Top 2026 NFL Free-Agency Values at Every Position for Teams to Target

We're less than a week out from NFL free agency now. 

And while we sit in the calm before the storm that is the first week of the signing period, we have a chance to identify some of the best value targets in 2026.

While billions will be spent on the big names in March, let's focus on the players who could make a huge difference in 2026 and beyond despite sliding under the radar this winter and spring.

All salary and cap figures courtesy of Spotrac

Quarterback: Marcus Mariota

AP Photo/Nick Wass

The Upside: The talent is still there, even if Mariota has fallen well short of expectations as the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, and at 32 he is hardly old in quarterback terms.

The Risk Factors: Injuries have been a major factor throughout his career, and he's never posted a passer rating above 96 in a season with significant snaps. 

Why There's Value: Mariota was decent in extended runs as a starter in Atlanta in 2022 and Washington in 2025, putting up 30 combined passing and rushing touchdowns while starting 21 games in those two campaigns combined. He could excel as a starter with enough support in the right system, but is a high-end backup at worst. And yet, all of the attention is on Malik Willis, Daniel Jones and the future Hall of Famers Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson.

Potential Landing Spots: Commanders, Vikings, Texans, Falcons, Chiefs as an insurance policy; Jets, Dolphins as a bridge.

Projected Contract: 1 year, $9 million.

Running Back: Rachaad White

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

The Upside: Gently used in three of his four seasons to date, White saw his yards‑per‑attempt jump from 3.7 in 2022‑23 to 4.3 in 2024‑25, and he's also shaken a fumble problem, suggesting he should still have strong years left at 27.

The Risk Factors: He still did fumble three times in each of his first three seasons, so 2025 could have been an aberration. White has rushed for just seven touchdowns in the last two seasons combined. 

Why There's Value: His Pro Football Focus rushing grade of 87.2 actually ranked fourth among qualified backs in 2025 as he "graded in the 98th percentile on gap runs and the 94th percentile on zone runs."

Potential Landing Spots: Cowboys, Chiefs, Vikings, Texans.

Projected Contract: 2 years, $12 million.  

Wide Receiver: Wan'Dale Robinson

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

The Upside: Robinson just turned 25 in January and is coming off a breakout season in which he went over 1,000 yards in a mediocre offense. The 2022 second-round pick proved he can win downfield despite his lack of height at 5-foot-8, gaining separation consistently for the G-Men. 

The Risk Factors: There may be a ceiling there based on his size, and he was not particularly productive in his first three pro campaigns. Durability could also be a legitimate concern. 

Why There's Value: Robinson dropped just four passes on 140 targets, and he finished hot with two 100-plus-yard performances in the final five weeks of the 2025 regular season. But he lacks the flashy resume like George Pickens, Mike Evans or Deebo Samuel. 

Potential Landing Spots: Titans, Giants, 49ers, Commanders, Browns.

Projected Contract: 3 years, $65 million.

Tight End: Isaiah Likely

AP Photo/Nick Wass

The Upside: The 25-year-old has wrestled with Mark Andrews for looks the last four seasons, but he still managed to score 11 touchdowns in 2023 and 2024 combined. He has a TE1/Pro Bowl ceiling in the right environment. 

The Risk Factors: Likely had a relatively quiet 2025 campaign, and it's not apparent that he's got the size and strength to consistently excel and remain healthy as an every-down guy.

Why There's Value: A foot injury held him back in 2025 and a lack of consistent targets had the same effect overall during his time in Baltimore, which should keep the price tag below the elite level for a guy who actually posted the eighth-highest PFF grade at the tight end position in 2024. 

Potential Landing Spots: Broncos, Rams, Eagles, Chiefs, Patriots, Commanders, Buccaneers.

Projected Contract: 3 years, $30 million.

Offensive Tackle: Braxton Jones

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

The Upside: The four-year veteran should have a chance to keep evolving in his age-27 season. He ranked 17th among 85 qualified tackles with an 80.8 pass blocking PFF grade in 2024 before a knee injury cost him the lion's share of his 2025 campaign. 

The Risk Factors: That knee issue, along with injuries that kept Jones off the field for a chunk of games in both 2023 and 2024. He's also somewhat of a liability as a run-blocker. 

Why There's Value: There's an "out of sight, out of mind" factor for a strong pass protector with considerable left tackle experience while the rest of the league locks in on Rasheed Walker. He could pay off big time on a prove-it deal. 

