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NFL free agency: Ranking top 100 available players after franchise tag deadline
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- NFL free agency: Ranking top 100 available players after franchise tag deadline
INDIANAPOLIS – The last significant hurdle for NFL players hoping to reach unfettered free agency was cleared – by most – at 4 p.m. ET on March 3, the deadline for teams to apply franchise and transition tags in bids to restrict the movement of stars on expiring contracts.
Now it's full steam ahead to free agency, its official negotiating window opening at noon ET on March 9, when pending free agents can begin negotiating with teams aside from their own. In the meantime, clubs can continue trying to hammer out extensions exclusively with their own players while agreeing to trade others – though such deals can't become official until 4 p.m. ET on March 11, when the new league year begins and free agents can also enter into binding contracts with other teams.
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But make no mistake, plenty of transactional wheels were greased during the annual scouting combine, where teams often talk football business among themselves in addition to evaluating the upcoming draft's prospects.
"The combine's become a little bit more about," said Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider, "what the free agency and trades, and what's the spring gonna look like.
"Yeah, honestly, it's like a reset. Like, 'Alright, here we go. We're moving,' you know?"
Schneider himself will doubtless be doing plenty of moving and shaking given the number of key players he stands to lose from the reigning Super Bowl champions' roster – not to mention the pressing needs to get young stars like WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and CB Devon Witherspoon under long-term extensions (both 2023 first-rounders currently stand to receive massive balloon payments in 2027 before becoming eligible for free agency in 2028).
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As for the guys set to go free now, especially as the league crosses the tag threshold, USA TODAY Sports' list of top 100 NFL free agents in 2026 has been updated – and we've put a little extra emphasis on the top 26 players in what is a somewhat uninspiring group overall ( ^denotes a franchise tag; *denotes a player whose contract was terminated, making him eligible to sign with a new team immediately; **denotes a player who's been informed of his pending release ):
1. WR George Pickens ^
The Dallas Cowboys have already franchised him, Pickens now due a guaranteed $27.3 million for the 2026 season – assuming he signs the tag at some point. Yet he could also still be traded or even potentially sign an offer sheet from another team – which the Cowboys would have the right to match or receive two first-round picks as compensation if they chose not to. But don't bet on it.
"Very clearly, the Cowboys want George Pickens to be a part of our future," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told a select group of reporters , including USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell, at the combine.
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Regardless, Jones has a big decision ahead on Pickens, just as he did last year with former Dallas DE Micah Parsons . Pickens is coming off a career year (93 catches for 1,429 yards and 9 TDs, all personal bests) turns 25 on March 4 … and may be absent from the team's offseason program as along as he's without a long-term extension. Obviously a good fit in Dallas' offense last season, Pickens isn't for everyone. But his 2025 effort strongly suggested his production and potential are quickly coming into alignment.
2. C Tyler Linderbaum
Full transparency, he was ranked third in this list's first iteration – but his age and ability may render him the richest man to emerge from this year's free agency cycle. Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta revealed at the combine that the team had made Linderbaum "a market-setting offer." ( Creed Humphrey 's four-year, $72 million pact with the Kansas City Chiefs is currently the financial benchmark among centers.) However, DeCosta wasn't willing to franchise his 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler because the lofty tag is based on all O-line deals, which would mean paying a center left tackle money. DeCosta is also trying to address QB Lamar Jackson 's contract − he currently carries a cap charge of $74.5 million in 2026 and '27 – limiting the team's financial flexibility to some degree. Now, an immediate (and likely frenzied) bidding war will doubtless commence around Linderbaum.
Best fits: Ravens , Bears , Giants
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3. DE/OLB Trey Hendrickson
After registering 35 sacks between the 2023 and '24 seasons, including a league-leading 17½ in the latter campaign, the 31-year-old was limited to seven games by injuries last year − that in the wake of a contentious offseason with the Cincinnati Bengals . Regardless, his services should be in high demand.
