2026 Free Agent Signing Grades

On this page, I’m going to be providing the free agent signing grades for the notable signings and extensions that occur in 2026 (most recent first) based on how good a deal the signing team obtained and the type of impact I expect the player to have. Please note that an offseason signing cannot be made official until the new league year starts on March 11 unless the player is remaining with his current team or his previous team already released him. The page will be updated as more signings are reported. Use control-F (Windows), command-F (Mac), or Find in Page (mobile) to search for a specific player.

March 17, 2026

Dolphins Sign OL Jamaree Salyer:
In this case, “OL” primarily means guard, but Salyer played tackle in college and has some experience there. For a swing lineman with versatility, it’s hard to beat a 1-year, $1.403M contract with $187.5K guaranteed. Over the past 4 years with the Chargers, Salyer has done a solid if unspectacular job, providing a steady presence on the line. He was one of the injured players whose absences led to poor blocking last season. Miami is probably getting an upgrade for their starting lineup even if the consensus view is that Salyer should be a backup. That alone deserves a good grade given the money involved.
Grade: A

Eagles Re-Sign TE Dallas Goedert:
It took some tough negotiations and even deadline extensions, but the Eagles found a way to keep their longtime TE in town. With a $20M cap hit looming upon his contract voiding, I thought Goedert could drive a harder bargain. His deal is just $7M for 1 year with a $4.25M signing bonus. This is highway robbery. Goedert’s TD total spiking to 11 last year isn’t sustainable, but he’s been a good player for a long time. He isn’t young at 31, but the 1-year nature of this deal makes that irrelevant. One of the team’s key offensive pieces is back on the cheap, and the cap hit was avoided. Masterfully done Howie Roseman.
Grade: A+

Dolphins Sign WR Tutu Atwell:
Atwell’s widely-panned $10M guaranteed year in LA last year predictably disappointed, but this is much more of an appropriate deal. He’s signing a 1-year, $1.403M contract with $1.075M guaranteed. Miami may have signed him to be a pure backup, but now Jaylen Waddle is gone. Atwell is similar in style to Waddle if not in skill. He’s a true deep threat: his 192 yards with the Rams last year came on just 6 receptions. The Dolphins do not have Matthew Stafford throwing the ball though. If Atwell didn’t produce well with him, how much do we expect with Malik Willis? He’ll have more opportunities, but he’s a WR4 for most teams.
Grade: B

Buccaneers Sign ST Miles Killebrew:
Hold on to your seats, because I’m about to share a special teamer contract that I LIKE. Killebrew is leaving Pittsburgh for a 1-year, $1.79M deal with $490K guaranteed in Tampa. An All-Pro, Killebrew is among the very best special teamers in football, not some run-of-the-mill body. Yet he’s signing for much less than others who aren’t nearly at his level. Adding to the good aspects of this deal, his ST coordinator in Pittsburgh, Danny Smith, is now doing the same job with the Bucs. Their partnership has been great, so the continuity here can only be a benefit.
Grade: A+

Lions Re-Sign LB Malcolm Rodriguez:
Rodrigo’s back! Specifically, he’s signing a 1-year, $2.75M guaranteed contract. He was a great story as a rookie starter, but he settled into more of a reserve role the following season before injuries hampered him in 2024 and 2025. With Alex Anzalone departing though, Rodriguez may return to the starting role. Despite being undersized, he does his best work against the run, tackling above his weight. Anzalone is much better in coverage, which explains the price difference between them. Rodriguez is good guy to keep around, but Detroit may hope that he ends up being a 4th LB rather than a primary contributor.
Grade: B+

Cowboys Sign NT Otito Ogbonnia:
Long in search for run defense, Dallas may have found an answer. Ogbonnia, who spent his first 4 pro years with the Chargers, is signing a 1-year, $2.75M contract with $500K guaranteed. The 6’4″, 320-lb man clogs holes in the middle of the defense. In 2024, he lone season as a true starter, he made 37 tackles, which is high for an NT. While the Bolts in general weren’t very good against the run, Ogbonnia was great. For this price, the Cowboys are doing what many teams don’t: signing a role player to a reasonable contract instead of grossly overpaying.
Grade: A

Jets Extend S Minkah Fitzpatrick:
Contract details for traded players who agree to revised deals can take the longest to reveal themselves, and this is one such case. Fitzpatrick’s new contract is $39.5M over 3 years with $20.5M fully guaranteed. In other words, it’s slightly lower than his previous salary but with 2 more years and more guarantees (he had none remaining before). He has been good (and at times elite) throughout his career, and 29 is young for a safety. Based on the other safety contracts we’re seeing this offseason, this one is right in that range for a proven player. I’d say that’s a really great deal.
Grade: A+

Dolphins Sign OLB Josh Uche:
We’ve got another defensive reinforcement for the Fins. Uche is signing a 1-year, $1.403M contract with $1.263M guaranteed after a year in Philly. He’s making a career out of his 2022 season with the Patriots, when he had 11.5 sacks despite playing under 40% of the defensive snaps. That season is a very clear outlier now, as Uche has never exceeded 3 sacks in any other season. He can be a somewhat useful rotational player on occasion, but not often. I don’t think Miami should’ve guaranteed most of this deal, even if the salary is tiny. The grade won’t be too low due to the “tiny” part, however.
Grade: C

March 16, 2026

Broncos Re-Sign WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey:
Perhaps best known for his playoff drop, Humphrey presents a confusing evaluation. His hands are decent, and he has a big 6’4″ frame to create separation. Humphrey doesn’t have breakaway speed though, and he often disappears on film. Denver is bringing him back on a 1-year, $1.488M deal with $87.5K guaranteed despite the high-profile drop. Simply put, he’s cheap enough to give another chance to. Denver’s receiving group has been fairly lackluster, so there’s room for lesser-known players to create opportunities. Humphrey still strikes me as a practice squad guy, but he’s not devoid of talent.
Grade: B

Dolphins Re-Sign LB Willie Gay Jr:
In the past two years with the Saints and Dolphins, Gay’s usage has been well below what he experienced during his time with the Chiefs. It’s baffling to me, as he’s just freshly 28 years old and had 2 sacks with 20+ tackles in both seasons. Gay is not adept at playing coverage, but he should be on the field for 2 downs. Miami is re-signing him to a 1-year, $1.403M contract with $687.5K guaranteed, so maybe the new coaching staff will use him properly. I insist that he’s a good player.
Grade: A

Falcons Sign K Nick Folk:
Don’t ask me why these contract details were so hard to track down, because I truly don’t know. But here they are: $9M over 2 years with $4M guaranteed. If you polled people on who the most accurate kicker of the past few years has been, few would name Folk, but he’s the correct answer. The 41-year-old is better than ever, and he even booted a career-long 58-yarder in 2025. Though the Jets didn’t keep him, Atlanta should be glad to get him. Their kicking has been rough, and Folk is the type of veteran who won’t be fazed by the apparent hex. That’s two top grades in a row for Atlanta! Changing GMs can really help huh?
Grade: A+

Falcons Sign LB Christian Harris:
Certain deals are coming in way lower than I expected. Harris, a former Texan, is signing a 1-year, $2.75M contract worth up to $3M with $1.985M guaranteed. He started his first two years in the league with Houston and seemed really good. His role then faded as the team brought in some elite talents. Typically, a young player with that sort of history would command a bit more money, but nobody really bit on Harris. That’s good news for Atlanta, who can move Jalon Walker to a pure edge rushing role and have Harris sub in at the second level while James Pearce is (presumably) suspended. Cheap insurance with upside.
Grade: A+

Ravens Sign S Jaylinn Hawkins:
Hawkins just put his best season since 2022 with the Falcons, and he’s being rewarded for it. Baltimore is signing him to a 2-year, $10M contract with $5M guaranteed. He had his best year as a full-time starter for the Patriots in 2025, with 71 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 6 PBUs. Having dedicated safeties allows the Ravens to deploy Kyle Hamilton in an “everything” role, using him wherever a matchup dictates. Stats show that their defense is significantly better when that happens, so signing a guy like Hawkins was imperative. I’d have picked someone who’s more of a sure thing, but this is a solid move nonetheless.
Grade: B+

Patriots Sign TE Julian Hill:
With some of these TE contracts, all I can do is laugh. Hill, whose career-high in receiving yards is 140, is signing a 3-year, $15M contract worth up to $18M with $7.5M fully guaranteed. New England historically loves to poach players from Miami, but the Dolphins will have the last laugh here. The Fins reportedly didn’t even want to pay Hill the tender amount, and NE tripled it. Hill is an average blocker who offers nothing in the passing game, so this is a terrible deal. The only reason it avoids the Russell grade is that Daniel Bellinger’s contract is still fresh in my mind, and that one was much worse, particularly with the guarantees.
Grade: D-

March 15, 2026

Patriots Sign WR Romeo Doubs:
Doubs can be a divisive receiver. He produced well in Green Bay considering how they spread the ball around, but he was inconsistent and even got suspended once for conduct detrimental to the team because he didn’t like how little he got the ball. Leaving Green Bay felt like an inevitability, and that has come to pass. Doubs is signing a 4-year, $68M contract with a maximum value of $80M and $39M guaranteed to join the reigning AFC champs. This is a tough grade. New England needed a receiver (even before releasing Stefon Diggs) and hasn’t yet been able to swing a trade for AJ Brown. Doubs clearly has talent, but this is a good chunk of change for a WR who has never hit 750 yards in a season. With all their cap space, I think it’s fine for NE to do this. Doubs’ role will definitely be bigger now, and he has the body type to be a good WR #2 at worst.
Grade: B

Commanders Sign DT Tim Settle:
Do you put more stock in Settle’s 2024 season or his 2025 campaign? Spending both years in Houston, Settle was a beast in 2024, earning 5 sacks, 10 TFLs, and 10 QB hits. His production waned last year to 1 sack, 3 TFLs, and 1 QB hit (though he batted 3 passes down). Washington is betting on a bounce-back, signing Settle to a 3-year, $23.49M contract with a maximum value of $25.5M and $12M guaranteed. Settle actually played the first four years of his career in Washington, and he was generally a solid player there. His run defense is consistently good, but his pass rushing is wildly inconsistent. I wouldn’t have paid this much, but the Commanders did need to beef up their defensive line. Settle fills a need with a familiar face.
Grade: B-

Ravens Sign G John Simpson:
Simpson played the last two years for the Jets, but he did spend 1 season in Baltimore (2023). That happened to be the best year of his career. The two sides are trying the partnership again, with Simpson signing a 3-year, $30M contract with $17.5M fully guaranteed. His best trait is durability: Simpson played 17 games in each of the past 3 seasons. He’s a good guard with balanced performance in both the ground game and the passing attack. The fit here is excellent, and the money is fair.
Grade: A-

Titans Sign DT Jordan Elliott:
Robert Saleh has taken plenty of Jets with him to Tennessee, but he had to bring at least one of his Niners! The first is Elliott, who’s signing a 2-year, $8M contract with $500K in incentives and $3.24M guaranteed. While a starter for most of his career, Elliott is strictly a 2-down LB who doesn’t cover. That automatically limits his value, but he hasn’t been overly productive in his primary role either. Elliott hasn’t earned a sack since 2023, and he had only 1 TFL last season. I sense this is more of a plan to have a veteran leader that can implement Saleh’s scheme. Tennessee could’ve done that for less money.
Grade: C+

Ravens Sign TE Durham Smythe:
Needing a new TE after both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar departed, Baltimore decided to replace the latter first. Smythe is purely a blocking TE who hasn’t had meaningful receiving output since 2023. He’s signing a 1-year, $3M guaranteed contract. Though not quite at the level of Kolar, Smythe is a good blocker. He’s also less than half the price. Kolar got wildly overpaid, so the Ravens were correct to pivot. On its face, this is an average contract, but considering the options Baltimore faced, it’s good.
Grade: A-

Saints Re-Sign DT John Ridgeway:
Missing 11 games in 2025 with a shoulder injury didn’t stop Ridgeway from receiving a multi-year deal. He’s re-signing on a 2-year, $5.715M contract with $1.65M guaranteed. Even when healthy, he’s a pure backup nose tackle with 0 career sacks. He plays less than 1/3 of the snaps and doesn’t contribute on special teams. Thus, even with a low-cost deal, I’m sensing an overpay. There’s no reason to give Ridgeway more than 1 year at the minimum salary. New Orleans isn’t used to having spending money.
Grade: C

Cowboys Sign S PJ Locke:
For a more proven option at safety, I present Locke. The 6-year Bronco played well as both a starter and a reserve, except oddly in 2024. This past year, he was a backup on a loaded defense, but I didn’t see much of a drop-off when he got in the game. To get on the field more, Locke is heading to Dallas on a 1-year, $4M contract with a maximum value of $5M and $1.5M guaranteed. I love this for the Cowboys. They’re getting a guy eager to prove himself on a cheap deal, and even if he’s not quite as good as he was before, he’s probably an upgrade for this porous secondary. Nothing but upside to be found here!
Grade: A+

Lions Sign S Christian Izien:
I tried to find out why Izien fell out of favor in Tampa, but nobody gave me a straight answer. He was rather good during his first two years, with 140 tackles, 3 INTs, 5 PBUs, 2 FFs, and an opponent pass rating in the 70s. Then, in 2025, his snap count fell to 20%, and he allowed a 122.6 passer rating. I’d blame that more on the lack of consistent playing time than regression (he’s only 25). Izien smartly moved on, signing a 1-year, $2M contract with $1M guaranteed. Detroit has 2 talented safeties, but they both got hurt last year. Izien is a great insurance policy, and maybe the team can return him to his former self behind the scenes.
Grade: A

Jets Re-Sign KR/RB Kene Nwangwu:
The dynamic kickoff has made returners more valuable than ever, and the Jets have re-signed theirs. Nwangwu has agreed to a 1-year, $2M contract with a maximum value of $3M with $1M fully guaranteed. I list him as an RB because he technically had 13 carries last year, but he’s almost exclusively a kick returner. And he happens to be one of the best in the business. Nwangwu is super explosive, with 5 return TDs across his 5 pro seasons. Teams started kicking away from him last year, and he still had 604 yards on just 18 attempts. The guy is a game-changer, and he’s being re-signed to a very small deal.
Grade: A+

Giants Re-Sign G Evan Neal:
Coaching changes can lead to players being jettisoned, but they can occasionally give second chances. Neal, a former 7th-overall pick, was as good as gone prior to John Harbaugh’s arrival. His deal is small: $1.215M for 1 year with $0 guaranteed. That’s irrelevant. The point is that he gets a clean slate in New York, where he started out as a tackle before moving to guard this past preseason. He never played a real game at that position (he was stashed on IR with a hamstring injury), but he looked alright in his limited work. I don’t expect anything, but there’s literally $0 at stake, so why not see if Harbaugh’s fresh eyes can fix Neal?
Grade: B

