As the 2026 NFL Free Agency window is set to kick off, dynasty values can swing fast. Whether it’s from being traded, a new signing, or other depth chart changes that will shake up the league, you’ll often be stuck with players you wished you moved sooner. I’ll be breaking down 5 Dynasty Players You Must Trade Before 2026 NFL Free Agency.
#1: AJ Brown
It’s no secret that veteran wide receiver AJ Brown has been frustrated with his role in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense. The Eagles’ offense struggled this past year, dropping from the 7th-highest scoring offense in 2024 to the 19th-highest scoring offense in 2025. Brown’s stats have also declined each year he has been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, with the last two being considerably lower. Although Brown wants to be a bigger factor in the offense, I’m just not sure he has it in him to consistently be the WR1. He was overtaken by DeVonta Smith in Philadelphia as the main guy, and there’s not an abundance of teams where he would be the #1 guy.
If he went to a team like Buffalo or Pittsburgh, he would be and would have a better chance to have a bigger role than he does now. Those aren’t Brown’s requested destinations, with New England being the most likely option. He would be a huge addition for the Patriots, but the Patriots’ offense is already loaded with talent and playmakers, so he won’t be a top fantasy player anymore. Brown’s name alone carries a lot of influence, and I’m banking on someone overpaying for him, thinking they are getting a 2022 or 2023 AJ Brown and not a 2024 or 2025 AJ Brown. The only way I’d lose out on moving him is if he ends up in Buffalo or Pittsburgh, which I don’t think will happen.
#2: Alec Pierce
The NFL’s leader in yards per reception, Alec Pierce, is one of the most sought-after receivers in this year’s free agent class. Pierce finished the 2025 season with 1,003 yards on only 47 receptions; he was essentially a big-play machine. This didn’t necessarily translate into fantasy value as he only had 2 games as a top-10 WR and 5 games as a top-20 WR. The remainder of the time, he was pretty inconsistent. He had a catch percentage of 56%, which was one of the worst in the league among eligible receivers.
Regardless if Pierce ends up on a new team or stays in Indianapolis, it’s unlikely he will have a quarterback like Philip Rivers or Daniel Jones who can sling the ball down the field as his quarterback. This is what Pierce needs to thrive; he also doesn’t have much competition for deep balls in Indianapolis, as Michael Pittman Jr. and Tyler Warren were target hogs, not deep-ball threats. Pierce is a one-trick pony, and his value is at its peak right now. I’m trying to move Pierce right now, while he’s not just a premium name in free agency, but on the edge of being a premium name in fantasy. Pierce is drawing a late 1st in a lot of leagues & I’d much rather have anyone being drafted around that mark than Pierce on my team.
#3: Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson is not going anywhere; he’s still the face of the Baltimore Ravens for the future, but he’s on this list for a different reason: the multitude of changes happening around him. For starters, this will be the first year of his career that Lamar Jackson will have a new head coach as the Ravens moved on from John Harbaugh. Nothing but credit to Jesse Minter, but he’s a downgrade from Harbaugh and is also a former defensive coordinator, not an offensive guru. Also on the coaching side, the Ravens lost their offensive coordinator in Todd Monken, who went to division-rival Cleveland as their new head coach.
Add to the pot, the Ravens are likely to lose one, not both of, Isaiah Likely and Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. Likely is the more likely one to go, as he’s said he knows he can be a TE1 elsewhere and has aspirations to do so. If Linderbaum signs elsewhere, that will be a huge blow to the offensive line, especially for an offensive line that was bottom-5 in pass blocking.
For players that are staying with Baltimore, in Derrick Henry & Mark Andrews, both are another year older, and both seemed to be a step behind in 2025. The time for Lamar Jackson to win a Super Bowl is gone, but his days of being fantasy-relevant still exist. It’s just going to be a harder feat for him to achieve. I don’t want to risk that and would rather move him for a quarterback like Drake Maye, Justin Herbert, or Bo Nix, who are younger, and try to get a draft pick or a young position player also in the deal for my team.
#4 & #5: Mike Evans & Tyreek Hill
I have both Mike Evans & Tyreek Hill lumped together as players you need to trade away ASAP. Both players are in their 30s, coming off significant injuries causing them to miss the majority of the 2025 season. Tyreek was unable to come back and played his last down as a member of the Miami Dolphins as the team released him. Evans was able to make a brief return, but he is a free agent, and it’s not a guarantee that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will re-sign him.
Both players are past their prime; they aren’t #1 WRs anymore, and it’s uncertain where both will end up. For those reasons, I am 100% OUT on both of them. This will likely be their last season if they both do play again, and I’d rather have a 2nd rounder than both of them or take a chance on a player like Marvin Mims, Romeo Doubs, or Devin Neal to see increased usage in the future. Those are my 5 Dynasty Players You Must Trade Before 2026 NFL Free Agency.