Best fits: Patriots , Colts , Eagles
4. OLB/DE Jaelan Phillips
It's hard to come by untethered edge defenders theoretically entering their prime. But Phillips, 26, could be one of the belles of the FA ball after being acquired by the Philadelphia Eagles at last year's trade deadline . He finished the season with five sacks and 63 quarterback pressures, per Next Gen Stats. More importantly, he appeared in 17 regular-season games for the first time since 2022 after injuries ruined his following two seasons. Strong against the pass and run, the 6-foot-5, 266-pounder should find a very robust market.
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Best fits:Patriots, Eagles, Ravens
5. QB Daniel Jones ^
Jones was tagged March 3 − but with a transition tag, not the franchise variety, meaning he's especially exposed if another team swoops in with an offer the Indianapolis Colts aren't willing to match (or get compensated for). A torn Achilles last December cut short what had been his best season statistically (238.5 passing yards per game, 100.2 QB rating) to that point. The QB trend du jour that may be forming in the NFL could be finding a reclamation project who won't necessarily eat up a massive chunk of the salary cap − and Jones, 28, can thank Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield for their ongoing heroics. Hard to believe Indy will allow Jones to gauge his worth with the rest of the league, though ... especially when his previous team, the Minnesota Vikings , could suddenly become very interested if he's not secured soon.
Best fits:Colts, Vikings
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6. OLB/DE Odafe Oweh
He has 17½ sacks and 98 pressures as a part-time starter over the past two seasons, which were split between the Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers . Heady numbers for a 27-year-old who should be ready for a bigger role ... and certainly a larger paycheck.
Best fits:Titans, Chargers, Patriots
7. QB Malik Willis
He could be this year's version of Justin Fields − a quarterback with intriguing skills but limited experience who can nevertheless capitalize financially given the high demand but low supply at his incomparably critical position. Willis, 26, has far fewer NFL reps than Fields but really impressed while filling in as a spot starter for the Green Bay Packers the past two seasons, completing nearly 80% of his passes while throwing six TDs and zero INTs. In addition to a 134.6 passer rating, Willis can also move like a tank. Keep an eye on the Dolphins, who just plucked their new GM (Jon-Eric Sullivan) and coach (Jeff Hafley) from the Pack, as a potential buyer. The Cardinals, too, given new coach Mike LaFleur is the brother of Green Bay HC Matt LaFleur. Willis is another passer who didn't pan out after he was drafted yet could be a relative bargain now if his limited sample size proves reflective of his long-term prospects.
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Best fits:Dolphins, Cardinals
8. WR Alec Pierce
Similar to Rashid Shaheed , he could be an elite No. 2 receiver in the right system. Unlike Shaheed, he doesn't bring any special teams value. However Pierce, 25, has led the league in yards per reception each of the past two seasons (21.8 ypc over the duration) and is coming off a breakout year with 47 grabs for 1,003 yards. Pierce should get paid nicely, especially if a prospective employer views him as more of a deep threat.
Best fits:Colts, Broncos , Titans
9. OT Rasheed Walker
He's been a solid, if unspectacular, starter for the Packers since 2023. But serviceable, 26-year-old left tackles don't grow on trees and tend to get paid outrageously well − maybe especially so in a year when there aren't any blue-chip incomers in the draft.
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Best fits: Browns , Bears
10. WR/KR Rashid Shaheed
The big-play ability he flashed for years with the New Orleans Saints translated beautifully − and crucially − when the Seattle Seahawks obtained him last November . Shaheed, 27, seemed like the final piece for the 'Hawks' championship puzzle and delivered huge catches and returns in pivotal games down the stretch and in the postseason. However it should be captivating to see what Shaheed can fetch given he's never been a No. 1 receiver nor averaged 600 receiving yards during his four-year career. Still, his return ability − at a time when the kickoff is becoming an increasingly important component of the game − could really drive up his price tag.
Best fits:Seahawks, Raiders , Broncos
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11. TE Kyle Pitts ^
The No. 4 overall pick in 2021 − the highest-drafted tight end ever − Pitts, 25, never seemed to fully reach his potential with the Atlanta Falcons , which isn't completely an indictment of him. But he was a second-team All-Pro in 2025 and did just put together his best season since he was a rookie, catching a career-high 88 passes and five TDs. Pitts could really take off in an offense that truly leverages his estimable abilities ... and maybe even has the foresight to feature him in the red zone. He stands to make $15 million under the tag in 2026, though it remains to be seen if new coach Kevin Stefanski's offense will sustain Pitts' production.