Broncos Re-Sign FB Adam Prentice:
Are fullbacks in vogue again? It’s a copycat league, and if the Seahawks and Patriots can reach the Super Bowl while using them, other teams will follow. Denver already had one in Prentice, who they’re re-signing to a 1-year, $1.403M contract with $587.5K guaranteed. Sean Payton loves his former Saints (even if he only had Prentice one year in New Orleans), and he used Prentice more than ever before as a runner and passer. He only had 97 yards total, but at least he had a role beyond blocking, as he isn’t the biggest FB. Prentice and Adam Trautman may be redundant, but this is the much better signing.
Grade: A-

Cardinals Sign G Elijah Wilkinson:
For the first time in his 9-year career, Wilkinson started all 17 games in 2025. He has bounced around a few teams, but last year with Atlanta, he played 100% of the snaps and acquitted himself well. Therefore, the fact that he got just a 2-year, $6.25M contract with $4.08M guaranteed may seem surprising…until you look at his injury history. While he was a backup sometimes, when he got the chance to start, he never finished a season before last year. Arizona is signing him as an upside play, but they can’t count on him to stay healthy. He also probably shouldn’t trash his former team. But Arizona got good play out of Wilkinson in 2023 (while he lasted), so he should slot in and play well for them again.
Grade: B+

March 14, 2026

Dolphins Sign CB Darrell Baker:
Baker’s snap count has increased each year, and with the Titans last season, he started 10 games. During those contests, he made 55 tackles and broke up 7 passes. Sadly, his passer rating allowed was a ghastly 124.1, telling us that he made those PBUs by guessing. Miami will give him a shot on a 1-year, $1.403M contract with $1.263M guaranteed. It’s no secret that Miami needs tons of secondary help. Baker is athletic but has unrefined technique. He currently needs to be protected by other good players to avoid giving up huge plays. That doesn’t seem to fit the Dolphins, but maybe they can coach him up.
Grade: B-

Cardinals Sign DE Jonah Williams:
New rule? Arizona must always have one Jonah Williams on their roster it seems. They’re letting one walk, so they brought in another. This Williams is a defensive lineman, and he’s signing a 1-year, $1.403M contract with $187.5K guaranteed. Joining his 5th team since 2024, Williams is a rotational edge rusher for hire. He had a career-high 3 sacks for the Saints last year, but in general he’s more of a run defender. He’s a good type of player to have around on a cheap deal, but if he’s playing significant snaps, you must have gotten very thin in that room.
Grade: B

Giants Sign K Jason Sanders:
New York may be done with Graham Gano’s injuries. As a result, they signed…a kicker who missed all of 2025 due to a hip injury. Sanders is signing a 1-year, $1.425M contract with $300K guaranteed, suggesting that this is more likely to be a replacement than a competition. You can call 2025 a fluke, as Sanders had never missed a game prior to that season. He was also great in 2023 and 2024. Gano was a consistently great kicker for NYG and is probably superior at his peak, but he missed significant time in each of the past 3 years. The best ability is availability, and Sanders is a better bet to be on the field.
Grade: A-

Saints Re-Sign G Dillon Radunz:
Radunz hasn’t lived up to expectations since being a 2nd-round pick of the Titans, but he has been a starter the past 3 years. Only one of those was with the Saints, and they’ve actually replaced him with David Edwards. They’re still bringing Radunz back as a reserve on a 2-year, $6.9M contract with $3.55M fully guaranteed. This is a much better role for him. Radunz has been mediocre as a starter, but he brings plenty of experience and can play several positions on the line. You can never have too many linemen, and there are far worse options than Radunz.
Grade: B+

Texans Re-Sign DT Sheldon Rankins:
Rankins is essentially a premium version of Dalvin Tomlinson. He’s better at both rushing the passer and stopping the run. With Houston’s elite edge rush tandem, the run stopping is what’s important here. The Texans can both rush 4 without blitzing and defend the run in their base defense due to guys like Rankings. He’s signing a 2-year, $17M contract with $12M guaranteed to keep that D-line intact. Houston has signed a couple of other depth pieces, but this is the important DT. Rankins unlocks a lot of what DC Matt Burke likes to do. This isn’t a bargain-basement deal, but I’m still fond of the value and the move.
Grade: A

Chargers Sign DT Dalvin Tomlinson:
Coming off his worst season in a while, Tomlinson had to settle for a 1-year deal. Truth be told though, the entire Arizona defense was terrible. I’d count on him being the more consistent guy we saw the prior 6 years. The Chargers are paying him as such: $7.5M for 1 year with $6M fully guaranteed. LA needed to get tougher inside on defense, and the big Tomlinson helps there. He’s the size of a nose tackle but generally has 2-3 sacks as part of his pocket pushing work. I thought he could be had for a bit less money based on how 2025 went, but I don’t consider this an overpay per se. It’s Tomlinson’s true value.
Grade: B

Broncos Re-Sign RB Jaleel McLaughlin:
Don’t ask me why, but McLaughlin kind of fell out of favor last season. Maybe it was the use of a 2nd-round pick on RJ Harvey, but I felt that McLaughlin provided a different element. He’s adept at finding holes, as evidenced by his robust 4.8 YPC average (for comparison, Harvey’s was 3.7). It surprised me that he re-signed, but the numbers were expected: $1.145M for 1 year with $125K guaranteed. When JK Dobbins inevitably gets hurt, McLaughlin will be a better option than Tyler Badie. Third RBs at this price tag aren’t usually as skilled with the ball as he is.
Grade: A

Steelers Sign DT Sebastian Joseph-Day:
Joseph-Day is an all-around DT. While not spectacular at any one thing, he pushes the pocket and stops the run at decent rates. Even though he was on a putrid Titans defense last year, he and Jeffery Simmons made the team’s DT group a strong point. Joseph-Day is moving to a more stable team now on a 2-year, $11M contract with $6M guaranteed. Honestly, that feels like the sweet spot for his contract. It’s not an overpay for his skills, but I wouldn’t call it a bargain either. Joseph-Day and Cam Heyward can help the youngsters like Derrick Harmon along while producing in the here and now.
Grade: B+

Giants Sign WR Calvin Austin III:
With a few decent outputs in 2025, I thought Austin might get more interest. Instead the Giants are signing him to a 1-year, $1.5M deal worth up to $4.5M with just $100K guaranteed. That money doesn’t even make him a roster lock. Austin is a deep threat despite his 5’9″ size, though he was more of a checkdown machine for Aaron Rodgers. Jaxson Dart might be a better match for his skill set, assuming Austin is on the team come week 1. NYG can at least see what he has because if he fits the scheme at all, his contract is plenty cheap enough to carry.
Grade: A

Packers Re-Sign DE Brenton Cox Jr:
A former UDFA, Cox didn’t gain any traction until 2024, when he had 4 sacks in 7 games. He didn’t get to build on that though, as injuries held him to just 4 contests in 2025. Naturally, Green Bay wants to see if that sack outburst was a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come. Thus, they’re re-signing Cox to a 1-year, $1.695M contract worth up to $2.5M with $250K guaranteed. I’d be doing the exact same thing if I were the Packers. Sacking QBs in the NFL is hard, so he clearly has some ability. The contract here is inconsequential, so consider it a lottery ticket but with better odds than a real lotto.
Grade: A+

Browns Re-Sign P Corey Bojorquez:
It seems that the contract details for punters are starting to flow. Bojorquez is re-upping on a 1-year, $2M deal with $937.5K guaranteed. If we graded signings on usage rates, he’d get an A++ for leading the league two seasons in a row in terms of punt quantity (that’s the Browns offense for you). Unfortunately, he isn’t all that good despite the practice. He had a career-high 11 touchbacks (12.1%), and his net punting average was just 37 yards. Cleveland isn’t likely to be competitive anyway, and the contract is cheap, so this doesn’t really matter. It would be an ideal time to try out punters to find the right one for the future though.
Grade: C+

Bills Re-Sign P Mitch Wishnowsky:
Wishnowsky has long been an underrated punter, but he does keep finding jobs. In this case, it’s his current one. Buffalo is re-signing him on a 1-year, $1.475M contract with $150K guaranteed. His 2025 season was better than his 2024 campaign, though 2023 was his best year overall. Wishnowsky generally has low touchback rates and solid punting averages, so there’s no reason to dislike this signing whatsoever. I wish teams would make these types of moves more often.
Grade: A+

Steelers Sign P Cameron Johnston:
Johnston switches teams surprisingly often for a good punter. Pittsburgh was his 2024 team, but he had a cup of coffee with both Buffalo and the Giants in 2025. He’s now back in the Steel City on a 1-year, $1.3M contract. Interestingly, he hurt his knee and missed almost all of that one season in Pittsburgh before losing a competition to Corliss Waitman for the 2025 job. It turns out that Johnston was the better punter all along, so the Steelers are rectifying their mistake. All’s well that ends well I guess.
Grade: A–

Titans Re-Sign K Joey Slye:
Luckily the guarantees here are low. Specifically, it’s $25K guaranteed on a 1-year, $1.295M deal. Slye can make kicks from 63 yards and miss them from 30 yards. His leg is huge, but his accuracy is one of the league’s worst. Last year, his first with Tennessee, was actually one of his better campaigns, but his FG% was still just 80. The details here tell me that Slye will be facing competition instead of being handed the job, which is a good thing. I’d have the new guy compete with a different vet though.
Grade: C

March 13, 2026

Commanders Extent G Nick Allegretti:
Washington actually extended Allegretti before free agency, but the details weren’t available. They turned out to be a bit complex. He’s adding 1 year at $3M with $2M guaranteed, but $2M is coming off of his 2026 salary. Based on my reading, it seems as though the Commanders were able to lower Allegretti’s cap number while adding an unguaranteed season to his deal at a small price. I liked him when he subbed in while with the Chiefs, and he was fine in Washington too. This is almost robbery.
Grade: A+

Panthers Re-Sign WR David Moore:
Every so often, Moore pops up with a few hundred receiving yards and you think “this guy can be a solid WR3 or 4”. Then he inevitably vanishes. That’s evident in the nature of his deal: $1.488M for 1 year with $0 guaranteed. Carolina clearly isn’t expecting Moore to make the roster, but they’re leaving the door open for one of his mini hot streaks. Other new signing John Metchie is a better bet to make the team based on his guarantees, but Moore has more production in his past. We’ll see.
Grade: B

Panthers Re-Sign LB/S Isaiah Simmons:
Teams just can’t quit on Simmons. He has so much raw athleticism, but he’s simply not a very good football player. Carolina is giving the experiment another go on a 1-year, $1.403M contract with $187.5K guaranteed. He had a couple solid seasons in Arizona and New York from 2022-2023, but the Giants then tried using him more in coverage, which was a disaster. As a hybrid player, Simmons belongs near the line of scrimmage. Either Carolina will figure that out, or they’ll get a cheap special teamer.
Grade: B-

Titans Sign CB Joshua Williams:
I get that Tennessee has a ton of cap space, but they aren’t spending it very well. Williams is a former Chief whose snap count decreased to 2% last year, as he fell behind late-round picks and UDFAs on the depth chart. Yet he’s signing a 2-year, $8M contract worth up to $10M with approximately $2.5M guaranteed. That last number is the saving grace, as the Titans are not on the hook for too much if this doesn’t work. On the plus side, while Williams was playing actual CB snaps, his passer rating allowed dropped each year, and he averaged 6 PBUs per season. There may be something here, but this is too high a price.
Grade: C

Giants Sign P Jordan Stout:
Stop if you’ve heard this before: a Raven is following John Harbaugh to the Giants. Stout is signing a 3-year, $12.3M contract with $7.3M guaranteed. In replacing Jamie Gillan, NYG is opting for a much bigger leg at the cost of some accuracy. Gillan produced less touchbacks, but Stout is a far better field flipper. Maybe the Giants expect to go 3-and-out a lot and thus need that leg. I can see that happening. The other aspect of this signing is familiarity, and Harbaugh is justified in wanting his guy. The money is pretty much average, so the signing is perfectly acceptable.
Grade: B+

Titans Sign TE Daniel Bellinger:
The good news: Bellinger set a career-high in receiving yards for NYG last year. The bad news: it was 286 yards. Somehow, he got a 3-year, $24M contract with a maximum value of $26.25M and $14.01M guaranteed. That’s a ridiculous sum for an average blocking TE with minimal receiving production. Tennessee isn’t coming close to adequately replacing Chig Okonkwo here. Just because OC Brian Daboll knows him doesn’t make this a good signing. In fact, it’s among free agency’s worst.
Grade: JAMARCUS RUSSELL

Bills Extend TE Dawson Knox:
Once Buffalo spent a first-round pick on Dalton Kincaid, the writing was on the wall for Knox. Even though Buffalo used 3-TE sets fairly often with Kincaid, Knox, and Jackson Hawes, Knox has been a bit of the odd man out. In 2025 though, his production rebounded to its best level since 2023, so the Bills wanted him to stay. His cap hit was just too large. The compromise is a 3-year, $20M contract with $13.46M guaranteed that replaces the last year of Knox’s prior deal. In essence, Buffalo retains their guy at a lower rate. That’s good business even if it’s harsh. Josh Allen likes Knox, and that’s the only reason you need to keep him.
Grade: A-

Cardinals Sign G Isaac Seumalo:
Guards who reach free agency are either not very good or drastically overpaid. Seuamlo is a rare case that fits into neither bucket. He’s a very good guard, yet his contract, $31.5M over 3 years with $19M guaranteed, is reasonable. I question what a team entering a full-blown rebuild needs with a 32-year-old guard, but the value is good enough to justify the move. The QB of the future isn’t on Arizona’s roster, but he’ll need to be protected when he arrives. Seumalo is also a beast in the ground game, which will have to carry the Cardinals for the time being. Team fit aside, this is an excellent signing.
Grade: A

Saints Sign RB Travis Etienne:
Travis Etienne (Achane?) picked the best possible time to have a career season. He owes Jags HC Liam Coen a kickback or something for helping him land this 4-year, $48M contract with a maximum value of $52M and $28M guaranteed. In 2025, his rushing yards nearly doubled to 1107, he had a career-high 13 total TDs, and his YPC average jumped from 3.7 to 4.3. New Orleans, potentially ending the Alvin Kamara era after a few injury-plagued years, needs to hope that Etienne can sustain this level of play. He wasn’t particularly good for 3 years before rebounding last season. HC Kellen Moore’s experience in Philly with Saquon Barkley should help with this transition, but the team is paying a lot for someone who so far is a one-year wonder.
Grade: C+

