The NFL Playoffs are currently the talk of the sporting world, and after a thrilling Divisional Round, it’s clear to see why. Josh Allen and his Buffalo Bills suffered yet another heartbreaking postseason defeat, losing a 33-30 overtime thriller in Denver after an error-laden display from their mercurial quarterback. The Chicago Bears also suffered a similarly painful defeat, losing out to an overtime field goal against the Los Angeles Rams after Caleb Williams’ untimely interception.
Amid the drama, there were more comfortable wins for the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, with the former taking full advantage of a first-half disaster class from C. J. Stroud, while the latter blew out the 49ers on home turf. Now, just four teams remain, and the three frontrunners can hardly be separated in the latest Super Bowl LX betting odds lists. The popular parlay calculator at Thunderpick shows that placing a $100 bet on the +150 favorite Seattle Seahawks would return $150 in winnings, while the same stake would yield a potential $220 and $240 on the Rams and the Patriots, respectively.
But as just four teams have unfinished stories in the 2025 NFL season, 28 others are already beginning their preparations for 2026. Their attention has now turned to the big board, and with a slew of huge-name free agents poised to hit the market in the coming weeks, the front office drama is only just getting started. So, who are the stars set to dominate the headlines this offseason? Let’s take a look.
George Pickens
George Pickens turned himself into the offseason’s most coveted player after Pittsburgh finally tired of his sideline theatrics and shipped him to Dallas mid-2025 for a third-rounder. The change of scenery was exactly what the 24-year-old needed. Playing opposite CeeDee Lamb, the wideout shredded defenses for a career-best 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns at Jerry World, earning his first Pro Bowl nod and Second-Team All-Pro honors.
At 6-foot-3 with genuine 4.4 speed and hands that pluck footballs from orbit, Pickens checks every box for a WR1. The downside? He’s prone to vanishing acts when defenses commit extra attention, and those Pittsburgh frustrations weren’t entirely about circumstance.
Dallas wants him back desperately, but if they can’t get creative enough before free agency opens March 9, someone’s writing a four-year, $124 million check with $80 million guaranteed. The Buffalo Bills could pair him with Josh Allen to finally give the offense a true primary target outside, something he hasn’t had since Stefon Diggs departed. The Kansas City Chiefs are also in dire need of more ammo in their offensive arsenal after a dismal 6-11 campaign and playoff miss.
As well as those two AFC heavyweights, the Tennessee Titans have cap space burning holes in their pockets and desperately need someone to support 2025 number one overall pick Cam Ward. Would Pickens be willing to make the step down to a developing team if it meant he received a bigger cheque? Perhaps.
Trey Hendrickson
Trey Hendrickson’s market is fascinating because everyone’s trying to decode whether 2025 was injury or decline. After back-to-back league-leading 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024—becoming just the fifth player since 1982 to accomplish such a feat—Hendrickson managed just four sacks in seven games before core muscle surgery shut him down. He’s 31 now, which in edge-rusher years means you’re either still elite or about to fall off a cliff. There’s no middle ground.
But here’s the thing: when Hendrickson’s healthy, he’s relentless. His hand usage is textbook, and his bend around the edge ages better than pure speed rushers. Some contenders will talk themselves into three years and $60 million, convincing themselves the core muscle issue is a thing of the past. The Indianapolis Colts desperately need pass-rush help after watching Daniel Jones get pummeled late in the season. The Detroit Lions are all-in for 2026 and could view Hendrickson as the final piece of the puzzle. The Baltimore Ravens lost some edge depth and might take a prove-it flier on a guy who has dominated their AFC North division for years over in Cincinnati.
Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones silencing every Big Apple skeptic was 2025’s most unexpected storyline. After the Giants dumped him like toxic waste, Jones landed in Indianapolis and immediately looked like the quarterback scouts thought they were getting in 2019. Through 13 starts before the torn Achilles, Jones posted 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, eight picks, and a 100.2 passer rating. More importantly, he showed pocket awareness and decision-making that simply didn’t exist in MetLife Stadium’s dysfunction.
Shane Steichen’s play-action-heavy scheme (19.9% rate, third-highest in the NFL) maximized Jones’ mobility and deep-ball accuracy. The Colts led the league in scoring (32.1 PPG), total offense (396.9 YPG), and EPA per drive through Week 10 before Jones played through a fractured fibula that clearly diminished him and Indy’s hopes down the stretch.
Indianapolis is “banking” on Jones returning, which makes sense given the investment and fit. But if he hits the market? Three years, $134 million suddenly looks reasonable. The Arizona Cardinals desperately need stability if they are to pull the plug on the Kyler Murray experiment. The Pittsburgh Steelers love an experienced veteran under center, and with Aaron Rodgers set to depart, the door is wide open. The Las Vegas Raiders could be all over him as an actual franchise solution if they didn’t like the look of Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and traded away their number one overall pick.
The Achilles is the wild card—recovery timelines are six to eight months, which puts Jones on track for Week 1, but quarterbacks coming off that injury rarely look the same immediately.
