Final 2026 NFL Free Agency Predictions Before the Legal Tampering Period Begins

The floodgates are about to open.

On Monday, the NFL's "legal tampering" window opens—the league's way of pretending that teams haven't been negotiating with agents on the down-low for weeks. On March 11 at 4 PM Eastern, free agency "officially" opens, and dozens of players will ink deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars and move on to new teams. Some will turn out to be bargains. Some will be boondoggles. Most will fall somewhere in-between.

From the moment the Super Bowl ended, fans and pundits alike have been trying to predict how free agency will shake out. Who will land where and make how much. The top veteran players set to hit the open market have been linked to approximately every team in the NFL—no matter their cap space.

However, all those prognostications lacked one vitally important thing—the ability to predict the future.

As it happens, due to a recent incident involving a defective microwave, some aluminum foil and a squirrel who was just shady-looking, this writer has acquired that talent. So, before I go to buy Mega Millions tickets, here's a look at 10 predictions guaranteed to be 100 percent accurate—unless they are wrong.

And not one involves a player staying put.

QB Kyler Murray Joins the Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Projected Contract: One year, $1.3 million

Technically, Kyler Murray is still under contract. But come the beginning of the 2026 league year next week, the Arizona Cardinals are expected to release the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft.

And as Kevin Patra wrote at NFL.com, from the moment that news broke that Murray was headed out of Arizona one of the first teams he was connected to was the Minnesota Vikings.

"The price would be right for Minnesota, which must sign a veteran presence to push--or take the job from--J.J. McCarthy," he said. "Adding a signal-caller with 87 career starts who is still just 28 and brings dynamic playmaking to Kevin O'Connell's offense would be ideal. KOC already helped rehab Sam Darnold's career and could do similarly with Murray, who isn't nearly as far down the discarded pile as the former was when he got to Minnesota. Murray's completion percentage and ability to get the ball downfield would be immediate upgrades over McCarthy's scattershot play. Justin Jefferson would give Murray a clear-cut No. 1 to force-feed, like the quarterback did in the desert with DeAndre Hopkins."

With the Cardinals paying Murray over $35 million this year, his new team will be able to sign him for the veteran minimum. That allows Murray to prioritize situation over everything else, and of the teams who need help under center this offseason, the Vikings offer Murray the best chance to resurrect his career.

On the other hand, Murray offers the Vikings a chance to resurrect their offense. Because while the team just used a first-rounder on J.J. McCarthy in 2024, after a lost rookie season and an up-and-down 2025 (that contained far more of the latter than the former) it has become clear that he's not the long-term answer at quarterback.

He just isn't.

New York Jets Hand QB Malik Willis a Bag

AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

Projected Contract: Two Years, $58.5 Million

Before news broke that Kyler Murray was going to be released, Malik Willis of the Green Bay Packers was the crown jewel of the free agent quarterbacks. The problem, per John Breech of CBS Sports, is that no one is really sure whether that jewel is a diamond in the rough or cubic zirconia.

"Willis is the mystery box of the 2026 free agent quarterback class," he said. "He only threw 89 passes for the Green Bay Packers when starter Jordan Love was injured, but he was incredibly efficient on those throws, especially when going deep. Willis hit on 13 of his 16 throws of 20-plus air yards across the last two seasons for 456 yards and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. ... After flaming out as a 2022 third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans and then rising again while learning from Matt LaFleur and Love in Green Bay, Willis is ready for another chance at being an NFL starting quarterback."

Meanwhile, the New York Jets are in QB purgatory. The Justin Fields signing last year was a fiasco. New York has Pick No. 2 in this year's draft, but there isn't a quarterback in the class worthy of the pick. The team has almost $74 million in cap space available per Over the Cap, but the other veteran signal-callers set to hit the open market are stopgap options.

The Jets have two options. Sign one of those stopgaps, essentially punt on the 2026 season and hope that next year's draft class under center is as strong as some believe, or gamble that the improvement Willis showed in Green Bay is less a one-off and more a sign of things to come.

A franchise desperate to establish some kind of positive momentum will choose the latter.

Broncos Bolster Backfield with Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III

AP Photo/Ben VanHouten

Projected Contract: Three Years, $30.3 million

The Denver Broncos came within a game of Super Bowl LX last year. But one of the primary reasons the team came up short of the ultimate goal was a run game that struggled once J.K. Dobbins got hurt.

