2026 NFL free agency’s top players by position

The new league year begins Wednesday, but NFL free agency can officially begin on Monday, when the “tampering period” begins at noon ET. Here’s Yahoo Sports NFL writer Frank Schwab’s list of the top free agents overall and by position, along with what you need to know at this stage of the offseason.

Who are the top 10 free agents overall?

Frank Schwab lists the top 25 free agents in the NFL this offseason. Here are the people who made the top 10:

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1. De Trae Hendrickson
2.C.Tyler Lindbaum
3.WR George Pickens*
4. Wide receiver Alec Pierce
5. LB Devin Lloyd
6. Quarterback Malik Willis
7. Dejelan Phillips
8. OLB Odafi Owe
9.WR Rashid Shahid
10. RB Kenneth Walker III

*Receives non-exclusive franchise tag from Cowboys

1. Malik Willis
2. Kirk Cousins
3. Aaron Rodgers
4. Kyler Murray
5. Jimmy Garoppolo

1.Kenneth Walker III
2. Travis Etienne Jr.
3. Rico Dowdell
4. Tyler Allgaier
5. Aaron Jones

1. George Pickens*
2. Alec Pierce
3. Rashid Shahid
4. Mike Evans
5. Mount Tyrik

*Obtain a non-exclusive franchise tag

1. Kyle Pitts Sr.*
2. Isaiah Possible
3.Dallas Goedert
4. David Njoku
5. Chigozim Okonkwo

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*Receive a franchise tag

1. Tyler Lindbaum
2. Rasheed Walker
3. Isaac Semalo
4. Connor McGovern
5. David Edwards

1. Trey Hendrickson
2. Jaylan Phillips
3. Oduffy Ovie
4. Khalil Mack
5. Clavon Chaisen

1. John Franklin Miles
2. Draymon Jones
3.DJ Reader
4. Calais Campbell
5. Kiristonga

1. Devin Lloyd
2. Walker’s Pier
3. Devin Bush Jr.
4. Alex Anzalone
5.Bobby Wagner

1. CB Jamel Dean
2.S Brian Cook
3. CB Jaylen Watson
4.S Camron Cole
5. CB Tariq woolen

What is the “lawful tampering” period?

It’s a 52-hour window, starting at noon ET on Monday and ending at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, during which clubs can contact and negotiate deals with agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents when the league starts in the new year. A formal contract cannot be signed until free agency begins on Wednesday.

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What is the salary cap this season?

The league announced last month that the cap would be $301.2 million. This is an increase of approximately $22 million from 2025.

Total player costs are expected to exceed $10 billion, or $378.8 million per club.

This continues a trend of salary cap increases over the past two seasons. In 2024, the cap is $255.4 million. The 2026 cap hit is nearly $100 million higher than 2022, marking a significant increase in just five seasons.