The two biggest team-building opportunities for NFL teams, free agency in March and the draft in April, are on torn-off pages of the calendar. I would wager every team already has 90 percent of the players who will be on the Week 1 roster under contract, probably more. But that last 5-10 percent could make a big difference. 

We’ve already covered how every team has at least one weakness remaining on paper, and this is before the inevitable injuries that are inherent in playing a contact sport. Fortunately, free agency isn’t just limited to March. Your favorite GM is probably fond of saying roster building is a 365-day affair, and there are plenty of notable names who will eventually sign deals and help teams this upcoming season. There may be good reasons these players are unsigned, but good teams that can navigate this minefield can find value. 

Here is a look at the top 10 available free agents on our current Top 100 list. We’ll dig into what each player may have left in the tank, why they’re unsigned, and when and where they could end up. 

WR Stefon Diggs

It was both surprising and unsurprising when the Patriots released Diggs earlier this year. He had 1,000 yards as the leading receiver for QB Drake Maye, the MVP runner-up, and the AFC champion Patriots. While not the same player he was in his prime, he was clearly a positive factor. 

However, New England ultimately decided it wasn’t a smart investment to pay Diggs over $20 million in his age-33 season, cutting him before a guaranteed portion of his salary vested. His legal situation that was just resolved may have been a factor, even if he was acquitted. 

Diggs will be playing for his fourth different team in as many seasons in 2026, which is just part of the dynamic with him. He’s a big personality who tends to wear out his welcome over time, even if coaches and teammates praise his competitiveness. Like a lot of receivers, he isn’t shy about expressing his desire for the ball, but it’s from a drive to win and not just a drive for stats. 

What his next team will have to weigh is whether Digg’s production on the field still merits that kind of treatment and whether the veteran has enough self-awareness to understand how he fits into the big picture at this stage of his career. That applies to the contract he’s looking for as well. Diggs showed in 2025 he can be a productive part of a strong offense but he’s more of a slot and underneath option than a dynamic downfield presence. 

Best fit: Raiders

There might be questions on the surface about pairing a big personality like Diggs with a rookie quarterback like Fernando Mendoza. But Diggs did well with a young quarterback this past season, and there are too many connection points between Diggs and Las Vegas to ignore. New HC Klint Kubiak worked with Diggs in Minnesota, as did QB Kirk Cousins. It’s fair to wonder how positive their experiences were given he ended up pushing for a trade but at the very least there’s familiarity and a clean example of how Diggs fits in the scheme. 

The Raiders also need a lot of help at receiver after failing to really address the room in the draft. Star TE Brock Bowers will carry a big load as the top target, but a receiving corps of Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton is probably one of the worst in the league on paper right now. Diggs would add some much-needed credibility and a production floor to the room. 

QB Aaron Rodgers

Frankly I did not expect to be on Rodgers watch for the second straight summer and I’m not all that thrilled about it. The most logical and likely outcome is that Rodgers signs with Pittsburgh sometime around mandatory minicamp, giving him a few reps and ensuring he can skip OTAs without the hoopla. Just like last year. 

However, no matter what the Steelers say publicly and privately about using the rare unrestricted free agent tender on Rodgers, it’s not a move they would have done if they had complete confidence and assurances from Rodgers that he would sign and play with them this season. That alone makes this different from last year. 

Best fit: Steelers

The quarterback market is picked through, so Rodgers is almost certainly the Steelers’ best option at the position in 2026. If he retires or ends up with another team, their current options are Mason Rudolph, 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard and third-round rookie Drew Allar. The trade market right now is mostly backups from other teams. 

Pittsburgh is also Rodgers’ best option by far. If Rodgers is chasing success by continuing to play, the Steelers give him the best opportunity. Pittsburgh has made moves to improve the receiving corps and the offensive line this offseason from a team that was already good enough to wiin the AFC North last year. Running it back would give Rodgers another year to build familiarity and chemistry with his teammates. The arrival of new HC Mike McCarthy shouldn’t set back the scheme because Rodgers already knows it forward and backward.  

If there’s a long shot alternative, though, it might be the Cardinals. The general thought around the NFL is that Arizona is tanking to try and set itself up to take a quarterback in 2027. They couldn’t reach an agreement with veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo and instead signed Gardner Minshew to compete with Jacoby Brissett. Boxed out by the Rams for Alabama QB Ty Simpson, they instead took Miami QB Carson Beck in the third round. That pick is more of a scratch-off ticket than a viable long-term plan. 

