Best Bargain Free Agents at Each Position After NFL 2026 Roster Cuts

The NFL's cutdown to 53 players passed on Sunday evening, but you can bet that teams aren't done tinkering with their rosters. With hundreds of experienced players flooding the free-agent market, teams will spend the next several days chasing upgrades.

Many teams will find ways to improve their rosters at a bargain rate, too.

Here, we'll examine the biggest potential bargains available at every position following the 53-man roster deadline—along with potential suitors—based on factors such as past production, experience, player upside, player health, and team needs.

A look at the biggest winners and losers from every team's roster cuts can be found here.

Quarterback

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Jimmy Garoppolo

1. Jimmy Garoppolo
2. Josh Johnson
3. Will Levis

The free-agent market isn't loaded with starting-caliber quarterbacks, even after several signal-callers were dumped on Sunday. However, Jimmy Garoppolo is a former starter who can be a high-end backup and who has been available since the start of the offseason.

Garoppolo had considered retirement early in the offseason, but NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported in July that the former Super Bowl-starting QB is open to playing in 2026.

Josh Johnson, who was released by the Cincinnati Bengals, is another seasoned quarterback with the experience needed to be a high-end backup. The 40-year-old has been in the NFL since 2008, has played in 50 games with 11 starts, and has appeared in games for seven different franchises.

Johnson's familiarity with many different offensive systems should allow him to step right into a valuable depth role.

Yes, Will Levis quickly became a punchline with the Tennessee Titans, but it's not as if Tennessee has the best recent track record of developing quarterbacks. Teams may have interest in trying to develop the former second-round pick after remembering how Malik Willis flourished after getting out of Tennessee.

Potential Suitors: Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets

Running Back

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Jerome Ford

1. Jerome Ford
2. Jaleel McLaughlin
3. Jaydon Blue

Jerome Ford's health remains a bit of an unknown. After he suffered a hamstring injury, the Washington Commanders waived him with an injury settlement, according to ESPN's John Keim.

However, Ford is a solid RB2 when healthy who showed he can be a viable spot-starter during his time with the Cleveland Browns. He topped 1,100 scrimmage yards in 2023, and he has averaged 4.3 yards per carry as a pro.

The Denver Broncos released Jaleel McLaughlin from their crowded RB room, and the speedy Youngstown State product should interest teams seeking a change-of-pace back.

Over the last three years with Denver, McLaughlin tallied 1,356 scrimmage yards while averaging an impressive 4.8 yards per carry. He's a bit undersized (5'7", 187 lbs) but possesses big-play ability and won't turn 26 until mid-September.

Jaydon Blue, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys, doesn't have much of an NFL resume. What he does have is a lot of untapped potential. While Blue appeared in only five games as a rookie, he recorded 1,098 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry at Texas in 2024.

Potential Suitors: Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks

Wide Receiver

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Noah Brown

1. Noah Brown
2. Marquez Valdes-Scantling
3. Cedric Tillman

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the early stages of a rebuild and opted to release 30-year-old wideout Noah Brown after a short stint with the team. However, Brown would be a strong option for a contender looking for proven depth at the position.

Brown appeared in only four games for the Commanders last season because of groin and rib injuries. However, he caught 35 passes for 453 yards and a touchdown in 2024. Since entering the NFL in 2017, he has appeared in 91 regular-season games and caught 151 passes for 2,083 yards.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was released by the Cowboys, is another seasoned veteran who should appeal to contenders seeking depth. He appeared in five games each with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers last season, and he has appeared in 116 regular-season games over his eight-year career.

Valdes-Scantling also won a pair of Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs and has recorded 432 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the postseason.

Cedric Tillman is a younger and far less proven receiver who could appeal to rebuilding teams. He was released by the Cleveland Browns after recording just 833 yards in three seasons.

Of course, Tillman's growth was hampered by some bad Browns offenses, and the 6'3", 215-pound pass-catcher has flashed some intriguing upside. He had 330 yards and three touchdowns in a five-game stretch before suffering a season-ending concussion in 2024.

Potential Suitors: Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins

Tight End

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Donald Parham

1. Donald Parham
2. Pharaoh Brown
3. Justin Joly

Tight end Donald Parham was on Denver's practice squad in 2024 and missed all of last season with an Achilles injury, but he appears ready to contribute in 2026.

