The Perfect Free-Agent Signing for NFL Teams with the Most Cap Space

We're a couple of weeks into the 2026 iteration of NFL free agency, and it has been a wild ride.

Dozens of big-name players have signed lucrative contracts, with over two billion dollars spent on the first day of the legal tampering period.

There have been plenty of teams that have been big spenders on the open market—the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans accounted for over half a billion dollars of that first day spending.

But even after all that money was shredded, several teams still have a sizable war chest. A quarter of the NFL still has over $30 million in cap space, per Over the Cap.

While the situations those franchises find themselves in are vastly different, they all have one thing in common: They all have a need that still needs to be filled.

And there's a free agent still available out there who can do just that.

Tennessee Titans: $63.5 Million

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

LB Bobby Okereke

The Tennessee Titans have already been highly active in free agency—the team has spent big on the likes of wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers and cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Cordale Flott.

Even after that spending spree, though, the Titans still have far and away the most cap space in the league at almost $64 million, per Over the Cap.

The team also still has multiple needs on both sides of the ball, including in the middle of the defense. Second-year linebacker Cedric Gray flashed in 2025, amassing over 160 total tackles. But veteran Cody Barton was underwhelming in his first season as the team's "green dot" defensive signal-caller, logging his fewest stops (81) since 2021.

Bobby Okereke was far more productive for the New York Giants a year ago, topping 140 stops for the third time in four seasons. He's also not a liability in coverage, allowing a passer rating against less than 85 each of the past two seasons.

The 29-year-old would be a stabilizing force on a Titans defense that will feature a ton of new faces in 2026. And the Titans have the cash to easily absorb his contract without jeopardizing their long-term financial flexibility.

Washington Commanders: $45.6 Million

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

C Ethan Pocic

The Washington Commanders have been busy in free agency, but the team's focus has mostly been of the defensive side of the ball.

The Commanders handed edge-rusher Odafe Oweh a four-year, $100 million pact and also signed fellow edge K'Lavon Chaisson to a one-year deal. Leo Chenal was brought in at linebacker, while safety Nick Cross and cornerback Amik Robertson were added to the secondary.

However, the offense still needs help at multiple positions. Outside Terry McLaurin, the team's wide receiver corps is one big question mark.

The middle of the offensive line could also use an upgrade—as things stand, the starting center in 2026 would be journeyman veteran Nick Allegretti, who played just 260 snaps in 2025 and wasn't particularly good when he was out there.

Ethan Pocic wouldn't be a long-term solution for the team—he'll turn 31 before the season starts. He has also missed multiple games in three of the past four seasons, including four a year ago.

However, the 10th-year veteran is a capable NFL starter with 97 career starts under his belt and allowed just two sacks in 826 snaps last year with the Cleveland Browns.

On a one-year deal, Pocic would be a solid addition for Washington.

Los Angeles Chargers: $48.7 Million

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

WR Jauan Jennings

The Los Angeles Chargers came into the season with quite a bit of cap space, but they have been relatively quiet on the free agent front.

Their most notable addition on the open market was center Tyler Biadasz, who got $10 million a season over three years.

Improving the offensive line was a priority for the Chargers after the beating Justin Herbert took under center a year ago, but they could also stand to improve the quarterback's passing-game weapons.

Slot receiver Ladd McConkey's numbers were down in 2025 after flirting with 1,150 receiving yards as a rookie, and while Quentin Johnston has shown flashes over his three seasons, he has yet to amass 750 receiving yards in a campaign.

L.A. needs a reliable boundary target—a sure-handed chain-mover Herbert can rely on. A replacement for longtime Charger Keenan Allen.

Enter sixth-year veteran Jauan Jennings.

His 2025 season in San Francisco wasn't especially impressive: 55 catches for 643 yards. But he hauled in a career-high nine touchdowns, and he reeled in 77 passes for 975 yards and six scores the year before.

The longer the 28-year-old stays on the open market, the more his asking price comes down. And the more that price tag decreases, the more sense it makes for the Chargers to reunite Jennings with former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Arizona Cardinals: $40.9 Million

AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes

OT Jawaan Taylor

It's a time of great change in the desert.

The Arizona Cardinals have hit the reset button under center, releasing former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray and eating a sizable dead cap hit in the process.

In the short term at least, it appears Jacoby Brissett, who played decently in place of an injured Murray in 2025, will start for the Cardinals. But while the veteran acquitted himself well enough last year, he was also dropped 43 times.

Per Alex Kennedy of PFSN, the Redbirds head into 2026 with a bottom-10 offensive line, and the most glaring need along that line is at right tackle. Elijah Wilkinson was brought over from Atlanta, but he's an average player at best on the downslope of his career.