Browns Re-Sign G Teven Jenkins:
Jenkins’ reality and his potential are two different things. At his best, he’s quite a good guard. However, he often either misses games due to injury or plays hurt and exhibits a drop-off. As such, he’s signing just a 1-year, $4M contract with $3.96M guaranteed. I don’t know if Cleveland plans to start Jenkins or use him as a reserve like they did last year. That 2025 campaign was his first in which he played all 17 games thanks to his lower usage rate. Either way, he should be worth the money. Few teams have backup guards who are better, and Jenkins is a viable starter if his body cooperates.
Grade: A

Commanders Sign TE Chigoziem Okonkwo:
Larger deals like this one don’t typically go to TEs with an average of 500 yards per year. Okonkwo’s deal is $27M over 3 years with a maximum value of $30M and $16.7M guaranteed. You have to remember though that Okonkwo played in Tennessee, which is a QB abyss. I suspect he’d have better numbers for a team that could get him the ball. Zach Ertz’s late-season torn ACL created a void in Washington, and now Okonkwo will slot into their TE-friendly system. As a player who does well with the balls in space, he should thrive with the Commanders. This is a large sum for what amounts to upside, but I like it.
Grade: B+

Jets Sign G Dylan Parham:
Letting John Simpson walk wasn’t great. Replacing him with a member of one of the worst O-lines in history is worth. Parham, a former Raider, is signing a 2-year, $16M contract worth up to $20M with $7.5M guaranteed. Granted, Parham was the best member of that Vegas line, but with LT Kolton Miller out injured, that statement is meaningless. Parham is not especially great at run blocking or pass protecting. Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty probably still have nightmares about defenders coming through his lane. He’s below-average, but at least this is only a one-year commitment in terms of guarantees.
Grade: D-

Bengals Extend OT Orlando Brown Jr:
Ask and ye shall receive. Brown, representing himself, went to the front office to ask for an extension and got one. He’ll get $32M over 2 years with $23M guaranteed within the first 12 months. This is exactly the same as his current salary. He wanted security entering the final year of his previous contract, but I don’t know why he’d sign after the worst season of his career. Cincy was smart to oblige because that bad 2025 was due to a lingering injury from 2024. Before that, he was the #1 pass blocking tackle in football. At a little more than half of what the elite tackles make, the Bengals will have that sort of player themselves. Joe Burrow MUST stay upright, and without Brown, that his little chance of happening. This is why players need agents.
Grade: A+

Saints Sign TE Noah Fant:
To the Bengals, Fant is known mostly for his ill-timed fumbles. That’s why he’s leaving Cincy and heading to NO on a 2-year, $8.75M contract with $4.5M guaranteed. I don’t know why Fant’s 2025 season, the worst of his career, got him a raise, but if we assume that was an outlier, he’s generally worth about 500 yards and a few TDs per year. That makes this a moderate contract for moderate production. New Orleans needs to add weapons for Tyler Shough, and while Fant won’t make a huge difference, the veteran TE should help the young QB. The contract is small, so it’s a solid signing.
Grade: B

Eagles Sign OLB Arnold Ebiketie:
As a high second-round pick of the Falcons, Ebiketie is largely considered a bust. In reality, that’s not entirely fair. He hasn’t been a starter at all, yet he posted back-to-back 6-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024. Philly sees some remaining potential, so they’re signing him to a 1-year contract worth up to $7.3M with $4.3M fully guaranteed. Ebiketie is not much of a run defender, but teams would rather their DEs be better at pressuring QBs anyway. The Eagles like having a deep stable of rotational edge rushers, and Ebiketie can definitely be part of that. He’ll take Jaelan Phillips’ role I guess, and he’ll be a poor man’s version.
Grade: A-

Cowboys Sign QB Sam Howell:
Sometimes there’s a QB who you just wonder what could’ve been. Howell probably left college too early, but he played in some awful situations as a pro too. That has led him to bounce around the league, and now he’s a Cowboy on a 1-year, $2.5M contract with $500K guaranteed. Yes, Howell can be completely reckless. How else do you throw 21 TDs and 21 INTs in a season? The kid has arm talent though, and I find him much more accurate than current Dallas backup Joe Milton. I suspect that Howell can win the QB2 job, as accuracy is the #1 trait for a QB, and Milton doesn’t have it. I’d like to think there’s hope for Howell yet.
Grade: B+

Chargers Re-Sign ST Del’Shawn Phillips:
I’m sincerely hoping that this is the last bad ST contract that I have to grade. This one is even bigger than the others: $7.5M for 2 years with a maximum value of $10.5M and $4M guaranteed. Normally, Phillips’ second-team All-Pro nod for special teams play would get me to lay off. But we’re out here guaranteeing $4M to someone who doesn’t play even 10% of the defensive snaps or return kicks/punts? I really am starting to lose it with some of these. Fortunatelly, the contract is too small for a Russell.
Grade: D-

Cardinals Sign S Andrew Wingard:
Out of 7 years in Jacksonville, Wingard started 16 games just once. That was in 2025, which came after years in a reserve role. He’ll move on to Arizona, where he’s signing a 1-year, $3M contract with a maximum value of $4M and $1.8M guaranteed. As a bit of a tweener, Wingard is undersized for an LB but big for a safety (his primary role). He’s decent in coverage (9 PBUs last year), but he’s most comfortable at the line of scrimmage. Run support is his area of expertise, and in a division with San Francisco, the Cardinals need plenty of that. After showing he can be productive in a starting role, Wingard is ready for this assignment.
Grade: A

Raiders Sign FB Connor Heyward:
Let’s stick with the Heyward family, as Cam’s brother is signing a 2-year contract worth up to $5.5M with $2M fully guaranteed. The brothers are finally splitting up, though Pittsburgh hasn’t been using Connor properly in recent years. As a smaller FB, he’s a fine blocker, but he should be used more as an inline TE like he was during his first two seasons. Las Vegas already has a great receiving TE in Brock Bowers, but Heyward can spring runs for RB Ashton Jeanty and block/run routes in 2-TE sets. Heyward will probably need to continue playing special teams to provide sufficient value, but I think he’s up for it.
Grade: B+

Steelers Extend DT Cam Heyward:
For accounting purposes, I’ll specify that this is a new 2-year, $32.25M contract with $16.25M fully guaranteed, but only 2027 is a new year on the deal. Hayward will be 37 when the 2026 season starts, but the man doesn’t seem to age. His counting stats were down in 2025, but his impact was not. If voters looked past numbers, he might’ve been an All-Pro again after earning the honor in 2024. At this stage of Heyward’s career, both sides are likely to go one year at a time. He’s still a highly valuable player though, and he’s a tremendous leader. I don’t think this contract comes close to equalling his true value.
Grade: A+

Packers Sign DT Javon Hargrave:
Hargrave’s time in San Francisco started off great, but a torn triceps in 2024 marked the end of his tenure. He returned to play 16 games in 2024 with the Vikings, but he wasn’t quite himself. Now another season removed from the injury, he’s signing with GB on a 2-year, $23M contract containing $13M guaranteed. In essence, this is a 1-year deal. The good news is that Hargrave’s quickness looked just fine, and he generated plenty of pressure. He wasn’t quite as dominant against the run, but overall he’s still a pretty complete DT. Without much risk, Green Bay could be making their D-line much more potent.
Grade: A-

Panthers Sign WR John Metchie III:
Metchie has my utmost respect for overcoming leukemia and staying in the NFL. He hasn’t exactly done much in the league though. After Houston cut him, he joined Philly and had 4 total catches in 7 games. Following a trade to the Jets, he looked halfway decent, catching 29 passes for 256 yards. Carolina is taking a 1-year, $1.9M flier with $1M guaranteed. I’m not expecting Metchie to suddenly break out, and the Panthers’ loaded depth chart at WR suggests he can’t be more than a WR4. The guarantee does increase his likelihood of making the roster though, and I guess we’ll see what happens.
Grade: B-

Vikings Re-Sign ST/DB Tavierre Thomas:
(Sigh). Yes, it’s another special teamer. Thomas is signing a 2-year, $4.6M contract with $1.95M guaranteed. This time I won’t complain about the money or the roster spot. Simply put, Thomas isn’t that good. At least in his Texans days, he played some CB. In Minnesota, he basically just commits penalties that wipe out huge returns. One of his infractions nullified a 99-yard TD return. Those penalties infuriate coaches, so I don’t know why the Vikings were so eager to re-sign Thomas. It’s a head-scratcher.
Grade: D

March 12, 2026

Chargers Re-Sign OL Trey Pipkins:
As a 3-year starter for the Bolts, Pipkins did not play well, and the team tried to replace him last year. Everyone else got hurt though, which put Pipkins right back in the lineup…where he predictably struggled. Regardless, he’s back on a 2-year, $10M contract with a maximum value of $12M and $4.575M guaranteed. Reliable veteran insurance is nice, but when discussing a swing tackle or backup guard (Pipkins plays both), you want someone who doesn’t make you sweat the second he takes the field. Trevor Penning, who was also re-signed, possesses some upside and a history of decent guard play. I don’t know why the Chargers also felt the need to re-sign Pipkins. Even at this price, he’s not worth it.
Grade: D+

Lions Re-Sign CB Rock Ya-Sin:
Talent has never been Ya-Sin’s problem. Durability has been his bane. Ironically, he played in all 17 games for the first time last year as a member of the Lions…the team that put a million DBs on IR. Since Detroit couldn’t keep any other CB healthy, I get why they’d bring Ya-Sin back. He’s signing a 1-year, $3.2M contract with a maximum value of $4M and $2.64M guaranteed. In just 6 starts, Ya-Sin earned 9 PBUs and 47 tackles while allowing a 74.7 passer rating. He’s a good corner, but due to his injuries, he’ll likely always have to settle for 1-year deals. That’s to the benefit of Detroit, who gets all the upside with none of the risk.
Grade: A+

Packers Re-Sign OL Darian Kinnard:
As far swing tackle signings go, Green Bay’s is important. LT Rasheed Walker remains unsigned, and Zach Tom was injured often last year. The guy who filled in for Tom was Kinnard, who acquitted himself well in his first real pro action. He’ll return on a 1-year, $2.75M contract worth up to $3.75M with $1M guaranteed. I’m not suggesting that Kinnard should replace Walker if he leaves, but he’s a good insurance policy. The former 2022 draft pick is young enough to retain some upside, and the price is cheap. He also has some experience at guard, so his versatility is another plus.
Grade: A

Colts Sign DE Micheal Clemons:
Clemons can rush the passer and play the run, but he’s average at both. Even though he played more than half the snaps for the Jets the past two years, he wasn’t very productive. He reminds me of Clelin Ferell, except he was taken in round 4, not #4 overall. Clemons is joining Indy on a 3-year, $17.5M contract with $5.99M fully guaranteed. The guarantee says that this is a 1-year tryout, which improves the grade. Clemons is not worthy of a 3-year deal unless he plays considerably better than he has in the past, but for just one season, the Colts can experiment and cut bait later if they need to.
Grade: B

Eagles Extend P Braden Mann:
More punter news! This contract is nearly identical to the Saints’ Ryan Wright deal: $14M over 4 years with $7M guaranteed. The difference here (other than $1M less in guaranteed money) is that the Eagles have possessed Mann, so they know how he punts for them. Unfortunately, they should’ve seen that few players boot more touchbacks, as Mann had 8 of those in 2025. He doesn’t kick especially far either, so his accuracy should be better. That said, the team is comfortable with Mann, and he’s not more than a single standard deviation from the mean, so this small contract won’t be troublesome.
Grade: B+

Chargers Sign RB Keaton Mitchell:
Baltimore–>LAC again. This one is interesting because while Mitchell has a checkered injury history, he sure can run fast. That speed got him this 2-year, $9.25M contract with $5M guaranteed and a maximum value of $11.25M. With Omarion Hampton expected to be the primary power back, Mitchell will function as the change-of-pace option. Due to his explosiveness, he can break a big run any time he touches the ball. That sort of breakaway speed wasn’t helping Derius Davis contribute, but maybe Mitchell can take advantage of it. While the money is slightly high for a committee back, Mitchell can open up the offense.
Grade: A-

Vikings Sign QB Kyler Murray:
This move has been projected for a while, but it didn’t officially happen until now. Murray is signing a 1-year, $1.3M veteran minimum contract because Arizona will be paying the remaining $35.5M on his guaranteed 2026 salary. Due to that pittance of a financial outlay, I can’t say anything bad about the signing. Minnesota had to upgrade from JJ McCarthy, and this was their only realistic veteran option unless they could mend fences with Kirk Cousins. I am not, however, a Murray fan. The small QB has to run to succeed, but that running gets him hurt. He couldn’t do as well in Arizona’s offense as Jacoby Brissett did, which isn’t a good sign either. Then there are the reported leadership and mentality questions, but I suspect he has been humbled a bit. There’s zero risk for the Vikings, and maybe Kevin O’Connell will unlock something with Murray. I wouldn’t count on it though.
Grade: A

Jaguars Sign RB Chris Rodriguez:
Rising to the top of Washington’s depth chart didn’t help him stick around, but Rodriguez is off to a better team. He’s signing a 2-year, $10M contract with a maximum value of $12M and $6.2M guaranteed to join the reigning AFC South champs. First, let’s be realistic: he’s not here to replace Travis Etienne. He’ll be the hammer in a committee with the shifty Bhayshul Tuten. Rodrgiuez’s specialty is reading his blocks and getting upfield, rarely producing a negative run. In limited work, he has a 4.6 YPC average. He offers nothing as a receiver, which is where Tuten slots in. As a 2-down power back, Rodriguez is getting a fair deal.
Grade: B+

Buccaneers Sign DT A’Shawn Robinson:
Congrats to Robinson for having his $8.5M salary lead to his release and then signing a 1-year, $10M fully guaranteed deal shortly thereafter! At 320 lbs, Robinson possesses a surprising amount of quickness, which allows him to get after the QB. The size is what makes him good against the run, so he’s a pretty well-rounded player. You have to wonder why Carolina cut him given that he formed a good tandem with Derrick Brown, but he should also play well alongside Calijah Kancey and/or Vita Vea. I love the fit here in Todd Bowles’ defense, and Robinson has been pretty durable, so there’s little downside here.
Grade: A

