NFL NationMar 6, 2026, 06:00 AM ETCloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.Multiple Authors
play0:55Schrager: Trey Hendrickson to Cowboys ‘does make a lot of sense’Peter Schrager joins Pat McAfee to discuss what Trey Hendrickson’s free agency market will look like.
play2:14What will be the deciding factor in where Kyler Murray lands?The “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that the Cardinals are set to release Kyler Murray and discusses where he could end up next.
Why Stephen A. thinks A.J. Brown is the best fit to replace Stefon Diggs (0:58)Stephen A. Smith says A.J. Brown is a “bit more special and physical” than Stefon Diggs and thinks he’d be a welcome addition to the Patriots’ offense. (0:58)
Schrager: Trey Hendrickson to Cowboys ‘does make a lot of sense’Peter Schrager joins Pat McAfee to discuss what Trey Hendrickson’s free agency market will look like.
Peter Schrager joins Pat McAfee to discuss what Trey Hendrickson’s free agency market will look like.
What will be the deciding factor in where Kyler Murray lands?The “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that the Cardinals are set to release Kyler Murray and discusses where he could end up next.
The “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that the Cardinals are set to release Kyler Murray and discusses where he could end up next.
As the echoes of Super Bowl LX fade into the distance, the roar of free agency is growing louder, with legal tampering beginning Monday and the window opening for teams to sign free agents Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Who will be on the move? Malik Willis, Tyler Linderbaum, Mike Evans and Jaelan Phillips are among the bigger names available.
There have already been plenty of trades, including the Bears sending DJ Moore to the Bills, the Chiefs trading Trent McDuffie to the Rams and the Lions dealing David Montgomery to the Texans.
Here’s a team-by-team look at the biggest needs for each team, which free agents are most likely to move and predictions from each of the NFL Nation reporters.
Biggest need: Pass rushers/outside linebacker. Their need changed after the Bills acquired DJ Moore, but they could further bolster their wide receivers group this offseason. Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa are free agents. A significant part of the Bills’ revamped defense will be getting after the quarterback.
FA most likely on the move: DT DaQuan Jones. The veteran started for four seasons under former Bills coach Sean McDermott. New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will bring in a revamped scheme, and younger talent will be emphasized. Jones, 34, has dealt with injuries and hinted on social media in January that he might not return to the Bills.
What do you expect to happen: Add depth free agents on inexpensive contracts. The Bills made a big splash by trading for Moore, and though more moves will come, some of the most important will be in identifying veterans who will sign team-friendly deals. It’s a formula the team has used to find eventual starters in the past. One area to watch is interior offensive line. — Alaina Getzenberg
FA most likely on the move: Zach Wilson. The former No. 2 pick signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins last offseason but was leapfrogged by Ewers when Tagovailoa was benched with three games remaining in the season. Wilson is only 26, and the arm talent is obvious; his most likely outcome is to land somewhere as a backup once again.
Biggest need: Edge. With K’Lavon Chaisson (10.5 sacks, including playoffs) scheduled for free agency, and veteran Harold Landry III recovering from a Week 6 knee injury, the Patriots have identified this position as one of their priorities. Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson are top backups.
FA most likely on the move: TE Austin Hooper. The veteran entering his 11th NFL season was reliable during the past two years in New England, but with Hunter Henry, 31, as TE1, the Patriots likely want to get younger behind him.
What do you expect to happen: Prioritize signing cornerback Christian Gonzalez to a big-money extension. This is the first time Gonzalez, a 2025 Pro Bowler and 2024 second-team All-Pro, is eligible for such a deal. — Mike Reiss
Biggest need: Bridge quarterback. The Jets might be the most desperate team in the league. Looking to replace Justin Fields (likely cut) and Tyrod Taylor (free agent), they will scour all options. The players to watch are Kyler Murray, Tagovailoa, Jacoby Brissett, Andy Dalton, Jarrett Stidham and maybe Malik Willis, though that feels like a long shot.
