In case it wasn't already abundantly clear, ESPN views Pat McAfee as a very valuable asset.
During this Tuesday's edition of "The Pat McAfee Show," fans learned that ESPN will allow McAfee to anchor its NFL free agency coverage next Monday. He wasn't given that opportunity during the 2025 offseason. In fact, his show was moved over to ESPN2.
Now, McAfee will get to interview Peter Schrager, Dan Orlovsky and plenty of other ESPN personalities while the top free agents are negotiating contracts for the 2026 NFL season.
"ESPN NFL people, which is a department, ESPN NFL. They didn’t think we would be able to handle it last year, so they counter-program us on ESPN2," McAfee said, via Awful Announcing. "They tell us immediately, ‘You’re not allowed to have Schefter, he’s with us,’ all of this. It’s like, OK, we’ll see how this goes for you guys. Murder scene, by the way, not only because we’re on ESPN, which is what everyone has on, but also because we’ve lived this life too, somehow. I know you guys created the game, but we’ve also been in this whole thing? So there were some nice conversations between the last free agency frenzy and the next free agency frenzy, where we’re going to work together. Don’t we think this would be a good idea."
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Who are the top free agents this NFL offseason?
With the legal negotiating window for the NFL less than a week away, Malik Willis is expected to be the top quarterback available. Jordan Schultz reported that teams could offer Willis a starting salary of $30 million for the 2026 season.
Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce, Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III are also expected to receive lucrative contracts this offseason.
Free agency officially opens at 4 p.m. ET on March 11.