The One Free Agent Every NFL Team Must Sign this 2026 Offseason
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The 2026 new league year is quickly approaching, so NFL teams have little time left to assemble their free agent wish-lists.
With that, let’s dive into one free agent that every NFL team needs to sign in the offseason.
Which free agents should each NFL team target in 2026?
Arizona Cardinals: Odafe Oweh
The guess here is that the Cardinals will go to the trade market to find Kyler Murray’s replacement at QB. If that’s the case, their focus in free agency can be the defense.
The former Ravens’ first-round pick never hit his potential in Baltimore, but he had 7.5 sacks in just 12 games for the Chargers after coming over via trade. The Cardinals would immediately boast one of the league’s best front sevens with Oweh, Josh Sweat, and Walter Nolen.
Atlanta Falcons: Riq Woolen
The Falcons already have a top shutdown cornerback in AJ Terrell. But why stop there?
Woolen is looking for a change of scenery after failing to recapture that All-Pro form we saw in his 2022 rookie year. Woolen also just won a Super Bowl 60 ring in Seattle, so his big-game experience could help a young Atlanta team in their quest to end a nine-year playoff drought.
Baltimore Ravens: Jaelan Phillips
Travis Jones led the Ravens with a whopping….five sacks…in 2025. No wonder this team was such a disappointment.
New head coach Jesse Minter will need some fresh faces on that defense. The Ravens usually ace their big free agent signings in the NFL, so adding Phillips to the mix here could shore up a pass rush that was uncharacteristically invisible last year.
Buffalo Bills: Mike Evans
If Evans hits free agency, the Bills won’t have to make much of a pitch to Evans. Just ask the future Hall of Famer how much he wants. Fill the blank check, join Josh Allen, and the rest will take care of itself.
Buffalo desperately needs a No. 1 receiver to break through in the AFC. Evans is a consistent 1,000-yard threat with a Super Bowl championship on his resume. A two-year deal worth around $20-something million annually is ideal for both sides.
Carolina Panthers: Devin Lloyd
The Panthers haven’t had a real difference-maker on defense since trading Brian Burns to the Giants two years ago. If Lloyd prices himself out of Jacksonville as an NFL free agent, the Panthers must do whatever it takes to bring him aboard.
Lloyd had five interceptions, seven pass breakups, and 1.5 sacks in his contract year. That’s the type of difference-maker the reigning NFC South champions need to take the next step forward in the NFC.
Chicago Bears: Khalil Mack
A reunion just makes too much sense…based on where the Bears are, and where Mack is at this phase of his career.
Mack is on a year-to-year basis and will only want to play for a Super Bowl contender. Chicago needs another pass rusher to help Montez Sweat, and the nine-time Pro Bowler would be a nice short-term solution here.
Cincinnati Bengals: John Franklin-Myers
The Bengals will need a replacement for Trey Hendrickson, and JFM would be a serviceable, affordable option.
Franklin-Myers logged 14.5 sacks in his two seasons with the Broncos. He could form an explosive pass-rushing tandem with Shemar Stewart, who can only go up after a forgettable rookie year.
Cleveland Browns: Jauan Jennings
One thing Cleveland MUST do is bring in another receiver to help Jerry Jeudy and 2025 rookie standout, in tight end Harold Fannin Jr., and given his strong production on a star-studded 49ers offense, who’s to say Jennings can’t become a 1,000-yard receiver elsewhere?
It remains to be seen who will start behind center for the Browns. But an offense featuring Jennigs, Jeudy, Fannin, and Quinshon Judkins is a nice nucleus to start with while they figure out the QB situation.
Dallas Cowboys: Kamren Curl
The Cowboys took care of priority number one by keeping George Pickens. Now, the focus turns to the defensive side of the ball.
Dallas’ secondary is devoid of playmakers. Curl is a Swiss army knife who can line up anywhere in the secondary.
Denver Broncos: Alec Pierce
The Broncos’ last pressing roster weakness is another capable 1,000-yard receiver to take some of the pressure off Courtland Sutton. We know a Sean Payton and Bo Nix-led offense loves the deep ball. Well, Pierce has led the NFL in yards per catch in consecutive years.
Pearce averaged 21.3 yards per reception in 2025 and 22.3 the year before. That big-play ability would take an already-solid Denver offense to another level.