But the wildcat here is Cardinals OC Nathaniel Hackett, one of Rodgers’ best friends. The two are close enough that it’s not impossible to see Rodgers talking himself into a year in Arizona, playing in a dome in a warm weather state for an offensive-minded head coach and on a team that has some sneaky pieces to work with on offense. If the Cardinals decide they want to be more competitive at quarterback, a run at Rodgers makes some sense. Right now, though, it doesn’t seem like a fit. 

WR Jauan Jennings

Jennings is a useful player for an NFL offense, especially teams that want to be run-focused. He’s tough, physical and plays with an edge that tends to get under the skin of opponents. He’s a proven impact blocker and is a decent possession receiver, though not particularly dynamic. There’s value for that kind of player, but evidently not enough to get a contract offer that Jennings was willing to accept back in March. 

Once that window passed, it made sense for Jennings to wait and get the lay of the land, figuring out which teams would address the position and which would still have needs after the draft. Jennings could also wait until training camp to see if there’s a major injury that makes a team desperate and willing to get closer to his ideal contract. 

The tradeoff is Jennings will be giving up time to learn a new offense and build chemistry with a new quarterback, so there’s a balancing act. Leverage is real in these situations but even desperate teams have limits, especially because Jennings doesn’t profile as a primary passing game target. 

Best fit: Vikings

Jennings’ history with the 49ers and HC Kyle Shanahan’s offense is a positive for him given how widespread that system is around the league. He’s been linked to the Dolphins since OC Bobby Slowik was on staff his first two seasons in San Francisco. Miami probably won’t pay much more than the minimum for any free agent this year, though. The Commanders need to keep building around QB Jayden Daniels and GM Adam Peters was part of the 49ers front office that unearthed Jennings in the seventh round back in 2021 (although it’s perhaps telling he hasn’t signed with Washington already). 

The Vikings hosted Jennings for a free agent visit and he’d be a more proven complement to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison than someone like Tai Felton or Myles Price. He doesn’t have direct experience with anyone on the offensive coaching staff but HC Kevin O’Connell runs an offense from the same schematic family and there’s significant overlap with what Jennings is used to from San Francisco. Of that group, Minnesota makes the most sense to me, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jennings take a while before making a final decision. 

OT Taylor Decker

Decker’s decade in Detroit came to an end this offseason and not quite in the way the veteran would have liked. He’s been open about how he felt burned not just by the team asking him to take a pay cut and then releasing him, but by the way they handled him leaving after such a long tenure. 

Those critiques are fair, even if from the Lions’ point of view they needed to get cheaper, younger and healthier up front. There are some health questions for Decker going forward, especially around his shoulder. His last full season was in 2022 and there were rumblings that he might retire earlier this offseason. Since then, though, he’s stated multiple times his intentions to play in 2026 — somewhere. 

Decker made the Pro Bowl in 2024 and was PFF’s No. 39 tackle out of 84 qualifiers last year, so it does seem like there’s some gas left in the tank. He turns 33 in August. While he’s probably not a long-term solution, teams are always short on even competent tackles, so odds are high he can land a decent deal as a one-year option, especially if a contending team loses a starter due to injury. Decker’s played long enough and made enough money that he probably won’t just sign with any team. He’s also already ruled out a couple of NFC North rivals. 

Best fit: Steelers

On paper, a reunion with Bears HC Ben Johnson in Chicago makes the most sense. But assuming the Bears truly remain off the table as Decker said, the team with the next biggest hole at left tackle is the Steelers. Broderick Jones still isn’t back after last season’s neck injury, and while the Steelers say he didn’t have a setback, they drafted a tackle in the first round and declined Jones’ fifth-year option. Actions speak louder than words here. 

The tackle they got, Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, grew up playing soccer and is still relatively new to the sport. For a team like the Steelers that fancies itself a contender, they might want a more proven option protecting the quarterback’s (Rodgers?) blindside. Pittsburgh still has a little bit of cap space to work with, enough to afford a decent deal for Decker if they get a little creative. 

CB L’Jarius Sneed

The Chiefs got out of the Sneed business at the right time two years ago, tagging and trading him to the Titans for a third-round pick rather than paying him a big free agent deal. Sneed was a key piece of multiple Super Bowl wins in Kansas City, but a knee injury that he and the Chiefs were able to manage successfully caught up with him in Tennessee, as did other injuries. He played just 12 games in two seasons and made nearly $43 million. 

