- The Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are the final four teams in the NFL playoffs.
- Each of the remaining teams faces significant offseason decisions regarding key players who are impending free agents.
- Defensive players like John Franklin-Myers (Broncos) and K’Lavon Chaisson (Patriots) are among the top free agents after strong seasons.
- The Rams and Seahawks have multiple key defensive backs and offensive playmakers set to enter free agency.
The Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are the final four teams remaining in the NFL playoffs. The offseason has officially started for all other 28 NFL clubs.
Denver, New England, Los Angeles and Seattle will get a late start to the offseason, but planning has already begun. There are many big decisions for all four clubs on the horizon, regardless of their championship-round outcomes. Numerous impact players who will be on the field Jan. 25 are impeding free agents. Who should stay and who should go?
USA TODAY Sports identifies the biggest upcoming free agents for the Broncos, Patriots, Rams and Seahawks ahead of Sunday’s conference championship games:
Denver Broncos key free agents
DL John Franklin-Myers
Franklin-Myers is an unheralded but key member of a Denver defense that led the NFL with 68 sacks during the regular season. Franklin-Myers’ 7.5 sacks ranked third on the team. The interior defensive lineman has also registered 42 pressures entering the conference championship. He’s going to be one of the top interior defensive linemen if he hits free agency.
LB Alex Singleton
Singleton’s cancer battle was one of the NFL’s most heartwarming stories this season. On the field, his production is undeniable. He had a team-high 135 tackles during the regular season. The linebacker has a team-best 14 postseason tackles entering the conference championship game.
CB Ja’Quan McMillian (restricted free agent)
McMillian is set to be a restricted free agent this offseason. He surprisingly beat out rookie Jahdae Barron for Denver’s top slot cornerback job. He’s played well ever since he captured the role. Pro Football Focus has given him a 78.4 coverage grade this season, which is the highest among Broncos cornerbacks. McMillian’s overtime interception where he snatched the football away from Bills wideout Brandin Cooks saved Denver’s season.
New England Patriots key free agents
OLB K’Lavon Chaisson
Chaisson’s produced a team-high 10.5 sacks and 68 pressures entering Sunday’s AFC title game. He’s found a home in New England in what’s been a career-year for the sixth-year outside linebacker.
S Jaylinn Hawkins
The sixth-year safety registered a team-best four interceptions during the regular season, to go with 71 tackles and six passes defended. His 973 total snaps entering Sunday is third most among Patriots defenders.
DT Khyiris Tonga
Tonga’s helped clog the middle along the Patriots interior defensive line. He’s a good run-stuffing nose tackle. His ability as a nose tackle also aids three-technique defensive lineman Milton Williams.
Los Angeles Rams key free agents
S Kamren Curl
Curl’s overtime interception in Chicago helped the Rams seal the win. The safety leads the Rams with 23 postseason tackles. He’s been a good addition since the Rams signed him during the 2024 free agency period.
CB Cobie Durant
The 5-foot-11 cornerback sometimes has boom-or-bust plays, but he competes each and every week. His three postseason interceptions leads the Rams entering Sunday. Durant allowed a 55% completion percentage during the regular season. His 933 total snaps tops all Rams cornerbacks going into the conference championship.
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
The Rams must address their secondary through free agency and the draft with so many impeding free agents in the group. Witherspoon’s placement on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury was a blow to the Rams secondary. L.A.’s defensive backfield was vulnerable prior to Witherspoon’s injury.
Seattle Seahawks key free agents
RB Kenneth Walker III
Walker had his second 1,000-yard rushing season this year. The running back helps open up the Seahawks offense and has thrived in recent weeks, scoring three touchdowns in Seattle’s divisional-round drubbing of the San Francisco 49ers. His importance to Seattle offense is magnified as a result of Zach Charbonnet’s season-ending knee injury.
WR Rashid Shaheed
Shaheed is one of the best trade deadline additions this season. His franchise record 95-yard punt return TD in the divisional round electrified the Seahawks and the crowd at Lumen Field. He adds explosiveness to Seattle’s offense and special teams unit. He ranked among the league’s top five in both average kick return yards and average punt return yards.
S Coby Bryant
Bryant has played the most snaps among Seattle defenders this season. He allowed a 59% completion percentage in 15 starts during the regular season, while his four interceptions ranked second on the team. He’s a key member on Seattle’s top scoring defense.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.