Bills Sign OLB Bradley Chubb:
Less than an hour after being cut by Miami, Chubb signed with a division rival. It didn’t actually happen that quickly, as teams were allowed to talk to Chubb once Miami announced his impending release. He landed a fat contract through: $43.5M over 3 years with $9M in incentives and $29M guaranteed. When Chubb plays, he’s normally good. However, he has an extensive injury history. Though he does tend to bounce back well after an injury (he had 8.5 sacks last year after missing all of 2024), his availability is always a question mark. Buffalo is the right team to take a swing like this, as they need edge rushing help and are contenders. Even for them though, this contract is risky, but it has a chance to really pay off.
Grade: B

49ers Re-Sign TE Jake Tonges:
If you heard of Tonges before last season, you’re either a hardcore analyst like me or a rabid 49ers fan. Either way, none of us saw his 2025 season coming. With George Kittle and a host of WRs injured, Tonges became a quality security blanket for both Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. He caught 34 passes for 293 yards and 5 TDs after never having a catch previously. SF is re-signing him to a 2-year, $8M contract with $5.5M guaranteed, and I love this move. Kittle is going to miss part of the year due to Achilles rehab, and we know Tonges can produce in this offense whether Kittle is in or out. Tonges is only 26 years old and has played meaningful snaps for just one year, so he might even get better.
Grade: A+

Ravens Re-Sign CB Chidobe Awuzie:
Awuzie has been a good CB in this league for a long time, but he has a terrible time staying healthy. He has just 1 full season on his 9-year resume. Last year with Baltimore was a microcosm of his career: he was really solid when on the field (7 PBUs, 43 tackles), but he missed 3 games and only started 5. That’s why his new 1-year, $5M fully guaranteed deal makes so much sense. If Awuzie is healthy, he’s worth at least triple that amount. At the same time, the Ravens are protecting themselves in case he gets hurt again. Most scenarios I envision have him outplaying this contract even with missed games considered.
Grade: A+

Colts Re-Sign QB Daniel Jones:
Moving on to a deal that’s the opposite of a bargain, Jones’ transition tag has been replaced with a 2-year, $88M contract worth up to $100M with $60M guaranteed. Indianapolis is banking on a repeat of their 8-1 start last year, but there are several problems with their thinking. First, that hot streak came against a very easy schedule. They were already starting to fade before Jones got hurt. Speaking of injuries, Jones gets hurt often, and his current Achilles rehab might mean he isn’t good for half of the duration of this contract. Finally, the last time a team extended Jones following a good season, it led to their coach getting fired. Shane Steichen can probably expect the same result. Indy has guaranteed themselves two more years or more of mediocrity.
Grade: JAMARCUS RUSSELL

Ravens Sign DE Trey Hendrickson:
Apparently, Baltimore wanted BOTH Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson, but they quickly moved to sign the latter after their Crosby trade fell apart. Hendrickson is signing a 4-year, $112M contract with a maximum value of $120M and $60M fully guaranteed. The Ravens needed a rusher, and Hendrickson wanted a $30M+ salary. With that not materializing, he took a deal that can reach $30M per season with incentives. Hendrickson had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons before a core muscle injury derailed him in 2025. He’s 31 years old, but the guarantees tell me that this is just a 2-year deal with options on the back end. That’s the correct structure, and Baltimore’s defense just got MUCH better. Hendrickson is a truly elite DE, and this cost is low.
Grade: A+

Commanders Sign OLB K’Lavon Chaisson:
As a first-round pick of the Jaguars, Chaisson did nothing for 4 years. In year 5 with the Raiders, he showed signs of life. He then appeared to break out with the Patriots in 2025, earning 7.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. The Pats clearly didn’t believe that to be anything but a mirage though, so Washington is signing Chaisson to a 1-year, $12M contract with $10.3M guaranteed. Washington badly needs edge rushers, so taking a low-risk swing on a guy who produced last year is a good idea. I’d be concerned that NE coach Mike Vrabel let Chaisson walk, but the upside is there for the Commanders.
Grade: B+

Titans Sign P Tommy Townsend:
This isn’t a great look for Houston. They replaced Townsend with an inferior punter via trade and then watched him sign with a division rival. Tennessee will pay him $5M over 2 years, with $1M in incentives and $2M guaranteed. Ironically, I think the Titans are downgrading too. I very much liked Johnny Hekker, though Townsend is totally fine. The latter boots a few too many balls for touchback, but he has a good leg. This contract is meager, as it should be, but they gave it to the wrong guy.
Grade: B-

Jaguars Re-Sign LB Dennis Gardeck:
Jacksonville couldn’t retain Devin Lloyd, but one LB is sticking around. Gardeck is re-signing on a 2-year, $6.5M deal with $3.65M guaranteed. A bit undersized, Gardeck actually plays best near the line of scrimmage, where he handles the run and applies a bit of pressure on the QB. He hasn’t been asked to do much in coverage, but he had 4 PBUs with Arizona in 2023 (along with a career-high 6 sacks). Given Gardeck’s 40% snap share and special teams work, this is a fine contract. He’s a productive player who can spot start or come off the bench, and he was a good guy to keep.
Grade: A-

Texans Sign DL Logan Hall:
What a surprise. A versatile lineman has been added to Houston’s front. Hall can line up on the edge or inside, where he’s a jack of all trades but a master a run. He rushes the passer decently, and he’s fine against the run, but he doesn’t star in either role. His deal is $13.75M over 2 years with $9M guaranteed. Hall actually played at the University of Houston, so this is a bit of a homecoming. The former high 2nd-round pick could be unlocked by HC DeMeco Ryans, and he’ll benefit from playing with several studs on that loaded D-line. Hall is worth about this money, but he may look better on this particular team.
Grade: B+

Giants Sign FB Patrick Ricard:
Let the Baltimore –> NYG pipeline continue! This time it’s Ricard, who’s signing a 2-year, $7.63M contract with $450K in incentives and $3.54M guaranteed. As a large FB with consistent Pro Bowl appearances, Ricard is one of the best at his (dying) position. Truthfully, he may as well be a lineman who lines up in the backfield. The Giants’ RBs will be thrilled to have him around, and I don’t blame them. Starting linemen cost a lot more than this, so FBs are basically cheap life hacks that get you a quality blocker for pennies on the dollar. More teams should use them.
Grade: A

Commanders Sign LB Leo Chenal:
Man, Kansas City is hemorrhaging defenders. Chenal is the latest to depart, and he’s signing a 3-year, $24.75M contract with $12.4M guaranteed. More of a thumper than a rangy LB, Chenal operates best at the line of scrimmage. He’s excellent in the run game (and with the occasional blocked FG). In coverage, he’s somewhat viable, but that’s not his forte. Therefore, this money is a little on the high side, but the Commanders had cash and needed to upgrade their defense badly. Chenal will help.
Grade: B

Panthers Sign C Luke Fortner:
Fortner was really good for the first two years of his career. Then he was terrible for the next two. Which version will Carolina get? To find out, they’re signing him to a 1-year, $2.75M contract worth up to $4.75M with $1.325M guaranteed. If this is a replacement for the departed Cade Mays, I’m unimpressed. As a backup lineman, this is perfectly acceptable. Fortner has shown that he CAN play at a high level. Hopefully Carolina can get him back to that, as we haven’t seen it since 2023.
Grade: B-

March 11, 2026—–NEW LEAGUE YEAR STARTS AT 4 PM EST

Eagles Sign CB Tariq Woolen:
Woolen, a newly minted Super Bowl champion, frustrated the Seahawks. He’s long (6’4″) and fast (4.26 40), but he is prone to blown assignments. That may have tempered his market, but a team that knows how to use CBs scooped him up. Eagles DC Vic Fangio gets a new toy on a 1-year, $12M guaranteed contract worth up to $15M. This is a very low number. Woolen may be viewed as erratic, but his passer rating allowed has consistently been in the 70s each of the past 3 years, which is very good. You also have to remember that he was a college WR, so he might still be learning the nuances of playing CB. With Quinyon Mitchell as CB1, Woolen will slot into a comfortable role, and Fangio’s teaching could unlock a fantastic player at a low cost.
Grade: A+

Saints Sign LB Kaden Elliss:
Elliss actually started his career with the Saints, where he did nothing until breaking out with 7 sacks in year 4. Over the past 3 years with Atlanta, he has blossomed into a 3-down linebacker. Elliss played 98% of snaps and didn’t miss a single game. He’ll try to replicate his success back in New Orleans on a 3-year, $33M contract with a maximum value of nearly $39M and $23M guaranteed. The 30-year-old has a lot of wear, but he hasn’t been slowed by it. In fact, he’s a younger and fresher version of the departed Demario Davis. Their similar new salaries reflect well on the Saints. Even if Davis was a fan favorite, Elliss is the better player in 2026, and the team got him for nearly the same price.
Grade: A

Bears Sign CB Cam Lewis:
For the first time in his 6-year, career, Lewis is leaving Buffalo. Chicago is paying him $6M for 2 years with $2.75M guaranteed to do so. Nahshon Wright’s signing came conveniently before this one, which made me realize that Lewis could be his replacement. On its face, this signing is good. Lewis is a part-time CB and part-time special teamer who could produce in a more significant role. The money makes me wonder though: why not just re-sign Wright? I’ll grade this independently, as if Lewis is being signed for depth and not as the new starter. I’m struggling to look past the coincidence though.
Grade: B+

Jets Sign CB Nahshon Wright:
This is all the market was willing to pay Wright after his 2025 season? He’ll make $3.5M guaranteed for 1 year with a chance to earn $2M more in incentives. Teams were probably wary because Wright barely did anything but special teams work over his first four seasons. He got the chance to start in year 5, his first in Chicago, and all he did was pick off 5 passes, break up 11, and make 80 tackles. The “one-year wonder” worry is real, but this was quite a year for the 27-year-old who’s now a Pro Bowler. His underlying metrics aren’t as great, but they’re solid. Even with some regression, NYJ is getting a good CB at a dirt-cheap price.
Grade: A+

Chargers Re-Sign ST/CB Deane Leonard:
I’m only grading this one to show you what special teamer deals are supposed to look like. Leonard is getting $2M for 1 year with $1.215M guaranteed. These multi-million-dollar deals for players who participate in a mere supporting role on 1 down are crazy. LA is doing it right: a small contract that barely touches their cap space yet keeps a good role player on the team. Leonard happens to be very good on special teams as well, so they aren’t even using a roster spot on someone without skill.
Grade: A

Giants Re-Sign LB Micah McFadden:
Another player on a prove-it deal following an injury, McFadden had great back-to-back years before 2025, when a foot injury ended his season in week 2. He’ll try to rebuild his value on a 1-year, $3.75M contract with $2.9M guaranteed. I don’t know how he’ll look post-injury, but NYG isn’t paying much to find out. Prior to the absence, he showed off different styles. In 2023, he earned 5 PBUs in coverage, whereas in 2024, he had 3 sacks. He earned 100+ tackles in each campaign. In the best case, the Giants are getting a really good 26-year-old LB for cheap. The lack of risk coupled with great upside is the Goldilocks of signings.
Grade: A+

Dolphins Sign K Zane Gonzalez:
Miami is making some peculiar decisions this offseason. Jason Sanders missed the bulk of last season, but he’s healthy now and is a very good kicker. Instead of retaining him, the Dolphins are signing Gonzalez to a 1-year, $1.488M contract with $100K guaranteed. That sort of money doesn’t preclude a competition, but I don’t know why Miami is basing their choice on Gonzalez. He doesn’t have a monster leg, and he hasn’t been particularly accurate either. Gonzalez is one of those kicker retreads that bounces from team to team. Due to the cost, I won’t be too harsh, but the Dolphins probably still need a kicker.
Grade: C-

Lions Sign RB Isiah Pacheco:
Pacheco’s violent running style caught up to him in 2024, when injuries caused him to miss 11 games. He wasn’t as effective last year as a result, but some of that can be blamed on the Chiefs’ blocking. Having lost David Montgomery, Detroit is taking a flyer on Pacheco with a 1-year, $1.81M fully guaranteed deal. Unlike in KC, he won’t be asked to carry the load. Jahymr Gibbs is the main back, with Pacheco likely spelling him and operating in short-yardage situation. In other words, he’ll be taking the “Knuckles” role but at a far cheaper price. If he doesn’t succeed, Detroit is spending pennies, but if he does, this’ll be great.
Grade: A+

Bears Sign WR/KR Kalif Raymond:
When I lash out at teams signing special teamers, I’m excluding returners, who are vitally important. Raymond used to return punts, but he has shifted to kicks in recent years and is quite good at it. He’ll remain in the AFC North, signing a 1-year, $3.255M contract with $1.8M in incentives and $3M guaranteed with the Bears. Raymond returned a kick for a TD in each of the pass two years while also providing 200+ receiving yards each season. He provides excellent value as a backup slot option while starring in his returner role. I thought he’d earn a multi-year contract in free agency.
Grade: A+

Steelers Sign RB Rico Dowdle:
Dowdle left Carolina so he could be a team’s #1 back, so I’m wondering what Jaylen Warren thinks about his arrival. Following a 1000-yard season in Dallas, Dowdle put up a nearly identical season with the Panthers. He’s signing a 2-year, $12.25M contract with $5M guaranteed to try and lead Pittsburgh’s committee. If you want the best of Dowdle, you need to feed him. He’s a back that grows stronger with more carries. Ideally, he’ll be the hammer on 1st and 2nd down before Warren handles the passing down work. In that sort of arrangement, the Steelers could have a potent backfield on their hands.
Grade: A

Raiders Sign K Matt Gay:
Reports suggest that Vegas has had enough of Daniel Carlson, who was admittedly erratic last season. Replacing him with a kicker who hasn’t been good since 2022 is rather bold though. Gay is signing a 1-year, $1.6M contract with $1.35M guaranteed. The latter number suggests that he’s in line to start. I haven’t seen Gay kick well for any team other than the Rams. Maybe he still has that ability in him when playing in another western domed stadium, but the past 3 seasons have been mediocre at best. Las Vegas seems to be chasing ghosts instead of a high-quality kicker.
Grade: C

Jets Sign S Dane Belton:
Many are describing Belton as a special teams standout. I’d rather talk about his defensive contributions. As a Giant in 2025, he racked up 120 tackles despite making just 9 starts, and he added 5 PBUs, 3 FFs, and 2 sacks to boot. He’ll stay at MetLife Stadium but with the Jets on a 1-year, $4.5M deal worth up to $6.5M containing $3.5M guaranteed. The 25-year-old has had a nose for the football since he entered the NFL, but his raw production has improved each year. I think the Jets are getting a sneaky-good asset here who can grow into a great starter with a bigger role. I don’t get to complement the Jets often, so this was fun!
Grade: A+

