A contract year is a pivotal season for any professional athlete. If a player performs well, they’ll have opened the door for a big payday when they hit the open market. While a strong campaign before free agency could tack on millions to their next contract, falling short of expectations will have the reverse effect.
The 2027 free agency class will have plenty of talent available, but not everyone has put their best foot forward during the ‘26 season. There have been a number of impending free agents who struggled this year, but many who have vastly exceeded their expectations.
