Best landing spots for top remaining free agents + a 2026 NFL mock draft | A to Z Sports NFL Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE to our emails here: By submitting this form, you hereby acknowledge and agree to receive email communications from A to Z Sports. We value your privacy and will handle your information with care. You will have the option to unsubscribe from our emails at any time through a link provided in each correspondence. Please […]
SUBSCRIBE to our emails here:
By submitting this form, you hereby acknowledge and agree to receive email communications from A to Z Sports. We value your privacy and will handle your information with care. You will have the option to unsubscribe from our emails at any time through a link provided in each correspondence. Please review our Privacy Policy for more details about how we manage your information.
Best landing spots for top free agents
With the NFL Draft behind us, the next wave of free agency will begin soon. Over the summer, teams will fill remaining roster holes with the best available free agents, and there are still plenty of talented players left.
Our guy Wendell Ferreira threw together a list of the best available free agents and their most ideal landing spots. Below are some of the highlights.
QB Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers: “That's an easy one, because it's basically the only spot where Rodgers can really start barring an injury. He already visited Pittsburgh and is taking care of a personal matter before making a decision, but the possibility is still there. For the Steelers, it's also the best option. If Rodgers decides to retire or to wait for the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh would probably be forced to trade for Kirk Cousins, a tough pill to swallow after his rough 2024 season with the Atlanta Falcons.”
WR Keenan Allen to the Dallas Cowboys: “Everyone expected the Cowboys to draft a receiver in the first round, but with Tetairoa McMillan off the board, they went with guard Tyler Booker instead. CeeDee Lamb is a primary slot receiver, so the best pure outside option is Jonathan Mingo—whom they traded a fourth-round pick for. Keenan Allen is a big-bodied receiver with a proven track record of production, and he still played at a good level for the Chicago Bears in 2024, with 70 catches, 744 yards, and six touchdown receptions. His experience would help guys in the locker room, and his production and style on the field are perfect to complement what the room currently has.”
WR Amari Cooper to the New York Jets: “The Jets lost Davante Adams in the offseason, and now there's not much beyond Garrett Wilson in the wide receiver room. They drafted Arian Smith in the fourth round and adjusted Allen Lazard's contract, but adding a secondary option with a higher upside like Amari Cooper would be a significant step to make Justin Fields' life easier.”
EDGE Za'Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions: “Right now, Marcus Davenport is projected to start opposite Aidan Hutchinson at defensive end for the Lions. That's certainly not the ideal scenario for a Super Bowl contender. Za'Darius was released from the Lions for contract reasons back in March, and the fact that he is still available proves that he can be a lower-cost move for Detroit at this point. Smith played eight games for the Lions last season after being acquired in an in-season trade with the Browns, and had four sacks. With Hutch back, Smith can be more efficient as a secondary edge option.”
OG Brandon Scherff to the Arizona Cardinals: “The Cardinals put almost all of their resources on defense, not taking an offensive player until the sixth round in the draft—and the most expensive free agent addition for the offense was backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Right now, the projected starting guards are Evan Brown and Isaiah Adams, so the Cardinals could certainly improve. A 33-year-old former First-Team All-Pro and five times Pro Bowler, Scherff was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars for money reasons, but he can still offer a solid level of play, especially in pass protection.”
CB Asante Samuel Jr. to the Green Bay Packers: “The Packers seem to be more comfortable with their cornerback room than the outside public, as they didn't take a corner in the draft until the seventh round. Keeping Jaire Alexander is still on the table, but that's an uncertainty. They are one injury away from a real struggle, so adding a young player with a higher ceiling makes sense, even though Samuel brings some injury concerns.”
Best landing spots for the top NFL free agents still available after the draft as teams look to fix depth or patch roster holes
There’s still plenty of talent to be added
A 2026 mock?!
Is it too early for a 2026 mock draft? Well, duh, but we’re going to do one anyway. Our college football editor Travis May lives and breathes this stuff, so we should probably listen to what he has to say, right?
Travis put together a way-too-early three-round 2026 mock, with the draft order based on the reverse order of Super Bowl odds. Below are some highlights in the first round.
