As March turns to April, the focus for many transitions from free agency to the NFL draft.
Most of the big-name veterans who hit the open market have already landed lucrative contracts to play elsewhere or return to their old teams. What was once a bounty of potential difference-makers on both sides of the ball has dwindled significantly.
That doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare, though. There are players still available who, while not long-term solutions, can help teams in 2026—veterans coming off injuries or down years who can be had on short-term “prove it” deals, and others who may need to accept that the market isn’t going to pay what they expected.
While free agency may have quieted, it isn’t silent. There are whispers of value to be had and rumblings of players who can make a real difference for NFL teams in 2026, if not beyond.
And there’s at least one guy who can do that for every squad this year.