Predicting landing spots, contracts for top offensive free agents
NFL free agency is almost here.
Signings can't be made official until the new league year opens Wednesday, but that won't stop teams from locking in agreements when the negotiating period begins Monday at noon ET.
Let's get ready for a big week by playing matchmaker, starting with some of the most notable names available on offense.
Free agency couldn't come at a better time for Walker, whose Super Bowl MVP performance should help him cash in. While we can't rule out a return to Seattle, the Seahawks likely need to show some restraint with big-money extensions for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon, among others, just around the corner.
Denver should be at the front of the line when Walker hits the open market. Sean Payton is no stranger to aggressive personnel moves - and after a frustrating year for the Broncos' run game, it's easy to imagine Walker as his latest big swing. Walker would step in as the feature back, bringing big-play ability that would finally allow the Broncos to maximize one of the league's premier offensive lines. Payton's running back rotations would still provide plenty of opportunities for 2025 second-rounder RJ Harvey, particularly in the pass game.
The Cardinals reportedly plan to cut Kyler Murray at the start of the new league year. His free agency will be fascinating, partly because Arizona still owes him $36.8 million in guarantees. As was the case with Russell Wilson upon being released by the Broncos in 2024, that means Murray can sign for the league minimum. But that's where the comparisons end. Because while the former No. 1 overall pick never quite realized his potential with the Cardinals, he did show flashes of top-12 quarterback play during those seven seasons. And, crucially, he's only 28 years old.
At a time when even low-end veteran starters can top $20 million per year, a number of teams should be willing to take a chance on Murray for a mere $1.3 million. The Vikings would need to make some schematic adjustments for Murray's unique skill set, but they should be more than willing to do so - he offers far more upside than any other quarterback they could reasonably add given their dicey cap situation. J.J. McCarthy can take a step back and focus on his development while Minnesota attempts to compete with Murray in 2026.
Willis figures to land the biggest contract of any free-agent quarterback this year, and it shouldn't be close. With a thin rookie class at the position, this is exactly the kind of rising passer teams should take a chance on in free agency. Willis showed significant development during occasional spot duty in Green Bay, including an impressive start against the Ravens in December, and that could set the stage for him to join the growing list of quarterbacks who broke out late.
The Dolphins will be seen as a top landing spot - they've got Packers connections in new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. But can Miami afford Willis when the expected release of Tua Tagovailoa will leave behind a record $99.2 million in dead money? There's an equally important link to consider in Arizona: New head coach Mike LaFleur is presumably quite familiar with the young quarterback his brother, Matt, developed over the last two years. And Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort may not have the luxury of patience given the team's 15-36 record during his tenure.
It would probably take a while to get used to the sight of Mike Evans in anything other than a Bucs uniform. Tampa Bay theoretically still offers him the chance to compete, so the likely Hall of Famer could stay put. But the Bucs' receiver room is already a little crowded, and they have several other needs to address. It's very possible that Evans moves on after 12 years.
I had the Bills taking a big swing here before Thursday's move to trade for DJ Moore. It might be tough to add two big receiver contracts, though, so I'm making a late adjustment. How about the Ravens? Baltimore could be right back in the Super Bowl conversation in the first year under Jesse Minter with a few moves to address roster needs. A big-body boundary target like Evans should be near the top of that list.
Linderbaum is going to break the bank. It's a foregone conclusion that he'll become the highest-paid center in the game, and competition for his services should help him blow past Creed Humphrey's $18-million AAV and reset the market. The Ravens might not be able to justify dishing out that type of money, even if it hurts to let a 25-year-old star lineman walk.
No team has a more dire need on the interior offensive line than the Chargers. And with upward of $84 million in cap space, they should take a page out of the Bears' book and try to overhaul that group in one offseason. Three-time Pro Bowler Linderbaum, like Aaron Brewer in Miami, is the type of athletic center who can really shine in Mike McDaniel's offense. General manager Joe Hortiz was in Baltimore when the team drafted Linderbaum in 2022, and Jim Harbaugh would likely be thrilled to land a star who used to play for the coach's brother.
Jennings' do-it-all skill set, including a willingness to do the dirty work as a blocker, made him an incredibly important piece in Kyle Shanahan's offense. A reunion with the 49ers is possible, but a contract standoff stretching back two years may have soured the relationship between player and team.
The Commanders have plenty of cap space and a glaring need for a capable starter opposite Terry McLaurin. And if there's one thing general manager Adam Peters loves, it's signing players from his previous employer in San Francisco. Jennings would help Washington's offense get back on track after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Alec Pierce's new contract might knock your socks off. The Colts receiver has quietly emerged as one of the league's premier downfield targets. Although his overall numbers don't match up with what most would expect from a No. 1 receiver, he's led the league in yards per reception in each of the last two seasons. Fresh off his first 1,000-yard campaign, the 25-year-old could be headed for a major breakout.
