It’s not rare for top free agents to come off career seasons, which makes free agency a risky time of year for NFL teams. More often than not, those career seasons end up being one-year flukes, with players quickly going from prized acquisitions to cap casualties in a short span.
But what’s different about 2026 is the number of pending free agents who will be in their mid-20s by the time the new league year opens at 4 p.m. ET March 11. There’s a strong chance these players needed a little more time to develop in a league that often rushes results.
