NFL Free Agency 2026: Ranking the 10 Best Unsigned Players Under 30

The 2026 NFL season is just three months away, and minicamps have already begun. As the recent Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown trades showed, however, teams are still actively looking to add talent.

Not every team is able or willing to execute a blockbuster summer trade, but several proven veterans remain unsigned on the free-agent market. Some of them are even still in their playing primes.

Here, we'll examine the remaining player pool and identify the top 10 unsigned players who will still be under 30 when the season opens on September 9. We'll dive into what they can offer in 2026, along with logical landing spots for each.

Factors like past production, player potential, positional value, and team needs were all considered.

10. RB Antonio Gibson

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Running back Antonio Gibson is coming off a torn ACL that he suffered in early October. Like a few other players on this list, his health remains a bit of an unknown as training camps approach.

However, Gibson has been a capable starter in the past and was a quality rotational back over the past couple of seasons when healthy. He has averaged 4.2 yards per carry over the course of his career and topped 1,000 rushing yards as a 14-game starter with the Washington Commanders in 2021.

Gibson logged 538 rushing yards and 744 scrimmage yards as a part-time player with the New England Patriots in 2024. With 3,287 rushing yards and 197 receptions on his six-year resume, the 2020 third-round pick out of Memphis should draw significant interest if healthy in the summer.

As a former starter with three-down ability, Gibson would be a great addition for a team in need of a reliable No. 2 back or a receiving specialist. A return to Washington would make sense, as would a reunion with former Commanders and current Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Logical Landing Spots: Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders

9. LB Kenneth Murray

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Linebacker Kenneth Murray entered the NFL as a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020. Though he never became a star in L.A. and lasted just four seasons with the franchise, he has remained a starting-caliber linebacker.

Murray started 14 games for the Tennessee Titans in 2024 and 16 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. This past season, he recorded 81 tackles, one sack, two passes defended, and four tackles for loss.

Still only 27 years old, Murray can be viewed as a long-term contributor to a defense. However, he hasn't been a consistent coverage linebacker and is best-suited for a two-down role—Murray has allowed an opposing passer rating of 109.0 in coverage during his career.

Murray isn't a high-level starter, but he'd be a logical target for teams looking to reload their linebacker groups, like the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders.

Logical Landing Spots: Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders

8. OT Jonah Williams

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Starting-caliber offensive tackles are rarely available at this point in the offseason, but Jonah Williams remains unsigned.

Now, it's worth noting that Williams has never been a very reliable starter. The 2019 first-round pick missed his rookie year with a shoulder injury and then played just four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before he was replaced by Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency. He spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and has been a marginal starter, when healthy, at every stop.

Pro Football Focus ranked Williams 75th overall among tackles in 2025.

Injuries have also been an issue for Williams, who is coming off another season-ending shoulder injury. That said, he is still a 28-year-old tackle with 74 starts on his resume. He'd make sense as a depth piece for a team looking to rebuild or stabilize its offensive line.

Logical Landing Spots: Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots

7. RB Najee Harris

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Running back Najee Harris would probably already have a 2026 home if he were fully healthy. While the 2021 first-round pick wasn't a very dynamic runner with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was still a high-volume, dual-threat starter for them.

Harris averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in Pittsburgh, but he also racked up 5,461 scrimmage yards in four seasons.

Unfortunately, Harris suffered a torn Achilles in September, after just three games with the Los Angeles Chargers. It's unclear if and when the 28-year-old will be back to 100 percent—though agent Doug Hendrickson posted a video to X of Harris running on a treadmill in March, which is encouraging.

Harris has a three-down skill set and should be worth a flier to a team looking to reload its backfield in 2026.

Logical Landing Spots: Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks

6. G Brady Christensen

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Like Harris, offensive lineman Brady Christensen would rank much higher if healthy.

The 2021 third-round pick suffered a ruptured Achilles in late October, which could impact his availability during the early regular season. However, he might be healthy in time for training camp.

"My understanding is that the hope with free agent Brady Christensen's Achilles recovery is that he will be cleared to participate in training camp in July (around the 9 month mark)," Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer posted on X.

If it starts to look like Christensen will indeed be healthy by camp—and, in turn, Week 1—he should jump up the free-agent rankings. The 29-year-old logged starts at all five O-line positions in five seasons with the Carolina Panthers and has appeared in 59 career games.

Christensen's positional versatility should interest just about any team looking to revamp its line. He should be particularly intriguing to teams planning to hold a competition at guard.

Logical Landing Spots: Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers

5. Edge Clelin Ferrell

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Edge-defender Clelin Ferrell was drafted fourth overall back in 2019. While he has never played up to his draft status, the Clemson product has become a very capable role player when healthy.

