The NFL Scouting Combine, getting underway next week in Indianapolis, is the league's main draw this month. But free agency also is just around the corner, and that's a comparable beast to the annual draft.

It's why media members go to great lengths to study and rank — imperfectly, of course, like the draft — the gamut of players on the cusp of unrestricted free agency. Although no list should be read as gospel, some of the detailed ones are quite useful for setting the table and building a baseline of expectations.

One of the deepest dives into 2026 free agency was shared Wednesday by The Athletic's Daniel Popper.

Popper donned his scouting hat to evaluate hundreds of players and create a ranking of his Top 150 that are on track to potentially negotiate deals with new teams once the New League Year begins March 11.

His complete list, which he explained is primarily based on performance on tape but also weighs a player's age, upside, public injury information and positional value, is available here. As an appetizer, we'll disclose Popper's Top 10 in order: Bengals edge Trey Hendrickson, Jets RB Breece Hall, Eagles edge Jaelan Phillips, Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd, Colts QB Daniel Jones, Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum, Buccaneers WR Mike Evans, Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III, Packers QB Malik Willis and Jaguars RB Travis Etienne.

Now let's focus on three soon-to-be Vikings unrestricted FAs: Jalen Nailor, Eric Wilson and Justin Skule.

Nailor is pegged as Popper's 29^th overall player and fifth receiver, which confirms two things: 1) Popper watched the film and noticed Nailor consistently get open against defenses; and 2) Nailor isn't one of the best-kept secrets on Minnesota's roster any longer. Both speak to the growth of the 2022 sixth-rounder.

Over the past two seasons, functioning as WR3 in the Vikings offense and occasionally starring in a feature role (he looked like a natural WR2 when Jordan Addison missed time both years), Nailor has snared 57 of 95 targets for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns. He topped 100 yards in a game for the first time in Week 10 in 2025 and he had his first two-touchdown game in prime time at Dallas in Week 15.

Popper thinks Nailor is "ready to take a big jump in the right environment." He assessed the following:

Nailor has the spatial awareness to weave through zones and find soft spots. He was predominantly a slot player in Minnesota but has inside-outside flexibility. He flashes late hands to prevent defensive backs from turning and locating the ball. Nailor is not a burner, but he can push vertically out of the slot on fades, wheels and corners. He is a compact ball carrier who is capable after the catch, and he is also a quality run blocker for his size. Nailor can get bogged down at the line of scrimmage against bigger, more physical corners. He is not a household name right now, but he could be in the future.

FYI, the four receivers ranked in front of Nailor are Evans (No. 7 overall), Colts WR Alec Pierce (11), Giants WR Wan'Dale Robinson (22) and 49ers WR Jauan Jennings (23). Three others are in Popper's Top 50: Packers WR Romeo Doubs (30), Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed (34) and Steelers WR Calvin Austin III (40).

Amazingly, Nailor has the fewest receiving yards among those players and is closest in career yardage to Austin, who has played three seasons to Nailor's four. It underscores the value of Nailor's budding talent.

As for the two other Vikings mentioned earlier, Popper pinned Wilson as his 73^rd overall player and No. 6 off-ball linebacker, and Popper awarded the 145^th overall slot to Skule, his No. 13 offensive tackle option.

Here's how Popper described the 31-year-old Wilson, who enjoyed an All-Pro-caliber season in 2025:

Wilson is a downhill off-ball linebacker who can blitz and defend the run. He is more limited as a coverage player. He has sideline-to-sideline speed and attacks plays in front of him. Wilson also got some edge work in Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores' scheme. Wilson is undersized, which limits him when he is asked to take on climbing guards and centers in the run game.

One stat worth noting in Popper's report is Wilson's splash play rate of 4.9 percent. It trumped all five marks of the guys ranked above him: Lloyd (No. 4 overall; 4.6%), Browns LB Devin Bush (27; 3.7%), Lions LB Alex Anzalone (49; 2.7%), Saints LB Demario Davis (58; 4.6%) and Packers LB Quay Walker (59; 3.8%).

(Note: Popper calculated splash plays to include sacks, tackles for loss, quarterback pressures leading to a throwaway, run and pass stuffs, interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, passes defended and stops on third and fourth down. Furthermore, run stuffs are any tackle on a run play for exactly 0 yards.)

And now a quick look at the trenches.

Popper discerned power and athleticism as weaknesses for Skule, a viable swing tackle option, but pointed out his core strength allows him to "re-anchor on bull rushes when defenders get into his chest."

A reminder: Skule wound up starting nine games in 2025, the same number he started from 2020-24.

You can compare Popper's ranking to in-depth spreads from CBS Sports and FOX Sports if you'd like.

The greatest 99 of all-time

Who really is the G.O.A.T. quarterback?

It's tough enough to agree on a Top 5, let alone No. 1. So we'll just leave it to Bleacher Report to inform us in this never-not-fun exercise. Earlier this week, the site touted seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady as the greatest to ever play the position. But that's not all; Bleacher Report also ranked 98 others.

Beginning with Ryan Tannehill and coming to a head with a Top 5 of Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana and Brady, the B/R NFL staff concocted a list of the Top 99 in NFL history.

Basically, the best passers but also some of the best trend-setters and mold-breakers in football annals.

We won't pull you into a comprehensive debriefing or arguments for why some guys are too high and others too low — not our prerogative today, folks — but we do want to jump to a purple-shaded No. 13.

Bleacher Report smartly considers Fran "The Scrambler" Tarkenton as a borderline Top 10 QB of all-time.

Tarkenton's body of work has held up decades after hanging it up. He retired as the record-holder in passing yards, with 47,003, and ranks 15^th nowadays. Likewise, his 342 pass TD total was the gold standard and now sits 13^th on the leaderboard. His running prowess was revolutionary, as well, resulting in 32 rushing scores, which is as many as active dual-threat Kyler Murray and tied for 18^th at the position.

Part of Tarkenton's story, obviously, includes falling short in three Super Bowls during a four-season span in the 1970s. But the bulk of it revolved around his improvisational and inspirational play throughout two stints with the Vikings, one MVP campaign, and an 18-year career that powered him to the Hall of Fame.

At 6-foot and 190 pounds, Tarkenton might be pound-for-pound the greatest QB to step foot on the field.

You can read Bleacher Report's review of Tarkenton and the 98 other spectacular quarterbacks here.

See the Vikings 2026 Opponents.

Check out the Vikings 2026 Draft Picks.

View future opponents for the Vikings.

Buy single game tickets.

Download the official Vikings App.