12. RB Breece Hall ^
Though the New York Jets seemingly purged much of their talent at last year's trade deadline , they hung on to their 24-year-old back. And why not? Hall has averaged 1,260 yards from scrimmage and nearly seven TDs during his four seasons − and for a pop-gun offense. Explosive and an excellent receiver, Hall is the best runner on the market and may yet be a cornerstone for the NYJ as they lay the groundwork to welcome their next franchise QB … eventually. Hall's 2026 tag is worth $14.3 million.
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13. QB Kyler Murray **
He offered a digital goodbye on X amid reports on March 3 that the Arizona Cardinals will be officially releasing the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft. An Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler, Murray's talent has never been in question. But his durability and work ethic have been at issue during his career, and his play plateaued even though former coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense was supposed to optimize Murray's abilities. Murray will be 29 when Week 1 rolls around and maybe he becomes the league's latest successful franchise QB turnaround project if he lands in the right spot. If he doesn't? His days as a starter could be numbered.
Best fits:Vikings, Jets, Falcons
14. S Coby Bryant
After struggling as a corner earlier in his Seattle career, he's flourished as a safety the past two seasons − and the 26-year-old should get a nice bump given the league's other teams always look to raid the most recent Super Bowl champions.
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Best fits:Seahawks, Chargers, Ravens
15. CB Jaylen Watson
He's big (6-2, 197), young (27), still experienced (29 starts) and playoff tested. Watson is coming off his best season but is probably a luxury for the capped-out Chiefs.
Best fits:Chiefs, Jets, Seahawks
16. LB Devin Lloyd
A first-rounder of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, he blossomed into a Pro Bowler last season as the team blossomed around him. If the Jags don't pony up to keep their 27-year-old defensive quarterback, someone will.
Best fits:Jaguars, Commanders , Jets
17. S Bryan Cook
He's emerged as a key component of Steve Spagnuolo's K.C. D in recent years. A steady, reliable player, Cook, 26, should be a stabilizing presence if not one who's going to make a ton of splash plays.
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Best fits:Chiefs, Raiders, Titans
18. RB Kenneth Walker III
The 25-year-old Super Bowl MVP will get a hefty raise in Seattle or elsewhere. But Walker is not the second coming of Saquon Barkley , isn't as good an every-down player as Hall and has spent most of his career in a platoon. The guess here is that Walker won't come close to resetting the compensation scale at a position that generally doesn't command top dollar.
Best fits:Seahawks, Steelers , Chiefs
19. WR Jauan Jennings
A 6-3, 212-pounder, the 28-year-old caught 132 balls (15 for TDs) over the past two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers . Jennings' roots as a quarterback also make him quite a threat on trick plays. He's also the proverbial dog that some locker rooms covet ... and others won't.
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Best fits:Commanders, Raiders, 49ers
20. WR Mike Evans
He'll be 33 by Week 1 and is coming off the worst of his 12 NFL seasons. But 6-5 and 231 pounds don't fade like speed does, and a healthy Evans (he wasn't in 2025) should be a dangerous offensive weapon, red-zone monster and top-tier leader again in 2026 − whether it's for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or someone else.
Best fits:Buccaneers, Patriots, Seahawks, Bills
21. CB Nahshon Wright
Though he's already 27, he's hardly a finished product. He's also a 6-4, 199-pound corner who led the NFL with eight takeaways (5 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries) after becoming a surprise starter (and surprise first-time Pro Bowler) for the Chicago Bears . The upside and production spike are going to make Wright rich.
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Best fits:Bears, Seahawks, Cowboys
22. WR Romeo Doubs
He's 25 with good size (6-2, 204) and has averaged roughly 50 receptions and 600 yards during four years with the Pack, who have widely dispersed their target share in the post-Davante Adams era. Doubs could be far more impactful as a 1A or second option elsewhere.
