- Malik Willis should compete for a starting role in 2026: With the Packers, Willis didn’t get much playing time over the past two seasons, but made just one turnover-worthy pass on five big throws.
- Najee Harris still offers some juice despite a season-ending injury: Harris never really got going in 2025 before his season was cut short. However, the 27-year-old looked solid in just 43 snaps.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
While some NFL teams will swing for the fences in free agency, others will look to play more cautiously amid tighter salary cap situations. Value can certainly be found outside of the top names, and with that in mind, we’re highlighting an underrated projected free agent at each offensive position.
Quarterback: Malik Willis
Quarterback is an exception on this list. If you look beyond the three highest-ranked quarterbacks in the PFF free agent rankings (Malik Willis, Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones) there are no players with real starting potential.
Willis, while the No. 1 free-agent passer, could be underrated due to his limited playing time in Green Bay. Even though the former third-round pick scored just 314 goals over his past two seasons with the Packers, he showed enough potential to earn a starting position elsewhere. He threw six touchdown passes with no interceptions and made just one turnover-worthy pass on five big throws.
Of the 60 quarterbacks who have recorded at least 120 dropbacks over the past two seasons, Willis ranks first in passer rating (132.5) and 13th in PFF rating (79.9) by a significant margin.
Running Back: Najee Harris
The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back may be somewhat forgotten among this year’s expected free agents, especially since he managed just 43 snaps with the Chargers in 2025 before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. Harris got off to a good start, though, averaging a career-best 4.3 yards per carry and a career PFF rushing grade of 83.9.
Of the 44 running backs who have handled at least 500 rushes over the past five seasons, Harris ranks 24th in PFF rushing grade (87.3). He has averaged 0.2 broken tackles per carry – or broken a tackle once every five carries – which is tied for 12th at the position over that span.
Although he has his limitations as a receiver in the backfield and is coming off a serious injury, Harris can be a valuable part of a one-two punch at running back for any team.
Wide Receiver: Romeo Doubs
Doubs saved his best for last, posting a career-high 75.3 PFF and 724 receiving yards in his fourth season with the Packers. Over the past four years, Doubs has often emerged as the team’s top receiving option. His 335 targets over that span are more than 100 more than second place.
Likewise, Doubs led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns since 2022. Of the 78 wide receivers who were on the field for at least 1,200 snaps over the past four seasons, his 76.5 ranks PFF 37th.
He’s already established himself as a potential top target, but he could really thrive in a passing game with a clear No. 1 while shining as a No. 2.
Tight end: Chigoziem Okonkwo
Nearly all projected free agents have concerns, whether it’s inconsistency, age or not being used in a prominent role, and Okonkwo is no exception.
Although he had a standout rookie season in which he earned a PFF grade of 75.4 (eighth best), he was unable to match that effectiveness. The Maryland The product averaged 13.6 receiving yards and 7.7 yards after the catch as a rookie, but he never surpassed 10 receiving yards and six yards after the catch in subsequent years.
Okonkwo averaged 2.56 receiving yards per route in 2022, which led that season, but he hasn’t reached even half that in any of the three seasons since.
While Okonkwo’s last three seasons may scare some teams, a front office might believe he can perform at his rookie level in a new environment if that can be attributed to a lack of surrounding talent.
Offensive tackle: Braxton Jones
Jones’ Bears career did not end well, as he had a poor 2025 season before being benched and also injured. However, that should not detract from his first three seasons. During that span, he earned an overall PFF grade of 80.2, which ranked him 15th out of 37 qualifying offensive tackles. His 76.1 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked 19th among left tackles.
That was a far cry from his 12.5% pressure rate allowed in 2025, the second-worst clip among 51 qualifying left tackles. Based on Jones’ first three seasons, a team could very well get a serviceable left tackle at a discount.
Guard: Dalton Risner
Even though Risner will turn 31 before the season starts, he can still solidify a team’s interior pass-blocking unit, as he did with the Bengals in 2025.
The State of Kansas product may not have as much of an impact in the run game, highlighted by his 56.1 PFF run-blocking grade over the past four seasons (49th out of 61 qualifying guards). However, his PFF pass-blocking grade of 73.7 ranks 16th at the position over that span.
It wouldn’t be a flashy acquisition, but Risner likely has a much cheaper price tag than some of the bigger names that will be available at the position in March, and he still represents an upgrade in pass protection for many teams.
Center: Connor McGovern
There are essentially two starting-caliber free-agent centers: Tyler Linderbaum of the Ravens and McGovern of the Bills. The former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman has shown both versatility – lining up at guard and center – and durability over the past four seasons, as only five offensive linemen in the NFL have taken more snaps than him.
He has become one of the best pass-blocking centers in the league since playing center full-time the past two seasons. McGovern’s 70.5 PFF pass-blocking grade ranks eighth among 34 qualifying centers in that span, while his 0.3% knockdown rate (sack or quarterback hit allowed) leads all players at the position.
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