10 NFL Superstars Who Will Definitely Be On A New Team In 2026

The 2026 NFL offseason is already shaping up to be one of the wildest in recent memory. Between underachieving rosters, frustrated superstars, messy contract situations, and front offices preparing for major resets, the league is bracing for a massive wave of player movement.

Some stars have openly hinted at wanting a fresh start. Others are entering free agency with no intention of returning. And a few are trapped in situations so broken that a split feels inevitable for both sides.

Whether it’s blockbuster trades, high-stakes free-agency battles, or outright player-driven exits, one thing is clear: these 10 NFL superstars are almost guaranteed to be wearing new uniforms in 2026.

Let’s break down the names most likely to headline a chaotic offseason.

Which NFL stars will be on new teams in 2026?

Myles Garrett, Edge Rusher — Cleveland Browns

Sorry, Browns fans Myles Garrett has already told everyone exactly what he wants. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year formally requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2025 season. Of course, he then backtracked once the Brinks Truck backed up.

And, yes, Browns convinced him to stay with a four-year, $160 million extension back in March. He is technically under their control for the foreseeable future…

But is he?! I mean, Cleveland is still a disaster even with him putting up crazy numbers.

This is year nine of watching his prime years fade away. The Browns keep insisting they won’t trade him, but it’s the reality that they might not have a choice.

The guy has already asked out once. If Cleveland finishes with another losing season, what is to stop Garrett from really forcing his way out, and this time, the Browns might not have a choice because they lost all of their leverage now that he’s gotten paid?

And if we are being honest, painful as it would be, the move might make sense for Cleveland. They can get massive draft capital for a talent like Garrett. This NFL is in need of a full teardown in 2026!

Maxx Crosby, Edge Rusher — Las Vegas Raiders

Maxx Crosby didn’t request a trade. In fact, he’s been outspoken about wanting to be a Raider… 

But every man has his limit, and this year has been particularly painful for Crosby and the Raiders, even to their standards.

Year 1 of the Pete Carroll era was supposed to be a changing of the tides, but the Raiders have no franchise quarterback, Geno Smith has been a nightmare, and this team looks like it’s years away from competing.

Even if Crosby really wants to stay in Sin City, it could make sense for the Raiders to look for a new home for him. Not only would NFL fans finally get a chance to see one of this generation’s most electric pass rushers actually play in some meaningful football games, but it would also give him an opportunity to capitalize on the remaining years of his prime.

Kirk Cousins, Quarterback — Atlanta Falcons

This saga dates back a couple of years… to when the Atlanta Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in March of 2024. Then they turned around and drafted his replacement, Michael Penix Junior, in the first round without telling him. Cousins later admitted he felt, quote, “misled” and probably would’ve stayed with the Minnesota Vikings if he’d known.

Fast forward one season, and the Falcons benched him after a 7- 7 start, admittedly after playing some pretty terrible football, instead handing the job to Penix. Cousins was reportedly so desperate to leave that he called owner Arthur Blank directly, pleading for his release.

The Falcons said no and picked up his $10 million roster bonus for the 2026 NFL season. He’s now the most expensive backup quarterback in NFL history. But his 35 million dollar salary for 2026 isn’t guaranteed, and now that he is going to have a chance to show what he can do down the stretch of this season, it is very possible that he’ll have suitors this offseason, especially if he plays well.

Cousins does have a no-trade clause, but he’s hungry for a new opportunity, and it is looking increasingly safe to expect a trade or release before the season starts.

Romeo Doubs, Wide Receiver — Green Bay Packers

Sometimes the writing is on the wall before a player even hits free agency. The Green Bay Packers aren’t trying to hide it. They’re ready to let Romeo Doubs walk.

Doubs is playing the final year of his rookie contract, making just $3.6 million in 2025. He’s not a superstar to the caliber of Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase, but make no mistake about it, he has earned every penny and then some. 

Through the first half of the season, he’s been productive enough to rank 20th overall in ESPN’s 2026 free agent rankings and fourth among wide receivers… and there is a growing consensus that he could really explode in the next two years with the growth trajectory he’s been on.

That kind of production, paired with potential, comes with a price tag. Projections have Doubs landing around 13 million dollars per year on the open market. For most teams, that’s reasonable for a solid number two receiver. However, it feels highly unlikely that the Packers will try to match it.

Green Bay has younger, cheaper options ready to step up. Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, rookie Matthew Golden, and Dontayvion Wicks are all waiting in the wings. The front office is already signaling that they are comfortable moving forward without Doubs and are planning for his departure.

This is a good news, bad news situation for Romeo Doubs. He played himself into a payday. The only problem is the Packers likely won’t match it, and as a result, he’ll have to find himself a new home in the 2026 NFL season.

At least he’ll have plenty of money to do so comfortably!

Trey Hendrickson, Edge Rusher — Cincinnati Bengals

When a team puts a guy on a one-year deal, it is either that they’re sending a message or that the player. 

And in the case of the Cincinnati Bengals, when they gave Trey Hendrickson a reworked one-year, $29 million contract for 2025 after extension talks collapsed, it was clearly the latter. That’s not a commitment, that’s a rental agreement.

Hendrickson didn’t stay quiet. He publicly called the Bengals’ front office out, and the relationship has continued to sour ever since. In fact, it has been reported that Cincinnati even tried trading him at the deadline, but no deal happened.

Now he’s heading into 2026 free agency after nine seasons in the NFL. The Bengals could franchise tag him at $36 million, but based on what we’ve seen out of that experience so far, it seems like the writing is on the wall, and a split is inevitable. Hendrickson will find a contender willing to pay, and Cincinnati will take their compensatory pick and rebuild.