Best fits:Cardinals, Jets, Titans
23. QB Aaron Rodgers
Last season was his best since 2021, his most recent MVP effort. Hard to imagine the 42-year-old legend playing anywhere besides the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just hired Mike McCarthy, formerly Rodgers' coach in Green Bay . Again, monitor the Vikings as a possible dark horse.
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Best fits:Steelers, Vikings
24. QB Kirk Cousins **
Given the structure of his reworked deal, the Falcons will let him go on March 11. More than a year removed from Achilles surgery, Cousins, 37, looked more like himself last season – after replacing injured Michael Penix Jr . – than he did in 2024. He could be a valued for stopgap for several teams.
Best fits:Browns, Vikings, Jets, Falcons
25. OLB/DE Boye Mafe
Despite being a rotational player in Seattle, he was still credited with 41 pressures even while playing fewer than half the defensive snaps. Only 27, he's another who could get a Lombardi raise from an outside suitor.
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Best fits:Titans, Cowboys, Raiders
26. DE/OLB Joey Bosa
He'll be 31 this season and has a checkered injury history. But Bosa's 2025 campaign with the Buffalo Bills was his best since 2021. He had five sacks and 43 pressures in 15 games and led the league with five forced fumbles. He'd be wise to find a home where his snaps can be maximized but limited.
Best fits:49ers, Bills, Titans
27. WR Wan'dale Robinson
He may be 5-8 and 185 pounds, but the 25-year-old was targeted 140 times each of the past two years with the New York Giants − and posted his first 1,000-yard season in 2025. Robinson isn't a No. 1 receiver, either − doesn't mean he won't heavily impact his next offense.
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Best fits:Jets, Giants, Titans
28. CB Jamel Dean
He was All-Pro-caliber in his seventh season, allowing just 22 completions in 14 games. And Dean is only 29.
29. G David Edwards
Want a highly capable 28-year-old interior offensive lineman whom the Bills probably can't afford to keep? Then Edwards might be your guy.
30. CB Riq Woolen
He's a 6-4, 210-pound athletic freak who will be 27 in May. He also lost the starting job he'd held for 3½ years midway through the 2025 season – though that's at least partially due to Seattle's embarrassing riches of talent, and Woolen remained a significant contributor. He'll be a starter elsewhere soon … and a well-compensated one.
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31. RB Travis Etienne
He rebounded from a miserable 2024 to rack up 1,399 yards from scrimmage and a career-best 13 TDs for the AFC South champion Jags. Etienne, 27, may not be an every-down back, but he's a highly capable receiver who should always be on the field during high-leverage situations.
32. DL Dre'Mont Jones
Physically imposing at 6-3 and 281 pounds, he can be a valuable end for teams that favor 3-4 fronts. Traded to the Ravens midway through last season, the 29-year-old had his best year – actually appearing in 18 games (no bye due to the trade) and finished with seven sacks and 55 pressures, both the best of his seven-year career.
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33. CB Cor'Dale Flott
He'll be 25 at the beginning of next season and has shown steady improvement over the past two years with the Giants – allowing just two TD passes while starting 24 of 28 games over that span.
34. CB Montaric Brown
A 26-year-old coming off a breakout season, when QBs had a 69.9 passer rating when targeting him.
35. LB Bobby Wagner
He doesn't play a premium position, and he's 35 – not that you'd know it. A great leader and great guy who should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he's done, championship-aspiring teams should be lining up to sign him.
36. TE Travis Kelce
He doesn't play a premium position, and he's 36 – not that you'd know it, especially after playing better in 2025 than he did the previous year. Hard to imagine Kelce plays anywhere but Kansas City , assuming he plays at all and can find a financial middle ground with the team after making more than $17 million last season.
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37. OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
An immensely talented player who was the 14th overall pick by the Jets in 2021, he can excel pretty much anywhere on the line … provided he can play. Vera-Tucker has played more than seven games twice in his career and missed all of last season with a triceps injury.
