8 NFL Free Agents Who Could Break the Bank in 2026

Things are about to get real.

The NFL's focus may be on the 2026 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis right now, but even as the rookies are running and jumping and chasing a football on a stick, the league's movers and shakers are already looking forward to free agency, which will get underway "officially" on March 11.

The league's "legal tampering" period starts two days before, and make no mistake—there are already discussions being had that shouldn't be. There's a reason why as soon as the starting gun sounds on March 9, a fistful of complicated, long-term deals are magically agreed to in 15 minutes.

There will be dozens of deals signed in free agency. Hundreds of millions in guarantees will be handed out. Many of those deals will be sensible. Some will be bargains. Others will be one-year "prove-it" deals signed by aging veterans and players coming off injury.

But as is the case every year, there will be knee-buckling deals that leave fans and pundits alike with sticker shock. Who make us all question the laws of mathematics themselves.

And these players (who can be reasonably expected to swap helmets in 2026) are all good bets to break the bank in free agency—and then buy a nice boat.

Maybe a Bugatti.

QB Malik Willis

AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

There's no clearer path to a jackpot in the NFL than being the top free agent set to change teams at the game's most important position.

That's the situation Malik Willis finds himself in in 2026. Daniel Jones may be the biggest name among quarterbacks about to hit free agency, but he's also a candidate for the franchise tag, and the Indianapolis Colts are already mulling a multi-year extension for the 28-year-old.

That leaves Willis as the top signal-caller who is going to hit the open market. And despite just six starts over four seasons with the Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com said on a podcast appearance that he expects Willis to garner at least $30 million a season on a new contract.

"If Justin Fields gets $20 million a year, what does Malik Willis get? 30? 35? That's my guess as to what it is," Rapoport said.

Willis admittedly looked good in his three starts for the Packers, completing almost 80 percent of his passes and throwing for six touchdowns without an interception. But he struggled in a big way in Tennessee, and $30 million-plus per year is a big risk for a quarterback who has attempted 155 passes for his career. Bo Nix attempted almost four times that many in 2025 alone.

But there are enough teams out there with a need under center that at least one will talk themselves into that limited sample size being the tip of the talent iceberg with Willis.

WR Alec Pierce

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Like Malik Willis, Alec Pierce isn't necessarily the biggest name available at wide receiver—that would be George Pickens. But the odds of Pickens leaving Dallas are approximately 0.0 percent, and while the Colts will likely make an effort to retain Pierce as well, that could be tricky if they have to tag Daniel Jones.

That would leave Pierce as the No. 1 free agent wide receiver—and being No. 1 at a position usually means getting a bag.

While speaking to reporters, Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Pierce has earned a robust raise after logging the first 1,000-yard season of his career in 2025.

"I think he's made huge strides in his game," Colts head coach Shane Steichen said during the scouting combine this week. "Obviously, he's a big home run threat for us, as we know. But the intermediate stuff, the way he's coming in and out of breaks at the top of routes, the comebacks, the one-on-ones on the outside, running in-breaking stuff — he's made a lot of strides in all those areas. Even the 50-50 balls down the field, he's making those 70 percent of the time now. You throw it up and you've got a chance he'll go make a play for us."

Pierce has led the league in yards per catch the past two seasons, and he's yet to turn 26. He's also yet to record even 50 receptions in a season.

NFL teams will probably look a lot harder at the former than the latter, and while Pierce isn't going to get Pickens money, $25 million per season is well within reach.

WR Wan'Dale Robinson

AP Photo/John Locher

The New York Giants have some tough decisions to make regarding pending free agents like right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson. But based on what general manager Joe Schoen told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine, the team is prioritizing the former over the latter.

"Now right tackle, you need a right tackle regardless," he said. "So, and Jermaine was actually with Baltimore, so he has a relationship with coach, in the past. But yeah, a receiver like Wan'Dale, you definitely got to have those conversations to make sure that you're going to get value from the player if you're going to pay him probably what he's going to get."

It's understandable. Generally speaking, wide receivers are an easier position to find replacements at than offensive tackle. And while Robinson is coming off career highs in receiving yards (1,014) and yards per reception (11.0), he has never scored more than four touchdowns in a season and Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus estimated Robinson's average annual value on a new deal at $21 million a season.

"Despite his size limitations," Cameron wrote, "Robinson has proven to be a dynamic weapon out of the slot, generating the third-most yards per route run from a slot alignment (4.44) this season among qualifiers."

Over $20 million a season is a lot to pay a chain-moving slot guy who thrives as much on target volume as anything else. But Robinson is also just 25 years old, and there are multiple teams with both a need for passing-game weapons and cap space to burn.

Looking at you, Tennessee.   

OT Rasheed Walker

AP Photo/Duane Burleson

If you can't be a quarterback hitting free agency, the next best thing may well be playing offensive tackle. Dan Moore got north of $20 million a season last year from the Tennessee Titans—and he allowed a dozen sacks two years ago.

Rashed Walker was substantially better than that last season with the Green Bay Packers—the fifth-year veteran surrendered five sacks in just under 1,000 snaps in 2025 per Pro Football Focus. NFL insider Jason La Canfora wrote recently that the expectation is that Walker will parlay that season to a massive payday on the open market.

"We think he ends up getting $25M (a season)," one NFL salary cap guru/negotiator told La Canfora. "It's supply and demand."