Detroit Lions: Trey Hendrickson
The four-time Pro Bowl is the best defensive player on the market this year. He won’t come cheap, but Dan Campbell and the Lions have to do everything they can to bring him to Motor City.
Detroit’s main weakness is pass-rushing depth outside of Aidan Hutchinson. Getting these two superstars playing together would reassert the Lions as the team to beat in a stacked NFC. And Hendrickson will be motivated to play for a contender after being stuck on a mediocre Bengals team.
Green Bay Packers: Jaylen Watson
The Packers’ secondary is missing a capable shutdown corner. Since they usually do well in NF: free agency, why not pay the big bucks for Kansas City standout free agent Jaylen Watson?
Evan Williams and Xavier McKinney already form arguably the league’s best safety tandem. Adding a stud corner who’s allowed a passer rating of below 80 in consecutive years might give Green Bay the NFL’s best secondary.
Houston Texans: Breece Hall
The Texans’ sluggish offense really missed Joe Mixon last year. Instead of counting on the ageing running back to get back to full health, however, why not just replace him with arguably a top-10 running back in football?
Hall could take over as the backbone of a Houston offense that can’t keep putting games in the hands of CJ Stroud. If Hall could put up Pro Bowl-like numbers on the Jets, imagine what he could do on a competent Texans squad…
Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones
It HAS to be Danny Dimes for the Colts. There are no other free agents in the NFL to prioritize right now.
Jones would have gotten Indy to the playoffs if not for a season-ending Achilles tear. He was the perfect fit in Shane Steichen’s offense. At the very least, the Colts gotta put the franchise tag on Jones.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Quay Walker
If the Jaguars can’t retain Devin Lloyd, they can find an affordable replacement in Quay Walker. The former Packers’ 2022 first-round pick has elite athleticism and speed. But he could never put it all together in Green Bay’s deep front seven.
Perhaps a move to Duval County can help Walker maximize his potential. He could do worse than playing alongside Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, after all…
Kansas City Chiefs: Travis Etienne Jr.
The Chiefs haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017. The lack of a dynamic running back finally caught up to the Chiefs in a dismal 2025 season, and you better believe that the front office took note.
Travis Etienne Jr. has three 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, but he’s also deadly in the passing game. He’s the perfect do-it-all weapon to help Patrick Mahomes and this offense regain its potent form in 2026.
Las Vegas Raiders: Wan’Dale Robinson
The Raiders will need a new No. 1 receiver after trading Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars at the deadline. They’re about to take Fernando Mendoza with the first-overall pick, so how about adding this 1,000-yard receiver to complement Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty on offense?
Mendoza would be well-suited to produce right away in an offense like this.
Los Angeles Chargers: Joel Bitonio
The Chargers’ o-line was ripped to shreds after losing tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt to season-ending injuries. Those two will fix things up in 2026, but the interior o-line needs big-time upgrades.
The seven-time Pro Bowl guard will wanna play for a contender after spending his career in Cleveland up to this point. Bitonio, plus healthy versions of Slater and Alt, would give LA the makings of a top-five o-line.
Los Angeles Rams: Nahshon Wright
The Rams are still searching for their first stud shutdown corner in the post-Jalen Ramsey era. Wright, who just had a career year in Chicago, would do wonders in a Rams defense that’s otherwise set at every other position.
A defense with Wright, Kobie Turner, Jared Verse, and Byron Young would push the Rams that much closer to the Super Bowl after falling just short of the big game this past season.
Miami Dolphins: Malik Willis
Unless Miami is able to facilitate a move for someone like Kyler Murray or Kirk Cousins, Willis should be their No. 1 priority in looking for in the crop of NFL free agents.
The dual-threat quarterback looked like a capable starting signal-caller with three quality starts for the Packers over the last two years. Willis could ignite a Miami offense built around speed, namely Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane.
Minnesota Vikings: Bobby Wagner
The ageless wonder is still playing at a premium level. The Vikings have one of the league’s best defensive units under Brian Flores, but adding this do-it-all veteran would help Minny close the gap with their NFC North rivals.
Wagner’s championship experience could help Minnesota enjoy a deep playoff run for once, too. Just sayin’!
New England Patriots: Wyatt Teller
The Patriots’ offensive line was picked apart by the resilient Seahawks’ pass rush in Super Bowl 60. Believe us, the Pats know exactly what the offseason priority is.
