2026 NFL Free-Agency Rankings: Trey Hendrickson, Daniel Jones, Kenneth Walker Lead Top 150

With the 2026 league year set to open on March 11, close to 600 players are poised to enter unrestricted free agency, a pool that will shrink as extensions, releases and franchise tags reshape the landscape. The Athletic’s annual top-150 board, compiled after exhaustive film study, projects the market’s most coveted talent using a 2.0-to-8.0 grading scale that balances on-field performance, age, health, upside and positional value. No player scored below 4.3; Cincinnati pass rusher Trey Hendrickson sits alone at the summit with a 7.3.

Hendrickson, 31 when the season kicks off Sept. 9, has terrorized quarterbacks since 2020, registering 74.5 sacks—third-most in the NFL—despite appearing in only seven games last year while recovering from core-muscle surgery. His game is built on a nonstop motor, violent hands and a diversified rush menu that marries speed-to-power with corner-turning burst. Fifteen career forced fumbles underscore his knack for game-changing plays.

Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III, fresh off a Super Bowl MVP effort against New England (27 carries, 135 yards; 2 catches, 26 yards), ranks third among all free agents. The 24-year-old’s compact frame, low center of gravity and elite contact balance make him a nightmare between the tackles, while his vision and burst allow him to attack the edges or align as a receiver. After nine first downs in the title game—matching a career high set two weeks earlier versus San Francisco—Walker appears poised to convert a championship résumé into a lucrative long-term deal.

Quarterback Daniel Jones headlines the offensive skill group at No. 2. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $14 million prove-it deal with Indianapolis last offseason, beat out Anthony Richardson Sr. for the starting job and piloted one of football’s most efficient attacks until a fractured fibula in Week 12 and a subsequent torn right Achilles in Week 14 ended his year. Jones ranked seventh in EPA per dropback before the injury and, barring setbacks, expects to be cleared for training camp. His age and mobility—combined with a cautionary tale in Kirk Cousins’ 2024 regression after an Achilles tear—will shape how aggressively teams chase a passer who displayed timing, accuracy and vertical aggression within Shane Steichen’s system.

The rankings are dotted with other headline-makers. Giants running back Breece Hall (No. 4) has topped 1,300 scrimmage yards in three straight seasons and offers Saquon Barkley-like upside in the right offense. Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (No. 5) finished fourth in pressure rate after arriving from Miami at the trade deadline, pairing violent hands with coverage versatility. Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (No. 6) erupted for five interceptions and 28 pressures in 2025, emerging as a sideline-to-sideline playmaker.

Veterans dot the list as well. Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum (No. 8) pairs elite athleticism with powerful run blocking, while Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans (No. 9) hopes a healthy Week 15 showcase (6-132 vs. Atlanta) portends another 1,000-yard season at age 33. Packers quarterback Malik Willis (No. 10) parlayed two spot starts into a compelling audition, completing 27 of 32 passes for 409 yards and two touchdowns without an interception and flashing rare arm talent and contact balance.

Contract projections baked into the rankings reflect base salary-cap values, not maximum incentives. The board will evolve—franchise tags have already removed George Pickens, and extensions will pick off others—but as March approaches, Hendrickson, Jones and Walker sit atop a class flush with difference-makers and storyline-rich narratives.