Which NFL stars will cash in next? 13 candidates for massive contract extensions

The most expensive part of 2026 NFL free agency is now in the books, and the league's 32 teams doled out nearly $4 billion in total contract obligations in an effort to improve their rosters, per OverTheCap. com . Even so, there figures to be plenty more money to spend before the 2026 NFL season begins in September.

Some of that will be allotted to the numerous quality players that were overlooked in the first wave of NFL free agency. But more of it will go toward lucrative, long-term extensions for star players seeking new contracts. First-round picks from the 2023 NFL Draft will become extension-eligible during the 2026 offseason.

That will position players like C. J. Stroud , Bijan Robinson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba , among others, to cash in on big-money contracts.

Meanwhile, several other players are set to play on various, one-year tenders for the 2026 NFL season, making them prime candidates to receive longer-term deals. Who could end up being some of the next NFL players to sign market-setting deals? Here's a look at the most notable extension candidates for the 2026 offseason.