Top 5 NFL Free Agents To Be Wary of Signing This Offseason
With the 2025 NFL season officially in the books, it’s time to start planning for the offseason, with free agency as the first step. Importantly, the NFL announced that the salary cap had grown past $300 million for the 2026 season, but that doesn’t mean teams should spend irresponsibly.
1) Kyle Pitts Sr., TE, Atlanta Falcons
When Kyle Pitts Sr. was drafted fourth overall in the 2021 draft, ahead of superstars like Ja’Marr Chase and Patrick Surtain II, expectations were for him to dominate immediately and grow into becoming a premier tight end for a decade plus.
Expectations were met to start, with Pitts Sr. recording 1,000 yards, one of only three rookie tight ends ever to accomplish the feat.
Inconsistencies followed in 2023 and 2024, with Pitts Sr. struggling due to a combination of injuries, drops, poor route running, and questionable usage, leading many to believe he wouldn’t realize his generational talent.
A quality 2025 season helped raise his standing, but if Pitts Sr. doesn’t go to a modern spread system that utilizes his mismatch ability, one team could make an expensive mistake.
2) Nahshon Wright, CB, Chicago Bears
On paper, Nahshon Wright had an incredible season in many ways. Few corners took the ball away like he did, as he accounted for eight total turnovers, providing the Bears with game-changing plays while they had to make do without injured starters. He’d go on to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Month in November 2025 for his efforts.
Despite the turnovers, his inconsistency in coverage was a major downfall for the Bears’ defense, leading the PFSN NFL CB Impact Grades to rank him 61st at his position.
He was clearly outmatched against some of the game’s top receivers, specifically A.J. Brown, who burned him for a long touchdown in week 13. Given this is his first notable season this late in his development, Wright’s 2025 season may have been a fluke.
3) Braden Smith, OT, Indianapolis Colts
Braden Smith has largely been a mainstay on the Colts’ offensive line since being drafted in the second round in 2018, and an impressive one at that. He’s long been a pass-blocking specialist and was a big reason for Daniel Jones’ success before he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
Unfortunately, Smith’s availability has been a major question in recent years, missing significant time due to knee, neck, and concussion issues, as well as a mental-health challenge, which he appears to have recovered from. Smith has shown himself to be a great player, but paying him more than $10 million with streaky availability is a big risk.
4) Riq Woolen, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Riq Woolen burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2022, earning Pro Bowl honors by grabbing six interceptions, showcasing an eye-popping combination of 6’4″ height and 4.26-second 40-yard dash speed.
While he had tons of flashy moments, Woolen was still developing after switching from wide receiver, specifically with his technique and tackling. Fast forward to 2026, and he’s still developing. And the salary cap is piling up on teams.
Route recognition and quick-reaction issues still plague Woolen, as shown when he gave up a 34-yard touchdown to Puka Nacua in the 2025 NFC Championship game, which was preceded by a Woolen taunting penalty that extended the Rams’ drive. He’s an intriguing option, but would need top-tier coaching to become a quality, consistent option.
5) Odafe Oweh, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers
Coming out of the 2021 NFL Draft, scouts were in awe of Oweh’s athleticism for being a 6’5″, 257-pound edge rusher. It was obvious he had the physical tools to become a sack artist, but a final zero-sack season at Penn State led some to question his abilities.
That didn’t stop the Baltimore Ravens from selecting him in the first round, though they’d ship him to the Chargers in 2025, due to a lack of consistent production.
That production would explode in 12 games with the Chargers, in which he tallied 7.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. He’s more average in run defense, making defensive coordinators think twice before playing him in obvious running situations.
While he’s a solid player, general managers across the league likely wouldn’t love him being even their second-best pass rusher.