His next team won’t have to pay anything but a fraction of that. However, Sneed’s health is going to be a major question that will have to be answered before he signs. At 29 years old, Sneed is also at a disadvantage given cornerback is viewed as a young man’s game in the NFL. If he’s healthy and wants to keep playing (and that’s not always a given for veterans who have cashed in on a big contract), he should be able to find a team willing to roll the dice.

Best fit: New York Giants

There have been multiple indications that the Giants aren’t content with the state of their secondary going into the first year under new HC John Harbaugh. They’ve made a couple moves to address the outside spots but the slot corner is still a little up in the air. Third-year CB Dru Phillips has had mixed results in the role, and S Ar’Darius Washington will likely play there some in three-safety packages. 

However, a healthy and motivated Sneed would probably be an upgrade if those two question marks are answered. Giants assistant Donald D’Alesio coached Sneed for three seasons in Kansas City and gives New York a potential reference if they consider a signing. 

WR Deebo Samuel

The 49ers traded Samuel to the Commanders ahead of his contract year last season, one of many Washington/San Francisco connections on the roster. He had a decent year, totaling over 800 yards from scrimmage with six total touchdowns. Had Daniels remained healthy the whole season, it might have worked out better, but it’s hard to say Washington got a great return on the $18 million and fifth-round pick they spent to land Samuel. 

Now Samuel is free to sign anywhere but he has taken his time on the market. There hasn’t really been a whole lot of buzz about him, either. No visits, no rumors, nothing from him personally. The Bills were reportedly interested to some degree ahead of the trade deadline but moved ahead with other plans this offseason. 

Samuel is 30 years old and won’t be a fit for every scheme with his unique skillset. He’s terrific after the catch but not going to consistently beat press man coverage as an outside receiver. However, the good news is that it feels like half the league runs some version of the Shanahan offense that Samuel has excelled in for most of his career. The veteran is probably holding out for the right deal from a contending team, but there should be options the closer we get to training camp. 

Best fit: Broncos

Denver may have traded for WR Jaylen Waddle this offseason but there is still some question about whether the Broncos have done enough to surround QB Bo Nix with weapons and maximize the window on his rookie contract. To be clear, the team is fine at wideout. In addition to Waddle, they have Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims. Sutton’s a strong No. 2 and the addition of Waddle should push everyone else into complementary roles that suit their talents. 

But Broncos HC Sean Payton loves players who let him dictate matchups, and Samuel fits the bill. There’s been some loose chatter connecting the Broncos to Samuel in the past, and I think if the price is right there would be mutual interest. Denver would fit the bill as a contending team and Samuel could be an impact player in a schemed touches role. Do the Broncos need him? Maybe not, but when you’re chasing a Super Bowl, the standard gets higher. 

WR Tyreek Hill

Don’t expect Hill to sign anywhere for a while. He suffered a gruesome knee injury last September, dislocating the joint and impacting multiple ligaments. Every injury is different but that’s one where the expectation should probably start at a full year at least. And at 32 years old, that type of injury has implications for Hill’s career. 

If he does come back, teams will have to work through how to get him back into football shape and integrated into their offense. They’ll also have to figure out how much of his trademark speed he still has left. Hill’s production was starting to tail off even before his injury, which teams will be aware of. The contract will be a hurdle, as players with Hill’s career earnings and resume aren’t always motivated to just suit up for the minimum. And while Hill has never been suspended, he’s made headlines and been investigated on multiple occasions for potential violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. 

Other than that…

Best fit: Chiefs

There is one team uniquely positioned to be comfortable with all of the baggage that comes along with Hill, and that’s the team that drafted him. The Chiefs know Hill well, know how to manage him and know how to deploy him in their offense. He’s an especially good fit with assistant coach Eric Bieniemy who returned to Kansas City this offseason. From Hill’s point of view, the chance to return and chase a ring has to be appealing. 

The Chiefs might need Hill the most, too. They didn’t really address their pass-catching group with anything substantial this offseason, electing to run it back with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce as the top options. They probably will lean more on the ground game with new RB Kenneth Walker and QB Patrick Mahomes rehabbing a torn ACL, and Hill might not be ready to contribute until the second half of the season anyway. But it makes a ton of sense for both sides to find common ground at some point this fall to bring Hill back as a potential X-factor in a hopeful deep postseason run. 

