7 NFL Players Who May Be Disappointed in 2026 Free Agency Interest

In NFL free agency, the top earners garner headlines, but several notable veterans will be disappointed with their contract offers.

Typically, a player's age, injury history or a lack of production can hurt his earning potential.

In addition to those factors, this year's incoming draft class could impact the free-agent safety market. Teams may not be willing to pay a premium for anything less than an elite veteran with an influx of blue-chip talent at the position coming into the league.

Other veterans should be aware of their limitations. Defensive backs who don't force turnovers will likely wait for the second week of free agency to sign modest deals. A recent first-rounder with underwhelming sack numbers may not sign a contract that matches his expected market value.

Here are seven soon-to-be free agents who could get less than many expect on the open market.

RB Tyler Allgeier

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier

In today's league, a well-rounded running back who can make big plays as a receiver is in higher demand than a solid ball-carrier limited to early-down work on the ground.

Think back to the 2025 offseason. Najee Harris eclipsed 1,033 rushing yards in four consecutive years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he signed a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. The physical ball-carrier averaged just 6.4 yards per catch and saw a significant drop-off in targets after his rookie term.

Like Harris, Tyler Allgeier has been unimpressive in a pass-catching role. Even before the Atlanta Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson in 2023, they rarely designed plays for him in the short passing game. He has 18 or fewer receptions in all four of his seasons.

Allgeier will enter the market with Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker III, Rico Dowdle, Kenneth Gainwell, and possibly Breece Hall if the New York Jets don't franchise-tag him. All of those running backs have shown the ability to make game-changing plays as receivers, which makes them more appealing free-agent options at the position than Allgeier.

Allgeier may struggle to find a $5 million-per-year offer in a crowded running back market.

S Jaquan Brisker

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles publicly mentioned All-Pro safety Kevin Byard as someone he wants to re-sign, which likely means the team will allow Jaquan Brisker to walk in free agency.

Unlike Byard, who led the league with seven interceptions this past season, Brisker doesn't force turnovers at a high rate, and that could work against him on the open market.

In four seasons, Brisker has logged four interceptions and 21 pass breakups, but he's surrendered 15 touchdowns in coverage. Last year, the 26-year-old allowed a 127.6 passer rating.

Although Brisker can play both safety spots, he's best suited to line up closer to the line of scrimmage and attack downhill, given his reliable tackling and physicality. However, that particular skill set doesn't warrant a high-scale contract among safeties. The ball-hawking defenders get the big bucks.

Moreover, teams may have sights set on a talented safety group in this year's draft.

"Deep, deep safety class this year.

"Best part is there are multiple safeties in every round worth getting excited about. Might see double-digit safeties go top-100," The Athletic's Dane Brugler posted on X.

If clubs are more intrigued by incoming safety prospects than a tone-setting veteran with limitations in coverage, Brisker could fall well short of his projected $11.1 million yearly market value rate, an estimate from Spotrac.

CB Trevon Diggs

AP Photo/Stacy Bengs

Green Bay Packers cornerback Trevon Diggs

In a short period, Trevon Diggs went from an elite cover man to an injury-prone liability in coverage.

Early in his career, Diggs patrolled the field as a ball hawk. He logged a league-leading 11 interceptions in 2021. By his third year, the star cornerback had two Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro campaign with 17 interceptions on his resume.

Between 2023 and 2025, Diggs only played in 22 games, and he missed at least six outings in each of those seasons. Last year, Diggs allowed a 154.2 passer rating (out of a possible 158.3) in coverage. In each of the last two campaigns, he's missed at least 10 percent of his tackling attempts, too.

Late in the previous season, the Dallas Cowboys cut Diggs after he returned from a concussion. The Green Bay Packers claimed him off waivers, but the six-year veteran didn't make an impact with them in two outings, one a playoff loss. 

If healthy, Diggs could bounce back in 2026, but he will likely have to do it on a one-year, prove-it deal because of his recent history of injuries.

TE David Njoku

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku

David Njoku has aged well as a premier pass-catching tight end. He's accumulated 505 or more receiving yards in three of the last four years. 

In 2023, Njoku earned a Pro Bowl nod, registering career highs in catches (81), receiving yards (882) and touchdown receptions (six). He followed that with a 64-catch campaign, but the Cleveland Browns drafted an athletic tight end that outshined him in 2025.

Last season, Harold Fannin Jr., a third-rounder out of Bowling Green, took over the primary pass-catching role at tight end in the Browns' aerial attack. He led the team in catches (72), receiving yards (731) and touchdown receptions (six). 

Meanwhile, Njoku missed five games because of injury. He finished with his third-lowest single-season receiving yards total (293).

Pass-catching tight ends are on the rise in the NFL, but Njoku is entering his age-30 term, and he's missed 11 games over the last two years. Teams may look away from a tight end who's starting to miss significant time, slightly past his prime. 

EDGE Kwity Paye

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye

Spotrac projects Kwity Paye's market value at $17.9 million, which is a bit generous for a decent pass-rushing defensive end with a first-round draft pedigree.

Paye hasn't registered more than 23 pressures or eight sacks in a season. Over the last two years, he saw a drop-off in sacks (eight to four) and his missed tackle rate went up from 6.8 to 11.4 percent.

Even as a run-stopper, Paye took a step back last year. In 2024, he logged 10 tackles for loss, and that number dropped to six for the previous campaign. 

If Paye played his best ball in a contract year, he would have easily made more than $20 million on his next contract, but his down season came at an inopportune time. On top of that, he hasn't played more than 67 percent of the defensive snaps in any of his five campaigns.

The top 20 highest-paid edge-rushers make more than $17 million annually. As an average pass-rusher who's been off the field for about a third of the defensive snaps, Paye's contract numbers may fall below $15 million per year.

S Jalen Thompson

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson

Safeties who have limited ball production rarely generate a ton of interest on the open market, unless they're highly versatile and bring a notable presence to the run defense and blitz packages.

Jalen Thompson hasn't been a game-changing playmaker in coverage for nearly two years. He recorded his last interception in 2023. In 2024 and 2025, he allowed passer ratings above 102.

Although Thompson has recorded steady tackle numbers over the last five years in a full-time starting role, he's made few plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Despite his ability to play both safety spots and in the slot, Thompson is an average defensive back who doesn't quite excel in one particular area. With an intriguing group of safeties entering the league, teams may hesitate to spend big money on one who doesn't impact the game in a significant way.

RB Rachaad White

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White

Rachaad White is the opposite of Tyler Allgeier in terms of his strengths. He's more efficient as a pass-catcher than a receiver.

In 67 games across four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, White has racked up 2,656 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground and caught 205 passes for 1,450 yards and 11 touchdowns.

On the one hand, White averaged less than 3.8 yards per carry in two campaigns and saw a decline in his rushing yard totals from 2023. Yet he's recorded at least 50 receptions in three seasons, averaging at least 7.7 yards per catch in two terms.

White is best suited to fill a role on obvious passing downs. Although he will command interest on the open market, his underwhelming rushing numbers suggest that the 27-year-old will not hit it big free agency.

Expect him to complement a lead ball-carrier as the No. 2 tailback or join a backfield committee.

Team salary cap and player contract details are provided by Over the Cap, unless otherwise noted.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.