38. OLB/DE Bradley Chubb**
After missing the entire 2024 season while recovering from a torn ACL, the 29-year-old had 8½ sacks and 54 pressures for Miami in 2025. The two-time Pro Bowler should be even better in 2026.
39. S Jaylinn Hawkins
He really hit his groove with the New England Patriots in 2025, his sixth year but third team, picking off four passes – doubling his career total entering the season. Other teams tend to love 28-year-olds who just played in the Super Bowl.
40. DL John Franklin-Myers
A 29-year-old who's done a lot of the dirty work during his career, he collected a career-best 7½ sacks for the Denver Broncos in 2025. Franklin-Myers, who's mostly played in three-man fronts, has averaged 43.2 pressures since 2020.
41. TE Isaiah Likely
He's 25 and extraordinarily talented. But 2025 was also his least productive season, partially derailed by a foot injury early in the year. But it was notable the Ravens chose to extend TE Mark Andrews , who's five years older than Likely, in December.
42. G Zion Johnson
A first-rounder in 2022, he was decidedly average for the Chargers. But a lot of teams would take decidedly average if it's available for 1,000-plus snaps per season, as Johnson has been. Still only 26, we've moved him up this list given the premium on blocking – and while other players like Cincinnati G Dalton Risner and Buffalo C Connor McGovern re-signed early.
43. RB Tyler Allgeier
He was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2022 … the year before Bijan Robinson arrived in Atlanta. Yet Allgeier, 25, still averaged nearly 750 yards from scrimmage and five TDs over the next three seasons in a valuable secondary role to Robinson.
44. LB Devin Bush Jr.
A first-round pick of the Steelers in 2019, the 27-year-old has come into his own the past two years in Cleveland, his third NFL team.
45. WR Stefon Diggs**
He was a big reason the Patriots reached the Super Bowl, finishing with 85 catches and more than 1,000 yards the season after he suffered a torn ACL. However Diggs will turn 33 next season, and his pending legal issues will give any team some level of pause.
46. S Jalen Thompson
Only 27, he's quietly been Budda Baker's backline partner in crime for seven years in Arizona.
47. OT Braxton Jones
A series of injuries starting late in the 2024 season waylaid him, but he was a reliable left tackle for the Bears for the three years up to that point. Jones turns 27 next month and should have a lot of good football left in him.
48. DL Calais Campbell
Even at 39, he continues to be a phenomenal player and leader – one who remarkably hasn't missed a game since 2022.
49. G Teven Jenkins
A second-round pick in 2021, he's more than solid inside but can also shift out to tackle in a pinch.
50. CB Cobie Durant
The 28-year-old has allowed a 54% completion rate on passes thrown in his direction the past two years as a full-time starter for the Rams.
51. C Cade Mays
After taking over the pivot in Carolina last year, the 26-year-old could find himself enriched as the Linderbaum consolation prize somewhere.
52. LB Nakobe Dean
He's little more than a year removed from suffering a torn patellar tendon in the 2024 playoffs and it impacted his '25 campaign. The Eagles could get a bargain if they can get the 25-year-old, who played 10 games last season, back for at least one more year.
53. RB Rico Dowdle
He has 2,701 yards from scrimmage while splitting the last two years between Dallas and Carolina. A tough runner who's only 27, his production really tailed off in the second half of last season after an explosive October.
54. S Kevin Byard
A three-time All-Pro, he led the league with seven INTs in 2025, and his 36 picks are the second most among active players. Byard will be 33 in August but still clearly has gas left in the tank.
55. G Ed Ingram
A second-round pick of Minnesota four years ago, Ingram just had his best season in Houston.
56. LB Leo Chenal
He's started 44 games during his four-year career with the Chiefs, but 2025 was the first time he was on the field for more than half the snaps – and barely then (53.2%). Only 25, Chenal is an exceptional athlete who could shine given the opportunity to play more for another team – though he probably needs to factor more as a pass rusher.
57. CB Alontae Taylor
He's not a shutdown guy. He is 27, largely lives in the slot and is extremely durable − all traits that will make him valuable.
