Dec 28, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on after the game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Dust settled on free agency weeks ago, but the talent pool wasn’t entirely drained.
Dallas found another receiver post-draft, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Monday, in a sign of life left in veteran free agency. “MVS” had 14 receptions and one touchdown last season. That’s not exactly the kind of production that brings teams knocking on your door in March.
But in Dallas, he was targeted to fill a clearly defined role that might include holdout insurance should negotiations with George Pickens shift from cordial to contentious as owner Jerry Jones’ history with holdouts suggests.
Here are a few other veterans capable of filling a role, big or small, despite their known shortcomings:
QB Aaron Rodgers
Week 1 Age: 42
Last season: 24 TDs, led Steelers to AFC North division title
Rodgers and Mike McCarthy are both wearing the knowing smirk we read as an almost obvious sign of the pending reunion of former Packers in Pittsburgh. Rodgers can still get the job done — he had only seven interceptions with a very modest skill-position group in 2025 — and starred in this system in his physical prime. Who else is bidding? Barring injury, most teams are not likely interest in the Rodgers Rodeo. Father Time can wipe away those facial expressions quickly, and Rodgers’ next IR trip if likely his last.
WR Deebo Samuel
Week 1 Age: 30
Last season: 72 receptions for 727 yards, five TD receptions with Commanders
Samuel’s lone season with the Commanders was a struggle and it’s hard to know how much of it was the revolving door at quarterback, a new offense, friction with jettisoned offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury or the physical toll of playing wide receiver like a running back. He has 406 career catches and could still hold down a role in the right scheme.
DE Joey Bosa
Week 1 Age: 31
Last season: Led NFL with five forced fumbles; had 16 QB hits in 16 games
Jan 30, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; AFC linebacker Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers during the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge at Nicholson Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Bosa had 54 pressures in his only season with the Bills, which is enough for a team to think about taking a flier on the longtime Chargers’ edge rusher. He had 5.0 sacks and would make sense for a handful of contenders, including the San Francisco 49ers, where little brother Nick Bosa wouldn’t mind the help. San Francisco’s abysmal pass rush to end last season was sans Nick Bosa because of a season-ending ACL injury, and didn’t get a lot of attention in the offseason.
RB Najee Harris
Week 1 Age: 28
Last season: 15 carries, 61 yards, season-ending Achilles injury Sept. 21 vs. Broncos
Harris isn’t to the magical downhill decline age for running backs but there’s no denying his mileage is high, making the return from a season-ending injury last September far larger than a footnote to his 2026 status. But the 21st pick in the 2021 draft had four 1,000-yard seasons in a row, 28 rushing TDs and never missed a game in four previous seasons with the Steelers before his wheels gave him issues with the Chargers last season.
WR Stefon Diggs
Week 1 Age: 33
Last season: 85 receptions, 1,013 yards with Patriots
Oct 5, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) protects the ball from Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson (7) after making a catch in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images Diggs is dealing with a legal headache and won’t be considered for sainthood as a teammate, which might have something to do with him playing for the Vikings, Bills, Texans and Patriots since 2019. A disappearing act in the playoffs won’t help his cause. Diggs had 14 receptions in four games but averaged 7.9 yards per catch and his inability to consistently separate was a problem. His longest playoff catch of 13 receptions before the contested, acrobatic grab in the Super Bowl was 14 yards.
