Predicting Landing Spots for Top 2026 NFL Free Agents Left on the Market

With the calendar turning to April, the NFL world has largely shifted its focus to this month's draft. However, many noteworthy veterans remain available on the free-agent market. Some of them will be picked to fill holes in the coming weeks.

NFL teams regularly turn back to free agency to manage needs that aren't addressed in the draft.

Here, we'll examine nine of the top remaining free agents, what they can offer in 2026, why they might remain unsigned, and where they might land. Factors like past production, player upside, positional value, team needs, and scheme fit were all considered.

Edge Joey Bosa

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Why He's One of the Best Available

Pass-rushers are always valuable, as Joey Bosa is a five-time Pro Bowler who continues to play at a high level. This past season, he recorded five sacks and 24 quarterback pressures, and nine tackles for loss for the Buffalo Bills.

Why He's Still Available

Bosa will turn 31 in July, and he isn't likely to be had on a truly team-friendly deal. His contract with Buffalo last season was for one year and $12.6 million. Many teams will view Bosa as a short-term option, and an expensive one at that.

Projected Landing Spot: San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers, who employ Bosa's brother, Nick, would be a logical landing spot. However, general manager John Lynch has suggested that signing the elder Bosa may be cost-prohibitive.

"That would make Mama Bosa happy," Lynch said, per The Athletic's Vic Tafur. "But I don't know if we can afford him."

The prediction here is that Bosa agrees to an incentive-laden deal to join San Francisco, which recorded just 20 sacks as a team in 2025.

OT Taylor Decker

AP Photo/Caroline Brehman,File

Why He's One of the Best Available

Left tackle Taylor Decker only became available because he asked the Detroit Lions to cut him loose. That request came after Detroit asked him to take a "steep" pay cut, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Decker has started 140 games across 10 seasons and was ranked 41st overall among all tackles by Pro Football Focus in 2025.

Why He's Still Available

Decker will turn 33 in August and did see his play decline in 2025. He also battled through a lingering shoulder injury this past season, limiting him to 14 games.

Projected Landing Spot: Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears recently re-signed former starting left tackle Braxton Jones, though it's worth noting that he was benched in October. Ozzy Trapilo was starting by the end of the season, but he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon during the playoffs. The Bears also brought back Theo Benedet, but he wasn't particularly reliable.

Pro Football Focus graded Benedet 72nd overall among tackles in 2025.

In other words, the Bears could use a veteran left tackle, at least during Trapilo's recovery. Chicago also employs former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as its head coach, meaning Decker is a perfect candidate.

WR Stefon Diggs

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Why He's One of the Best Available

This past season, Stefon Diggs served as the No. 1 receiver for the New England Patriots, a team that reached Super Bowl LX. He recorded 1,013 receiving yards and led the NFL in ESPN Analytics' Catch Score.

Why He's Still Available

Diggs turned 32 in November and wasn't as explosive in 2025 as he was before his ACL tear in 2024. Some teams may also view him as a potential distraction due to an ongoing legal battle stemming from the alleged assault of his personal chef.

Projected Landing Spot: Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens missed the playoffs in 2025, but they're widely expected to be back in the mix this season under new head coach Jesse Minter. Signing Diggs could be the perfect win-now move.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson would benefit from an improved receiving corps. Diggs would be a great addition alongside Zay Flowers and Rashad Bateman. Baltimore tried using veteran DeAndre Hopkins in the third-receiver role last season, but he finished with just 330 yards and two touchdowns.

Diggs could be the dependable go-to target for Jackson that Hopkins never became.

WR Jauan Jennings

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Why He's One of the Best Available

Jauan Jennings lacks elite burst as a pure possession receiver. However, he's incredibly good at what he does. Despite battling shoulder, ankle, and rib injuries this past season, he still finished with 643 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Two years ago, he tallied 975 yards and six touchdowns.

Why He's Still Available

Jennings' 6'3", 212-pound frame and ability to move the chains are alluring. However, he's still a slower receiver—he ran a 4.72-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in 2020—who won't fit every offense.

Projected Landing Spot: Tennessee Titans

Jennings is a very sensible option for the Tennessee Titans, who employ former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their head coach. Tennessee needs to improve the supporting cast around second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Jennings would be a great perimeter addition.

The Titans added Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency, but he's a slot specialist. Adding Jennings would give Ward the sort of big-bodied possession receiver he currently lacks.

TE David Njoku

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

Why He's One of the Best Available

As a pass-catcher, David Njoku has been one of the NFL's biggest mismatches when healthy. He averaged 10.6 yards per reception across nine years with the Cleveland Browns and made the Pro Bowl following an 882-yard season in 2023.

