Running back Rico Dowdle signed with the Steelers this week after spending last season with the Panthers, and he’s already looking forward to his new team facing his old team this season.
The Steelers will play a home game in 2026, and when Dowdle was asked about that game, he said he’s well aware that he’ll be facing his former team.
“It’s definitely circled. It’s definitely circled, for sure,” Dowdle said.
That may not be great news for the Panthers. Dowdle has played against a former team once in his NFL career, and that one game was one of the best games he’s ever played. Playing for the Panthers last season against his first team, the Cowboys, Dowdle had a career-high 239 yards from scrimmage, with 30 carries for 183 yards and four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.
If Dowdle plays with that kind of fire against the Panthers, he’s going to make them regret letting him walk in free agency.
The following are PFT’s top 100 free agents for the start of the 2026 league year. The rankings include prospective unrestricted free agents and released players. The list will be updated as events warrant, with signings, tags and re-signings denoted when announced and/or reported. Players released after initial publication may be added and all 100 players initially on the list will still be listed after any additions.
1. Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens. (Placed the franchise tag on him on February 27.)
2. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones. (Placed the transition tag on him on March 3.)
3. Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
4. Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Panthers on March 9.)
5. Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Ravens on March 11.)
6. Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. (Placed the franchise tag on him on February 24.)
7. Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. (Agreed to four-year deal with Colts on March 9.)
8. Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Rams on March 9.)
9. Jets running back Breece Hall. (Placed the franchise tag on him on March 3.)
10. Packers quarterback Malik Willis. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Dolphins on March 9.)
11. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. (Signed a one-year deal with the Vikings on March 12.)
12. Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Steelers on March 9.)
13. Seahawks WR/KR/PR Rashid Shaheed. (Agreed to re-sign with Seahawks on a three-year deal on March 9.)
14. Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker. (Agreed to one-year deal with Panthers on March 13.)
15. Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker. (Agreed to sign with the Chiefs on March 9.)
16. Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith. (Agreed to two-year deal with Texans on March 10.)
17. Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
18. Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bengals on March 9.)
19. Packers linebacker Quay Walker. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
20. Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Commanders on March 10.)
21. Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the 49ers on March 9.)
22. Seahawks defensive back Coby Bryant. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bears on March 9.)
23. 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
24. Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs. (Agreed to four-year deal with Patriots on March 10.)
25. Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. (Agreed to four-year deal with Saints on March 9.)
26. Broncos edge rusher John Franklin-Myers. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Titans on March 9).
27. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
28. Eagles edge rusher Jaelen Phillips. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Panthers on March 9.)
29. Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
30. Bills center Connor McGovern. (Re-signed on March 7.)
31. Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. (Agreed to a deal with the Patriots on March 9.)
32. Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles on March 10.)
33. Chiefs safety Bryan Cook. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bengals on March 9.)
34. Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright. (Agreed to one-year deal with Jets on March 10.)
35. Bills edge rusher Joey Bosa.
36. Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bills on March 11.)
37. Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely. (Agreed to three-year deal with Giants on March 9.)
38. Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Commanders on March 9.)
39. Steelers offensive guard Isaac Seumalo. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Cardinals on March 9.)
40. Lions defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
41. Browns linebacker Devin Bush. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Bears on March 9.)
42. Bears safety Jaquan Brisker. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers on March 12.)
43. Rams safety Kamren Curl. (Agreed to three-year deal with Rams on March 6.)
44. Bills offensive guard David Edwards. (Agreed to four-year deal with Saints on March 9.)
45. Patriots edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Commanders on March 11.)
46. Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
47. Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor. (Agreed to three-year deal with Titans on March 9.)
48. Chargers offensive guard Zion Johnson. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Browns on March 9).
49. Browns offensive guard Joel Bitonio.
50. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles on March 15).
51. Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Buccaneers on March 9.)
52. Panthers center Cade Mays. (Agreed to three-year deal with the Lions on March 9.)
53. Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack. (Agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Chargers on March 7.)
54. Bears safety Kevin Byard. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots on March 11.)
55. Colts edge rusher Kwity Paye. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders on March 9.)
56. Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Eagles on March 10.)
57. Ravens edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones. (Agreed to three-year deal with Patriots on March 9.)
