- Will the Cowboys commit to George Pickens?: The All-Pro will play this year on the franchise tag, although what happens this spring is unknown.
- The Colts could try to keep Quenton Nelson at home: The 2018 draft pick has only suited up for Indianapolis but will be a free agent in 2027.
Every offseason brings a fresh group of players heading into contract years, and 2026 is no exception. Below are the 10 highest-graded NFL players going into the final year of their current deal based on PFF grading from the 2025 season.
For some, an extension already feels inevitable and could get done prior to this season getting underway. For others, there is almost no sign of a deal in sight, so 2026 will be a major season for each player to prove their worth to both their current team and other potential suitors around the league.
One interesting thing to note is that of our 10 highest-graded players still waiting on contracts beyond this season, none are actively in the process of holding out throughout training camp.
1: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (96.1)
There is still no word on a contract extension for Nacua, who heads into the final year of his rookie deal after the Rams took him in the fifth round out of BYU in 2023. His 96.2 PFF grade from last season set a new single-season record for a wide receiver.
Nacua dropped only five of 158 catchable targets, hauled in 30 contested catches and averaged 3.57 yards per route run, a figure that’s nearly unmatched in PFF history.
Whether the Rams move toward an extension soon remains unclear, and it may be Nacua’s off-field headaches rather than anything happening on Sundays that keeps Les Snead from locking him up long term. Snead has a long shopping list of upcoming free agents to negotiate with, but Nacua is evidently the pick of the bunch.
2: Kevin Dotson, Los Angeles Rams (87.3)
The Rams go into 2026 with their strongest roster in years, but with it comes the reality that several key players beyond Nacua are set to hit free agency once the season ends. Four of the five projected starters on the offensive line fall into that category, and Dotson would be the most damaging loss among them.
Atlanta just handed Matthew Bergeron a lofty extension, which makes it hard to see the Rams affording both Dotson and the younger Steve Avila. If Dotson reaches free agency in 2027, he will obviously draw real interest. Turning 30 is not the concern for guards that it is at other positions.
Dotson is one of four Rams to appear on this list, and the franchise tag is unlikely to be the answer for him specifically. The tag groups all offensive linemen into one number, which makes it a poor proposition for an interior player who would effectively be paid tackle money.
3: Antonio Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars (86.8)
At 24 years old, Johnson is the youngest and perhaps least well-known member of this list. The former fifth-round pick enjoyed a career year in 2025, salvaging his chances of a major second contract after a putrid 43.8 PFF grade in 2024 almost led to him losing his job while still on his rookie deal.
Johnson was the highest-graded safety in the league last season in coverage thanks to five total interceptions along with three pass breakups. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 53.4 when throwing into Johnson’s coverage.
With just one season of real success under his belt, Johnson needs a similarly strong 2026 campaign to prove his worth to the Jaguars or another potential candidate in need of a safety next offseason. He appears to have bulked up since we last saw him, with reports coming out of camp that a role closer to what we have seen from Nick Emmanwori in Seattle could be in the pipeline for Johnson entering Year 4.
4. Joshua Uche, Miami Dolphins (86.0)
Uche may prove to be one of the bargain signings of the offseason for the Miami Dolphins, who landed the veteran edge defender on a one-year, $1.4 million deal.
How did a player who earned an 86.0 PFF grade at a premium position come this cheaply? Playing time is the obvious factor. Uche logged just 244 snaps last season and eventually lost his place in a deep Eagles rotation around midseason, but he quietly produced at an excellent level when given opportunities.
Uche generated 25 pressures on just 142 pass-rushing snaps, with his 17.6% pressure rate ranking 11th among all edge defenders. Now on his fourth team in as many seasons, Uche should have an opportunity to play a much more prominent role in Miami. The last time he saw significant playing time came with New England in 2022, when he earned an 87.8 PFF pass-rushing grade.
Highest pressure rate among edge defenders since 2022
Player Pressure Rate Micah Parsons 19.7% Nick Bosa 18.2% Will Anderson Jr. 17.9% Myles Garrett 17.7% Joshua Uche 17.7%5: George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys (85.9)
Quinnen Williams got his extension from Jerry Jones. George Pickens has not, and he will play 2026 under the franchise tag with his long-term future in Dallas still unresolved. It remains unclear whether the Cowboys can retain him once this season ends, particularly after committing big money elsewhere.