58. DE Kwity Paye
Reliable if unspectacular, the 27-year-old has started 74 games since being a first-round pick of the Colts in 2021. Paye has 30½ career sacks, at least 40 pressures in each of the past three seasons and defends the run well enough.
59. OT Jermaine Eluemunor
A fifth-rounder in 2017, he's been better than average during his career and has become an especially good pass blocker in recent years – starting 62 games since 2022.
60. S Jaquan Brisker
Not a lot of flash, but a 26-year-old who started in Chicago for four years can stabilize the back end of a defense.
61. DE-OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad
He's nearly 31 but picked the right time to have a career season – registering 11 sacks and 59 pressures for the Detroit Lions in 2025, by far personal bests. TBD how much his outlier season and age will allow Muhammad to cash in.
62. G Isaac Seumalo
A decade into his career, Rodgers sung his praises last season. Seumalo, 32, won't get Linderbaum-level money … but he likely won't be waiting long for a new deal, either.
63. WR Deebo Samuel
He's a big name. He's also 30, isn't a polished receiver and has averaged fewer than 900 yards from scrimmage over the past four years in what's largely a play-making role. He has handled kickoffs the past two years, a factor that boosts his value.
64. RB Rachaad White
He had more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage for the Bucs in 2023 but was overtaken on the depth chart by Bucky Irving in 2024. But White, 27, who's also averaged more than 50 receptions during his four-year career, should find a significant role elsewhere.
65. TE Dallas Goedert
He's 31 but also coming off one of his best seasons, his 11 TDs and 60 catches in 2025 both career highs. Blocking isn't the longtime Eagle's forte … the "Tush Push" notwithstanding .
66. NT Khyiris Tonga
Tough to find 6-2, 335-pounders who eat space and stress pockets. Tonga, 29, did it well for New England in 2025, playing a career-high 322 snaps.
67. S Alohi Gilman
Traded for Oweh last October, Gilman did a nice job in Baltimore – his ability to line up just about anywhere making him a nice complement to Kyle Hamilton.
68. DL Logan Hall
A 6-6, 283-pounder who was a second-round pick of the Bucs in 2022, he can eat up a lot of snaps and should be able to do so in even or odd fronts.
69. WR Jalen Nailor
His numbers would probably be much more impressive had he not been stuck behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota. Still, Nailor, 26, had 47 first downs and 10 TDs over the past two seasons and has averaged 15.4 yards per catch during his four-year career.
70. TE Chig Okonkwo
An oversized receiver at 6-3 and 238 pounds, maybe it shouldn't be a surprise he doesn't block much. But Okonkwo, 26, had his best season in 2025 with 56 receptions for 560 yards.
71. DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney
Something of a mercenary at age 33, the No. 1 pick of the 2014 draft had 8½ sacks and 38 pressures for the Cowboys last season despite playing about half of his typical snap count. He can also still set a nice edge.
72. RB J.K. Dobbins
Durability has always been the issue, and a foot injury limited him to 10 games in Denver last season. Yet Dobbins, 27, was averaging a career-best 77.2 rushing yards per game before going down.
73. DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson
He's 28, versatile and knows how to get underneath an opponent's skin … though that's also sometimes true of his own teams, too.
74. LT Taylor Decker**
He'll be 33 at the start of the 2026 season but good luck finding a better stopgap guy to man the blind side.
75. G Kevin Zeitler
He'll be 36 next month. Otherwise? Still plug and play – at a very high level.
76. CB Josh Jobe
He doesn't have Woolen's physical gifts, but Jobe emerged as a consistent starter on Seattle's defense – yet probably won't command nearly as much as dough as his (in all likelihood) soon-to-be former teammate.
77. OLB/DE K'Lavon Chaisson
He finally showed why he was a first-round pick six years ago, providing 7½ sacks and 52 pressures – both career highs – during his first season with the Patriots. The 6-3, 255-pounder has to be in the right system but should have plenty of time to flourish in an ideal environment given he's only 26.
78. OLB Arden Key
A slightly older, slightly slighter version of Chaisson, Key does own 27½ sacks and more than 200 pressures since 2021.