Raiders Re-Sign DE Malcolm Koonce:
If you’re experience deja vu with Koonce’s new contract ($11.01M for 1 year with $10.5M guaranteed), that’s because he signed nearly the exact same pact last season. This one has $10,000 more money. He earned the first deal after an 8-sack 2023 season gave way to a torn ACL that wiped out his 2024 campaign. Upon returning, Koonce earned 4.5 sacks in 2025. Moving forward, he should be fully healthy, and he’s getting another chance to prove himself. Frankly, 2023 looks like the outlier season at this point, but on the off chance that Koonce is still a star in the making, LV is going to find out on a low-risk agreement.
Grade: B-

Cardinals Re-Sign DE LJ Collier:
Badly overdrafted as a first-round pick, Collier settled in as a nice run defender at the DE position. Unfortunately, teams want their DEs to be elite pass rushers, so run stoppers at that spot don’t get paid much. Collier will return for year 3 in Arizona on a 1-year, $2M contract with a maximum value of $2.5M and $750K guaranteed. He missed most of 2025 with a knee injury but put up solid numbers as a starter in 2024. Expect him to primarily play on run downs, where he’s most effective.
Grade: A-

Bengals Sign OLB Boye Mafe:
Faced with the certain loss of Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati had to find another edge rusher. That guy is Mafe, who’s signing a 3-year, $60M contract with $19M guaranteed. Ironically, the single-year guarantee that Mafe is accepting is exactly what drove a wedge between the Bengals and Hendrickson. Mafe is less of a proven product though and wasn’t even a full-time starter in 2025. That’s not his fault though; Seattle’s D-line was so good and deep that they cycled players to keep them fresh. With a higher snap count, Mafe should get back to sacking the QB. He’ll be a boom-or-bust signing, but Cincy isn’t risking much to bring him in.
Grade: B

Browns Sign OT Larry Borom:
Borom wasn’t particularly good for Chicago, but in his lone year with Miami, he was surprisingly decent. He’s parlaying that success into a 1-year, $5M contract with $4.9M guaranteed. Cleveland’s offensive line strategy is becoming clearer, and there’s a method to their madness. They’re signing multiple guys with a few years of experience who have potential to see if any of them stick. I’d like to see them commit to some higher-end starters, but perhaps they’ll unearth one this way. Borom is worth this money even if he ends up as a swing tackle, but we’ll see if he can actually claim a starting job.
Grade: B+

Falcons Sign DE Cameron Thomas:
Here’s a better depth option. Thomas is a contributor on special teams who plays about 1/4 of the defensive snaps. He made the most of those snaps in 2025 with Cleveland, earning 2.5 sacks despite his limited playing time. Atlanta is signing him to a 1-year, $3.095M contract with $2.5M guaranteed. That’s high for his snap volume, but the ST work makes him more valuable. The Falcons in particular need the depth with James Pearce in major legal trouble, so they’re being smart by stocking up.
Grade: B

Texans Sign DE Dominique Robinson:
I’m not sure what a defensive line as amazing as Houston’s needs Robinson for. His deal is cheap: $3M for 1 year with $1M guaranteed and a maximum value of $4M. Robinson has never been a starter, doesn’t rush the passer well, and is generally average in the run game. The Texans clearly view him as a depth piece, but there were better ones available. In fact, they already possess sufficient depth. My complaint this time is less about the money and more about the roster spot.
Grade: D

Jets Sign OLB Kingsley Enagbare:
New York continues its crusade of signing veterans to short-term deals. The latest is Enagbare, who’s joining the team on a 1-year, $10M contract with $8.49M guaranteed. As someone who played less than half of Green Bay’s snaps, Enagbare did well to get this contract. The Jets would like to extrapolate his production (3 sacks and 36 tackles a year) to a starter’s workload, but I don’t think Enagbare is a premium player. There’s no harm in finding out what the 26-year-old can do though, and this contract won’t backfire if it fails. I just don’t expect instant ascendance here.
Grade: B-

Jaguars Re-Sign CB Montaric Brown:
While Brown started to break out in 2024, he really took off last year under DC Anthony Campanille. He set career-highs with 2 INTs and 12 PBUs, helping set the pace for a turnover-happy defense. The 26-year-old is signing a 3-year, $31.8M contract with $20.65M guaranteed to stay in Duval. For the guy we saw this past season, a touch under $11M per year is a pittance. The guarantees aren’t even outrageous, so Jacksonville’s risk is low. His improvement seems organic rather than sudden, so Brown should have staying power. I love the idea of Brown as a building block for the new Jags.
Grade: A+

Packers Sign CB Benjamin St Juste:
Which St Juste is real: the one who allowed a 102.2 passer rating in Washington in 2024 or the one who allowed a 68.3 passer rating in LA last season? That Chargers version is a very good player, but we’ve seen the Commanders version more often. Thus, I’m not too bullish on this 2-year, $10M deal with $500K in incentives and $3M guaranteed. However, I love the low guarantee because Green Bay will get to see which St Juste they’ll have before committing to the remainder of the contract. The price is also low enough that he can be a viable backup without losing too much value.
Grade: B+

Patriots Sign G Alijah Vera-Tucker:
Once again, we have a player whose value was derailed by injuries. Vera-Tucker is a very good guard, and he even has enough versatility to spot start at tackle. However, he is injury-prone, and both 2023 and 2024 were essentially lost seasons for him. He also missed 3 games in 2025. Still, Vera-Tucker’s market produced a 3-year, $42M contract with $21M guaranteed. That’s too much for someone who might miss half of the Pats’ games, but I get why they signed him. Their Super Bowl dreams were destroyed by the offensive line, and Drake Maye needs better protection. I love the spirit of this signing but not the deal itself.
Grade: C+

Cowboys Re-Sign DE Sam Williams:
Williams seemed to be figuring things out through 2 years, but an injury wiped out his 2024 season and derailed his progress. Dallas still sees potential in the young edge rusher and is giving him a 1-year, $2.5M contract with $500K in incentives and $1M guaranteed. If Williams is the same rotational edge rusher that gave the team 4 sacks a season as he was before, this contract is a good value. He’ll be even more of a bargain if he provides excess production. Without any risk attached to the deal, Dallas is making a shrewd move. As always though, a year or two on the back end would’ve been nice.
Grade: A

Chargers Sign G Cole Strange:
Hilariously drafted in the first round by New England, Strange has been a below-average guard for the Patriots and Dolphins. As an FCS player, he never appeared to adjust to the speed of the NFL game. LA is signing Strange to a 2-year, $13M contract with $9M guaranteed. This is stupid money unless Strange is expected to start for the Bolts, and if that’s the case, it’s also dumb. I can’t fathom what LA saw to give him this contract. The only thing saving the signing from an F grade is its small nature.
Grade: D-

Bills Sign QB Kyle Allen:
We’re back to two QBs named Allen in Buffalo. Kyle is signing a 2-year, $4.1M contract with a maximum value of $6.1M and $1.8M guaranteed to back up Josh. With Mitchell Trubisky departing, someone had to be brought in. The Bills opted for a familiar face who has had some great games and some awful games in the league. That’s Allen in a nutshell: a gunslinger who’s going to give his team a chance to win…or bring it down, sometimes in the same game. He’s a solid backup at a cheap price, and his friendship with Josh Allen is definitely a good thing.
Grade: B+

Cardinals Sign WR Kendrick Bourne:
The pattern for Bourne is clear: explode for a few games, sign a sizeable free agent contract, and then disappear. Arizona hopes that only the first two parts are true, as they’re signing Bourne to a 2-year, $10M deal with a maximum value of $12M and $7.5M guaranteed. He’ll be the WR3 in Arizona, which is his optimal role, and thus I like the signing. Even in his disappointing years, Bourne is typically providing 400+ receiving yards. Arizona also weakened the 49ers by poaching their player, which is an added bonus. Maybe he’s a little old (30) to be part of a rebuild, but he’ll help a young QB to be named later out.
Grade: B

Bears Re-Sign LT Braxton Jones:
This is the perfect example of a buy-low contract. Jones was a solid LT for the Bears as a rookie, but his effectiveness waned as he dealt with injuries. He still had some good stretches, so there’s upside to keeping him around. Chicago is re-signing him to a 1-year, $5M contract with $3M guaranteed and $5M available in incentives. Jones is absolutely worth this low-risk deal. Second-year OT Ozzy Trapilo may not be back early in the season due to a torn patellar tendon during the playoff, so Jones can start in the meantime before the team determines who should keep the job when Trapilo returns. As both insurance and a potential starter, this is a great signing.
Grade: A+

Cardinals Re-Sign K Chad Ryland:
Despite his accuracy issues, Ryland is back in Arizona on a 1-year, $1.85M deal with $475K guaranteed. That guarantee doesn’t make him a lock to win the job, but it does give him a strong leg up (seriously: no pun intended) in any competition. I don’t know why the Cardinals felt an urgent need to re-sign him. He has just a 76.7% career FG rate, which is one of the lowest in the NFL. The money isn’t anything notable, so the team won’t be hurt too much if Ryland fails, but this still wasn’t a smart signing.
Grade: C-

Steelers Sign CB Jamel Dean:
Joey Porter Jr has a new running mate. Dean is leaving Tampa for a 3-year, $36.75M contract with $12M guaranteed. Only year 1 is guaranteed in typical Steelers fashion. Dean was the Bucs’ best cover man, but he also missed a few games in each of his 7 seasons. While functional as CB1 in Tampa, he’ll be better off as the second guy in Pittsburgh, as long as they can deal with some absences here and there. My grade improves here thanks to the unorthodox guarantee structure.
Grade: A

Saints Sign G David Edwards:
It’s weird to see the Saints have money to spend in free agency. They just handed a truckload of it to Edwards, who is leaving Buffalo for a 4-year, $61M contract with $45M guaranteed. Tyler Shough, despite already being 26, is entering just his second year. New Orleans has drafted a pair of top-10 tackles, so they needed to turn their attention to the interior of their line. Edwards was arguably the best-available guard in free agency, which explains the price tag. I expect him to be helpful for Shough and the running game, the latter of which was terrible last year. I consider this a necessary addition for the Saints.
Grade: A-

Chargers Re-Sign OT/G Trevor Penning:
Penning was a major whiff by the Saints at tackle, but he played better for them at guard in 2025. When he was traded to the Chargers, they wanted him as a guard, but injuries forced him back out to tackle, where he struggled. I’m assuming that this 1-year, $3.5M guaranteed deal with a maximum value of $4.5M is for Penning to play guard. LAC released Mekhi Becton and lost Zion Johnson in free agency, so Penning could start at guard this year. In his second year at the position, the 26-year-old has time to improve. As long as the plan isn’t for Penning to play tackle, this is a great signing.
Grade: A

Cardinals Sign QB Gardner Minshew:
I find this signing very interesting. Though Arizona released Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett remains. The latter played well last year, so signing a second veteran to a 1-year, $5.75M contract with a maximum value of $8M is peculiar. Both players have similar career arcs, with success in small spurts and high-end backup play at other times. However, Minshew is more of a gunslinger, whereas Brissett plays cautiously. Still, this signing is redundant if Arizona plans to add a 3rd QB in the draft. If they dont, then I suppose Minshew gives them options. I just don’t know the true plan here.
Grade: C+

Raiders Sign DE Kwity Paye:
Advanced metrics help certain players, and Paye is one of them. His pressure numbers are very good, while his sack numbers aren’t. The former first-rounder had a career-high 8.5 sacks in 2023. That makes his new 3-year, $48M contract with $31.28M guaranteed weird at first glance. Las Vegas is hoping they can get Paye to convert more of those pressures to sacks. Helping that cause will be potentially playing alongside Maxx Crosby, whose trade to Baltimore has been rescinded. That actually boosts my grade here, as Paye is much better-suited to being a second edge rusher than the main guy.
Grade: B-

Cowboys Sign S Jalen Thompson:
Upgrades are needed all over the Cowboys’ defense, and they’ve found one at safety. The longtime Cardinal Thompson is signing a 3-year deal worth up to $36M with $22M guaranteed. Stout both in coverage and against the run, Thompson hasn’t picked off a pass since 2023. I’m viewing that as more unlucky than anything else, as he had 8 INTs over the prior 3 seasons. For what Dallas is getting, the money here is a little high but not by too much. Thompson is instantly the best safety on the team, and he’s young enough at 27 to play well through the entirety of the contract.
Grade: B+

Bears Re-Sign QB Case Keenum:
With teams reportedly calling on backup Tyson Bagent, Chicago found it prudent to re-sign their QB3. Keenum is back on a 2-year, $5.5M contract with a maximum value of $8M and $2.9M guaranteed. Though he’s 38 now, I don’t know why Keenum didn’t get more starting opportunities in the past. He plays well when pressed into duty, which does in fact make him an ideal backup. This is too much money for a 3rd-stringer, but I’m grading this as if Bagent might be moved. In that case, this is low QB2 money for who I consider one of the best clipboard-holders in the league.
Grade: A+

Commanders Re-Sign QB Marcus Mariota:
Few teams need a quality backup more than Washington does. Jayden Daniels is frequently hurt, so many snaps are taken by QB2. For the past couple of years, that has been Mariota. That will also be the case in 2027, as Mariota is re-signing on a 1-year, $7M contract with a maximum value of $11M and $6.39M guaranteed. I can make an argument that 2015 #2 pick was the best QB on the Commanders’ roster. He’s experienced and can be considered a low-end QB1, making him well qualified for the backup job. Mariota didn’t become a franchise QB, but he’s building a long career as a spot starter.
Grade: A

Titans Sign G Austin Schlottman:
We often talk about swing tackles, but what about swing guards? That’s what Schlottman has been for 7 years, with a few starts in almost every season. Tennessee is signing him for the same purpose on a 2-year, $9M contract with $3.5M guaranteed. Cam Ward’s protection is paramount, so even if Schlottman isn’t great, having insurance for the likes of Peter Skoronski is wise. This is a little more than I would’ve paid, but we’re talking chump change to NFL owners.
Grade: B+

March 10, 2026

Giants Sign CB Greg Newsome II:
Traded from Cleveland to Jacksonville in the middle of last season, Newsome’s 2024 struggles carried over. He was really solid for 3 years, but QBs began to throw on him at will. Newsome gave up a 100+ passer rating to opponents in both of the past two seasons, but he’s getting a fresh start. He’s signing with NYG on a 1-year, $8M contract worth up to $10M with $3M guaranteed. I really like the low guarantee because it minimizes the risk. It’s possible that teams have simply figured Newsome out, in which case the Giants can move on without penalty. I was hoping for more back-end years though in case he worked out. Should that happen, NYG would be required to pay much more to retain him after the season.
Grade: B+

