Projecting Top 10 Picks if 2026 NFL Free Agency Had a Draft

In just over a week, free agency will open across the NFL—a chaotic frenzy of negotiations, signings and the spending of hundreds of millions of dollars. It's madness. Anarchy.

But what if it wasn't? What if there was a method to that madness? What if there was a "draft" of sorts, where the teams with the most salary cap space got first dibs on this year's top available players.

Well for one, the Dallas Cowboys would pick last each and every year. But I digress.

How would teams attach such a draft? Would rebuilding teams prioritize young talent while contenders would be more willing to add veteran talent to fill a need? How would those team needs stack up against the positional valuations we see in the rookie draft?

If nothing else, it's an intriguing thought exercise. And it's one we're going to play out here, by taking the 10 teams with the most cap space per Over the Cap and giving them a bite at the apple to get better in 2026 by "drafting" a veteran free agent.

The Tennessee Titans are on the clock.

Author's Note: You won't find players who are widely rumored to be candidates for the franchise tag like Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones in this draft. Some of the players in this column will re-up with their current teams before March 9, but they have a real chance of least testing the open market.

1.01: Tennessee Titans ($97.2 Million)

AP Photo/Nick Wass

OC Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens

One pick in, and it's already evident that this draft isn't like the one that will be held in April in Pittsburgh.

This also wasn't an easy call. An argument can be made for multiple players in this spot. The Titans have major needs on both sides of the ball, whether it's at edge-rusher or wide receiver.

But the best pass-rusher set to hit the open market turns 32 in December, and while Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce would be a welcome addition to one of the league's weakest wideout corps, the Titans can't resist the opportunity to bolster an offensive line that Pro Football Focus ranked 23rd in the league in 2025.

There's a reason why the Baltimore Ravens have reportedly already made Tyler Linderbaum a contract offer that would make him the NFL's highest-paid center—the 25-year-old is already arguably the best center in the game, and he's only just now entering the prime of his career. Per PFF, in just over 1,000 snaps last year he allowed just two sacks, and Linderbaum is an elite run-blocker.

He would be a massive upgrade over 2025 starter Lloyd Cushenberry II, who is himself a free agent in 2026.

1.02: Las Vegas Raiders ($91.5 Million)

AP Photo

WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts

This is a tricky call--at least at first glance.

Were this a "normal" draft, there would be no question what the Raiders should do here—select the best quarterback available. It's easily the most glaring need for a team that has plenty.

But the Raiders have the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. And it's not exactly a state secret that the team is going to draft Indiana quarterback and 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza in that spot.

However, Las Vegas needs to both improve the protection in front of Mendoza and add passing-game weapons around him. There are a few offensive tackles who could be in play here, but instead the Raiders elect to strengthen the worst wide receiver corps in the NFL.

Alec Pierce is coming off the first 1,000-yard season of his career and has led the league in yards per catch each of the past two years. While addressing the media at the combine, Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Pierce is more than just a vertical threat.

"I think he's made huge strides in his game," Steichen said. "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."

Cue Mendoza nodding enthusiastically.

1.03: New York Jets ($91.1 Million)

AP Photo/Mike Roemer

QB Malik Willis, Green Bay Packers

Now things really get interesting.

Malik Willis of the Green Bay Packers is one of the most polarizing players about to hit the open market.

Supporters point to Willis' outstanding numbers in three starts for the Packers—a completion percentage near 80, six touchdown passes, zero interceptions, 10.9 yards per attempt and over 250 rushing yards. Detractors point to three lousy starts over two seasons with the Tennessee Titans—and the fact that in four years, Willis has made all of six starts.

It's hardly a secret that the Jets need a quarterback—they seemingly have for decades. And multiple pundits, including ESPN's Aaron Schatz, have connected Gang Green to Willis.

"Yes, it was a small sample with just one start and four total games played, but Willis had a phenomenal 93.1 QBR for the Packers in 2025," he wrote. "And he had an impressive 77.3 QBR in two starts the season before."

