This year’s crop of free agents are headlined by wide receivers.
George Pickens is considered by many as the top free agent available, while veteran wideout Mike Evans is an intriguing prospect who could be the missing piece for a Super Bowl-caliber team.
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Wide receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed is also a free agent after helping the Seattle Seahawks win a Super Bowl title.
Where will the top free agent wide receivers land?
NFL teams are permitted to contact free agents at 12 p.m. ET on March 9. Teams can officially sign free agents when the new league year begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11.
USA TODAY Sports explores the best landing spots for the top free agent wide receivers:
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
1. New York Jets – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
1. New York Jets – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
3. Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
4. Tennessee Titans – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
5. New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
6. Cleveland Browns – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
7. Washington Commanders – David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
11. Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
14. Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
17. Detroit Lions – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection with order set after Super Bowl
Pickens found a home in Dallas becoming a co-star at wide receiver with CeeDee Lamb. He’s coming off career-highs in catches (93), receiving yards (1,429) and touchdown grabs (9) – numbers that earned him a second team All-Pro nod.
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Pickens sometimes doesn’t play with maximum effort, but when he’s dialed in the talent is evident. Dallas has needs on defense but losing Pickens would create a hole on offense.
Mike Evans (2025 team: Buccaneers)
Best fit: Bucaneers
Evans’ representation informed teams that he intends to play in 2026. The 32-year-old’s streak of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons came to an end in 2025 after a concussion, hamstring injury and broken collarbone limited him to eight games.
It would be odd to see the veteran wideout in anything other than a Bucs uniform; Evans has played all 12 of his seasons in Tampa Bay, becoming the Bucs’ all-time leading receiver during that stretch.
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Evans still has a role as Tampa Bay’s X receiver. Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. are best suited as a Z and slot receivers, respectively.
Alec Pierce (2025 team: Colts)
Best fit: Raiders
Pierce enjoyed career-highs in catches (47) and receiving yards (1,003) last season. The 6-foot-3 receiver is a good vertical threat, averaging 21.3 yards per reception in 2025, leading all qualified players.
The Raiders must supply presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza with more weapons. Pierce’s ability to stretch the field would help open the middle of the field up for tight end Brock Bowers, and he’s a capable blocker which will aid RB Ashton Jeanty.
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Rashid Shaheed (2025 teams: Saints/Seahawks)
Best fit: Seahawks
Shaheed’s most notable highlights are as a returner, but that shouldn’t minimize his productivity as a wide receiver. Opposing defenses have to respect Shaheed’s speed and he’s a good gadget receiver.
Shaheed’s return ability does, however, make him one of the top free agents this year. He was the only player in the NFL in 2025 with both kick return and punt return touchdowns. Shaheed told USA TODAY Sports that he “absolutely” wants to re-sign with the Seahawks.
Romeo Doubs (2025 team: Packers)
Best fit: Titans
Doubs showed the potential to be a team’s No. 1 wide receiver. He led the Packers in receptions and receiving yards last season. The outside receiver has struggled with consistency during his time in Green Bay, but could be paid like a No. 1 wideout this offseason.
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The Titans have the salary cap flexibility to be aggressive this offseason. Tennessee had the third worst pass offense in the NFL last season. Calvin Ridley, Chig Okonkwo and Doubs would be a nice trio of pass catchers for second-year QB Cam Ward.