Like longtime Browns teammate Joel Bitonio, Teller has been one of football’s premier guards during his tenure in Cleveland. The three-time Pro Bowler can chase the money AND a ring on the Patriots, making this the perfect fit.
New Orleans Saints: Deebo Samuel
The Saints need another wideout to take some of the pressure off Chris Olave. Samuel would be an even more explosive Taysom Hill, capable of putting up near 1,000 yards of offense as a receiver and running back each season.
Kellen Moore would surely find some crafty ways to get the most out of Samuel. He’d be a lot of fun in that offense with Tyler Shough, Olave, Alvin Kamara, and Juwan Johnson.
New York Giants: Tyler Linderbaum
The Giants have a pressing need at center. John Harbaugh oversaw Linderbaum’s development in Baltimore. The fit is too perfect for this well-known NFL free agent.
Jaxson Dart took way too many hits as a rookie. If they can have Linderbaum anchoring the middle with Andrew Thomas solidifying the blinside spot, Dart would be spending a LOT less time on the ground.
New York Jets: Boye Mafe
The Jets tore down a once-promising defensive nucleus by trading away Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner at the deadline. With a ton of cap space at their disposal, they can dip their feet in a deep NFL free agent class of pass-rushers.
Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe will seek a fresh start after moving down into a rotational role last season. The Jets will be happy to start Mafe, who could be the ideal sidekick to Will McDonald IV.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jadeveon Clowney
The Eagles’ front seven looks a lot different now than the one that willed them to a Super Bowl 59 title a year ago. Adding more youth at the draft is necessary, but they can add some proven veterans to help in the short term for another hopeful Super Bowl run.
Clowney found the fountain of youth in Dallas last season, logging 8.5 sacks in 13 games. He can be a difference-maker on an even more prolific Philadelphia front seven.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Romeo Doubs
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
We’re assuming that Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh in 2026. Regardless of who’s behind center, the Steelers cannot head into next season with the same receiving room. DK Metcalf can’t be the only one doing something.
So, how about reuniting A-Rod with his former Packers teammate? Doubs was often lost in a crowded Green Bay room, but could elevate his game with increased playing time in a Mike McCarthy-coached offense.
San Francisco 49ers: Tyreek Hill
Hill’s best bet is to take a one-year deal, get healthy, and show he’s got lots left in the tank. And ideally, he’d join a Super Bowl contender to help him regain that star-like form.
The 49ers will have two voids at receiver with Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings out of town. Kyle Shanahan would love to work with the guy who burned his 49ers in Super Bowl 54 seven seasons ago. A one-year deal with incentives is perfect for all parties.
Seattle Seahawks: Kenneth Walker III
The NFL’s Super Bowl 60 champions cannot keep every pending free agent. But retaining Walker is especially crucial for Mike Macdonald and company.
The Super Bowl 60 MVP carried the Seahawks on his back with a postseason for the ages. The odds of finding a game-changing running back of similar value? Not good. So just pay Walker and keep the band together. Everyone’s happy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bradley Chubb
Chubb stayed healthy in 2025 and reminded everyone of his game-wrecking abilities, notching 8.5 sacks on a lousy Miami team. Now, he gets to pursue a ring after being stuck on mediocre teams throughout his career.
The aggressive, blitz-happy Buccaneers are the perfect landing spot for Chubb. And Tampa needs more pass-rushing help, with YaYa Diaby finishing first on the team with only seven last season.
Tennessee Titans: Kyle Pitts
The 2025 Titans had one of the worst sets of skill position players we’ve ever seen. Sorry if it’s harsh, but no player hit 60 receptions or 570 receiving yards. Just sayin’
If the Falcons’ star tight end hits free agency, the Titans need to be all over this. Pitts would immediately become Cam Ward’s most trusted target, no longer having to compete with Drake London and Bijan Robinson for targets.
Washington Commanders: Coby Bryant
Commanders head coach and ex-Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has a rich history of working with elite safeties. If he paid close attention to Bryant and the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense, he’ll have Bryant’s agent on speed dial.
The Commanders have a few difference-makers on defense. Adding this do-it-all safety and Super Bowl champion in the secondary would be a nice starting point in reshaping the unit.