A number of cap-rich teams will be prepared to pay for what Pierce could become. The Colts likely don't want to lose him, but bringing Daniel Jones back on the transition tag at $37.8 million might complicate their books. The Patriots, meanwhile, have a need at receiver and $56 million in cap space after cutting Stefon Diggs. They should be looking to swoop in and steal a rising star from Indy. Adding Pierce's big-play ability on the outside would be a home-run move to help Drake Maye continue his ascent.
Etienne seems likely to walk. The Jaguars are already up against the cap, and they've got a succession plan with sophomore backs Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. primed for more significant roles. The market for Etienne likely won't be close to as competitive as the market for Kenneth Walker III. However, a strong 2025 campaign in which Etienne held off Jacksonville's rookie tandem makes him an attractive option in his own right.
If the Chiefs can't quite justify Walker's price tag given other problem areas on the roster, Etienne feels like a sensible way to address their woes at running back. He's a more dynamic runner than Isiah Pacheco or this late-career version of Kareem Hunt, and his ability to contribute as a receiver out of the backfield gives him true three-down upside in Kansas City's offense.
Seattle adding Shaheed from the Saints was the best move of last year's trade deadline. Not only did the speedy wideout make some critical contributions on offense down the stretch, but he was also a game-changer for the Super Bowl champs on special teams with three return touchdowns.
While the Seahawks might hope to keep the good times rolling, Shaheed's electric playmaking ability could push his price tag into an uncomfortable zone. New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak knows how to make the most of that dynamic skill set, having worked with Shaheed in both Seattle and New Orleans. A field-stretcher like Shaheed could also aid the development of expected top pick Fernando Mendoza.
This version of Aaron Rodgers is a far cry from the player who won back-to-back MVPs toward the end of his time in Green Bay. He's 42 years old, so that makes sense. But the stability he provided the Steelers last season offered a reminder that he's still a capable starter.
Should he opt to continue his career, it would be a surprise if he plays anywhere other than Pittsburgh in 2026. Although the Steelers should arguably embrace a rebuild, that doesn't seem to be in their DNA. And with Mike McCarthy stepping in as head coach, Rodgers still has more than enough familiarity with the team to discourage him from seriously entertaining any of his other options.
Walker will command a significant payday. The Packers left tackle is far from a household name, so the dollar value will shock some people. But the former seventh-round pick's steady play over the last three seasons as a starter should be more than enough to top the $20.5-million AAV that Dan Moore Jr. got from the Titans this time last year.
The Browns would have to do some cap gymnastics to make this work, but starting the offseason by trading for and extending Tytus Howard showed they're willing to be aggressive in overhauling the offensive line. Locking in Walker and Howard as established bookend tackles would allow Cleveland to avoid forcing any picks due to need early in the draft.
Doubs has been a steady playmaker in Green Bay for several years running. His numbers were never spectacular - his 724 receiving yards in 2025 represented a new career high - but the Packers' offense spreads the ball around. Doubs is an ideal target for a team in need of a reliable No. 2 wideout.
The Steelers fit that description to a tee. Pittsburgh has to add another playmaker (or two) alongside DK Metcalf if the offense expects to take a step forward this year. And considering Mike McCarthy's and Aaron Rodgers' deep ties to Green Bay, Doubs could well be at the top of the Steelers' list.
Goedert was the subject of trade rumors last offseason before the Eagles eventually found a way to keep him around on a revised contract. The veteran tight end delivered with a career-high 11 touchdowns, but a tight cap situation likely spells the end of his time in Philadelphia.
Still a reliable, big-body target in the passing game, Goedert should have plenty of suitors ahead of his age-31 season. The Broncos could use that kind of player after adding Evan Engram last year didn't work out.
It can be tough for a player coming off a completely lost season to get good offers in free agency. That's especially true if he just went down with a major injury for the third time in five years. And yet, I'm pretty confident in projecting big money for Vera-Tucker anyway. Talented young offensive linemen are hard to find.
The former first-round pick, who grew up in Oakland, has been impactful when healthy. This is the kind of high-upside gamble the Raiders need to make to improve the foundation for their incoming rookie quarterback. And Vera-Tucker's familiarity with assistant offensive line coach Ben Wilkerson - who held the same position with the Jets for three seasons - might give Las Vegas the inside track.
Robinson used to be a short-area merchant, but he expanded his game in 2025, and his playmaking ability at the intermediate and deeper levels of the field helped produce his first 1,000-yard season. Teams will consider the 25-year-old a rising player worthy of a well-paying multi-year deal.
New Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll knows Robinson particularly well from their time together in New York. This can't be all the Titans do to improve Cam Ward's supporting cast, but the versatile slot weapon could be a big part of positioning the offense for notable improvement in 2026.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.