Breece Hall, Running Back — New York Jets

Breece Hall requested a trade before the 2025 deadline, and for some reason, the Jets refused. 

This was particularly confusing given the massive fire sale that we saw take place… I mean, they said no to Hall, then turned around and traded away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams while keeping Hall on the roster. 

Queue the frustrated social media posts, albeit ones that he quickly deleted.

Multiple reports say Hall’s frustration with the front office and will more than likely try to leave the team in free agency. 

He’s playing the final year of his rookie deal at $3.3 million, and projections have him landing a four-year, $48 million contract, similar to Josh Jacobs.

Which… makes the decision not to try and recoup assets for him at the deadline all the more puzzling!

Then again… it is the Jets that we are talking about…

New York could tag him at over $14 million, but paying that much for a running back with a roster that has as many holes as theirs does would be a huge mistake. 

Plus, Hall wanted out at the deadline. New York would be wise not to force a disgruntled, overpaid NFL running back onto its team for 2026. 

Either way, you have to think that Hall is just counting down until he becomes an unrestricted free agent at this point and can escape this dysfunction.

George Pickens, Wide Receiver — Dallas Cowboys

George Pickens already changed teams once. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded him to Dallas in May 2025 for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, choosing to move him rather than pay him.

Pittsburgh made a huge mistake. Pickens has been absolutely dominant in Dallas.

The guy ranks third in the entire NFL in receiver impact metrics, trailing only Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua. He’s playing the final year of his four-year, $6.75 million rookie contract, and he will be paid.

Projections for his next deal range from 24 to 29 million dollars per year, with some analysts predicting a three-year, 76 and a half million dollar contract with over 50 million guaranteed. That’s legitimate number one receiver money, and Pickens has earned every penny.

The problem? Dallas already pays CeeDee Lamb $34 million annually. Jerry Jones says extension talks with Pickens have “crossed our minds,” but the cap math is absolutely brutal. ESPN’s Dan Graziano thinks a franchise tag around 29 million is most likely, which just kicks the can down the road to 2027.

Either way, Pickens is cashing in on the 2026 NFL season. The only question is whether Jerry Jones can somehow make the numbers work to keep both star receivers, or if Pickens becomes his third team in three years when he hits free agency.

Jaelan Phillips, Edge Rusher — Philadelphia Eagles

Here’s a name that might surprise some people, but hear me out… Jaelan Phillips.

The Miami Dolphins couldn’t afford to keep him long-term, so they shipped him to Philadelphia at the 2025 deadline for a third-round pick. Phillips is playing on the fifth year of his rookie deal at $13.3 million, and he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026, where he is expected to get a BIG payday.

The reality is that this was always going to be a rental situation for the Eagles.

The Dolphins knew they weren’t going to re-sign him and wanted to get something in return. The Eagles brought him in strictly for a playoff push, reuniting him with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in the process. Phillips has been thrilled with the move, calling the trade to Philadelphia… and I quote, “the greatest thing” that’s ever happened to him.

He’s played well in limited action thus far, too!

But here’s the truth of the matter… Once the open market speaks, Phillips’ tune will likely change. And when Philly sees the price tag, no matter how well he plays to close out this year, they are going to let him walk.

Phillips will absolutely get paid somewhere after what he’s accomplished over the past couple of years in the league. It just won’t be in Philly. Another star changing teams twice in one calendar year.

Garrett Wilson, Wide Receiver — New York Jets

Don’t look now, but we might see the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year become the next star to demand out of New York, and honestly. Can you blame him?

There have been multiple reports stemming from people in Garrett Wilson’s circle that the receiver is going to push for a trade after the season.

And potentially force the matter if he has to.

It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Wilson has privately told people that if things don’t improve, he won’t stick around long-term. Why would he? The Jets have cycled through quarterbacks, traded away key players, and continue losing at a historic rate.

With what he’s done on the field as a Jet… Imagine what he could do with competent coaching and an actual quarterback!

Now, technically, the Jets don’t have to trade him. He’s under team control through the 2026 NFL season with his fifth-year option kicking in. 

And when teams called about Wilson at the deadline, New York shut those conversations down immediately, signaling that they view him as untouchable.

But here’s the thing. You can’t force a franchise player to stay when he wants out.

If Wilson formally requests a trade this offseason, the pressure on the Jets to move him will be enormous. Especially knowing that he can walk at the end of the following season. 

Kyler Murray, Quarterback — Arizona Cardinals

Let’s wrap this list with what might be the most obvious divorce in the entire NFL… Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals have until March 2026 to make a decision. Pay Murray his 19.5 million dollar guarantee, or cut him loose. And according to insiders, the separation is imminent, which, frankly, everyone should be able to see clearly at this point.

The numbers tell you everything you need to know. Arizona’s offense has been five points per game better with backup Jacoby Brissett than with Murray running the show. Not because he’s more talented, but because Murray just doesn’t mesh with this locker room.

Honestly, this is one of those situations where it looks like everyone seems ready to move on.

Murray is 28 years old and six years removed from being the first overall pick in 2019. Potential landing spots include the Jets, Browns, Dolphins, Panthers, and Rams… basically, teams desperate enough for quarterback help to take a chance on him.

He still has the physical tools to succeed. There’s no question about that.

But in Arizona, it feels like his time is up and the relationship might be over. Expect the Cardinals to trade Murray before that March deadline hits and start completely over at the most important position in football.