Dobbins is headed to free agency. Second-year pro R.J. Harvey averaged just 3.7 yards per carry in 2025. And given Denver head coach Sean Payton's affinity for running the ball, many pundits expect the Broncos to add a free agent at the position. And some, including Eric Williams of Fox Sports, expect Denver to go all-in and sign Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III.

"The Broncos need an offensive boost to compete for a Super Bowl," he said, "so why not bring in a dynamic runner who just won a Lombardi Trophy? Walker would be even more dangerous playing behind Bo Nix, one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the league and always a threat to run himself. In a division with the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders and the Chiefs, adding a dynamic playmaker like Walker to one of the best defenses in the league would give the Broncos an advantage in the AFC West."

There is admittedly risk involved with handing a back who has never carried the ball 230 times in a season $10 million a season. But the Broncos have the cap space to make the deal work. It's about as attractive a landing spot for the player as Walker is going to get. And the team could still roll out Harvey as a complimentary option to keep Walker fresh.

WR Alec Pierce Gets a Big Contract from San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Projected Contract: Three Years, $79 Million

After logging 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career and leading the league in yards per reception for the second straight season, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is hitting free agency at the ideal time. While speaking to reporters, Pierce said that in addition to a nice pay bump Pierce is looking for a home with stability at quarterback.

"Definitely, like, quarterback play, like, and stability in a franchise, like, winning culture. Things like that, I'd say, are the most important," Pierce said. "Just being in Indy, playing with a ton of quarterbacks, I think they're on the way to figuring that out with Daniel (Jones) if they can get a long-term deal with him because I believe in him a ton as a quarterback. But I think I've understood the battles that come with not having that stability. So, like, I think as a free agent, that would be something I would look into a lot."

The San Francisco 49ers check every box on Pierce's wish list. The Niners are one of the most stable teams in the league. The team has an established starting quarterback in Brock Purdy. And the 49ers also just so happen to have both a glaring need at wide receiver and $37.5 million in cap space with which to address that need.

Pierce won't be cheap. And there's risk involved with giving a player with one big season a lucrative, multi-year contract. But signing Pierce would offer both more financial flexibility in the short-term (kick the can, anyone) and a deep threat the San Francisco offense was sorely lacking in 2025.

WR Mike Evans Bolts Tampa Bay for Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo

Projected Contract: Two Years, $34 Million

Of all the players on this list, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is the most likely to stay put. After all, Evans has spent his entire 12-year career in Tampa. He has tallied 11 1,000-yard seasons with the team. Won a Super Bowl.

However, Evans is expected to at least test the free-agent waters, and per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler the 32-year-old unsurprisingly has some criteria that must be met by any potential suitors.

"Evans will limit his choices to a handful of teams in part because of his criteria," he wrote. "He wants a quarterback he believes in, a chance at a Super Bowl, a top-shelf offensive coordinator and the promise of high-volume touches. Only so many teams fit that mold."

The Los Angeles Chargers are one of those teams.

A quarterback Evans can believe in? May we present Justin Herbert, who most people with functioning eyes would say is an upgrade over Baker Mayfield. A chance at a Super Bowl? The Chargers have been a playoff team three of the past four seasons. A top shelf offensive coordinator? Mike McDaniel may have flamed out as the head coach in Miami, but he remains one of the league's better offensive minds. High-volume touches? The Chargers have Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnson, but the Bolts need a true "X" receiver.

The Chargers also have one more thing that could appeal to Evans—with just over $99 million in cap space, no team has more cash to spend in free agency.

Dallas Cowboys Drop a Bomb, Ink EDGE Trey Hendrickson to Big Deal

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

Projected Contract: Three Years, $97.5 Million

The Dallas Cowboys are annually in salary cap purgatory, and 2026 is no different—the team has restructured a number of deals just to get under the salary cap. But while speaking to reporters, Cowboys grand poobah Jerry Jones said that the Cowboys aren't done—and that they will be active in free agency.

"I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have," Jones said. "I guess what I'm doing is saying, yes, I intend to do that (bust the budget) if given the opportunity."

ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum wrote that he expects Dallas to pull off one of the biggest stunners of free agency, by signing the best edge-rusher available in Trey Hendrickson.

"He would help to buttress their pass rush, which fell over the cliff after the Micah Parsons trade," he said. "Hendrickson was injured for much of last season, but when healthy, he is still one of the best pass rushers in the league."