It is by no means a sure thing that Willis will play as well as a full-time starter as he did in spot duty in Titletown. But the Jets aren't getting Fernando Mendoza in April, it's a weak draft class under center and the Jets simply cannot pass on Willis here.

1.04: Los Angeles Chargers ($81.9 Million)

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

So far in this draft, we have been dealing with the NFL's bottom-feeders—teams that need to look more to the future than the present. But that isn't the case with the Los Angeles Chargers—the Bolts won 11 games and made the playoffs last year despite being savaged by injuries on the offensive line.

The future is now—and that leads the Chargers to roll the dice on a player who is on the back-nine of his NFL career.

Trey Hendrickson's 2025 season was a mess—just four sacks in a season that started with a holdout and ended with an injury. But as Austin Gayle wrote for the Ringer, when healthy Hendrickson has been an elite edge-rusher the past handful of seasons.

"Hendrickson made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four years in Cincinnati and became the fifth player since 1982 to record 17-plus sacks in back-to-back seasons," he said. "He ranked in the top six in PFF's pass rush win rate in 2023 and 2024, and he was ranked seventh in the same statistic through the first six weeks of 2025, before injuries derailed his season."

The Chargers have Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh both about to hit free agency on the edge. And it can be argued that a healthy Hendrickson is an upgrade over both of them.

1.05: Washington Commanders ($73.7 Million)

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Philadelphia Eagles

There are a couple of directions the Commanders could go in here.

On some level, it might be tempting to address the left guard spot—Chris Paul was bad in 2025, especially in run blocking. But while the Commanders ranked in the middle of the pack with 42 sacks a season ago, Washington had just one player who hit the six-sack mark—36-year-old Von Miller. With Miller slated to hit free agency, the Commanders need to get younger and better on the edge.

Enter Jaelan Phillips, who split last season between the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles.

For Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, Phillips is the No. 1 edge-rusher set to hit free agency.

"After dealing with devastating injuries in back-to-back seasons," he wrote, "Phillips was excellent in Miami, then helped transform the Eagles defense with his complete arsenal. His best should still be ahead of him."

The 26-year-old's injury history is a concern, and Phillips hasn't had eight sacks in a season since his rookie year. But Phillips had a career-high 20 hurries in 2025, and his 35 pressures were the second-most of his career.

He'd be a welcome addition to a Commanders defense that needs help at all three levels.

1.06: Seattle Seahawks ($61.9 Million)

AP Photo

RB Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

What? This isn't a cop-out. Honest.

The defending Super Bowl champions have needs that go beyond running back, including the interior of the offensive line and in the defensive backfield. But after Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in the playoffs last year, the running back room in Seattle is a major question mark.

While speaking to reporters, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the team would love to have Walker back after his playoff run that culminated in Super Bowl LX MVP honors.

"We won a Super Bowl with him," Macdonald said. "I don't know what his stats are, but I know he affected every game in a pretty significant manner, so I thought he had a heck of a season, and I think it can get even better. He's so talented. It's like, let's keep pushing the envelope, man. Let's take it to the next level."

Yes, running back isn't generally considered an especially valuable position in the draft. And Walker has had some durability issues in the past.

But the Seahawks have to add someone in the backfield this offseason, and as the old saying goes sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't.

1.07: Cincinnati Bengals ($53.0 Million)

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

EDGE Odafe Oweh, Los Angeles Chargers

There are any number of directions the Bengals could go in here. Quarterback Joe Burrow has spent most of his NFL career playing behind five matadors, so offensive line help would be welcome.

But the Bengals were atrocious defensively last year—the team was dead last in the AFC in total defense, and only the Jets gave up more points per game in the conference. Off-ball linebacker is a consideration—the Bengals traded Logan Wilson in-season last year, and youngster Barrett Carter got worse as the season wore on.

