The Hall of Fame Game between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals kicks off on Aug. 6, which means we’ve officially made it through yet another NFL off-season.
Training camps are underway, position battles are front and centre and everyone is anxious to know how their starting quarterback looks in practice.
But what often gets lost in the craziness of football’s return is the level of talent that remains on the open market.
See Deebo Samuel’s reunion in the Bay Area on Thursday – a quality player who can make an immediate impact despite the calendar flipping to August on Saturday.
There’s more Samuels out there for the taking, so with that, here’s a look at some of the top free agents remaining with the pre-season right around the corner.
Stefon Diggs Position: WR Previous Team: New England Patriots
Going into the off-season, Diggs’ status was clouded by a pending off-field issue. The matter was resolved when Diggs was found not guilty of his charges in May, and then in June when the league closed their review of the matter.
That seemingly prevented Diggs from joining a team when free agency opened in March, but as we’re headed towards the end of the summer, there’s still a 1,000-yard receiver sitting on the open market.
Diggs rebounded from his torn ACL last season catching passes from breakout star Drake Maye in New England, recording 1,013 yards and four touchdowns.
A four-time Pro Bowler, the 32-year-old has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards seven times and has also done so in every full season he’s appeared in since 2018.
Von Miller Position: DE Previous Team: Washington Commanders
Who doesn’t want to add a future hall of famer to their pass rush?
Well, clearly 32 teams don’t agree. But the reality is Miller just had his most productive season since he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy with the Rams in 2021 and is looking for ring No. 3.
After a disastrous tenure in Buffalo that saw him register 14.0 sacks over three seasons, which included a zero-sack 2022 campaign, the 37-year-old bounced back and registered 9.0 sacks in his lone season with the Commanders.
Now, he’s not going to play every down. At this point in his career, Miller is best served to be a pass rush specialist on third downs. But he can still wreak havoc in the backfield, and his leadership and expertise could be extremely helpful to a team with young players at the position.
Tyreek Hill Position: WRPrevious Team: Miami Dolphins
A healthy Hill is one of the most feared wide receivers in the NFL. All-world speed, great hands and a menace with the ball in his hand, Hill is truly a threat to score any time he has the ball (remember his TD to end the first half against the Cowboys?).
Unfortunately for Hill, he remains unsigned after the Dolphins released him earlier in the off-season after a devastating knee injury in the first quarter of the season last year.
And part of the reason he’s still available – and a big one at that – is his knee is nowhere near game-ready.
In a YouTube video posted on July 22, Hill, now 32, said he has “no power” in his leg. Not ideal if you’re an NFL decision maker.
Just three seasons removed from leading the league in receiving, the eight-time Pro Bowler can, at the very least, serve as a Grade-A decoy on the field once he’s ready – even if he isn’t back to his old self.
But Hill expects to be 100 per cent at some point during the season, and while the exact timeline is unknown, taking a chance on a player of Hill’s calibre is worth the gamble.
Kenny Moore Position: CB Previous Team: Indianapolis Colts
The Longtime Colts cornerback was released on May 7 after the team was unable to find a trade partner. That doesn’t mean he’s unwanted by all other 31 teams, though – he was just making too much money.
Now a free agent, Moore can step in Day 1 and improve nearly any team’s pass defence. One of the premier slot corners, Moore has been a playmaking machine. Over his career, the 30-year-old has notched 21 interceptions and six forced fumbles.
In just 14 games last season. he logged a pick and two forced fumbles. But what makes him special is his ability as a blitzer.
Moore totalled 11.5 sacks over his career, including 1.5 last season, and his 46 pass rush snaps were most among cornerbacks.
In a position you can never have too much depth at, Moore should find a home quickly.
Joey Bosa Position: DE Previous Team: Buffalo Bills
Bosa is finally on a run of good health, appearing in 15 games last season after 14 the year prior. His one-year stint with the Bills didn’t exactly go as planned, but the edge rusher still logged 5.0 sacks while forcing a league-best five fumbles.
Similar to Miller, the 31-year-old Bosa is probably best suited to be a situational rusher, where he can focus on terrorizing QBs on passing downs. It may prove to keep the older Bosa brother fresh and healthy once Winter hits.
However, it’s no guarantee that Bosa will even suit up for an NFL team for the 2026 season.
His younger brother, Nick, told reporters in May that Joey has been working on his golf game, suggesting Thursday that no football news was on the horizon for the five-time Pro Bowler, according to NBC Sports’ Charean Williams.
If he decides to step away from the links and return to the gridiron, Bosa – who has the 10th most sacks since entering the league in 2016 – will be a welcomed addition to wherever he goes.
Jonnu Smith Position: TE Previous Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Smith is coming off a major down year in which he only amassed 222 yards and two scores after reuniting with Arthur Smith. What made his 2025 campaign especially disappointing was it followed the best season of the tight end’s career.
In his lone season in Miami, the now 30-year-old caught 88 balls for 884 yards – both personal bests – and his eight TDs matched his high as he earned a Pro-Bowl nod.
While that production would be nice to replicate, the reality is the Florida International University product has been more of just a steady presence at the tight end position throughout his career.
But with just weeks until kickoff for the regular season, that’s an attractive asset to add to a room, and he comes with a track record good enough to make it a tad surprising he’s still available this far into the summer.
Mekhi BectonPosition: GuardPrevious Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Offensive lineman are always in demand, especially when they’re on the right side of 30 with plenty of starting experience. That’s the case with Becton, a 27-year-old guard who started 59 games since being selected 11th overall in 2020.
Becton hasn’t blossomed into the superstar he was projected to be when coming out of Louisville, but men his size and athleticism don’t grow on trees.
The guard wowed evaluators at the NFL Combine with a 5.1-second 40-yard dash at six-foot-seven, 364-pounds, but he was never able to find his footing with the Jets as he dealt with injuries early on.
He finally figured it out with the Eagles in ’24, earning himself a two-year, $20-million deal with the Chargers last summer. It didn’t work out for him there, however, and now Becton finds himself in need of a fourth team.
Given his size and potential, coupled with his age and new-found ability to stay healthy (45 starts over the last three years), a team would be wise to take a shot on Becton.
Taylor Decker Position: Left Tackle Previous Team: Detroit Lions
Decker was released in March after spending 10 seasons as the Detroit Lions starting left tackle.
On the market with 145 games started and just a season removed from a Pro Bowl nod, Decker can come in and start immediately, if needed.
Plus, at 32-years-old, there’s still plenty of good football to come.
His tenure in Detroit ended after both sides couldn’t come to a renewed contractual agreement, and the Lions’ loss will be another team’s gain.
Bobby Wagner Position: LB Previous Team: Washington Commanders
It’s no secret that Wagner’s best days are behind him, but that doesn’t mean he still can’t produce.
Last season as a 35-year-old, the future hall of fame linebacker totalled 162 tackles, two interceptions and 4.5 sacks. More important than the numbers, though, Wagner’s body looks to still be holding up after he appeared in every regular-season game over the last four years.
The 10-time Pro Bowler and six-time first-team All-Pro still has some juice left, and can benefit any defence by being a steady presence up the middle.
Other notable free agents:Jonah Williams, OT, Cardinals; Taysom Hill, TE, Saints; Antonio Gibson, RB, Patriots; Tyquan Lewis, DE, Colts; Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers; Jack Conklin, OT, Browns.