NFL free agency begins in earnest next Monday, with the start of the league’s official tampering period.
But with moves already happening — such as Tyler Biadasz signing with the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs trading Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams — the landscape is taking shape.
Still, expect a frenetic start to free agency, with pass rushers perhaps moving the needle. To help you get ready, we have you covered here at SB Nation with a look at the top free agents, secret superstars on offense and defense, and one move each team should make.
And this look at 11 bold predictions for when free agency begins.
C Tyler Linderbaum to the Ravens
Tyler Linderbaum is not just the top center on the market, but one of the top players overall. Several teams have a need at the position, including the Chicago Bears due to Drew Dalman’s unexpected retirement. Another team to watch here is the New York Giants, given John Harbaugh’s presence in the NFC East.
Many also thought that John’s brother, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, would make a run at Linderbaum, but on Friday the Chargers agreed to a deal with center Tyler Biadasz.
Still, there could lead to a bidding war for Linderbaum’s services, and according to Ravens beat writer Jeff Zrebiec at The Athletic, should Linderbaum reach the open market “he’s probably as good as gone.”
But we do not think he hits the open market. Linderbaum has fit right in with the Ravens and wants to be on a contender, and playing in front of Lamar Jackson feels like a way to keep contending.
Quarterbacks playing against the New York Jets last season posted a combined 8.1 Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt, the worst number for a defense last year. For reference, a quarterback with an ANY/A of 8.1 last year would have ranked third in the NFL, behind MVP candidates Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford.
And this hypothetical quarterback also did not throw an interceptions, as the Jets became the first defense in league history to finish a 17-game season without a pick.
Basically the Jets turned opposing quarterbacks into an MVP candidate a year ago.
That is why many believe the Jets could look to replace Sauce Gardner with one of their two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. But given their several needs, New York could look to free agency to find a new cornerback, and Riq Woolen might be an ideal fit. Aaron Glenn wants to play man coverage, and that is where Woolen shines.
RB Travis Etienne Jr. to the Chiefs
In just about every single mock draft I have done so far this season, I have slide Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love to the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 9 pick.
But one of the rumors coming out of Indianapolis during the NFL Scouting Combine is that, while the Chiefs do like Love, they do not anticipate he will be there at No. 9 when they are on the clock.
The way I read that? The Chiefs do want to bolster their run game, and free agency might be how they do it.
Andy Reid will find lots of ways to generate touches for Travis Etienne Jr., both in the running game and in the passing attack.
QB Malik Willis to the Cardinals
Three teams that need quarterbacks sit at the top of the first round.
In a year where there might be two quarterbacks taken in the first round.
That puts the Arizona Cardinals in a difficult spot, as they hold the third-overall selection on opening night. Arizona likely looks to free agency to address the quarterback position, and Malik Willis stands out as the top option this offseason. Arizona could kick the quarterback decision to 2027, rolling into this season with Jacoby Brissett as a bridge to their next QB, and hope that the expectations for next year’s rookie class materialize.
Or they could take a shot with Willis, and hope that new head coach Mike LaFleur can help the young quarterback take the next step.
Two teams are certainly options for Mike Evans: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans. Evans could decide to return to Tampa Bay for the stretch run of his career, but the Titans have both the need for a trusted veteran receiver — and ball-winner — for Cam Ward and the cap space to lure Evans to Nashville.
But Evans probably wants to make another run at a title, and the San Francisco 49ers need to stabilize their wide receiver room given the expected release of Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings’ own free agency. Adding Evans gives Brock Purdy another target in the passing game, and will help San Francisco make another run at a division title.
The decision to use the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones only decreased the odds that general manager Chris Ballard will be able to bring Alec Pierce back to the Indianapolis Colts.
When you factor in the fact that a division rival has a substantial amount of cap space, and a need at wide receiver, those odds drop even more.
Pairing Pierce with Cam Ward and this Tennessee Titans offense seems nearly ideal. Pierce can continue to be the downfield, vertical threat he has become in the NFL, and help create space underneath for some of Tennessee’s other wide receivers.
With a pair of picks in the first round, and several needs on the defensive side of the football, pass rusher and linebacker are the two positions many believe the Dallas Cowboys would address on the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft. Many mock drafts ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine had Dallas drafting an EDGE with their first pick — at No. 12 — and then linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 20.
Then Styles turned in a legendary performance in Indianapolis, and now it is hard to think he will even be there at No. 12 when the Cowboys are first on the clock.
To guard against that, and fill a big need on defense, Dallas turns to former Green Bay Packer Quay Walker. He would bring some athleticism to the second level of the Cowboys’ defense, something that unit truly needs.
TE Chig Okonkwo to the Patriots
Looking at the New England Patriots, wide receiver does stand out as a need for the team, particularly in the wake of the Stefon Diggs news.
But tight end is a need as well, with Hunter Henry in the final year of his contract and Austin Hooper hitting free agency. Josh McDaniels would love Okonkwo’s versatility, and Drake Maye would love his athleticism. Pairing Okonkwo with Henry in two-TE packages would give the New England offense some explosive play-making ability out of bigger personnel groupings.
EDGE Trey Hendrickson to the Colts
The dots are not too difficult to connect here. Trey Hendrickson grew into one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers under former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Who is now the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.
Not only that, but the Colts have hired a new defensive line coach for the 2026 season in Marion Hobby.
Prior to spending last season as a defensive analyst for the Titans, Hobby was the defensive line coach for the … Cincinnati Bengals.
Again, the dots are pretty easy to connect with this one.