Dolphins Re-Sign TE Greg Dulcich:
For 3 years, Dulcich could barely see the field. Once he joined the Dolphins in the middle of 2025, he flipped a switch, catching 26 passes for 335 yards. He’ll return to his most successful location on a 1-year, $3.25M deal with $2.91M guaranteed. Dulcich was viewed as a top receiving TE coming out of UCLA, but this is the first time that he ever showed it in the pros. A one-year prove-it contract is perfect for Miami, who can see whether he’ll take another step forward before committing long-term. I’m not completely convinced that the team will have a QB that can utilize him, but this is a good signing nonetheless.
Grade: A-

Browns Sign IOL Elgton Jenkins:
Less than 48 hours after being cut by Green Bay, Jenkins is a Brown on a 2-year, $24M contract with $20M guaranteed. Jenkins can play all 5 spots on the line (and has experience doing so), but he’s best at guard. The center experiment didn’t go so well last year, so GB decided to cut him rather than have him play his natural position. Cleveland can move him back to guard, where he is a 2-time Pro Bowler. Injuries are a bit of a concern, but he’s making about half of what the top guards get, and he’s at least 75% as good. This is Cleveland’s best offensive line addition thus far by a mile.
Grade: A

Texans Sign OT Braden Smith:
Call it miracle or whatever you want, but Houston has signed another team’s offensive lineman! It’s a former Colt no less. Smith is signing a 2-year, $20M contract with a maximum value of $25M and $13.5M fully guaranteed. He missed time in the past with mental health issues, but I’d never hold that against him considering that he now has them under control. As a right tackle, he’s a clear upgrade over the traded Tytus Howard, and CJ Stroud might be able to sleep at night for once. Smith is an above-average right tackle being paid average tackle money, and I very much like that scenario.
Grade: A+

Seahawks Re-Sign CB Josh Jobe:
One of Seattle’s defensive free agents is actually returning. The CB the Seahawks chose to keep was Jobe, not Tariq Woolen. He’ll stay on a 3-year, $24M contract with $14.25M guaranteed. Following 2 forgettable years in Philly, Jobe joined Seattle, where he instantly improved. In fact, he became a reliable CB2 and a very good CB3. With Woolen gone, CB2 may be his permanent role, which commands a salary like this one. Jobe isn’t a high-end player, but he’s solid enough to thrive alongside Devon Witherspoon. Someone had to stay with the Seahawks, and Jobe was the guy who accepted their cash.
Grade: B+

Chiefs Sign S Alohi Gilman:
At least one defensive back is heading to Kansas City. Gilman is being signed to a 3-year, $24.75M contract with $15M guaranteed, presumably to replace Bryan Cook. Gilman was traded to Baltimore in the Odafe Oweh trade, and he played very well for both them and the Chargers. He is fine against the run, but he excels in coverage. That’s key against some of the AFC’s other contenders such as Buffalo. We’re continuing our run of strong grades here, as Gilman is a good bargain at this cost and will stop the secondary’s bleeding. For what KC wants to do, he might even be better than Cook.
Grade: A+

Panthers Sign LB Devin Lloyd:
With one great contract year, you can change everyone’s perception of you. For Lloyd, that came in the form of a 3-year, $45M contract with $25M guaranteed. DC Anthony Campanille changed Lloyd from a tackling machine to a strong tackler who can cover. The 4th-year player (whose option was declined) had 5 INTs, 81 tackles, and 1.5 sacks, finally looking like the first-round pick that he was. His ascent will have to continue in Carolina, who needs a ton of defensive help. If this new version of Lloyd is permanent, the Panthers will have themselves a star. Even if he’s just decent again, he won’t be a major overpay.
Grade: A-

Browns Sign LB Quincy Williams:
Apparently not all Jets defenders have to move to Tennessee. Williams is going to Cleveland on a 2-year, $13M contract with a maximum value of $17M and $9M guaranteed. Quinnen’s brother gets quite a bit of hate in the media, but I think he’s a good player. Even in a down year, he had 83 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 7 PBUs. The turnovers weren’t there, but he did very well in that department just 1 year earlier. Cleveland should get a pair of good years out of Williams, and they’re doing so at a cheap price.
Grade: A

Texans Sign S Reed Blankenship:
Across the fantastic Texans’ defense, the one spot where you could argue in favor of an upgrade was safety. Consider that taken care of. Blankenship is signing for 3 years and $24.75M with $16.5M guaranteed. The former Eagle is adept both at the line and in coverage, though he generated far more takeaways in 2023 and 2024 (7 INTs combined). Turnovers can be streaky, and Blankenship’s underlying play was still strong. Compared to the safeties making $13M or more a season, he looks like a far better value. Complete players tend to cost double-digit millions, but not this time. A scary defense just got more terrifying.
Grade: A+

Cardinals Sign DL Roy Lopez:
One gap year in Detroit later, Lopez is returning to Arizona, where he played from 2023-2024. His contract will be for $11.5M over 2 years with $7M guaranteed. Unlike in the desert, Lopez didn’t start for the Lions, but he posted career-best rushing numbers to go with 30 tackles. Ideally, he’ll be a depth piece rather than a focal point, but that would mean that his deal isn’t so good. Should he return to a starting role, Arizona might be disappointed, so I can’t grade this contract very favorably.
Grade: C

Seahawks Re-Sign WR/Returner Rashid Shaheed:
As more Seahawks signed elsewhere, the likelihood of retaining Shaheed improved. Indeed, that came true, as Shaheed is re-signing on a 3-year, $51M contract with $34.7M guaranteed. He was a top-tier returner (kicks and punts) for both the Saints and Seahawks. However, he didn’t do much as a receiver in Seattle. The thinking must be that he’ll do better with a full offseason to get integrated. In theory, he should fit well: he’s a deep threat, and QB Sam Darnold has a big arm. Even then, $17M a year is a lot for someone who has never reached 750 yards receiving in a season, though you can chalk some of that up to QB issues in New Orleans. It’s likely that Shaheed’s best football is ahead of him, which will make this pact age well.
Grade: B

Panthers Sign QB Kenny Pickett:
Carolina said they wanted to go younger at the backup QB spot, but Andy Dalton is probably better than Pickett is. Already on his 4th team despite being a 2022 1st-round pick, Pickett is signing 1-year, $7.5M contract with $4M guaranteed. This is slightly above-average backup QB money, but Pickett is well below average. He’s not even a young player with upside at age 27. In two years as a starter, he had just 13 total TD passes and 13 INTs. Due to the 1-year nature of the deal, the risk doesn’t warrant a horrid grade, but it’s a pretty poor choice for the team’s Bryce Young insurance.
Grade: C-

Titans Sign G Cordell Volson:
If you’re a Bengals fan, you may be laughing right now. Volson is signing a small contract: $2.5M guaranteed for 1 year with a maximum value of $4.215M. However, that’s still an overplay. Volson was terrible for Cincy for 3 years before being benched for all of 2025. I have no clue what Tennessee sees in him, as he got Joe Burrow killed with regularity. Apologies in advance to Cam Ward: if this guy starts for the Titans, the young QB might be running for his life.
Grade: D-

Raiders Sign LB Quay Walker:
Like Dean, Walker has missed a few games each year, but he hasn’t suffered a major injury. However, his stats are more inflated, with 2.5 sacks and 100+ tackles in each of the last three years. Due to his superior availability, LV is signing Walker to a 3-year, $40.5M contract with $28M guaranteed. Once a first-round pick, Walker’s play began to frustrate the Packers, and they replaced him with Zaire Franklin just days ago. Vegas has put their chips in two baskets: a great LB who gets hurt (Dean) and a decent one who plays more games (Walker). There’s logic to both approaches, but the money is a bit high here.
Grade: B-

Raiders Sign LB Nakobe Dean:
What do you make of a talented linebacker with an extensive injury history? Dean has a smaller build at 5’11”, 231 lbs, and he has missed time in each of the past three seasons. Regardless, he earned 7 sacks, 5 PBUs, and 183 tackles over the past two years, so he’s clearly a good player when healthy. That makes the Raiders’ 3-year, $36M contract with $20M guaranteed for him fascinating. A durable Dean would be one of the top-paid LBs in the NFL. It seems as though his penalty due to the injuries is about 40%, which is sadly about right. If he’s only available for 60% of the games on average, then the pay is fair.
Grade: B+

Broncos Re-Sign LB Alex Singleton:
After missing most of 2024 due to injury, he somehow missed just 23 days and 1 game following testicular cancer treatment in 2025. He was also back to his old self with 135 tackles. Denver understandably wanted him back and has signed him to a 2-year, $15.5M contract with $11M guaranteed to stay. Singleton doesn’t offer a lot in coverage, but on run downs, he’s excellent. The Broncos are paying him a bit more than the average 2-down back because he plays almost every snap. I view him as a key cog in Denver’s top-ranked defense, so the team needed to keep him even if they couldn’t land him at a bargain.
Grade: A-

Bills Sign CB Dee Alford:
Much like Alontae Taylor, Alford breaks up a ton of passes but gives up completions at an alarming rate. Over his 4-year career, opposing QBs have a 99.8 passer rating against him. He did also have 13 PBUs and 3 INTs last season, easily making 2025 his best year. Buffalo is hoping that’s a sign of things to come with this 3-year deal worth up to $21M and $10.12M guaranteed. Overall, Alford can probably be best described as an average CB, and even those guys get paid. The Bills need a lot of help in their secondary, and Alford is a solid start. His guarantees are low enough to make him worth the risk.
Grade: B

Giants Re-Sign RT Jermaine Eluemunor:
Despite calling himself “the best right tackle in the league”, Eluemenor is not that. He is, however, a solid player on a team that has a young QB to protect. Eluemenor is re-signing on a 3-year, $39M contract with $26M guaranteed. A better pass protector than run blocker, Eluemenor provides what Jaxson Dart needs. In a full-circle moment, Eluemenor started his career with Baltimore in 2017 and is reuniting with John Harbaugh. He was only a backup as a Raven, but now he’s tasked with being a key guardian for a 2nd-year passer. The terms of this contract feel fair to me for both sides.
Grade: B+

Falcons Sign QB Tua Tagovailoa:
This could go down as the best signing of free agency. Tagovailoa will be making the veteran minimum of $1.215M for 1 year because the Dolphins will be paying him the remaining $52.7M he’s owed this year (why teams pay players to suit up for other franchises is something I’ll never understand). He quickly agreed with Atlanta after being informed of his coming release, and it was a good choice. Kevin Stefanski’s offense fits him well, and he’ll be able to start as another lefty (Michael Penix Jr) rehabs a torn ACL. Compared to Miami, Atlanta has a better offensive line, superior weapons, and an upgraded coach. The Falcons could be getting the best of Tua without any of the risk that normally comes with the injury-prone signal caller. For Tagovailoa himself, this is a chance to re-establish himself and supplant Penix before he returns (the new regime did not draft Penix). Both sides have much to gain from this relationship, and they both need this fresh start. They’ll now get it…on a minimum deal no less!
Grade: A+

49ers Sign OT Vederian Lowe:
A classic swing tackle with a bunch of starting experience, Lowe is likely being brought in as Trent Williams insurance. His contract suggests as much: $9.25M over 2 years with a maximum value of $12M and $5.75M guaranteed. Most of his substitution work has come at LT, but I’d prefer to see him start at RT over Colton McKivitz. That isn’t likely to happen though, which dampens my outlook on this deal a bit. Lowe isn’t a viable replacement for Williams (almost nobody is), and this is slightly above-average pricing for a pure swing tackle. The team tried to thread the needle, and they did as well as they could.
Grade: B+

Commanders Sign DE Odafe Oweh:
Following a Harbaugh-to-Harbaugh trade last year, Oweh picked a great time to have the best stretch of his career. In 5 games with Baltimore, he had 0 sacks. In 12 games with the Chargers, he had 7.5. That brought Oweh’s total to 17.5 over the past two years after producing anemic numbers for 3 seasons. Washington is signing him to a 4-year, $100M contract with $68M guaranteed. This type of contract treats Oweh as someone who figured things out, not as a player who had a fluky season. That’s plausible: Oweh was very raw but athletic coming out of Penn State, so a longer development period should’ve been expected. I see plenty of risk but a fantastic possible payoff for a team that couldn’t rush the passer last year.
Grade: B

Falcons Sign TE Austin Hooper:
Hooper is back with the team that drafted him in 2016, signing a 1-year, $3.25M contract with the Falcons. He never became the big-time receiving threat that they envisioned, but he’s a solid option who blocks well and scores TDs in the red zone. I consider him a very good complement to Kyle Pitts who might be able to teach him some of the finer points of his position. He’ll be a nice outlet for whichever QB starts in Atlanta and an asset in the run game.
Grade: A

Titans Sign QB Mitchell Trubisky:
Tennessee drafted a QB #1 overall last year, and now they’re signing a former #2 overall QB. Trubisky will be Cam Ward’s backup on a 2-year, $10.5M contract with $6.825M guaranteed. This should soon end Will Levis’ time in Nashville, but that’s a topic for another day. Although Trubisky has never been a particularly good QB, he’s a solid backup. He’s talented but could teach Ward some bad habits, or they could both learn good ones together. Brian Daboll knows him from their time in Buffalo, which makes this signing a fit. The money is typical backup QB cash, so that’s fine too.
Grade: B

Broncos Re-Sign RB JK Dobbins:
Dobbins is an unfortunate case. When he’s on the field, he’s a great runner, averaging 5.2 YPC for his career. He doesn’t catch many passes, but he pass blocks well, enabling him to stay on the field for 3 downs. In that regard, his new 2-year, $20M contract with $8M guaranteed to return to Denver looks reasonable. Alas, Dobbins is rarely on the field for an extended period. He has never started more than 11 games in a season due to nonstop injuries. That explains the relatively low guarantee, but I can’t justify this contract given how risky of an investment Dobbins is. Similar RBs are both cheaper and healthier.
Grade: D+

Titans Sign CB Alontae Taylor:
In general, 6’0 CBs who break up a lot of passes get paid. Taylor averages 14 PBUs per season, so the former Saint’s 3-year, $60M contract with $42M fully guaranteed makes sense. Unfortunately, he also gives up 5 TDs per year and a 91.8 passer rating, so he’s clearly taking too many risks. Titans coach Robert Saleh should be able to coach him into a more consistent player, but $20M per season is far too much for a project. Taylor has talent, so he’s unlikely to completely bust, but there’s definitely a world where he drives Saleh crazy with blown coverages. This is a pure upside play, just without the typical associated value.
Grade: C