Much has been made of Jawaan Taylor's penchant for amassing penalties. Per Pro Football Focus, he tallied a whopping 13 penalties in 2025 and a staggering 17 the season before. But many of those fouls were alignment issues, and perhaps with a change of scenery and some coaching up, he can clean that up.

At this point, the 28-year-old is probably going to have to settle for a "prove it" deal. In a worst-case scenario, he is depth at tackle who can compete with Wilkinson; in a best-case scenario, he would be a substantial upgrade at right tackle.

New York Jets: $39.6 Million

AP Photo/Doug Murray

CB Rasul Douglas

It's much easier to name the position groups where the New York Jets don't need help than the ones where they do.

With the team prepared to roll out Geno Smith at quarterback again in 2026, it's fixing to be a long year in the Big Apple.

The team can't address quarterback with the second overall pick, although Gang Green will have its pick of any non-QBs in the draft ahead of a 2027 talent grab that is supposed to be deeper at signal-caller and where the Jets are swimming in picks.

At No. 16 this year, the Jets should be able to acquire a wide receiver to pair with Garrett Wilson.

However, the Jets could also use help in a defensive backfield that has some talent but is short on experience after they shipped Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts last year.

The 2026 campaign will be Rasul Douglas' 10th in the NFL, and while he as never been to the Pro Bowl, he has allowed a passer rating against of less than 75 in two of the past three years—including 2025 with the Miami Dolphins.

The 30-year-old isn't going to be expensive, and his veteran presence would be welcome in a cornerback room that could use a steadying hand.

New England Patriots: $35.7 Million

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

WR Deebo Samuel

The New England Patriots won 14 games and made the Super Bowl last year after a wild free-agent spending spree.

They haven't been as aggressive this year, but they have brought in multiple players who should start in 2026, including wide receiver Romeo Doubs, safety Kevin Byard III, defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.

However, while the Patriots are a talented team expected to again be a force in the AFC, the skill-position talent could still use an upgrade after the team released veteran receiver Stefon Diggs.

Bringing in another veteran wideout could help address that issue.

Deebo Samuel's best days are likely behind him. He isn't going to surpass 1,400 receiving yards or score 14 touchdowns in a season the way he did during his All-Pro 2021 year with the San Francisco 49ers.

But the 30-year-old managed almost 800 total yards and scored six touchdowns with the Washington Commanders in 2025, and he would offer New England an underneath target who excels after the catch for Drake Maye and a movable chess piece for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

And given New England's status as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, Samuel may be willing to sacrifice some salary for a chance to play in a second Super Bowl.

Philadelphia Eagles: $32.9 Million

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

S Xavier Woods

The Philadelphia Eagles are in something of a tricky spot.

They have a talented roster, but it is aging at a number of positions. And while the team appears to be well-positioned against the salary cap, if the long-rumored A.J. Brown trade comes to fruition, it is going to blast a major hole in that cap space.

That could leave the Eagles sifting through the bargain bin to fill gaps on the roster, including at safety after Reed Blankenship signed with the Houston Texans.

There isn't a lot left on the veteran market at safety—a mixture of aging veterans like Harrison Smith and second-tier options like Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis.

Xavier Woods kind of splits the middle between the two camps.

To be fair, the 30-year-old's lone season with the Tennessee Titans in 2025 was a disappointment—he missed six games and had a career-low 39 total tackles. But just two years ago with the Carolina Panthers, he set a career high with 119 total tackles and tied a career best with three interceptions. The season before that, his passer rating against was an outstanding 65.4.

There's no guarantee Woods will be able to recapture that form, but he's an inexpensive player with 121 career starts who can play both safety spots.

Seattle Seahawks: $32 Million

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

RB Najee Harris

The Seattle Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions, but the MVP of that game is no longer on the team after Kenneth Walker signed a big contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

With Zach Charbonnet recovering from an ACL tear, Seattle's top two running backs are Emanuel Wilson and George Holani.

And while Najee Harris is recovering from an Achilles tear suffered last September, Michael Hanich of SI sees a fit for the 6'1", 242-pound bruiser:

"Seattle can take advantage of Harris' eagerness to show he is a starting-caliber running back and display it with the defending Super Bowl champions. The Seahawks have two big, bruising backs with Wilson and Holani. Harris' speed and athleticism would be a great combination with them in offensive coordinator Brian Fleury's offensive schemes. He is also a great pass-catching option for quarterback Sam Darnold."

Harris did little with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025, carrying the ball just 15 times before getting hurt. But this is a player who topped 1,000 yards on the ground four times in as many seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 28-year-old isn't going to be expensive and won't preclude the Seahawks from drafting a running back early. But with his rehab reportedly progressing well, he could offer Seattle a low-risk option in the backfield with the potential for a high reward.