Washington hosted him for a tryout before the start of training camp, according to Ian Saunders of SteelersNow.com (h/t RotoWire).

If Parham is indeed back near pre-injury form, he should be an intriguing option for teams seeking a pass-catcher at the position. In 2023, he appeared in 14 games for the Chargers and caught 27 passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns.

Pharaoh Brown has never put up gaudy receiving numbers in the NFL, but he's carved out an eight-year career as an in-line blocking tight end. He appeared in only seven games with the Arizona Cardinals last season but has appeared in 94 games with 56 starts overall.

Brown was released by the Indianapolis Colts.

Justin Joly has no regular-season NFL experience, as he was just drafted by the Broncos in April. However, the fifth-round pick out of North Carolina State did impress during Denver's preseason finale with an 88-yard touchdown catch-and-run.

The Broncos have a loaded roster, but not every team does. Someone will find room to develop Joly.

Potential Suitors: Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins

Offensive Line

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Taylor Decker

1. Taylor Decker
2. Kevin Zeitler
3. Cam Robinson
4. Cody Ford
5. Evan Neal

Former Detroit Lions starting left tackle Taylor Decker remains available since being granted his release early in the offseason. He should still be the top option for any team that needs a starter or backup at the left tackle position.

Decker has started all 140 regular-season games in which he has appeared, has logged five playoff starts, and made the Pro Bowl in 2024. Cam Robinson hasn't played as well recently, but the available left tackle made 13 starts last season and has 114 for his career.

Kevin Zeitler has been available all offseason and should interest teams unhappy with their guard rotation heading into Week 1.

Zeitler has made a whopping 213 NFL starts, including 16 in each of the past two seasons. He was surrounded by an underwhelming Titans line in 2025 and still managed to finish ranked 13th overall among guards by Pro Football Focus.

Cody Ford was released by the Bengals after spending the last three seasons as one of their primary backups. While Ford has never established himself as a high-end starter, he has appeared in 99 games and logged snaps at left guard, right guard, and offensive tackle.

Ford is a backup, but his positional versatility should interest several teams.

Former New York Giants first-round pick Evan Neal will only interest teams willing to take on a reclamation project. The seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft failed to pan out at tackle or guard for the Giants and spent last season on injured reserve. However, he's still only 25 years old.

Potential Suitors: Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders

Defensive Line

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Mazi Smith

1. DaQuan Jones
2. Mazi Smith
3. Colby Wooden
4. Emmanuel Ogbah
5. Carlos Watkins

DaQuan Jones may be 34 years old, but he remains a starting-caliber defensive tackle. He was limited to 12 games in Buffalo last season by calf issues, but he started all 12 of those contests and tallied 22 tackles with three sacks and eight quarterback hits.

Jones met with the Patriots in mid-August, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN, but he remains a potential bargain for any team in need of an immediate contributor along the defensive line.

Mazi Smith may not make an impact right away, but he's an intriguing developmental candidate who could pay long-term dividends. Smith, whom the New York Jets recently released, was a first-round pick of the Cowboys in 2023 and is still only 25 years old.

Smith hasn't come close to playing up to his draft status, but he possesses an attractive combination of youth, size (6'3", 337 lbs), and upside.

The Colts released defensive tackle Colby Wooden just a few months after acquiring him in a March trade with the Green Bay Packers. While Wooden didn't pan out in Indy, he started 16 games for Green Bay last season and recorded 50 tackles.

Emmanuel Ogbah has been a quality rotational defensive end for most of his 10-year career and even has a pair of nine-sack seasons on his resume. He has appeared in 136 total games with 90 starts.

Ogbah appeared in 13 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season and was just released by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Defensive lineman Carlos Watkins was released by the Titans. While he only appeared in three games for Tennessee last season, the 32-year-old appeared in 15 games for the Cowboys the previous season and has appeared in 90 games across nine seasons.

Potential Suitors: Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants

Edge

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Kyle Van Noy

1. Kyle Van Noy
2. BJ Ojulari
3. Sam Williams

Kyle Van Noy has filled a few different defensive roles during his time in the NFL, but he has most recently served as a rotational edge-rusher for the Baltimore Ravens. He recorded just two sacks in 2025 but also logged 17 QB pressures in a rotational role and has been more prolific in the recent past.