According to Spotrac, there are currently nine offensive tackles making at least $25 million a season, headlined by Rashawn Slater of the Los Angeles Chargers at $28.5 million a year. Slater is one of the best left tackles in the game, however.

Walker, um, isn't.

It's not going to be especially surprising to see Walker hit the jackpot. Again, even average tackles are regularly overpaid in free agency, and Walker is above-average in pass protection. He's also just 26 years old. But to this point in his career, Walker has struggled mightily in run blocking.

$25 million a year is a lot to pay a one-dimensional player, even on the blind side.

OG David Edwards

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Not that long ago, the idea of David Edwards becoming one of the highest paid guards in the NFL would have seemed laughable. After four years and 45 starts for the Los Angeles Rams, Edwards joined the Bills back in 2023 on a modest contract.

However, as Austin Gayle wrote for The Ringer, over three years in Buffalo Edwards has flipped the script.

"Edwards is a reliable player who can raise the level of play of the linemen around him," he said. "He was an absolute steal for Buffalo on his last deal (two years, $6 million), considering he played over 1,000 snaps at guard for the Bills in back-to-back seasons. He's usually a stone wall in pass protection, and he wins consistently as a run blocker because of good positioning and strong hands."

Edwards isn't the best interior lineman set to hit free agency—that is likely Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum. But the Ravens have reportedly already made Linderbaum an offer that would make him the NFL's highest-paid center. The cap-strapped Bills, who are upside down over $3 million against the salary cap, aren't really in position to make Edwards a similar offer—not when Spotrac estimates that Edwards new deal will be in the neighborhood of three years and $60 million.

That would put Edwards in the top-seven at his position in average annual salary—a lot to pay a soon-to-be 29-year-old guard who has never been to a Pro Bowl.

But just like at tackle—any decent guard who hits the open market is apt to get (over)paid.

EDGE Trey Hendrickson

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

While speaking to reporters at the combine, Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said he wouldn't rule out veteran edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson returning to the team in 2026.

"I never will rule out any possibility," he said. "He's a good football player. So, is there a chance he'll be with us? We're in the business of good football players, so I can't rule it out. But I don't know what the future holds."

We'll do it for him—after a 2025 campaign that included a holdout and an injury-shortened season, it's time for Hendrickson and the Bengals to go their separate ways. Tagging Hendrickson would be a nightmare, and Cincinnati has made it clear the franchise isn't giving the 31-year-old a long-term deal.

The question now is who will—and how big that deal will be.

Not that long ago, it would have been a blockbuster—in four straight seasons from 2021-2024, Hendrickson made four straight Pro Bowls. He had 57 sacks over that four-season span, including a league-leading 17.5 in 2024.

But last year, between the contract impasse and hip injury, Hendrickson was limited to just four sacks in seven games. Add to that the fact that Hendrickson will turn 32 in December, and you have the makings of a risky signing.

With that said, Hendrickson is easily the most proven option at a premium position in 2026. It won't be at all surprising if a team desperate to get better rushing the passer hands Hendrickson a three-year deal worth upwards of $30 million a season.

LB Devin Lloyd

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Over his first three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Devin Lloyd was a reasonably productive linebacker—the former first-round pick averaged over 115 total tackles per season. But when faced with the decision on Lloyd's fifth-year option, the Jaguars passed, making 2025 a contract year for the 27-year-old.

Lloyd stepped up. His tackle numbers admittedly fell, but Lloyd more than made up for it with big plays—he logged five interceptions on the way to his first Pro Bowl.

Kevin Knight of SB Nation believes that Lloyd is the best off-ball linebacker available in free agency this year.

"Lloyd has steadily improved since being drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and pulled out his best season yet in 2025," he wrote. "The 6'3, 235 former edge rusher can do it all from the linebacker position, but emerged as one of the best coverage LBs in the NFL with five interceptions and just a 57.1 passer rating allowed. Lloyd is a strong blitzer and tackler who delivers the whole package for an NFL defense."

The folks at Spotrac apparently agree—their forecast for Lloyd's next contract is three years and $60.4 million.

Simply put, that would be arguably the most jaw-dropping deal of free agency. As of now, two off-ball linebackers make $20 million or more per season—Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers and Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens.

Respectfully, Devin Lloyd ain't Roquan Smith or Fred Warner. Not even close.

S Bryan Cook

AP Photo/David Becker

If you ask most NFL fans to list the best safeties in the league, many of the same names will be mentioned. Kyle Hamilton of the Baltimore Ravens. Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers. Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

You aren't going to hear Bryan Cook mentioned by many fans outside Kansas City. But after four years, 47 starts and a career-best 85 total tackles in 2025, the 26-year-old could be slated for quite the payday in free agency—a deal worth over $55 million total per Spotrac.

To his credit, while speaking to reporters at the end of last season Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton said he has seen the growth from Cook over his first four years in the NFL.

"He's definitely been evolving year to year," Bolton said. "And this year, he's obviously taken big steps, just making sure everybody's on the same page, including me."

However, like so many players on this list Cook's next contract may have more to do with the talent (or lack thereof) available at safety than Cook himself. Cook has never had even 90 tackles in a season. His coverage numbers aren't blowing anyone's doors off either—his passer rating against of 128.5 in 2025 was actually the second-best of his career.

The logic of giving a player with Cook's resume over $14 million a season and making him a top-10 safety in terms of average annual salary is…questionable.

But questionable logic in free agency is as annual as the "legal tampering" period—or the illegal tampering that comes before it.