Largely viewed as a draft bust for the Raiders, Ferrell has developed into a solid rotational player elsewhere. He started all 17 games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 and spent time with the Washington Commanders and the Chargers before returning to San Francisco in October.

Ferrell appeared in eight games for the 49ers this past season and finished with 24 tackles, four sacks, four tackles for loss, and four quarterback pressures.

Having just turned 29 in May, Ferrell is worth considering on a multi-year deal. A return to San Francisco would make a ton of sense, given his recent performances there. However, he'd be a sensible target for any team looking for help on the edge.

Logical Landing Spots: Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers

4. S Ifeatu Melifonwu

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu entered the league as a third-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2021. He appeared in 37 games for Detroit across four seasons before spending last season with the Miami Dolphins.

The 27-year-old has been a solid role player when healthy, though he has never played consistently well. Injuries have also been a pretty significant piece of his NFL career, especially during his time in Detroit.

However, Melifonwu's ceiling is still very high. He recorded three sacks and two interceptions during his only complete season with the Lions, and he played a career-high 547 defensive snaps for the Dolphins in 2025.

While the Syracuse product hasn't developed into a dependable starter, he's a versatile defensive back with a high athletic ceiling who can play in the box, man the slot, and even rotate to a deep-safety position. He'd make a ton of sense for a team that uses multiple looks in the secondary.

With Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph both returning from injuries, a return to Detroit would be sensible, too.

Logical Landing Spots: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles

3. Edge A.J. Epenesa

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

To be fair, health could play a big factor in A.J. Epenesa's potential 2026 value, and we don't know just how healthy the 27-year-old edge-defender is. We do know that the Cleveland Browns planned to sign him early in free agency but opted against it following a physical.

Cleveland didn't disclose the results of Epenesa's physical, but it must be noted that he suffered pectoral, foot, and neck injuries in 2025, along with a concussion.

If healthy, though, Epenesa projects as a very good backup or rotational defender. The 2020 second-round pick out of Iowa has spent six seasons with the Buffalo Bills and has shown plenty of promise as a part-time player.

In 91 regular-season games with 19 starts, Epenesa has compiled 135 tackles, 24 sacks, 29 tackles for loss, 53 quarterback hits, and 77 quarterback pressures.

Given his age, Epenesa still has the potential to develop into a serviceable starter, and, at worst, he should be a quality rotational edge this season—again, if healthy. He should interest virtually every team looking to boost its edge rotation.

Logical Landing Spots: Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks

2. G Mekhi Becton

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Mekhi Becton might be the top remaining free agent at any age, based solely on physical upside. The 2020 first-round pick has a 6'7", 363-pound frame and has starting experience at both tackle and guard.

However, Becton is also a potentially polarizing free agent because of his injury history. He never developed into a dependable starter with the New York Jets, due in large part to a series of knee issues.

Injuries were again an issue this past season during Becton's one-year stint with the Chargers. He battled knee and hand issues and suffered a concussion, and he didn't play well when he was on the field for L.A.

Yet, Becton showed that he can be a high-end starter in 2024, his lone season with the Philadelphia Eagles and first as a full-time guard. He started 15 regular-season games and all four postseason contests during Philly's Super Bowl run. Pro Football Focus ranked him 16th overall among all guards for the campaign.

Having only turned 27 in April, Becton's best football may still be in front of him. The injury history can't be ignored, but Becton is a high-level back who still has long-term starting potential—especially if he lands in a familiar system.

Logical Landing Spots: New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles

1. CB Trevon Diggs

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Like Becton, cornerback Trevon Diggs must be viewed as a bit of a boom-or-bust free agent at this point in his career. The former Dallas Cowboys standout suffered a torn ACL in 2023 and hasn't performed at a high level since that injury.

Diggs also missed time with a concussion in 2025 before he was released by the Cowboys and spent a very brief stint with the Green Bay Packers.

And before the injury, when Diggs was playing well, he was still a feast-or-famine cover man. In 2021, for example, Diggs led the league with 11 interceptions and was named a first-team All-Pro. However, he also surrendered 907 yards in coverage.

Still, Diggs is a former All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler at a premium position. He'll only turn 28 in September, and if he can stay healthy, he can again become a reliable long-term starter and an impact defender.

Diggs should interest most teams looking for cornerback help, but given his risk-reward play style, he'd make the most sense in a familiar system.

Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is now the head coach in Washington, while former Cowboys secondary coach Al Harris holds the same position with the Chicago Bears. Interestingly, both teams could use additional depth at corner.

Logical Landing Spots: Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders

*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.