1. New Orleans Saints—Arch Manning, QB, Texas: “First off, Arch Manning even being here is a long shot considering he is almost assuredly not entering the 2026 NFL Draft. The Manning family has made it quite clear they are in no rush to get Arch to the pros and would much prefer to get him extensive experience before heading to the NFL. There's a real chance he enters the 2027 NFL Draft, and perhaps even waits until 2028.
“However, if the stars align perfectly, Texas wins a national championship, and Arch Manning looks like a ready-made first overall pick, he might just declare. And if the Saints are sitting there with the first overall pick, giving Arch a chance to go play for the same team his grandfather was quarterback of for 10+ years? This would be too perfect a situation to pass up. He just has to put together an absolutely immaculate 2025 season first.”
3. Cleveland Browns—Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson: “Heading into the College Football Playoff Cade Klubnik had already thrown more passing touchdowns than every QB in the nation last fall except for Cam Ward (Miami) and Shedeur Sanders (Colorado). Klubnik put it all together in 2024 as he was much more efficient through the air and explosive on the ground. Somehow people still seem to disagree on his talents despite the Top 10 passing profile in the nation last season.
“Clemson returns plenty of weapons around him, so he's in great position to take another massive step forward in his development, put up some huge numbers, and possibly even push for a national championship with the Tigers. This former five star stud looks very much on track for first round capital (as you can see in 9 minutes of highlights on the post below) and the Browns go to the quarterback well once again here.”
4. New York Jets—LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina: “If Justin Fields struggles this season to the point where the Jets are picking top five in 2026 then the Jets could turn around a select a quarterback with equally ridiculous rushing upside. Sellers scored 25 total touchdowns, averaged nearly 8.7 adjusted yards per pass attempt, and racked up nearly 700 rushing yards on the ground. Sellers is still growing as a consistent passer, but he has first round quarterback physical traits, wild arm talent, and near Lamar Jackson mobility. This may just look like drafting Justin Fields to replace Justin Fields, and Sellers is still a bit raw based on the 2024 results, but the upside is clear (as you can see in the post below).”
14. Dallas Cowboys—Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas: “This would be the most fun fit in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Micah Parsons has already said he would like to play with Anthony Hill Jr. one day. The Cowboys could use a foundational off-ball linebacker with range and consistent downhill play in the run game. Hill won True Freshman All-American honors in 2023, took a step forward this past season, and will likely be a huge part of the Texas Longhorns run back to the College Football Playoff this year. The Cowboys keep a Texas star home.”
25. Washington Commanders—Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame: “Jeremiyah Love flashed potential as a true freshman, but then exploded last season as the most productive sophomore running back in the country. Nearly 1400 yards from scrimmage. Just shy of 20 total touchdowns. Over seven yards per offensive touch. Jeremiyah Love is a sprinter with the balance and receiving skills to make him a potential feature back in the NFL. The Commanders are in great need of a dynamic rushing threat to pair with their incredibly mobile quarterback and Love fits that bill.”
28. Detroit Lions—Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson: “The positional choice here may shock some Lions fans, but Detroit doesn't usually do what most expect in the NFL Draft. Amik Robertson's contract is expiring. Terrion Arnold and Kindle Vildor were rather rough in coverage last season. Avieon Terrell is a scrappy, physical, twitchy athletic cornerback who plays cornerback like a linebacker against the run. He's the exact kind of player this Lions regime loves. If he continues racking up pass-breakups this season he's going to be an extremely early draft pick.”
2026 Three-Round NFL Mock Draft: Arch Manning’s long shot, Cade Klubnik’s divisive talent, and edge rushers dominate early rounds
The paint on the 2025 NFL Draft might not quite be dry yet, but that doesn't mean we can't take a good look ahead to the future. Yes, it's already time for the first 2026 Three-Round NFL Mock Draft here at A to Z Sports. It might seem like a fool's errand to try and […]
Only A to Z Sports newsletter subscribers get the rest of this email, which has the latest NFL news and more.
Don't miss out on next week's full newsletter: SUBSCRIBE to our FREE weekly NFL newsletter to receive updates on your favorite NFL team and the rest of the league straight to your inbox.
By submitting this form, you hereby acknowledge and agree to receive email communications from A to Z Sports. We value your privacy and will handle your information with care. You will have the option to unsubscribe from our emails at any time through a link provided in each correspondence. Please review our Privacy Policy for more details about how we manage your information.
