With the 2025-2026 NFL season officially over, franchises will now need to come to terms with players whose contracts are expiring.
When it comes to making a decision, players can either leave for free agency or resign with their respective teams.
If a long-term deal does not happen, general managers can use a non-exclusive or exclusive franchise tag. When tagged, the player is under a one-year guaranteed contract, a salary that is the average of the top five at the position, or 120% of the player’s previous salary, whichever is greater.
In a non-exclusive tag, the player can negotiate with other franchises. If a deal is finalized, the former team has the right to match the offer. Compared to an exclusive tag, the player cannot talk to other squads.
With that being said, in this week’s edition of Tyler’s Take, I discuss the top offensive free agents.
George Pickens, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys:
Over the 2025 offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers renovated their roster and decided to move on from Pickens.
On May 7, the Steelers sent the former Georgia Bulldog to the Cowboys for a 2026 third-round and 2027 fifth-round draft pick.
While with the Steelers, Pickens never flourished as a true wide receiver one due to the franchise never finding the right quarterback. However, the 24-year-old reached his full potential with veteran gunslinger Dak Prescott.
In the Alabama native’s first year with the Cowboys, Pickens racked up a career-high 1,429 receiving yards for nine touchdowns. By the end of the 2025-2026 campaign, the wideout finished with the third-most receiving yards.
Not to mention, star receiver CeeDee Lamb suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3 versus the Chicago Bears, which sidelined him for three games.
During this time, Pickens did not disappoint as he totaled 359 receiving yards for four endzone appearances.
As of now, it is expected that the Cowboys will apply the franchise tag to Pickens, but if not, it should come as no surprise to see him leave the market quickly.
Kenneth Walker III, Running Back, Seattle Seahawks:
Despite winning Super Bowl LX and becoming the Super Bowl MVP, the Seahawks are not expected to use the franchise tag on Walker.
Through 17 matches, which is the first time in Walker’s four years that he has stayed healthy the entire season, the 25-year-old rushed a career-high 1,027 yards. It is worth noting that he posted a career low of five touchdowns.
To finish the 2025-2026 stretch, the powerful runner landed at No. 16 in rushing yards and tied for No. 30 in endzone appearances.
In the playoffs, moving the chains was not a problem for the former Michigan State Spartan as he plowed through for 313 rushing yards, but did not cross the goal line once.
This was while backup running back Zach Charbonnet sustained a season-ending torn ACL in the divisional rounds against the San Francisco 49ers.
With that in mind, Charbonnet will most likely not return to action for Week 1 of the 2026-2027 run. If the Seahawks do not re-sign Walker, they will face a big challenge in filling the backfield.
Alex Pierce, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts:
With the 53rd pick of the second round in the 2022 NFL draft, the Colts selected Pierce and secured a reliable downfield threat.
In his first four years in the league, the former Cincinnati Bearcat increased his production each year and this season was no different.
To conclude the 2025-2026 campaign, the 25-year-old led the Colts with a career-high 1,003 receiving yards and six touchdowns. This was his first year notching a 1,000-yard season. Trailing behind him, rookie tight end Tyler Warren recorded 817 receiving yards.
If the Colts do not re-sign the wideout, the Buffalo Bills could suit him well. In the 2025-2026 stretch, only two players earned 500-plus receiving yards for the Bills. Khalil Shakir finished with 719 yards, while tight end Dalton Kincaid accumulated 571 yards.
Besides that, connecting with Pierce should come easy as shot-caller Josh Allen sits at No. 4 with a deep ball accuracy percentage of just over 69%.