Bengals Sign S Bryan Cook:
Poor KC is going to have no secondary players left! The latest to be poached is Cook, who’s signing a 3-year, $40.25M contract with $14M guaranteed to play in Cincy. Cook can be a bit reckless with his style of play, but he hasn’t missed a game in two years and has played really well. He tackles like the best safeties do, but he also performs at a quality level in pass coverage. Cincinnati needs *insert defender here*. Literally every defensive position is due for an upgrade. Acquiring one from an AFC rival with such a low amount of guaranteed money is a great free agency move.
Grade: A

Titans Sign CB Cor’Dale Flott:
An ascending CB with good size, Flott isn’t a widely known player. However, he broke up 11 passes for the Giants last year and will now follow former coach Brian Daboll to Tennessee. The Titans are signing him to a 3-year, $45M contract with $32M guaranteed. I thought about the money on this deal, and I decided that it’s fair. At 25 years old, Flott could get better, and he’s already pretty good. $15M per year at his current level is reasonable, and at the very least, he has enough length (6’2″) to cover some of the big receivers in the AFC South. There’s a moderate risk level but considerable upside.
Grade: B+

Colts Sign DE Arden Key:
Key was deemed a bust by the team that drafted him (the Raiders), but he has been better for every other squad he has been on. Those include the 49ers, Jaguars, and (most recently) Titans. While not prolific, Key is good for around 5 sacks a year and decent pressure numbers. The division rival Colts are signing him to a 2-year deal worth up to $20M with $11M guaranteed. That’s a little rich for a rotational edge rusher, but these aren’t completely wild numbers. Key is a legitimately useful player for a team that just lost Kwity Paye (who happens to be oddly similar). I’m not crazy about the terms, but the fit is pretty solid.
Grade: B-

Giants Sign LB Tremaine Edmunds:
I referenced Edmunds a few grades ago, but the former Bear fits just as well with the Giants. Despite being in the league 8 years, he’s only 27 years old. He’ll join Big Blue on a 3-year, $36M contract with $23.7M fully guaranteed. Edmunds is a true 3-down LB who played 97% of Chicago’s defensive snaps last year, earning 112 tackles, 4 INTs, and 9 PBUs. He has never produced less than 100 tackles, so he’s a model of consistency. At a lower price than the Bears were paying him, Edmunds is a strong value and a clear upgrade for the NYG defense. His old AAV was fine; this one is a fantastic bargain.
Grade: A+

Chargers Sign TE Charlie Kolar:
Even if you’re the best blocking TE in the league, I’m not setting contract records for that role. Kolar, taking the Harbaugh pipeline to LA, is signing a 3-year, $24.3M pact with $17M guaranteed. That makes Kolar the highest-paid blocking TE in the league. I liked him coming out of Iowa State, but he hasn’t done anything as a receiver. If you’re paying him to be a 6th lineman, I get it. Justin Herbert needs better protection. Why do you need 2 FBs and a pure blocking TE on one roster though? In addition to being an overpay, the team fit isn’t clear to me here.
Grade: D-

Titans Sign DL John Franklin-Meyers:
Franklin-Meyers is in the running for “best player people haven’t heard of”. He’s joining his 4th team, yet he has been productive at every stop. Last year with Denver, he had 7.5 sacks while offering position versatility. Tennessee needed a building block like him, so they’re giving him a 3-year, $63M contract with $42M guaranteed. Believe it or not, this is actually slightly less than his projected estimate. Franklin-Meyers isn’t a flashy player, but he makes any defense better. New Titans HC Robert Saleh had him with the Jets and oversaw some great play, so this pairing should be a really good one.
Grade: A

Browns Sign G Zion Johnson:
Speaking of worse deals, Johnson is another first-round bust getting paid, except his “good” year is merely an average one. Cleveland, in desperate need of linemen, is signing him to a 3-year, $49.5M deal with $32.4M guaranteed. While not quite elite guard money, this price tag is typically reserved for well-above-average starters. Johnson is better than what Cleveland had, and he certainly fills a need, but this is a massive overpay. Mid-round draft picks would’ve turned out to be better players.
Grade: D

Bears Sign LB Devin Bush:
A former Steelers bust, Bush finally found his footing in year 7 as a Brown. He played by far the best football of his career, making 125 tackles, earning 2 sacks, defending 8 passes, and picking off 3 throws. Now he’s cashing in on a 3-year, $30M contract with $21M guaranteed. I’m hesitant to say that Bush finally “figured it out” based on one great year. Chicago probably should’ve retained Tremaine Edmunds instead of looking for outside help. The odds of this working out are less than the odds of a bad deal, but Bush could play well. It’s not an agreement I would’ve made, but it’s far from the worst one we’ll see this offseason.
Grade: C

49ers Sign WR Mike Evans:
In perhaps the most stunning player changing teams in free agency, Evans will play his first pro season outside of Tampa Bay. His deal isn’t even that big when you look beneath the surface: $42.4M over 3 years with $18M in incentives and just $16.3M guaranteed. For this price, I’d have stayed with the Bucs and finished my career as a 1-team player (especially since Evans has a ring), but Niners fans have to be super excited. Evans has been injured a bit more lately, but he’s still an excellent receiver who can produce at all levels of the field. I would’ve liked him at $20M per year. At a touch over $14M, this is a steal.
Grade: A+

Jets Sign DT David Onyemata:
This is exactly like the Jets’ signing of Demario Davis. Onyemata, at age 33, remains a solid player. His contract, $10.5M for one year with $9.65M guaranteed, is appropriate for what he provides. I’m just not understanding why New York is signing win-now veterans to short-term deals during a rebuild instead of young prospects with upside. A 1-year deal won’t hurt very much, and Onyemata might even validate it with a nice season by helping the run defense. My grade is the same as before though.
Grade: B-

Raiders Sign WR Jalen Nailor:
The Dotson signing was spared a worse grade because I saw this contract posted before I started writing. Nailor is another solid WR3, but his deal is $35.03M over 3 years with $23M guaranteed. That’s a lot of money for someone who has never reached 500 yards in a season. His production didn’t even spike when Jordan Addison was suspended for Minnesota. He’s also 27 years old, so improvement isn’t likely. I know LV needs weapons and has more money to spend than anyone, but they can’t just throw it at the first player that says yes.
Grade: D

Falcons Sign WR Jahan Dotson:
Another WR I liked in the 2022 draft was Dotson, who had 2 solid seasons with the Commanders to start his career. He got traded to Philly and then barely played, but the Falcons liked him enough to sign him to a 2-year, $15M contract with a maximum value of $17M and $10M fully guaranteed. Based purely on talent, Dotson is worth that money. In practice though, he hasn’t done anything to warrant $7.5M per year. His Washington self could be a good WR3, but the Philly version is barely worthy of a roster spot. At 25 years old, Dotson could still improve, and at least the deal has limited risk.
Grade: C-

Chiefs Sign DT Khyiris Tonga:
Tonga has been a fun player for New England, lining up as both a nose tackle and a fullback. Now we’ll see what he can do with the Chiefs on a 3-year, $21M contract containing $14M guaranteed. If RB Kareem Hunt departs, that fullback thing will actually be useful in short-yardage situations. Tonga played 40% of the snaps last year, so he’s not quite a 2-down player. That makes $7M per season excessive, but not terribly so. KC’s interior defensive linemen are mostly rushers, so adding a guy whose focus is stopping the run should be a smart idea. I wonder if he’ll play more snaps in KC than he did in Foxborough.
Grade: B

Titans Sign RB Wan’Dale Robinson:
On the one hand, I love the idea of acquiring more weapons for 2nd-year QB Cam Ward. On the other hand, this is a LOT of money for a 5’8″ slot receiver with one good year of production? Robinson is signing a 4-year, $78M contract with $38M guaranteed to reunite with former Giants coach Brian Daboll, who is now the Titans’ OC. Promisingly, Robinson has improved his production each year and has familiarity with the scheme. Still, this is more money than really short receivers typically get because so many CBs can cover them. He’s a WR3 being paid like a WR2. You might get some yardage, but he’s not a premium player.
Grade: C

Cardinals Sign RB Tyler Allgeier:
I’m struggling to think of a more underappreciated back than Allgeier. He earned over 1000 yards as a rookie, only to be replaced with a first-round pick in Bijan Robinson. Even with the elite back around, Allgeier has been productive, exceeding 600 scrimmage yards every season. He’s now signing a 2-year, $12.25M contract with $8M guaranteed to pair with James Conner. Conner and Allgeier have similar styles, but the former is an older back coming off a bad injury, while the latter has never fumbled in his career. I’m not talking about lost fumbles; I mean ANY fumbles. Ball security is paramount, and that alone makes me like Allgeier. At this price, he’s an excellent complement to any backfield.
Grade: A+

Raiders Sign C Tyler Linderbaum:
Umm…this is a lot. Linderbaum was always likely to reset the center market. But by $9 over Creed Humphrey’s $18M salary? Linderbaum’s 3-year, $81M contract with $60M guaranteed is a 50% increase over the previous record in terms of AAV. It makes him the highest-paid IOL ever, even exceeding the guard record of $24M held by Tyler Smith. Even so, I can’t despise the deal. Expected #1 pick Fernando Mendoza needs protection, and Las Vegas had the worst line in the league. The Raiders HAD to make massive improvements, and overpaying might’ve been the only way to get it done. If Mendoza excels because of Linderbaum’s presence (remember that he’ll also assist the young QB with making calls at the line of scrimmage), the Raiders won’t regret a single penny. On its own though, this contract is pretty ludicrous.
Grade: B

Lions Sign C Cade Mays:
The surprise retirement of Frank Ragnow before the start of last season had an outsized impact on the cohesiveness of Detroit’s line. That problem may at last be solved, with Mays signing a 3-year, $25M contract with $14M guaranteed. Over the course of his 4-year career, Mays has played more snaps and looked better doing it each season. He’s not elite, but he’s good enough to be a significant upgrade for the Lions. As you’ll see in my next grade, the money is an excellent value at barely over $8M per season. Offensive linemen are breaking the bank, so I have to commend Detroit for somehow finding a bargain signing.
Grade: A+

Falcons Sign P Jake Bailey:
Bradley Pinion wasn’t a bad punter in Atlanta, but with their bad overall special teams unit, the new regime wanted to completely remake the room. Thus, Bailey is signing on a 3-year, $9M contract with $5M fully guaranteed. Bailey is quite accurate, though he doesn’t have a very big leg. He’s consistently an above-average punter in terms of touchbacks but below-average with respect to distance. The contract for him is fine, but the Falcons probably could’ve done better.
Grade: B-

Bears Sign S Coby Bryant:
The raiding of Seattle’s secondary begins. As a possible replacement for Kevin Byard or Jaquan Brisker, Byard is signing a 3-year, $40M contract with $25.75M guaranteed. The hard-hitting safety plays well both in the box and in coverage, where he has enough size to cover TEs. In a sign that the safety market has reached a new level, this type of player would’ve cost half as much a couple of years ago. Teams are realizing that safeties can pull an entire defense together, and Bryant is a good one. I’d like him as an upgrade over Brisker, but not over Byard. A pairing of Byard and Bryant would be fantastic if that’s the route the Bears go.
Grade: B+

Commanders Sign CB Amik Robertson:
Though small at 5’9″, Robertson plays bigger than his stature. When Detroit had countless DB injuries a couple of years ago, he played really well in relief. That led him to start in 2025, where he earned a stellar 12 PBUs. Washington is signing him to a 2-year, $16M contract with $9.3 guaranteed. Due to his size, Robertson should probably play in the slot, though he’d upgrade any CB spot for the Commanders. This price is excellent for a quality starter at an important position. Best of all, it leaves Washington money for all the other defensive upgrades that they need. These mid-priced deals often pay off.
Grade: A+

Saints Sign P Ryan Wright:
Wright has a CANNON for a leg; his career-long punt is 77 yards! That’s not the only reason he got a 4-year, $14M deal with $8M guaranteed though. I suspect his 3 touchbacks on 65 punts in 2025 had something to do with it. UDFA rookie Kai Kroger had an up-and-down year for the Saints. With the NFC South winnable, the team wanted more consistency. At this price, it’s hard to argue against the punter swap. For barely more than $3M per year, a question mark becomes a strong performer.
Grade: A

Patriots Sign FB Reggie Gilliam:
You can decide whether a longtime Bill signing with New England is treason. New Buffalo HC Joe Brady doesn’t use a fullback much though, and Mike Vrabel does. Khyiris Tonga is gone, so the Pats poached from a division rival. Gilliam is signing a 3-year deal worth up to $12M with $6M fully guaranteed. His role should remain similar: he’ll come on the field for specific subpackages while playing full time on special teams. As someone who likes when teams use fullbacks, I’ve got no problem with paying one $4M per season, particularly when he contributes to kick coverage.
Grade: A-

Buccaneers Sign RB Kenneth Gainwell:
I can’t believe Pittsburgh didn’t make a bigger push to regain Gainwell given that he was basically their WR2 by the end of the season. After toiling in the shadows for 4 years in Philly, he found a great situation as the change-of-pace back in the Steel City. Tampa Bay took note, signing him to a 2-year, $14M contract with $10M guaranteed. Maybe $7M per season is a bit high for a back who plays only half the snaps, but Gainwell was highly productive when on the field. He’s an excellent option in the screen game and can make catches down the field. I think he’s actually worth the money.
Grade: A

Jets Sign LB Demario Davis:
This is the defender New Orleans should’ve kept. New York is stealing Davis away with a 2-year, $22M contract containing $15M fully guaranteed. Although Davis impressively hasn’t lost much of his ability at age 37, his fit on a rebuilding Jets team is odd. He certainly makes them better in the short term, and he’s worth this contract in its entirety. Most of the other 31 teams would’ve been more appropriate destinations though, as they could actually make use of Davis’ services. I don’t want to give a bad grade here, as the contract looks fine in a vacuum, and NYJ has money to burn. The team fit just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Grade: B-

Saints Re-Sign DT John Ridgeway:
Purely a two-down run stuffer, Ridgeway is your quintessential nose tackle. He plays under 30% of the snaps and provides minimal special teams value. That’s why his contract numbers are so low: $5.715M for 2 years with a maximum value of $6.215M and $1.65M guaranteed. Even at those numbers, he’s not a real bargain. Ridgeway is a backup on a team that doesn’t have a ton of star power up front. He’s alright in his role but not exceptionally good. I’m not overly impressed.
Grade: C+

