The big money players are off the table, but there are still difference makers out there. Here is where they could make the most impact
By Garrett Podell Apr 3, 2026 at 8:41 am ET • 9 min read 
Getty Images The 2026 NFL Draft is now just three away, with the first round kicking off on April 23. However, a number of NFL teams could certainly benefit from another free agent or two to address some outstanding needs before the big event. Doing so now could free up several franchises to draft from the position of best player available instead of forcing themselves into filling a specific need.
A sizable number of veterans remain available to make an impact in 2026. Let's rank the top 10 free agents still on the board, plus an ideal landing spot where they could have the greatest impact in the coming season.
Von Miller WAS • OLB • #24 View Profile - Age: 37
- Pro Bowls: 8
- First-team All-Pro teams: 3
Von Miller chose to sign with the Washington Commanders in 2025 after seeing them finish as the 2024 NFC runners-up behind Jayden Daniels' NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year performance. Then, the 2025 season went completely downhill with Daniels and others dealing with injury issues. Coach Dan Quinn moved on from both offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Washington finished with the 22nd-ranked scoring offense (20.9 points per game) and the 27th-ranked scoring defense (26.5) in a year that ended with a 5-12 record.
However, Miller did his best at age 36: he led Washington with 9.0 sacks. His 138.5 career sacks are the most by an active player, so even at the age of 37 in 2026, he can be of value even though he's far from his Super Bowl 50 MVP-level prime.
Miller makes plenty of sense on the Packers, given Micah Parsons' situation. Parsons is recovering from a torn ACL. Miller would be an ideal addition to hold down the fort at the edge rusher spot opposite former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness until Parsons gets back. Once he does, Miller could be a situational pass rusher for the Packers, a team whose +1500 odds to win the Super Bowl are the seventh-best in the NFL, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Even though Green Bay is known as a team that can be free agent-averse, general manager Brian Gutekunst signed veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to hold down the fort until Devonte Wyatt can return from his injury. Miller would be a similar signing.
Ideal landing spot: Green Bay Packers
Stefon Diggs NE • WR • #8 TAR102REC85REC YDs1013REC TD4FL0 View Profile - Age: 32
- Pro Bowls: 4
- First-team All-Pro teams: 1
The New England Patriots released four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs before free agency began because the cap hits on his contract were set to increase from $10.5 million to $26.5 million in each of the next two seasons.
Diggs was an integral piece for the 2025 AFC champions. At the age of 32 and fresh off a torn ACL, Diggs led the Patriots with 1,013 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 85 catches. His 83.3% catch rate was the second-highest catch rate by a wide receiver in the past 45 seasons, according to CBS Sports Research. Only New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas' 85% catch rate in 2018 was higher than what Diggs produced in 2025.
Diggs' legal trouble is likely why he remains available. He pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges following an alleged assault of his personal chef. Diggs' attorney, Mitchell Schuster, claims his client is "completely innocent." If Diggs' legal process is resolved, a homecoming to the Minnesota Vikings makes plenty of sense. Jalen Nailor departed for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, so there's an opening at Minnesota's WR3 spot after 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson and former first-round pick Jordan Addison.
Kevin O'Connell wasn't the coach in Minnesota when Diggs departed to the Buffalo Bills via a 2020 trade request, and he needs to get Minnesota back to the playoffs in 2026 after a disastrous 2025 with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. Providing Kyler Murray with three high-caliber wideouts would certainly be helpful toward that cause. Plus, Diggs wouldn't have to work as hard to get open as he ages playing alongside Jefferson and company.
Ideal landing spot: Minnesota Vikings
Joel Bitonio CLE • OG • #75 View Profile - Age: 34
- Pro Bowls: 7 (2018-24)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 2 (2021-22)
Joel Bitonio may have lost a step, but he can still pass protect, allowing just two sacks in 2025. His 75.7 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade was the eighth-best in the NFL among guards this past season. Bitonio would make a lot of sense for a team looking for interior help on the cheap to return to the playoffs.
Bitonio could remain in the AFC North and pursue postseason football with the Baltimore Ravens. The interior of their offensive line needs an upgrade at left guard over 2023 seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees, and Bitonio would certainly represent that. Blocking for two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and five-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry would be a lot for Bitonio after years of blocking sagging offenses in Cleveland.
Ideal landing spot: Baltimore Ravens
Bobby Wagner WAS • MLB • #54 View Profile - Age: 35
- Pro Bowls: 10 (2014-21, 2023-24)
- First-team All-Pro Teams: 6 (2014, 2016-20)
Wagner's age has to be the primary reason behind his lack of a contract. He stuffed the stat sheet with 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions.
Wagner now has 14 consecutive seasons (2012-25) with 100-plus tackles, which is tied for the longest such streak since 2000 along with London Fletcher (20-13). The Dallas Cowboys still lack a green dot, middle linebacker entering the 2025 NFL Draft. Even if a rookie draft pick becomes the eventual starter, having a future Hall of Famer to mentor the next generation at the position would be ideal for Dallas.
Ideal landing spot: Dallas Cowboys
Jadeveon Clowney DAL • OLB • #42 View Profile - Age: 33
- Pro Bowls: 3 (2016-18)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
Jadeveon Clowney concluded his 2025 season in style with a single-game career-high three sacks in Week 18 against New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. Despite not suiting up for the Cowboys until Week 4, he finished with 8.5 sacks, his most in a season since producing 9.5 in 2023 with the Ravens. That figure also led the Cowboys in 2025. There's a chance the former first-overall pick could play even better in 2026 after going through a full offseason with a team.
The San Francisco 49ers ranked last in the NFL in team sacks in 2025, and their 1.18 sacks per game now stands as the lowest by a team that made the postseason. Yes, San Francisco gets both 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher Nick Bosa (torn ACL) and 2025 11th overall pick edge rusher Mykel Williams (torn ACL and torn meniscus) back in 2026/ Adding a healthy, proven pass rush threat along the edge in Clowney would relieve some of the urgency on those two to rush back from their injuries. Plus, Clowney already has plenty of pass-rush chemistry with new 49ers defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa after suiting up together in Dallas last season.
Ideal landing spot: San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel WAS • WR • #1 TAR99REC72REC YDs727REC TD5FL0 View Profile - Age: 30
- Pro Bowls: 1 (2021)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 1 (2021)
Deebo Samuel lost a step in 2025, and he also battled through quarterback instability. Samuel averaged a career-low 10.1 yards per reception in 2025, and the two lowest receiving yards per game totals of his seven-year career came in 2024 (44.7) and 2025 (45.4). Samuel isn't the same bulldozing Swiss Army knife that once served as the focal point of Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco 49ers offense. He can still knock would-be tacklers over in the open field after the catch, as evidenced by his playmaking against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas, but his separation in his route running is slipping. Samuel still has value in 2026, but it's not what it once was in his prime.
It would make all the sense in the world for Samuel to come back home to San Francisco. Kyle Shanahan will certainly look to lighten running back Christian McCaffrey's workload after 413 touches in the regular season. That's the most in a season since Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray's 449 back in 2014. McCaffrey also turns 30-years-old on June 7. Bringing back Samuel to fill in for McCaffrey on some of the checkdowns and screens in Shanahan's offense could maximize the former's skill set while preserving the latter for postseason football.
Ideal landing spot: San Francisco 49ers
David Njoku CLE • TE • #85 TAR48REC33REC YDs293REC TD4FL0 View Profile - Age: 29
- Pro Bowls: 1 (2023)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
David Njoku tumbled down the depth chart while battling through knee injuries for most of 2025. Rookie Harold Fannin Jr. quickly became a go-to guy for quarterback Shedeur Sanders. If healthy, he's a valuable middle-of-the-field and red-zone playmaker. Turning 30 in 2026 and dealing with injuries should make him a more cost-conscious target than in years past.
The Carolina Panthers make the most sense for Njoku: the defending NFC South champions need more of a receiving threat out of their tight end spot than Tommy Tremble has put on tape. He could really open up the middle of the field for quarterback Bryce Young.
Ideal landing spot: Carolina Panthers
Joey Bosa BUF • DE • #97 View Profile - Age: 30
- Pro Bowls: 5 (2017, 2019-21, 2024)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
Joey Bosa was an underrated piece of the Buffalo Bills' defense. He's not the same guy he was in the late 2010s because of injuries, but Pro Football Focus grades him as their seventh-highest graded pass-rushing edge defender with an 88.7 grade in 2025. He also led the league with five forced fumbles. Bosa can help stabilize any team's pass rush this offseason.
As mentioned with Clowney, the 49ers were the NFL's worst pass rush by a country mile. Going to San Francisco and teaming up with his brother Nick just makes too much sense.
Ideal landing spot: San Francisco 49ers
Aaron Rodgers PIT • QB • #8 CMP%65.7YDs3322TD24INT7YD/Att6.67 View Profile - Age: 42
- Pro Bowls: 10 (2009, 2011-12, 2014-16, 2018-21)
- First-team All-Pro teams: 4 (2011, 2014, 2020-21)
Aaron Rodgers still has some magic left in him after throwing a game-winning, 26-yard touchdown pass to Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left in a 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. That victory sent Pittsburgh back to the postseason as AFC North champions.
His playoff performance was disappointing, but many offensive lines and quarterbacks failed to hold up against the Houston Texans' dynamic duo of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. Even though he clearly can't scramble in the pocket as he used to, Rodgers can still make some highlight-reel throws. A return to the Pittsburgh Steelers to reunite with Mike McCarthy makes plenty of sense, especially after trading for another weapon in wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman complements DK Metcalf perfectly since his areas of expertise are in the short, intermediate areas as well as over the middle, thanks to his polished route-running technique. Metcalf is a downfield deep threat as well as a liability to break loose on a screen pass. Rodgers now has what he was missing last season at the No. 2 receiver spot.
Ideal landing spot: Pittsburgh Steelers
Jauan Jennings SF • WR • #15 TAR90REC55REC YDs643REC TD9FL1 View Profile - Age: 28
- Pro Bowls: 0
- First-team All-Pro teams: 0
Jauan Jennings was the unsung hero of the San Francisco 49ers' offense. He does the dirty work over the middle with strong hands, which makes him one of the best in the league at moving the sticks.
His overall stats in 2025 weren't eye-popping, but Jennings didn't have Brock Purdy for seven games. From Week 11 when Purdy returned in 2025 to the end of the regular season, Jennings' six receiving touchdowns tied for second-most in the NFL in that span. He's also versatile, as his playoff passing touchdown to Christian McCaffrey indicated. Jennings possesses two career playoff passing touchdowns, which is tied for the most in NFL history by a non-QB along with Bronko Nagurski.
Jennings could easily surpass both Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus to be WR2 for the Atlanta Falcons in 2026 behind only Drake London. Stefanski runs an offense that is similar in structure to what Kyle Shanahan runs in San Francisco: an outside zone rushing offense built to create easy looks on play-action. Jennings could acclimate quickly to Atlanta's playbook, and he could also emerge as a key target in an NFC South division that's up for grabs every season.
Ideal landing spot: Atlanta Falcons
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