79. CB Rasul Douglas
He bounced back nicely after a rough 2024 campaign in Buffalo. A big (6-2, 209) corner with 21 career picks shouldn't be unemployed for long, even at 30.
80. RB Kenneth Gainwell
He was the Steelers' MVP last season, when he had a career-high 187 touches and career-best 1,023 yards from scrimmage – along with a personal best eight TDs. Soon to be 27, Gainwell could be a perfect addition for an offense that favors a running back by committee approach.
81. TE David Njoku
He's still a physical marvel at 29, good for around 50 grabs, 600 yards and a handful of TDs annually. And unlike a lot of tight ends nowadays, he's also effective in-line as a blocker.
82. TE Cade Otton
He averaged 59 catches and nearly 600 yards over the past two seasons in Tampa. Decent blocker.
83. DT DJ Reader
Even at 31, the 6-3, 330-pounder can still crush a pocket – especially if his snaps are used judiciously.
84. TE Jonnu Smith
He had a career year for Miami in 2024, but his numbers plummeted in Pittsburgh's tight end-heavy offense in 2025. But Smith is only 30 and should find a soft landing somewhere.
85. WR Brandon Aiyuk**
He was a 1,300-yard receiver in 2023. He tore up his knee in 2024. He didn't play in 2025 and basically ghosted the 49ers, leading the team to void $27 million of Aiyuk's guaranteed money. His talent and behavior will make for quite the cost-benefit analysis for potentially interested teams.
86. OLB/DE Arnold Ebiketie
He's 27 and has shown the ability to get to the quarterback (130 total pressures) during his four-year career. But he hasn't proven he can be any more than rotational defender with only 12 starts to his credit.
87. OT Braden Smith
He's started 105 games in eight seasons for the Colts but has missed 16 over the past three seasons and has battled a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder .
88. CB Eric Stokes
A first-rounder of the Packers in 2021, he played for the Raiders last year and had his best season since he was a rookie.
89. LB Kaden Elliss
A tackling machine in Atlanta, where the 30-year-old averaged more than 125 stops over the past three seasons, Elliss is also a very effective blitzer.
90. WR Keenan Allen
He'll be 34 in April but still moves the sticks, 49 of his 81 catches for the Chargers going for first downs last season.
91. LB Alex Singleton
He's 32 but has averaged more than 100 tackles over the past six years and can quarterback a defense.
92. LB Alex Anzalone
He's 31 but has averaged more than 100 tackles over the past four years and can quarterback a defense.
93. OLB Von Miller
He's about to turn 37, yet he's transitioned into a highly effective situational pass rush specialist – the former Super Bowl MVP racking up 15 sacks and 67 pressures over the last two years, that despite starting just three games.
94. DE/OLB Cameron Jordan
His 10½ sacks in 2025 were his most in four years. Hard to imagine the 36-year-old playing a 16th season anywhere but New Orleans, but he seems to have more to give.
95. TE Charlie Kolar
He's only got 41 catches in four seasons but is a hellacious blocker − and thus a potential asset at a time when more teams seem to be going to more tight end-heavy looks.
96. WR Marquise Brown
He's only caught more than 70 passes once during his seven-year career, but his speed remains a force multiplier.
97. LB Demario Davis
Now 37, hard to imagine this longtime mainstay in the middle of any other defense but New Orleans'.
98. LB Lavonte David
Now 36, hard to imagine this longtime mainstay in the middle of any other defense but Tampa Bay's.
99. QB Geno Smith**
After a late-career surge in Seattle, last season, he resembled the player who struggled so mightily early in his career, serving up a league-most 17 interceptions for the Raiders in 2025. Now 35, Smith might be a better bridge option than another fading passer like Russell Wilson, but his most recent film isn't likely to earn him another lengthy QB1 shot.
100. WR Tyreek Hill*
He's a Hall of Fame-caliber player , but last season's dislocated knee might preclude him from playing in 2026 – if ever again for a diminutive player whose game has been so reliant on his signature speed. Doesn't mean someone won't take a flier on him at some point … even though he just turned 32.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking top 100 NFL free agents of 2026 after franchise tag deadline