In three seasons with Baltimore, Van Noy recorded 23.5 sacks and 54 quarterback pressures.

BJ Ojulari was hoping to establish himself as a dependable defensive force when a 2024 knee injury derailed that plan. Ojulari tore multiple ligaments in his left knee during Cardinals training camp and didn't return to the field until late in 2025.

The 2023 second-round pick recorded four sacks and five tackles for loss and could reward teams willing to bet on his upside. Though Arizona opted to release him, Ojulari was cleared to play in 2026 and is still only 24 years old.

Sam Williams is another former second-round pick who suffered a significant knee injury in 2024. The Cowboys released the 2022 Mississippi product after completely rebuilding their pass-rushing rotation this offseason. However, Williams flashed early in his career with 8.5 sacks in his first two seasons.

Potential Suitors: New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers

Linebacker

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Bobby Wagner

1. Bobby Wagner
2. Tyrel Dodson
3. Elandon Roberts

Linebacker Bobby Wagner is probably only interested in playing for a contender at this point in his career. However, the future Hall of Famer should be willing to join a playoff hopeful on a relatively budget-friendly deal.

Wagner played on a one-year, $9 million contract with Washington last season. While that's obviously not a league-minimum price, the Commanders got a strong return on investment. Wagner finished the 2025 season with 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions.

Tyrel Dodson doesn't carry the lengthy resume that Wagner does, but the 28-year-old possesses long-term starting potential.

Dodson was released by the Miami Dolphins but started 16 games for them in 2025 and recorded 129 tackles, five sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and three passes defended. He has started 43 games as a pro and is highly unlikely to remain available for long.

Elandon Roberts was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers after making 16 starts for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025. The 32-year-old has 30 starts over the past two seasons and 121 for his career.

Potential Suitors: Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos

Cornerback

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Adoree' Jackson

1. Kenny Moore II
2. Adoree' Jackson
3. Travon Diggs

Early in the offseason, the Colts and cornerback Kenny Moore II agreed to try to work out a trade. After one failed to materialize, Moore was released instead. He's been available since May, a fact that has even surprised former NFL star cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

Moore is a terrific target for teams seeking production and positional versatility in the secondary. He recently turned 31 and made just seven starts in 2025, but he also has 111 starts on his resume and allowed an opposing passer rating of just 87.8 in coverage last season.

Adoree' Jackson is another seasoned vet whose presence on the open market is a bit surprising. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Jackson has drawn interest from "a few teams" over the summer.

Jackson made 10 starts for the Eagles last season and allowed an opposing passer rating of only 80.2 in coverage. The 30-year-old has appeared in 111 regular-season games with 92 starts.

Travon Diggs was once one of the biggest takeaway threats in the NFL, but he hasn't quite been the same since his 2023 knee injury. He's still only 27, though, and showed during the preseason that he can still make a play on the ball.

The Seattle Seahawks released Diggs, but GM John Schneider has said that he plans to add Diggs to the practice squad (h/t Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune). Here's where we remind fans that players can be signed off the practice squad to another team's active roster.

Potential Suitors: Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers

Safety

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Taylor Rapp

1. Taylor Rapp
2. Geno Stone
3. Lonnie Johnson Jr.

Safety Taylor Rapp signed with the Broncos in August and may not remain available for long. Head coach Sean Payton told reporters that Rapp was stepping away to attend to a personal matter and is a strong candidate to re-sign in Denver (h/t Zac Stevens of DNVR).

If the Broncos aren't quick to bring back Rapp, he would be a terrific addition to any defense lacking safety depth. He has made 72 starts while allowing an opposing passer rating of 91.0 in his career, and he has experience at both strong and free safety.

Geno Stone has also logged snaps at strong and free safety. The former Ravens standout spent the past two seasons in Cincinnati, starting all 34 regular-season games for the Bengals.

Stone, who is still only 27 years old, tallied a career-high 104 tackles to go with two sacks and two interceptions last season. Nevertheless, the Buffalo Bills released him during roster cuts.

The Dolphins released Lonnie Johnson Jr., who has largely been a rotational safety and special-teamer during his seven-year career. Johnson has appeared in 90 games, though, and has seen time at both safety and cornerback.

Potential Suitors: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions