Many of the top NFL players who hit free agency at the start of the new league year in March have already signed new contracts, but many talented free agents still remain unsigned.
Spring workouts, including organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamps, have wrapped up for all 32 teams. During those workouts, each team’s roster and vision for the 2026 season began to come into focus. Dynamics between rookies and veterans, returning incumbent players and newcomers started to become clear. And – potentially significantly – remaining team needs became more obvious.
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Filling any leftover roster gaps ahead of training camp at the end of July will be a priority for team executives over the next several weeks.
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While many players, coaches and other team personnel are taking a month off before training camp begins at the end of July, the pressure is on for free agents to find a new home soon. Training camp signings are not uncommon, but arriving late to preseason workouts puts incoming players at a disadvantage as they try to catch up to their new teammates’ familiarity with new playbooks and new dynamics.
These 10 free agents (plus a handful of honorable mentions) are the top candidates for a new contract as the calendar turns to July:
Top 10 remaining NFL free agents
1. WR Deebo Samuel (Previous team: Commanders) | Age at start of 2026 season: 30
Injuries to lead wide receiver Terry McLaurin pushed Samuel into the No. 1 receiver role for Washington in 2025. And despite more injuries limiting top Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels to seven games, Samuel finished the 2025 season leading the team with 72 catches, 727 yards and five touchdowns. He turned 30 in January and still could be a No. 2 wide receiver for many teams in the league in 2026.
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2. WR Stefon Diggs (Previous team: Patriots) | Age at start of 2026 season: 33
Coming off of an ACL injury that ended his 2024 season early, Diggs managed to be the Patriots’ top wideout in 2025. Catching passes from MVP runner-up Drake Maye, Diggs had 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. Concerns about his age and legal issues this offseason are likely the main reason Diggs remained unsigned earlier this year. It’s unclear whether Diggs will face discipline from the NFL for the felony strangulation and assault and battery charges he faced, though his acquittal on all charges makes further action unlikely.
3. LB Bobby Wagner (Previous team: Commanders) | Age at start of 2026 season: 36
The 2025 season was Wagner’s first without a Pro Bowl or All-Pro second-team nod since his second season in the NFL, 2013. But at age 35, the veteran linebacker managed to record the fourth-most tackles in a season in his career (162) and the third-most sacks in a season (4.5, tied with 2016), all while starting all 17 games in Washington. There’s no question Wagner still has some left in the tank after 14 years in the league.
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4. Edge Joey Bosa (Previous team: Bills) | Age at start of 2026 season: 31
Coming off a Pro Bowl year in 2024, Bosa had his healthiest season since 2021 in his lone year with the Bills. The five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher started 15 games for Buffalo and led the NFL with five forced fumbles. He also recorded five sacks for a second straight year. Even if teams can’t trust Bosa’s health and are unimpressed by his lower sack rate since 2021’s 10.5, the veteran is at least worthy of a rotational spot somewhere to help rush the passer.
5. OT Taylor Decker (Previous team: Lions) | Age at start of 2026 season: 33
Decker was a surprise free agent this offseason. Despite signing an extension in 2024 to keep him in Detroit through the 2027 season, the tackle requested and was granted his release in March. The former Lion is a reliable left tackle, having played and started in 60 games over the last four seasons. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2024.
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6. CB Rasul Douglas (Previous team: Dolphins) | Age at start of 2026 season: 31
In his ninth NFL season, Douglas put together one of his best performances of his career in coverage. The 72.6 passer rating he allowed was the second-lowest he’s ever allowed as a pro, and his 54.7% rate of targets caught against him was the third-lowest in his career. There’s a role for him in a secondary somewhere.
7. WR Keenan Allen (Previous team: Chargers) | Age at start of 2026 season: 34
As a 33-year-old, Allen led a talented group of Chargers receivers in targets (122) and receptions (81) last year. He only started in three games – potentially to mitigate injury risk to an injury-prone player – but Allen could clearly fill out another team’s receiving corps as a top-four option to compete for starts.
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8. Edge Jadeveon Clowney (Previous team: Cowboys) | Age at start of 2026 season: 33
Clowney is a rotational pass rusher at this stage of his career, but he managed to record 8.5 sacks in 13 games with the Cowboys last year. Pro Football Focus graded the veteran’s pass-rushing efforts in 2025 as the best of his career.
9. Edge Von Miller (Previous team: Commanders) | Age at start of 2026 season: 37
Miller is another rotational pass-rusher who proved he’s still got “it” at this late stage of his career. He appeared in all 17 games for the Commanders last year and tallied nine sacks – his most in a season since 2021.
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10. OG Kevin Zeitler (Previous team: Titans) | Age at start of 2026 season: 36
Zeitler may have bounced around frequently throughout his career, but his availability at an interior offensive line position should be invaluable for any team looking for depth. The last season he played in fewer than 15 games was 2014.
More top NFL free agents available
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WR Tyreek Hill (Previous team: Dolphins) | Age at start of 2026 season: 32
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top remaining NFL free agents: Samuel, Diggs among best players available
