The 9 Biggest Names Entering Free Agency Ahead Of The 2026 NFL Season

The NFL’s offseason has officially kicked off, and teams across the league are gearing up to retool their roster before things get underway in 2026. There are a number of players who have the chance to explore their options as free agents, and there are more than a few notable names who have the potential to make a big impact if they end up with a new team.

Here are the most notable NFL players entering free agency ahead of the 2026 season

The NFL has boasted some free agent signings that ended up being incredibly consequential in hindsight. The Packers reaped the benefits of snatching Reggie White from the Eagles in 1993 (a move that essentially ushered in the Free Agency Era), and Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, and Tom Brady all helped inject some new life into their new teams after deciding to take their talents elsewhere.

There’s no telling if the free agents who will be up for grabs in 2026 will end up having a similar impact, but here’s a look at the ones with the most potential to do exactly that if they don’t sign a new deal with their current team before the negotiation period officially begins on March 11th.

George Pickens

Jerry Jones has a reputation for letting big free agents walk instead of conceding to their demands, which makes the George Pickens situation a very interesting one.

All signs point to the Cowboys hitting the WR with the franchise tag after he recorded a career-high 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns during his first season in Dallas. However, that would likely set them back over $28 million, so while he may not officially enter free agency, that price tag could make him a candidate for a tag-and-trade.

Daniel Jones

This is another situation where it appears a player who’s eligible for free agency will be returning to the team they played for in 2025. Both Daniel Jones and the Colts expressed interest in running things back after he posted an 8-5 record before tearing his Achilles against the Jaguars at the start of December.

However, he would probably be the most highly-touted QB to hit the market if the two sides don’t end up reaching a deal.

Trey Hendrickson

I’m not listing these guys in any particular order, but most experts seem to agree Trey Hendrickson is the crown jewel of the free agency class of 2026.

He’s also the first person we’ve mentioned who appears to be actively headed toward an exit, as the defensive end unsuccessfully lobbied for a trade prior to the start of the 2025 season and held out before the Bengals agreed to restructure his contract.

He only appeared in seven games before undergoing a season-ending surgery to treat a hip injury. That may make some teams wary, but it seems safe to assume there are a few that are more than willing to see what he can bring to the table after he recovers.

Tyler Linderbaum

The Ravens declined to trigger Tyler Lindbaum’s fifth-year option, which would have run them close to $24 million. The team is reportedly hoping to negotiate a long-term deal, but it will be doing so in the midst of a regime change that saw John Harbaugh take over for the Giants and offensive coordinator Todd Monken upgrading as the head coach of the Browns.

Some insiders have speculated he could decide to link back up with one of those men in New York or Cleveland, and Baltimore would be losing one of the top-ranked centers in the league if he does.

Kenneth Walker III

Kenneth Walker III proved his value to the Seahawks by earning Most Valuable Player honors in Super Bowl LX by racking up 135 yards on the ground and snagging two catches for another 26.

The running back broadcasted his intentions to stay with Seattle following the game, and Mike Macdonald confirmed the feeling was mutual by saying they want him back after leading his squad to a championship against the Patriots.

There have only been three players who’ve ended up on a new team directly after winning Super Bowl MVP,  so even though it seems unlikely he’ll become the fourth, he’ll be a hot commodity if he hits the market.

Devin Lloyd

Travis Etienne Jr. and Montaric Brown are among the 17 players the Jaguars could lose to free agency, but Devin Lloyd is arguably the most impactful member of that group.

The linebacker has said he’d prefer to remain in Jacksonville, but the team has not been in a rush to start negotiating a new deal. He had a career-high five interceptions while earning a spot in the Pro Bowl for the first time last season, and if the Jaguars aren’t willing to meet his asking price, another team will likely make him one of the biggest earners of the offseason.

Odafe Oweh

Odafe Oweh started the 2025 season as a member of the Ravens and finished it with the Chargers after being traded toward the start of October.

The pass rusher’s play noticeably improved after he arrived in Los Angeles, but in an interesting twist, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is no longer with the team after taking over as the head coach of…the Ravens.

There’s no telling if a reunion with Baltimore is in the cards, but it’s a situation worth keeping an eye on.

Alec Pierce

Daniel Jones isn’t the only free agency decision the Colts have to make, as they’re also facing one with one of his most threatening targets: Alec Pierce.

The 25-year-old has emerged as one of the NFL’s most dangerous wide receivers on deep routes, as he’s led the league in yards per catch two years in a row and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time last season.

The Colts will likely have to pay upwards of $24 million a year to retain him, and plenty of other teams will be more than happy to do exactly that if he doesn’t stick with Indy.

Breece Hall

Breece Hall is one of the more intriguing names on this list. Sure, he hasn’t exactly set the league on fire during his four seasons with the Jets, but on the other hand, the running back has spent all four of his NFL seasons with the Jets, who have posted a 22-46 record since he arrived in 2022.

He’s shown signs of improvement, and some fans speculated he was sending a call for help when he shared some thoughts during the Super Bowl. He’s one of the top RBs who has the chance to explore his options in the offseason, and it’s hard not to wonder if he’ll opt for a change of scenery.