 yards and a score in the Packers’ postseason loss. Solid No. 2 receivers are valuable, which could push his market into the $12–15 million range.
Prediction: Signs with the New England Patriots
Tyreek Hill — WR, Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill hitting free agency is one of the biggest wild cards of the offseason. The 31-year-old is coming off a knee injury and won’t sniff the $35M salary he was set to earn in Miami, but his upside is still undeniable. Teams just have to decide how much of the 2023 receiving-yard leader is still in there.
Prediction: Signs with the Philadelphia Eagles
Isaiah Likely — TE, Baltimore Ravens
Isaiah Likely flashed serious red-zone production with 11 TDs between 2023–24, but his role shrank in 2025 after Baltimore doubled down on Mark Andrews. A one-year prove-it deal around $8 million could allow Likely to rebuild his value and hit the market again in 2027 as a premium tight end.
Prediction: Signs with the Los Angeles Chargers
David Njoku — TE, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku is coming off a rough season — 33 catches for 293 yards — but Cleveland’s QB carousel didn’t exactly help. Now 29, he could benefit from a change of scenery. With his former offensive staff now in Atlanta, the Falcons could view him as a cheaper alternative to Kyle Pitts.
Prediction: Signs with the Chicago Bears
Cade Otton — TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cade Otton has been an iron man in Tampa’s offense, playing more than 92% of offensive snaps in each of the last three seasons. He’s averaged about 52 catches and 500 yards, but the touchdown production hasn’t been there. Tampa must decide if paying around $8 million per year is worth it — or if they’ll find a replacement.
Prediction: Signs with the Kansas City Chiefs
