There was great anticipation that the NFL’s two-day negotiating window was going to be busy, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
On Monday, the first day of the league’s legal tampering period, eight players either became the highest paid at their respective position or the highest-paid free agent at their position in terms of average annual salary.
McDuffie, Tunsil, Linderbaum and Stout all earned the sought-after crown as the highest-paid players ever at their respective positions. Phillips, Pierce, Walker and Likely all took home the title of owning the highest-paid free agent contracts at their respective positions.
Several other notable free agents have since come off the board, a list that incudes Trey Hendrickson (who signed with the Ravens after they walked away from their previous deal with the Raiders involving Maxx Crosby), former Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins coming to terms with Baltimore, former Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen heading to Philadelphia and Cardinals ex-face-of-the-franchise quarterback Kyler Murray joining the Vikings.
While a ton of players have new found homes, there are still plenty of veterans, young and old, who could be impactful contributors in 2026 who are still on the open market. Here’s a look at the top 10 free agents still remaining with the official start of free agency underway.
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10. Cleveland Browns G Joel Bitonio
- Age: 34
- Pro Bowls: 7 (2018-2024)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 2 (2021-2022)
Joel Bitonio may have lost a step, but he can still pass protect, allowing just two sacks in 2025. His 75.7 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade was the eighth-best in the NFL among guards this past season. Bitonio would make a lot of sense for a team looking for interior help on the cheap in order to return to the playoffs.
9. Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
- Age: 37
- Pro Bowls: 4 (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
After a rocky 2024 season that saw him lose his job to Michael Penix, Cousins showed impressive resolve last year while winning five of his eight starts. While he completed a pedestrian 61.7% of his passes, Cousins cut back dramatically on his interceptions; he threw five (compared to 10 touchdown passes) after throwing a league-high 16 picks in 2024.
There is one main question facing Cousins, and that’s if there is a team out there that is going to give him a chance to compete to be its QB1. If that is not currently the case, it’s conceivable that Cousins waits for an opportunity to arise.
8. Washington Commanders LB Bobby Wagner
- Age: 35
- Pro Bowls: 10 (2014-21, 2023-24)
- First-team All-Pro Teams: 6 (2014, 2016-20)
Wagner’s age has to be the primary reason why he is still unsigned. That’s the only justifiable reason given his success last season as he once again filled the stat sheet with 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions.
- Age: 33
- Pro Bowls: 3 (2016-2018)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
Jadeveon Clowney concluded his 2025 season in style with a single-game career-high three sacks in Week 18 against New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. Despite not suiting up for the Cowboys until Week 4, he finished with 8.5 sacks, his most in a season since producing 9.5 in 2023 with the Ravens. That figure also led the Cowboys in 2025. There’s a chance the former first-overall pick could play even better in 2026 after going through a full offseason with a team.
- Age: 30
- Pro Bowls: 1 (2021)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 1 (2021)
Deebo Samuel lost a step in 2025, and he also had to battle through quarterback instability with 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels missing 10 games with injuries. Samuel averaged a career-low 10.1 yards per reception in 2025, and the two lowest receiving yards per game total of his seven-year career have come in 2024 (44.7) and 2025 (45.4). Samuel isn’t the same bulldozing Swiss Army knife that once served as the focal point of Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers offense. He can still knock would-be tacklers over in the open field after the catch, as evidenced by his playmaking against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas, but his separation in his route running is slipping. Samuel still has value in 2026, but it’s not what it once was in his prime.
- Age: 29
- Pro Bowls: 1 (2023)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
David Njoku tumbled down the depth chart while battling through knee injuries for most of 2025. Rookie Harold Fannin Jr. quickly became a go-to guy for quarterback Shedeur Sanders this season. If healthy, he’s a valuable middle of the field and red zone playmaker. Turning 30 in 2026 and dealing with injuries should make him a more cost conscious target than in years past.
4. Buffalo Bills EDGE Joey Bosa
- Age: 30
- Pro Bowls: 5 (2017, 2019-2021, 2024)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
Joey Bosa has been an underrated piece to the Buffalo Bills’ defense this season. He’s not the same guy he was in the late 2010s because of injuries, but Pro Football Focus grades him as their seventh-highest graded pass-rushing edge defender with an 88.7 grade in 2025. He also led the league with five forced fumbles. Bosa can help stabilize any team’s pass rush this offseason.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers
- Age: 42
- Pro Bowls: 10 (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2016, 2018-2021)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 4 (2011, 2014, 2020-2021)
Aaron Rodgers is the best player who’s currently a free agent, but being in the twilight of his career is why he isn’t ranked higher. He still has some magic left in him after throwing a game-winning, 26-yard touchdown pass to Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left in a 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. That victory sent Pittsburgh back to the postseason as AFC North champions.
His playoff performance was disappointing, but many offensive lines and quarterbacks failed to hold up against the Houston Texans’ dynamic duo Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. Even though he clearly can’t scramble in the pocket like he used to, Rodgers can still make some highlight-reel throws when given time to throw. A return to the Pittsburgh Steelers to reunite with Mike McCarthy would make plenty of sense, especially after trading for another weapon in wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
- Age: 28
- Pro Bowls: 0
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
Jauan Jennings was the unsung hero of the San Francisco 49ers’ offense. He does the dirty work over the middle with strong hands, which makes him one of the best in the league at moving the sticks.
Since 2024, Jennings’ 83 receiving first downs are 28th in the NFL. That’s one more than Stefon Diggs (32) and three fewer than the following trio of wide receivers: the Philadelphia Eagles’ DeVonta Smith, the Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr. Jennings’ eight receiving touchdowns on third downs are tied for the third-most in the league across the last two seasons.
His overall stats in 2025 weren’t eye-popping, but Jennings didn’t have starting quarterback Brock Purdy for seven games. From Week 11 when Purdy returned in 2025 to the end of the regular season, Jennings’ six receiving touchdowns tied for the second-most in the NFL in that span with Puka Nacua, Christian Watson and Michael Wilson. He’s also versatile as his 29-yard passing touchdown to Christian McCaffrey in the 49ers’ opening-round playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles indicated. Jennings possesses two career playoff passing touchdowns, which is tied for the most in NFL history by a non-QB along with Bronko Nagurski.
- Age: 25
- Pro Bowls: 0
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
Rasheed Walker played in all 17 games in each of the last three years and started all but three of them for the Green Bay Packers. Walker’s 93.8% pass block win rate ranked 11th among 68 qualified offensive tackles in 2025, per ESPN and Next Gen Stats. A durable left tackle in the middle of his 20s, who is a strong pass blocker, is going to get paid. Offensive tackle is one of the hardest position groups to find consistency at around the league these days, and one would think that would get Walker compensated well this offseason. It appears as though his arrest on gun changes at LaGuardia on Jan. 24 is currently depressing his market.