Why He's Still Available

Njoku will turn 30 in July and has battled various injuries throughout his career. Knee injuries limited him to 12 games, 11 starts, and 293 receiving yards this past season.

Projected Landing Spot: Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons would be an ideal schematic fit for Njoku, even though they have Kyle Pitts and recently signed Austin Hooper. New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski was at the helm in Cleveland for many of Njoku's best campaigns.

The Falcons haven't ruled out the idea of trading Pitts, who was given the non-exclusive franchise tag this offseason.

"Kyle is a great player. We've seen his skill set. Also, it's my job to listen," general manager Ian Cunningham told The Athletic's Josh Kendall.

Signing Njoku would give Atlanta insurance as it sorts out Pitts' future, plus another difference maker in the passing game.

DT D.J. Reader

AP Photo/David Dermer

Why He's One of the Best Available

D.J. Reader remains a dependable and productive interior defender. Despite playing through a back injury this past season, Reader started all 17 games for the Lions and recorded 28 tackles. He has 128 starts on his resume and has appeared in at least 14 games in each of the past three seasons.

Why He's Still Available

Reader will turn 32 in July and is more of a space-eating run-stuffer than a penetrating disruptor at this stage of his career. Reader did have three sacks in 2024, but he isn't going to add much to an interior pass rush.

Projected Landing Spot: Baltimore Ravens

Reader has already visited the Ravens, who ranked 10th in run defense but only 24th in total defense last season. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Reader took a physical for Baltimore and is expected to sign with a team after the draft.

While Wilson reported that other teams are interested in Reader, the prediction here is that he joins the Ravens to be a part of their defensive turnaround.

OT Cam Robinson

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

Why He's One of the Best Available

Starting-caliber left tackles aren't easy to find, and Cam Robinson has loads of starting experience. The 30-year-old has started 114 of the 117 NFL games in which he has appeared.

Why He's Still Available

While Robinson started one game for the Houston Texans and 12 for the Browns in 2025, he didn't play well. To be fair, the entire Cleveland O-line was a mess, but Robinson was still graded 83rd overall among tackles by Pro Football Focus.

Projected Landing Spot: New England Patriots

Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell had his fair share of growing pains in 2025, especially during the postseason. However, head coach Mike Vrabel has made it clear that New England plans to keep Campbell at tackle.

"We're not moving Will to guard or center or to tight end or anywhere else," Vrabel said, per Mark Daniels of MassLive.

While it makes sense to continue developing Campbell at tackle, the Patriots should be eager to have insurance at the position. Protecting third-year quarterback Drake Maye should be an even bigger priority. Robinson would be a far better backup than recently signed swing tackle James Hudson III.

QB Aaron Rodgers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Why He's One of the Best Available

Aaron Rodgers isn't the top-tier quarterback he once was, but he still helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win the AFC North in 2025. He went10-6 as a starter while passing for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 98.4 passer rating.

The future Hall of Famer can again steer a playoff ship if he chooses to play in 2026.

Why He's Still Available

Rodgers is 42 years old and hasn't even committed to playing in 2026. However, new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy told The Pat McAfee Show (h/t Bleacher Report's Doric Sam) that he and the quarterback have had "very, very positive conversations on a weekly basis."

Projected Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Steelers

Might another team enter the equation for Rodgers? It's possible, especially if a Super Bowl-caliber team loses its starter to a significant injury. Philip Rivers stepped out of retirement to lead the Indianapolis Colts following Daniel Jones' injury.

Unless another contender loses its starting quarterback for the year in the coming weeks, though, Rodgers will choose between retirement and a Pittsburgh return in the coming weeks. We expect him to start for the Steelers in 2026.

G Kevin Zeitler

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Why He's One of the Best Available

Kevin Zeitler has started 213 games in the NFL and remains a reliable starting guard. This past season, Pro Football Focus graded him 13th overall among all guards.

According to longtime Tennessee Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky, Zeitler plans to play a 15th NFL season.

Why He's Still Available

Zeitler tuned 36 in early March. Most teams will view him as a one-year option, and, at some point, his play is likely to decline.

Projected Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers

Zeitler would be a great fit for the Los Angeles Chargers, who are looking to reload their offensive interior. They signed center Tyler Biadasz to man the middle, brought back guard Trevor Penning, and signed guard Cole Strange.

While Biadasz is a dependable starter, Zeitler would be an upgrade over Penning or Strange. Pro Football Focus graded Strange 43rd overall this past season. Penning was graded 65th overall by PFF.

Signing Zeitler might not provide a permanent fix, but it would help ensure the Chargers have one of the league's better O-lines in 2026.