NEW YORK — The gold rush has slowed to a crawl. Exactly one week after the NFL’s legal tampering period opened the floodgates, the heavy hitters have largely retreated to their war rooms. We’ve seen George Pickens and Breece Hall locked down via the franchise tag, while pass rushers Jaelan Phillips and Trey Hendrickson secured massive paydays to anchor new defenses. But for teams that missed the initial frenzy, the cupboards aren’t entirely bare.
1. Tyreek Hill, WR (Miami Dolphins)
Tyreek Hill hits the open market for the first time in his career under a cloud of uncertainty. The “Cheetah” isn’t running much lately; he’s still rehabbing a gruesome leg injury suffered in Week 4 of the 2025 season. Despite the 32-year-old speedster’s history as a nightmare for defensive coordinators, teams are understandably cautious about his explosiveness following major surgery. If he returns to even 90% of his former self, he remains the most terrifying vertical threat in football.
2. Jauan Jennings, WR (San Francisco 49ers)
The 49ers chose to move in a different direction after Mike Evans effectively took his spot in the rotation. Jennings is the blue-collar worker of this class—a big-bodied target who does the dirty work in the red zone and blocks like a tight end. He played through a litany of “bumps and bruises” last year, proving he’s the kind of locker-room presence winning teams crave.
3. Aaron Rodgers, QB (Pittsburgh Steelers)
The four-time MVP is doing exactly what we expected: taking his time. At 42, Rodgers is currently weighing a return to the Pittsburgh Steelers against the lure of retirement. Pittsburgh’s situation is dire; with only Mason Rudolph and Will Howard under contract, the Steelers’ 2026 season hinges entirely on a single phone call from the future Hall of Famer. Last season, Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns, showing there’s still juice left in that golden arm.
4. Stefon Diggs, WR (New England Patriots)
Diggs’ release from New England was the shock of the offseason, especially after he helped guide Drake Maye to a Super Bowl 60 appearance. Diggs bounced back from a previous ACL tear to post 1,013 receiving yards last season. He’s a technician on the perimeter, but hitting his fourth team in four years raises questions about his long-term fit in a rebuilding locker room.
5. Joey Bosa, Edge (Buffalo Bills)
Bosa isn’t the 15-sack monster he once was, but his first year in Buffalo proved he can still impact the game. He led the league with five forced fumbles in 2025 and, more importantly, stayed on the field for 16 games. For a team needing a veteran presence to close out games, Bosa is the premier “closer” remaining.
6. David Njoku, TE (Cleveland Browns)
The rise of Harold Fannin Jr. made Njoku a luxury the Browns could no longer afford. Knee issues hampered him last year, resulting in a career-low 293 yards, but a healthy Njoku is still a mismatch nightmare. He’s only 29 and should find a home quickly once he passes a physical.
7. Deebo Samuel, WR (Washington Commanders)
Washington traded a fifth-round pick for Deebo last year, but the “wide-back” experiment didn’t spark the fire they hoped for. He remains a beast with the ball in his hands, thriving on yards-after-catch and occasional carries out of the backfield. He’s a gadget player with elite pedigree waiting for a creative offensive coordinator to call.
8. Taylor Decker, OT (Detroit Lions)
Left tackles with 140 career starts don’t usually sit on the market this long. Decker asked for his release from Detroit to find a fresh start, and while his age is a factor, he was a Pro Bowler as recently as 2024. He’s likely waiting for a contender to suffer a training camp injury so he can name his price.
9. Trevon Diggs, CB (Washington Commanders)
The younger Diggs brother is the ultimate gambler. He didn’t record a single interception in 2025, a jarring stat for a man who once snagged 11 in a season. At 27, his ceiling is still high, but he needs a system that can protect him when his aggressive playstyle leads to a double-move burn.
10. Cameron Jordan, Edge (New Orleans Saints)
A legend in the Big Easy, Jordan is finally moving on. He notched 10.5 sacks in his 15th season, an incredible feat of longevity. He’s a situational pass rusher now, but his veteran savvy and leadership make him an ideal mentor for a young defensive line.
“I’m not done. The leg is feeling better every morning, and the hunger hasn’t changed. Whoever signs me is getting the same Cheetah, just with a little more hardware in the leg.”
— Tyreek Hill, Free Agent Wide Receiver
What’s Next
Expect a flurry of “one-year, prove-it” deals as we head toward April. Teams like the Steelers and Patriots have massive holes to fill at premium positions, and the draft won’t solve everything. The real winner of the second week of free agency is usually the team that manages to snag a veteran like Taylor Decker or Joey Bosa on a discounted veteran salary cap hit.