Potential Landing Spots: Browns, Rams, Patriots, Packers, Bears.

Projected Contract: 1 year, $6 million.

Interior Offensive Lineman: Alijah Vera-Tucker

AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis

The Upside: The 2021 first-round pick has the skill to be a star offensive lineman, and we saw spurts of that when he earned a top-10 PFF grade at the guard position in 2024. 

The Risk Factors: A torn triceps cost the 26-year-old his entire 2025 season, while triceps and Achilles tears kept him off the field for the majority of his 2022 and 2023 campaigns as well.

Why There's Value: Those injuries have prevented him from earning a spot among the so-called free-agent elites at his position, and a lost 2025 season might have him off many teams' radar, but AVT still has All-Pro potential and plenty of time to put it together. This is another buy-low scenario with a prove-it deal that could pay major dividends. 

Potential Landing Spots: Cardinals, Saints, Browns, Raiders.

Projected Contract: 2 years, $22 million. 

Edge Defender: Arnold Ebiketie

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

The Upside: The 2022 second-round pick flashed at times with 12 total sacks between 2023 and 2024. He just turned 27 and has limited mileage so there should be plenty of space for him to grow in a new setting. 

The Risk Factors: He might always be more of a situational pass-rusher with some size limitations, and he managed just two sacks and six quarterback hits despite playing 17 games in 2025. 

Why There's Value: That low sack number could bring down his value, but the reality is his snaps fell way off as his role changed after the Falcons added two elite rookie edges. Ebiketie actually easily had the best PFF pass-rushing grade on the team for the third consecutive season.

Potential Landing Spots: 49ers, Commanders, Ravens, Saints, Panthers, Patriots, Buccaneers.

Projected Contract: 2 years, $17 million. 

Linebacker: Leo Chenal

AP Photo/Peter Aiken

The Upside: The 2022 third-round pick doesn't turn 26 until October. He's never registered more than 500 snaps in a season but has remained healthy. Thus, the wear-and-tear is likely to be extremely limited for a player who is thick, strong and aggressive. The ceiling is high. 

The Risk Factors: As mentioned, the sample size is limited. And the 250-pounder is far from nimble. 

Why There's Value: In 2024, Chenal posted the fourth-best run defense PFF grade among qualified linebackers. And that wasn't a total fluke, as he's posted grades of 75 or better in three consecutive seasons. He was lost in a deep rotation over the course of his rookie contract, but the bang for Kansas City's buck has certainly been there.

Potential Landing Spots: Bills, Buccaneers, Patriots.

Projected Contract: 2 years, $11 million.

Cornerback: Joshua Williams

Brad Penner/AP Images for Panini

The Upside: A 26-year-old former fourth-round pick, Williams ranked in the top 10 among qualified NFL corners in terms of yards allowed per target in both 2023 and 2024 before getting lost within a deep Kansas City secondary in 2025. He struggled as a rookie in 2022 but was on an upward trajectory before barely playing this year. 

The Risk Factors: It isn't a great sign that the Chiefs relegated him almost entirely to special teams duties in 2025. The team clearly lost some faith in him. 

Why There's Value: Williams is another under‑the‑radar option hitting the market after a largely forgotten 2025, but the underlying advanced stats and his intriguing combination of size, length and athleticism indicate he could still turn into a very good starter in this league. 

Potential Landing Spots: Dolphins, Packers, Cowboys, Falcons, Eagles.

Projected Contract: 1 year, $1.5 million.

Safety: Ar'Darius Washington

AP Photo/Terrance William

The Upside: The 26-year-old had star-level moments in a breakout 2024 season with the Ravens before a torn Achilles cost the majority of his 2025 campaign. Despite never getting much attention outside of 2024, he's an instinctive player with a sometimes violent approach. 

The Risk Factors: He's undersized, coming off a major injury, and a potential one-year wonder because he didn't have many other chances as an undrafted player on a rookie deal in Baltimore. 

Why There's Value: In addition to having a killer instinct, Washington has flashed versatility while being relied upon in the slot, the box and deep. He was a top-10-graded safety at PFF in 2024 but may have been forgotten at this point. 

Potential Landing Spots: Bears, Bengals, Cowboys.

Projected Contract: 1 year, $3 million.