Hendrickson struggled through an injury-marred 2025 campaign in Cincinnati, but as recently as two years ago he led the NFL with 17.5 sacks, and his metrics were good last year when he was healthy.

The math here would admittedly be tricky. But by adding a third year to what is essentially a two-year deal, Jones could do once again what he has so often in the past—play a shell game and move the big hit farther down the road.

After tying for the fifth-fewest sacks in the league last year, the Cowboys have to improve the pass rush.

And Jerruh loves him a splash deal.

Tennessee Titans Break the Bank for EDGE Odafe Oweh

AP Photo/William Liang

Projected Contract: Four Years, $100.1 Million

As the Tennessee Titans start over (again) under new head coach Robert Saleh, the team has multiple needs to address on both sides of the ball. The team also has a sizable war chest with which to hit those needs--$92.7 million, the second-most cap space in the league.

That cap space allows the Titans to take a run at one (or more) of this year's top free agents—productive players in their prime. Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports believes that edge-rusher Odafe Oweh fits what Tennessee should be looking for when they open the checkbook.

"Saleh has already broken ground on his demolition and reconstruction of the Titans' defense," he said. "Tennessee released two starters including safety Xavier Woods last week and then traded interior defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat to the Jets for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II a day later. Saleh's scheme requires speed and athleticism, two traits Oweh has in bulk. Oweh's age and upward trajectory fit what the Titans are trying to build."

Oweh is going to aa coveted player in free agency—a 27-year-old at a premium position who has posted back-to-back productive seasons on two different teams. Given Tennessee's struggles in recent years, the Titans may have to pay a "bad team" premium to lure high-end free agents to Nashville.

That's exactly what the team is going to do with Oweh, who will sacrifice better potential to win in the short-term for one of the biggest deals given out this offseason and over $50 million in guarantees.

New York Giants Fill Gaping Void at LB With Addition of Tremaine Edmunds

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Projected Contract: Three Years, $34.5 million

The New York Giants have a new head coach in 2026 in John Harbaugh, and while speaking to reporters Harbaugh made it clear that he views inside linebacker play as a key to defensive success.

"The inside linebacker isn't always considered a value position, but you can't stop the run without an inside linebacker making tackles in the middle," Harbaugh said. "You can't do it. That becomes pretty important."

There's a small problem—the Giants don't really have any inside linebackers at present. The team recently released Bobby Okereke, and after missing almost the entire 2025 season Micah McFadden is about to hit free agency.

However, there's an off-ball linebacker who was also recently released in a cap-cutting move who could not only fill that void inside, but who would ostensibly be an upgrade over Okereke.

Granted, Tremaine Edmunds never really lived up to the four-year, $72 million contract he signed with the Chicago Bears in 2022. But in eight seasons with the Bears and Buffalo Bills, Edmunds has never failed to amass at least 100 total tackles. Last year, Edmunds tied a career-high with four interceptions and logged 112 total stops in just 13 games, adding a passer rating against under 80 for the third time in the past four seasons. The 27-year-old two-time Pro Bowler also has experience wearing the "green dot" helmet communicator.

The Giants have talent galore on the defensive line. But the team needs an experienced inside linebacker who can direct traffic on the defensive side of the ball.

Commanders Shell Out Big Bucks for CB Jamel Dean

AP Photo/Ella Hall

Projected Contract: Three Years, $55.7 Million

The Washington Commanders found out the hard way last year how quickly NFL teams can go from the penthouse to the outhouse. Injuries played a part in their collapse, but it didn't help that the team ranked 28th in the league in pass defense.

The good news is that the Commanders have the fifth-most cap space in the league (almost $70 million) and a top-seven pick in April's draft. The bad news is that this year's crop at cornerback isn't great, in free agency of the draft.

According to Josh Taylor of A to Z Sports, that should spur the Commanders to take a hard run at arguably the best veteran option available—Jamel Dean of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Dean will be 30 years old next season," he said, "but he's been a steady and reliable top CB over the last seven years. He's coming off his career-best season with the Buccaneers, where he only allowed a passer rating of 46.9, which was the best in the NFL. Dean is an outside corner at 6-1, 206 pounds, and he'd bring a veteran presence that the defense can rely on."

The biggest rub here is simple supply and demand—the lack of proven starters on the open market is going to drive up the price of the cornerbacks who are available.

But it Washington wants to engineer a rebound as quick as last year's slide, they need to add help in the secondary—even if they have to overpay some to do it.