FA most likely on the move: LB Quincy Williams. He had a nice run in New York, making first-team All-Pro in 2023, but his star faded last season, and he’s not a great fit in the new 3-4 front. He could look to reunite with brother Quinnen on the Cowboys. RB Breece Hall would’ve drawn heavy interest, but he received the franchise tag hours ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
What do you expect to happen: Go heavy on defense. There are six, maybe seven, starting jobs to fill. Look for the Jets to pursue veteran-leader types with strong intangibles. Possibilities include LB Alex Anzalone, LB Demario Davis and S Kevin Byard III. The Jets will also be in the guard market. — Rich Cimini
Biggest need: Edge rusher. Last year, the Ravens recorded 30 sacks, their fewest in 15 years. Last season also marked the first time since 1996 that Baltimore didn’t have an edge rusher with more than 4.5 sacks. Plus, their two most experienced outside linebackers — Kyle Van Noy and Dre’Mont Jones — are free agents. Could Baltimore reunite Khalil Mack with new Ravens coach Jesse Minter?
What do you expect to happen: Sign a guard. The buzz around the combine was that the Ravens would be involved in the interior offensive line market. Last season, Baltimore’s starting guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees were the weak links of the offensive line. They struggled to protect Lamar Jackson, and both ranked 31st in pass block win rate among guards. — Jamison Hensley
FA most likely on the move: CB Cam Taylor-Britt. The former second-round pick had a rough ending to a rocky career. But if he comes back fully healthy from his Lisfranc injury, a change of scenery could do wonders to restart his career. At his peak, he was Cincinnati’s CB1. The right fit could be what he needs.
What do you expect to happen: Add a veteran linebacker. Cincinnati is very high on Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter, the team’s starting linebackers from last season. They’re no longer rookies, but they still need a veteran who can spell them at times and also provide some needed depth to that unit. — Ben Baby
Biggest need: Offensive line. Name a position, and the Browns have a need there. With four Week 1 offensive line starters hitting free agency, Cleveland’s trenches are headed for a rebuild. New coach Todd Monken has said success on offense starts up front, so expect the Browns to focus their major resources there.
FA most likely on the move: CB Martin Emerson Jr. The 2022 third-round pick appeared to be on a Pro Bowl track before he struggled in 2024 and had an Achilles injury that cost him the 2025 season. General manager Andrew Berry acknowledged that Emerson’s future in Cleveland is “unsettled.” With Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell entrenched as starters, Emerson could look for a new opportunity elsewhere to bounce back from his injury.
FA most likely on the move: G Isaac Seumalo. The veteran guard was a mainstay on the line in three seasons in Pittsburgh, but he’s likely to command strong offers in free agency. The Steelers also have depth at the position in guard and jumbo tight end Spencer Anderson, who started in place of Seumalo when the 10-year lineman missed games because of multiple injuries.
What do you expect to happen: Re-sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers have made it clear that they want the veteran back after a largely successful 2025 season. The decision is in Rodgers’ hands, but the organization remains hopeful that he’ll be back, not only to start again, but also to continue mentoring and developing 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard. — Brooke Pryor
FA most likely on the move: LB Christian Harris had a roller-coaster run with the Texans. The 2022 third-round pick went from promising starter who had a pick-six in a playoff game to break the score open in 2023 to afterthought who was relegated to a special teams role in 2025. He suffered a calf injury that derailed his 2024 season, but whoever signs him will get a young player who could make an impact with his physical gifts.
What do you expect to happen: Sign a bunch of linemen, potentially replacing offensive linemen at center, left guard, right guard and right tackle. Expect them to go after players who will command lucrative and team-friendly deals, and hope some can turn into Ingram, who broke out in his lone season with Houston. — DJ Bien-Aime
Biggest need: Edge rush. The Colts have gone through much trial and error in attempting to fill this need through the draft, but their best past successes have come in free agency. With Kwity Paye and others likely hitting free agency, look for the Colts to consider a veteran signing here to pair with Laiatu Latu.
FA most likely on the move: S Nick Cross. The Colts’ signing of veteran free agent Cam Bynum last offseason, combined with the return of injured 2025 rookie DBs Justin Walley and Hunter Wohler, makes them much less likely to spend big on a box safety. The needs in the front seven (defensive line and linebacker) mean the Colts are more likely to spend resources there instead.
What do you expect to happen: Though much of the focus to this point has rightly been on the Colts’ handling of QB Daniel Jones and WR Alec Pierce, multiple sources have indicated that the Colts are prepared to retool their defense through targeted, value signings. The unit’s underwhelming play down the stretch in 2025 prompted a reevaluation. — Stephen Holder