WR Keenan Allen

Allen has spent 12 of his 13 seasons with the Chargers and returned in 2025 after a one-year hiatus with the Bears. While it’s clear his best years are behind him, he has had over 700 yards in each of the past two seasons, showing there’s still a little bit of meat left on the bone. He just turned 34 but his game was never predicated on speed. Allen remains a crafty route runner and has some size to be strong in contested situations. 

Best fit: Rams

I don’t think Allen is going to be too keen on leaving Los Angeles or the West Coast again, and that really narrows down his options. The Chargers signed him last August to boost their receiving corps, but under new OC Mike McDaniel, it feels like they’re moving in a younger and more explosive direction on offense. 

The intra-stadium rival Rams could be a fit, though. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are an excellent 1-2 punch, but there were times last year where Los Angeles missed that third receiver who could take advantage of all the attention sucked up by the other two. After not addressing receiver in the draft (passing on USC’s Makai Lemon to take Simpson), Allen represents a potential fallback plan. He’s not as good after the catch at this stage of his career but he’s got the size to hold up as a blocker in tight formations and could offer more reliability and ability against tight coverage than guys like Jordan Whittington or Konata Mumpfield. 

LB Bobby Wagner

Wagner was drafted in 2012, the same year as Luke Kuechly, Lavonte David, Dont’a Hightower and Demario Davis. He and Davis are the only two still playing, with Davis leaving the Saints for a contract with the Jets this offseason. Wagner remains unsigned still, and the 36-year-old might be holding out for a team better positioned to be a contender in 2026. He has said he intends to play a 15th season. 

While he doesn’t have the speed and range he had in his prime, Wagner has remained a highly productive player deep into his 30s. Last season with the Commanders, he had 162 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and four pass breakups. He’s been remarkably durable too, playing all 17 games for four straight seasons. Some opponents will target Wagner’s decreasing range in the passing game and with outside runs, but his instincts still generally allow him to get more than he gets got. Obviously the future Hall of Famer is also a hugely positive presence in the locker room as well. 

Best fit: Bengals

It’d be a little out of character for the Bengals to go after Wagner with no major connections on the coaching staff or front office to him, and to push one of their two recent draft picks to the bench. But these are the all-in Bengals who do things a little differently to try and make sure QB Joe Burrow doesn’t lose his patience and demand a trade out of Cincinnati. One of the biggest remaining weaknesses on paper is linebacker, and Wagner is an accomplished veteran who is arguably the best available at the position. 

The short-term sell is easy, as even at this stage of his career Wagner is an upgrade over either Demetrius Knight or Barrett Carter. Long-term, there’s an argument that those two would benefit from the mentorship impact of studying under Wagner for a season. The Bengals might want to wait until training camp to get a better read on how much those two have improved going into their second seasons but on paper this fit makes a lot of sense. 

OL Mekhi Becton

Becton’s career resurgence lasted just one season before being put back on the brink. After a year with the Eagles in 2023 where he started 15 games at guard for a dominant ground attack and eventual Super Bowl win, he landed a two-year contract with the Chargers to fit into their ground-and-pound offense. He did not have quite the same impact, and with a new scheme coming in he was released after just one year. 

A mammoth-sized blocker at a listed 6-7 and 363 pounds, Becton has battled his weight his entire career. He’s been much healthier the past three years as opposed to the start of his career, but overall he’s proven to be very sensitive to his environment. The right coaches, scheme and support system need to be in place to get the most out of Becton, who is still just 27 years old. He was one of former Eagles OL coach Jeff Stoutland’s big success stories, but Stoutland is out of the NFL currently. 

Best fit: Saints

New Orleans’ offensive line is in a solid spot on paper with every starting spot accounted for. The depth on the interior is also solid, with fourth-rounder Jeremiah Wright joining Dillon Radunz and 2025 promising UDFA Torricelli Simpkins. However, Becton is worth keeping in mind here for a couple of reasons. The first is that he has some experience at tackle and the Saints’ depth there is a lot weaker. Adding Becton gives them options not only at guard but at the valuable swing tackle role. 

The second is that the Saints’ coach staff, with HC Kellen Moore, OC Doug Nussmeier and run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti, is loaded with coaches who had experience with Becton during his best season in Philadelphia. With Becton, it’s important to find coaches who not only worked with him but also had a positive impression, and this is probably the best shot of that.