But the Bengals also tied for the fifth-fewest sacks in the NFL last year with 35, and with Trey Hendrickson off the board (how awkward a pick would that have been?), adding an edge-rusher has to be the priority.

Per Daniel Popper of The Athletic, Odafe Oweh of the Chargers is the best pass-rusher available to the team in this spot.

"Oweh is an ascending player who started to show more variety in his pass-rush arsenal after joining the Chargers," Popper said, "including an inside spin move that is a changeup off his cross-chop to the edge."

Oweh had 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Chargers in 2025—two more than any player on Cincinnati's roster a year ago tallied.

1.08: Los Angeles Rams ($41.7 Million)

AP Photo/Butch Dill

OT Jermaine Eluemunor, New York Giants

The Los Angeles Rams are in solid shape roster-wise as they enter the offseason. But there is one position on each side of the ball that stands out as areas of need. On defense, it's at cornerback. On offense, it's the right tackle spot after Rob Havenstein's retirement.

Corner may actually be the biggest need, but this year's free-agent class at the position isn't great. The likes of Nahshon Wright of the Chicago Bears and Jaylen Watson of the Kansas City Chiefs are solid players, but they aren't elite options by any stretch.

Jermaine Eluemunor of the New York Giants isn't the No. 1 tackle available—that would likely be Rasheed Walker of the Green Bay Packers. But Walker has played left tackle exclusively to this point in his career, and with Alaric Johnson on the roster the Rams are set at that spot.

Eluemunor, on the other hand, is a right tackle, and while he's the wrong side of 30 he was also one of the better players in the league at his position. Per PFF's Zoltan Buday, Eluemunor allowed pressure on just 3.3 percent of pass plays for the Giants in 2025—tops in the league among right tackles.

1.09: New England Patriots ($40.3 Million)

AP Photo/Duane Burleson

OT Rasheed Walker, Green Bay Packers

After watching Patriots left tackle Will Campbell get absolutely abused in Super Bowl LX, there was speculation galore that he could move inside to guard—speculation that Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was quick to shoot down while addressing the media.

"Will is 22 years old, he's our left tackle, he'll get better, he'll get stronger," Vrabel said. "There are moments he played well, moments he blocked the guy, there are plays he'd like to have back. We're not moving Will to guard, or center or tight end or anywhere else."

Here's the thing, though. NFL head coaches have been known to occasionally say one thing and then do another—especially if a better option becomes available. And while Green Bay's Rasheed Walker may not be elite, he's a capable NFL starter who has shown he can hold down the blind side.

Patriots center Garrett Bradbury has been mentioned as a potential salary cap casualty this offseason. If he is let go, the Pats could move youngster Jared Wilson to his natural position in the middle of the line and kick Campbell inside to guard. There's also the matter of right tackle Morgan Moses, who turns 35 soon.

Adding Walker gives the Patriots options up front. Options are good.

1.10: Pittsburgh Steelers ($40.0 Million)

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Some might expect to see Aaron Rodgers listed here. Or a wide receiver. But if Rodgers plays at all in 2026, it's all but certainly going to be in Pittsburgh.

That makes Pittsburgh's biggest priority getting Rodgers (or whoever starts at quarterback for the team) better weapons in the passing game. And since the Steelers have made it clear that they don't do rebuilds, the team wouldn't hesitate to pair an aging wide receiver with their ancient quarterback.

The 2025 season was a forgettable one for Mike Evans—the 32-year-old missed over half of the season and finished with a career-low 368 receiving yards. But before we shuffle Evans off to the Old Receivers Home, it's worth noting that prior to last year, Evans topped 1,000 receiving yards in a jaw-dropping 11 straight seasons. The number of players who have done that in NFL history numbers exactly one.

If the Steelers truly are convinced that they can still contend in the AFC North, then Evans is the best wide receiver available.

And pairing Evans and Metcalf would give the team a pair of big-bodied pass-catchers who would be a nightmare for opposing defenses in contested-catch situations.