Among receivers entering contract years, only Nacua graded higher than Pickens, and Pickens ranked second in yards, receptions, contested catches and yards per route run as well. If he ends up waiting for free agency to get paid, whoever signs Pickens will be getting a receiver who has only just turned 26.
An uneven start and finish to his 2025 season should not overshadow the stretch in between. From Weeks 4 through 13, Pickens was close to unguardable, averaging over 100 yards a game. He returns to a perfect situation working with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
6: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts (85.5)
Nelson says he has not had any conversations about his expiring contract as he heads into Year 9 with the Colts at age 30. The sixth overall pick in 2018 signed a four-year, $80 million extension ahead of the 2022 season.
His play dipped somewhat from 2021 to 2023, with three consecutive grades hovering near 70.0. But he has since returned to his earlier form, posting grades of 84.7 and 85.5 the past two seasons.
Since entering the league in 2018, only Joel Bitonio and Joe Thuney have logged more snaps at interior offensive line than Nelson’s 8,643. He is a beacon of quality and consistency along the offensive interior, and emits the vibe of a one-franchise player who could eventually retire for the same team that drafted him without ever leaving.
7: Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams (85.2)
The next in a long line of expiring contracts on the Super Bowl favorites, Adams will be 34 years old when his deal expires at the end of this season, making him the oldest player on this list.
His huge haul of touchdowns courtesy of MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford propelled Adams to seventh all-time in receiving scores. Simply an average 2026 season in the same offense should see him collect five more and surpass Larry Fitzgerald for sixth.
Another contract for Adams entering his 14th NFL season would see him continue to chase the leaders on this list, but also pursue a much-deserved ring if he is unable to do so with the Rams this upcoming year.
Now 33, Adams just delivered his highest-graded season since his first campaign with the Raiders in 2022. However, only 16% of last year’s yardage came after the catch. That number was as high as 42% during his prime years in Green Bay, and this signifies how Adams has adapted and evolved to prolong his career well into his elder years.
8: Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks (85.1)
Only De’Von Achane and former teammate Kenneth Walker III posted higher PFF rushing grades than Charbonnet last season. He forced a missed tackle on one in every four carries, which ranked sixth-best in the league.
The primary concern with Charbonnet, of course, is that he is rehabbing from a torn ACL sustained in the postseason and won’t be expected to return in the early parts of his contract year.
With Walker departing in free agency, the Seahawks picked up Emanuel Wilson, and stopping there would’ve boded well for Charbonnet’s chances at a new contract. But investing a first-round draft pick in Jadarian Price may have been a death knell in Charbonnet’s chances of returning to Seattle. Holding both a high-paid back in his prime alongside a first-round running back on the same roster is virtually unheard of.
9: Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams (83.7)
Young is set to receive a healthy payday at the end of this season, but whether or not that is with the Rams will depend on where Les Snead’s priorities are regarding the rest of this roster. He entered the league as an older rookie in 2023, so although he has only three seasons under his belt, the next team to sign Young will be getting a 29-year-old edge defender.
The acquisition of Myles Garrett arguably doesn’t help Young’s chances of remaining with the Rams, who may no longer feel the need to shell out money for a premier edge defender for a few years at least. Young told reporters this offseason that it would be “nice to get a contract right now.” However, he is fully participating in all team activities.
Young has shown material progress throughout his career. His pressure rate has grown from 10.2% as a rookie to 14.9% in Year 2 and 16.4% 2025. With it, his sack production has also steadily improved. He finished with 12 in total last season — tied for ninth in the league.
10: Mike Jackson, Carolina Panthers (83.5)
Jackson enters the season with plenty to prove despite producing the best campaign of his career in 2025. Approaching age 30 and with only three seasons as a full-time starter behind him, another strong year could be crucial to his chances of securing a significant contract in free agency.
His recent play suggests he is capable of earning one, considering Jackson finished last season as one of PFF’s 10 highest-graded cornerbacks and saved some of his best performances for Carolina’s toughest opponents.
Jackson earned a season-high 92.0 overall PFF grade against the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks before delivering again in the Panthers’ playoff appearance against the Rams. In that wild-card defeat, Jackson broke up four passes and intercepted Matthew Stafford in the end zone as Carolina threatened an upset, ultimately producing a 90.4 overall PFF grade.
The Panthers used a fourth-round pick on Will Lee III, giving them a younger option in the secondary and reducing the likelihood of committing significant money to Jackson beyond this season. However, cornerback is an eternal need, and as long as Jackson can play, somebody will pay.