58. Browns offensive guard Wyatt Teller. (Agreed to two-year deal with Texans on March 17.)
59. Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. (Agreed to a one-year deal with Bucs on March 12.)
60. Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner.
61. Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. (Agreed to a four-year deal with the Titans on March 9.)
62. Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Ravens on March 11.)
63. Cowboys edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
64. Saints linebacker Demario Davis. (Agreed to two-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
65. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Steelers on March 9.)
66. Falcons edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles on March 12.)
67. Titans offensive guard Kevin Zeitler.
68. Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Broncos on March 9.)
69. Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Cowboys on March 9.)
70. Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton. (Agreed to three-year deal with Buccaneers on March 9.)
71. Saints edge rusher Cameron Jordan.
72. Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Seahawks on March 9.)
73. Giants offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. (Agree to three-year deal with the Giants on March 9.)
74. Commanders center Tyler Biadasz. (Agreed to three-year deal with Chargers on March 6.)
75. Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the 49ers on March 16.)
76. Browns tight end David Njoku.
77. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. (Agreed to return to Chiefs on March 9.)
78. Giants offensive guard Greg Van Roten.
79. Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota. (Re-signed with the Commanders on March 9.)
80. Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown. (Agreed to three-year deal with Jaguars on March 9.)
81. Falcons defensive tackle David Onyemata. (Agreed to a one-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
82. Bucs linebacker Lavonte David. (Announced his retirement on March 24.)
83. Bengals guard Dalton Risner. (Re-signed with Bengals on March 2.)
84. Vikings safety Harrison Smith.
85. Giants quarterback Russell Wilson.
86. Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
87. Jets safety Andre Cisco. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Jets on March 13.)
88. Buccaneers running back Rachaad White. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Commanders on March 12.)
89. Packers edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare. (Agreed to one-year deal with the Jets on March 9.)
90. Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen.
91. Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas.
92. Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. (Agreed to re-sign with Texans on March 9.)
93. Titans tight end Chig Okonwko. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Commanders on March 11.)
94. Eagles safety Reed Blankenship. (Agreed to a three-year deal with the Texans on March 9.)
95. Raiders offensive guard Dylan Parham. (Agreed to a two-year deal with the Jets on March 11.)
96. Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins.
97. Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton. (Re-signed with the Broncos on March 9.)
98. Broncos outside linebacker Justin Strnad. (Re-signed with the Broncos on March 8.)
99. Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco. (Re-signed with the Bengals on March 24.)
100. Colts cornerback Mike Hilton.
101. Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
102. Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier. (Agreed to two-year deal with Cardinals on March 9.)
The Seahawks are signing safety D’Anthony Bell to a one-year deal, according to Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report.
Bell spent 14 games with the Seahawks last season before finishing the season with the Panthers, who claimed him off waivers Jan. 1. He did not play a game for Carolina, but saw action on 96 defensive snaps and 251 on special teams in 14 games with the Seahawks.
Bell entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Browns in 2022.
He played 50 games in three seasons for the Browns, with seven starts, totaling 61 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Yosh Nijman, an offensive tackle who officially became a free agent this week after playing the last two years for the Panthers, has announced his retirement.
“After seven incredible years in the NFL, I’ve decided it’s time to officially step away from the game of football,” Nijman wrote on social media.
The 30-year-old Nijman started four games last season and the Panthers were believed to want him back, and he would have had options elsewhere as well. But he says it’s time to move on.
“Football has given me so much, but I’m excited for the next chapter of life and the new ways God will use me moving forward. The lessons, memories, and relationships from this game will stay with me forever,” he wrote.
Nijman signed with the Packers as an undrafted rookie out of Virginia Tech in 2019 and stayed in Green Bay for five seasons before signing a two-year contract with the Panthers in 2024.
The rivalry between the Panthers and the Buccaneers has gotten a little boost.
NFL Media reports that former Panthers defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson will be signing a one-year, $10 million deal with Tampa Bay.
Via NFL Media, Robinson had been due to make $8.5 million with Carolina in 2026. If that’s accurate, the Panthers should have traded him.
Robinson, 31, was a second-round pick of the Lions in 2016. After four years in Detroit, he spend three years with the Rams, one with the Giants, and two with the Panthers.
He has 143 regular-season appearances, with 106 starts.
