2026 IDP Free Agent Primer: Defensive Backs

Feb 17, 2026

Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images

Let's round out the series with our most volatile IDPs, the safeties and cornerbacks. Free agency and the draft will sneak up on us over the next few weeks and months, so it's never too early to start planning ahead. I'll have thoughts on all the relevant incoming rookies soon, but let's start our offseason by looking at the known defensive back commodities who could be changing teams, and the teams that may have needs at those subsequent positions.

I'll list the player, their age entering the 2026 season, and their 2025 team. I'll finish my notes with a prediction of where they'll be in 2026. Let's dig in.

More IDP Primers: Linebackers | Defensive Line

2026 Free Agents: Defensive Backs

Safety

Kam Curl (27) - Los Angeles Rams

Kam Curl's 2025 was the best real-life and IDP fantasy season of his six-year career. Curl finished the season as the S2 in balanced scoring, playing every game and finishing with a career-high 122 tackles, 79 of which were solos. He was wisely used at a high rate in the box, which led to a ton of fantasy production, and that alignment was supported by his elite 87.9 run-defense grade, per PFF.

Curl's age and durability are also working in his favor as he hits the open market. I'm sure the Rams would love to bring Curl back, but they extended Quentin Lake midseason and have decisions to make on Puka Nacua, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner over the next 12 months, making it highly unlikely Los Angeles can bring Curl back. There are a few clear spots for Curl in 2026, including his former club, the Washington Commanders. Curl would fit well as the strong safety in Dan Quinn's defense, but I think Pittsburgh is a great fit as well. They tried to piece the safety room together in 2025, but they have no long-term prospects there at the moment, and Curl's well-rounded skill set is a perfect fit for a team that needs help at all three levels.

2026 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Nick Cross (25) - Indianapolis Colts

The IDP community appreciates Nick Cross more than the general public does. Cross was the S1 in 2025 after finishing as the S2 in his breakout 2024 campaign. It would be puzzling to see the Colts move on from a player they've drafted and developed, especially when they have cap space to get a deal done. But they do have other priorities, and Cross will have a handful of suitors.

Most of the teams that have a lot of cap space also have a need at safety. The Titans, Raiders, Jets, and Commanders could all make a play for Cross, but I think he'll end up back in Indianapolis.

2026 Team: Indianapolis Colts

Jaquan Brisker (27) - Chicago Bears

The Bears have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, and they're currently around $9.5-million dollars over the cap, so not everyone can come back. This defensive back free agent list is full of 2025 Chicago Bears, and one I think is destined to play elsewhere in 2026 is Jaquan Brisker. Brisker's 2024 was short-lived due to multiple concussions, and while the start of 2025 was strong, he really picked up his play at the end of the season. Brisker was IDP's S6 on a per-game basis in both 2022 and 2023, but slipped to S26 overall in 2025.

When asked about Brisker, Kevin Byard, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Nahshon Wright at his end-of-the-season presser, GM Ryan Poles went out of his way to talk up Kevin Byard and his importance to the team. Perhaps that's an acknowledgment by Poles that Brisker, a 27-year-old who has been very productive in this league, will receive an offer the Bears cannot match.

2026 Team: Baltimore Ravens

Kevin Byard (33) - Chicago Bears

The Bears see the veteran as a locker-room leader beyond his production on the field. Byard has buoyed his IDP value the past few seasons with big plays, finishing 2025 as the S17 despite below-average tackle efficiency. His PFF run defense grades remain solid, but they're not translating into a ton of fantasy production, and we know these interception rates aren't sustainable.

Still, the Bears need to make multiple signings on the back end this offseason, and it seems unlikely that they let both of their 2025 starters walk.

2026 Team: Chicago Bears

Reed Blankenship (27) - Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles GM Howie Roseman has a series of tough decisions this offseason and not a ton of cap space to work with. Now, it's an annual tradition at this point, but we should all expect Roseman to find a way to get whatever he wants done. Blankenship's production fell off a bit in 2025. He finished the season ranked S35 and S48 on a points-per-game basis, after ranking as the S27 in 2024.

There are in-house replacements on the roster, and a list of comparable free agents that'll likely cost a lot less than Blankenship will get on the open market, so I expect he'll be elsewhere in 2026. Some of the other safety-needy teams previously mentioned will be in the mix, but there's a clean connection that's sure to get Blankenship boo'd merciliously when he returns to Philadelphia. Christian Parker, the Eagles' former defensive backs coach, has recently joined the Dallas staff as defensive coordinator.

2026 Team: Dallas Cowboys

Other Notable Free Agent Safeties:

Jalen Thompson (28) - Arizona Cardinals
2026 Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Coby Bryant (27) - Seattle Seahawks
2026 Team: Seattle Seahawks

Ronnie Hickman (25) - Cleveland Browns
2026 Team: Cleveland Browns

Bryan Cook (27) - Kansas City Chiefs
2026 Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Dane Belton (25) - New York Giants
2026 Team: New York Giants

Jaylinn Hawkins (28) - New England Patriots
2026 Team: New England Patriots

Alohi Gilman (29) - Los Angeles Chargers
2026 Team: New York Jets

C.J. Gardner-Johnson (28) - Chicago Bears
2026 Team: Chicago Bears

Andrew Wingard (29) - Jacksonville Jaguars
2026 Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Geno Stone (27) - Cincinnati Bengals
2026 Team: Chicago Bears

Nick Scott (31) - Carolina Panthers
2026 Team: Detroit Lions

Donovan Wilson (31) - Dallas Cowboys
2026 Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Jordan Poyer (35) - Buffalo Bills
2026 Team: Buffalo Bills

Kyle Dugger (30) - Pittsburgh Steelers
2026 Team: Washington Commanders

Cornerback

Jamel Dean (30) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jamel Dean picked the right time to bet on himself. Dean took a pay cut in 2025 and responded with the best season of his seven-year career. He's struggled to stay healthy at times, missing 21 games in seven seasons, but he's been an above-average cover corner anytime he's in the lineup. The challenge in the IDP game is that the best players at certain positions aren't necessarily strong fantasy assets, and there's nowhere where that's more relevant than at cornerback. By most advanced metrics and grading systems, Dean was a top 3-5 cornerback in the league last season, but he was the CB42 in fantasy.

Still, we should discuss Dean's prospects moving forward. He's thrived under Todd Bowles, and he's been in Tampa Bay with him for his entire career. The Buccaneers added Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish in the draft last season, but losing Dean would impact the strength of their 2026 lineup. I think the Buccaneers and Rams make a push, but they won't be able to match the highest bidders.

2026 Team: New York Jets

Alontae Taylor (28) - New Orleans Saints

The Alontae Taylor situation is the opposite of the Jamel Dean situation. Taylor is still just 28, and he's shown versatility and durability over the past few seasons, but he's not considered an elite coverage corner, though 2025 was his best season to date. Still, Taylor was the CB4 in 2025 after being the CB1 in 2024, so he's far more important in our silly little game than Jamel Dean or Patrick Sertain is.

Taylor will get paid this offseason, though. He's solid against the run, and he's held up on the perimeter and in the slot when called upon.

2026 Team: Las Vegas Raiders