Jets Sign DE Joseph Ossai:
Imagine seeing a guy play for a historically bad defense and do next to nothing despite a guy like Trey Hendrickson lined up with him. Is your reaction to hand that player $36M over 3 years with $22.5M guaranteed? That’s what the Jets apparently did. While Ossai earned 5 sacks in each of the past two seasons, his pressure rate wasn’t good, suggesting that he was just cleaning things up. New York isn’t likely to get a much better result, making this a pretty hefty overpay. Cincinnati badly needs defenders and didn’t even try to compete with this offer. That tells you everything you need to know.
Grade: D

Vikings Sign CB James Pierre:
Despite a limited snap count, Pierre had his best season in 2025 with the Steelers. He broke up 11 passes, matching his prior career total. As a core special teamer as well, he held dual appeal for the Vikings. They’re signing him to a 2-year, $8.5M contract with $3.7M guaranteed. Like in Pittsburgh, he’ll primarily be a depth piece in Minnesota. Vikings DC Brian Flores has coached him before, so the team knows what they’re getting. Good cover corners, even backups, can become pricey quickly. For a team that has historically struggled in the secondary, extra bodies can’t be a bad thing.
Grade: A

March 9, 2026—–LEGAL TAMPERING PERIOD BEGINS AT 12 PM EST

Bears Sign DT Neville Gallimore:
Gallimore doesn’t often start, and when he does, he doesn’t compile many stats. In 2025 though, he did have a career-high 3.5 sacks with the Colts in addition to his run stuffing. He’ll join Chicago on a 2-year, $10M contract with a maximum value of $12M and $5M guaranteed. The Bears badly needed better push along the interior of the defensive line. Opponents’ rushing attacks battered them, and QBs rarely felt pressure up the middle. Gallimore can be part of the solution. He only plays around 40% of the snaps, so his impact is limited by default, but this is a fair contract for what he provides.
Grade: B+

Commanders Extend LT Laremy Tunsil:
Once again, Tunsil strikes gold on an extension. He’ll receive $60.5M over 2 years with $52.6M guaranteed. A premium pass-blocking left tackle is a rare species in the NFL, and thus Tunsil has set the AAV record for tackles again. I can only give such a high grade due to the price, but what else was Washington to do? They have a young QB to protect and have someone in-house who can do the job. At 31, Tunsil has plenty of good years left given his position, so the Commanders likely won’t even regret this deal. Good tackles get paid big bucks, and that’s what happened here.
Grade: B+

Buccaneers Re-Sign TE Cade Otton:
Amazingly, Otton was the leading receiver last year for TB (572 yards). That’s because of all the WR injuries the team had, but still. With Mike Evans moving on, retaining Otton became more important, and he is signing a 3-year, $30M contract with $20M guaranteed. Otton is not a top red zone weapon, but he compensates by being two-dimensional due to his blocking ability. I viewed him as slightly less valuable than this contract suggests, but it’s nothing major. As the biggest pass catcher Tampa has left, he plays an important role that wasn’t going to be easily replaced.
Grade: B

Chiefs Re-Sign TE Travis Kelce:
One more ride for Kelce. I knew he couldn’t let his last catch come on a pass from Chris Oladokun! The NFL fan favorite is back on a 1-year, $12M contract with a maximum value of $15M. Kelce has clearly lost a step, but given his previous heights, that still leaves him as borderline Pro Bowl TE. He’s still vital to the Chiefs’ title hopes, particularly over the middle of the field. We may see some diminishing returns, but by playing this year to year, neither side is taking any risks. Kelce wouldn’t play for another franchise, and he’s more valuable to KC anyway.
Grade: A

Panthers Sign EDGE Jaelan Phillips:
The Eagles thought they were close to re-signing Phillips, but after seeing what Carolina gave him, they’re probably happier with the 3rd-round compensatory pick that they’re in line to receive. That’s because the Panthers are giving him a 4-year, $120M contract with $80M guaranteed. I’m not giving a Russel grade here because Phillips is talented, but it’s close. He once medically retired in college though, and 2 of his NFL seasons ended with serious injuries. Phillips also has never converted his pressure stats into sacks, as he topped out at 8.5 during his rookie year. Carolina does indeed need pass rushers, but this is at least double the proper value for Phillips.
Grade: D-

Rams Sign CB Jaylen Watson:
If the Rams are importing the entire KC secondary, can DC Steve Spagnuolo coming too? All kidding aside, the Chiefs had some great players that they couldn’t afford to keep, and LA has now grabbed two of them. Watson is signing a 3-year, $51M contract with $34M fully guaranteed. That may be surprising to some, as Watson isn’t a household name. In reality, he has been a very good corner, and he’ll likely stay that way since he’s continuing to play alongside Trent McDuffie. What I like is that he gets teams’ best WRs because offense try to avoid McDuffie, and yet Watson still does well. This is an expensive deal, but it’s very reasonable for a high-end CB2. Watson has earned it, and the Rams needed him.
Grade: A-

Patriots Sign DL Dre’Mont Jones:
Jones is joining his 5th team despite being decent at hunting the QB and playing the run well. He brings position versatility too, which is why he keeps getting paid. His deal is $36.5M over 3 years with a maximum value of $39.5M and $23.1M guaranteed. While I just talked him up a bit, $12M a year is too much for me. I said “decent”, but perhaps all Patriots HC Mike Vrabel needs is someone decent to coach up. Still, that’s now how I’d be basing the way in which I pay players. Jones is a solid addition though.
Grade: B

Steelers Re-Sign LB Cole Holcomb:
It’s these cheap deals that we look back on most fondly. Holcomb is signing a 2-year, $5M deal with just $625K guaranteed. Before a 2023 injury that wiped out his 2024 season, Holcomb played most of Pittsburgh’s snaps. He played far less in 2025 but contributed more on special teams. If he’s healthy enough to play more often (and potentially replace Devin Bush), this contract will be an extreme steal. Holcomb is excellent in run support but also serviceable in pass coverage. We’ve seen him play well for Pittsburgh, so there’s also no learning curve. This has been one of my easiest grades to hand out.
Grade: A+

Raiders Re-Sign CB Eric Stokes:
Great as a rookie in 2021, Stokes went through two horribly injury-plagued years and one mediocre one with the Packers before being signed by LV in 2025. Finally healthy, Stokes looked more like his old self. A 6’1″ CB with first-round talent, Stokes would be in line for more than this 3-year, $30M contract with $20M guaranteed that he’s getting from the Raiders. With just one good year of recent production and constant injury concerns though, some might argue that this is an overpay. I can really see it both ways, but Las Vegas has a lot of money and a desperate need for talent. They almost have to overpay to attract free agents, and Stokes (27) is young enough to continue his strong play. I acknowledge the risk, but this signing is a quality gamble.
Grade: B+

Steelers Re-Sign CB Asante Samuel Jr:
He didn’t get a full season with Pittsburgh due to a neck injury the year prior, but Samuel did enough to convince Pittsburgh to bring him back. The deal is a modest 1-year, $4M contract. A slot corner, Samuel is a very good player but isn’t often available. Signing him to a 1-year prove-it deal was the only appropriate option, as anything else would involve too much risk. I’m hesitant to call this an impactful move, but it can be if the stars align and Samuel completes a full campaign.
Grade: B

Dolphins Sign QB Malik Willis:
I was grading a few other signings to publish in a batch, but I had to stop and switch to this one immediately. Willis is signing a 3-year, $67.5M contract with $45M fully guaranteed. I’m completely baffled. First, where did Miami find the cap space for this after cutting Tua Tagovailoa? Regardless, Willis has six starts to his name. The three he had with Tennessee were abysmal, while the Green Bay starts were great. You knew this signing was possible with all the Packers in charge in Miami. However, Willis did best when teams didn’t have the chance to game-plan for him. Without Matt LaFleur running the offense, he might revert to his Titans form. How you guarantee $45M to a player with so little pro success is unknown to me. The Dolphins already got an F- for a trade, and now they’re the first to get one for a free agent signing.
Grade: JAMARCUS RUSSELL

Chiefs Sign RB Kenneth Walker III:
I hate to say it, but Zach Charbonnet tearing his ACL got Walker paid. Often injured, Walker needed to split time to stay healthy, and the two-headed backfield worked out great. Once Charbonnet got hurt in the 2025 playoffs, Walker became the bell cow and balled out. He won Super Bowl MVP and hit free agency at the perfect time. KC, in desperate need of a running game, is signing Walker to a 3-year contract with a maximum value of $45M and $28.7M fully guaranteed. I wouldn’t encourage most teams to pay this for an RB, but most teams aren’t KC. This is a squad that wants to return to competing for championships, and Walker could unlock a lot for their offense. I’m still concerned about his durability, but I’ve touted his talent since he was drafted. If he is that missing offensive piece, we’ll all extol this move, though there is some risk involved.
Grade: B+

Colts Re-Sign WR Alec Pierce:
We have our first big domino of the negotiating window! Naturally it’s a team re-signing their own man, but the important part here is that Pierce didn’t really reach the open market. His new deal is huge: $114 over 4 years with $84M guaranteed ($60M fully guaranteed) and a maximum value of $116M. Pierce’s claim to fame is his great deep-ball prowess. He’s one of the best vertical threats in the league, and he had a particularly good connection with QB Daniel Jones (who the Colts also hope to re-sign). Pierce had his first 1000-yard season (barely) and was in great demand. I’m not fully sure why, as he seems to be a one-trick pony. I understand retaining him, but not for $28.5M a year. That’s low-end WR1 money, and Pierce isn’t that. Worse still, Michael Pittman could be released as a result of this signing. I think this could end up being one of the most regretted deals of free agency a couple of years down the line. Even at his best, Pierce probably doesn’t provide adequate value.
Grade: D

Vikings Re-Sign LB Eric Wilson:
Wilson is an interesting case. He had a great start to his career with the Vikings but then fell off and bounced around the league for a few years. Upon reuniting with Minnesota in 2025, he looked reborn, earning a career-high 6.5 sacks and 115 tackles. The partnership will continue on a 3-year $22.5M deal with $12.5M fully guaranteed. Based solely on his 2025 production, Wilson is worth this money. He fits Brian Flores’ defense well and is a great leader. However, he’s 31, and we don’t know if last year was a true resurgence or a mirage. It’s possible that this becomes a 1-year, $12.5M deal. Honestly, that’s still not terrible, so the reward is likely worth the risk for Minnesota. Just know that Wilson is no sure thing.
Grade: B

Broncos Extend QB Sam Ehlinger:
Sean Payton has his pet projects and never quits on them. Ehlinger is signing a 1-year, $2M extension. An undersized player with a gamer attitude, Ehlinger is a fun guy to watch but not a QB I’d expect to win with. There’s not much upside left with him, and even if he’s a #3 QB, the roster spot is more valuable to me. With this low of a cost, I won’t be too harsh with my grade. However, I’m not a fan of the signing and would much rather see another QB or an extra lineman signed instead.
Grade: C

Texans Re-Sign G Ed Ingram:
One of the top guard targets should he have reached free agency, Ingram was the best player on Houston’s line. That’s saying very little, but it does mean that the team needed to try and keep him. They’ve done so with a 3-year, $37.5M contract with $23.5M guaranteed. That’s not even close to the top of the market, but Ingram is also barely an average guard. I don’t know why he was so in demand, but Houston did well to only overpay him by a little. Just a year earlier, Minnesota traded Ingram to Houston for peanuts and spent big money to replace him. Ingram wasn’t THAT bad, but he has been better in Houston. Perhaps he’d succeed more if he had better linemen around him to lean on, though the Texans seem incapable of providing that.
Grade: B-

Bears Re-Sign LB D’Marco Jackson:
These Bears and special teams players! Jackson, who played 26% of the defensive snaps last year, is re-signing on a 2-year, $7.5M contract with a maximum value of $10.5M. Unlike Daniel Hardy, it seems as though Chicago wants more defensive work from Jackson, which is why the money is higher. I don’t know how much improvement we’ll see from him at age 27, but there’s a chance this contract pans out. Value free agent hunting is how the good teams win, but I don’t consider this a value signing. If anything, Chicago is overpaying, as I’m not expecting a defensive boost from this move.
Grade: C-

March 8, 2026

Texans Re-Sign LB EJ Speed:
If I had the league’s best defense, I’d want to return as many pieces of it as I could too. Speed is re-signing on a 2-year, $10M contract with $7.5M guaranteed and a maximum value of $13M. As his name suggests, Speed is a fast LB who can cover, though he didn’t do that nearly as much with Houston after excelling in that role as a Colt. He played less snaps (about half) with the Texans as well, but he still managed to earn 62 tackles. For that production, this is a bit too much money if we’re talking about most teams. The Texans are much better-constructed on defense, so this deal makes more sense for them.
Grade: B

Broncos Re-Sign TE Adam Trautman:
What is it with Sean Payton and Trautman? I thought he was obsessed with Taysom Hill and would pursue him in free agency, and while that could still happen, it appears that he’s fixated with a different TE. Trautman is re-signing on a 3-year, $17M contract with $9.5M guaranteed. Averaging just about 200 yards per season, Trautman is much better as a blocker than as a receiver. More than $4M per year is a little rich for that type of player, but it’s not egregious. I respect Denver wanting to keep one of the league’s best blocking units together, and Payton at least knows what he’s getting with Trautman.
Grade: B-

Chargers Sign FB Alex Ingold:
Once Mike McDaniel became the Chargers’ OC and the Dolphins cut Ingold, it was only a matter of time until the two reunited. LA, who had Scott Matlock at FB, are seemingly switching to a smaller player with more receiving ability. Ingold will join the Bolts on a 2-year, $7.5M contract. I wonder if the team will keep both FBs and use one as more of an H-back, because that would be quite helpful for Justin Herbert’s blocking. Very few teams carry FBs anymore, but I still like the position, especially for a zone rushing attack (which McDaniel runs). The familiarity should be good here, so I’m fond of the move.
Grade: B+

Texans Re-Sign DT Daquan Jones:
Here’s a depth piece for what is already the best defensive line in football. Jones is signing a 1-year, $2M deal to return to the Texans after joining them midseason last year. A typical nose tackle who barely registers on the stat sheet, Jones’ job is to eat space so others can go to work. He’s decent enough in that role, though he only plays about 1/4 of the team’s snaps. That’s been true for other teams that had Jones, so he doesn’t do enough to see the field too often. Still, at this price, he’s valuable insurance and could keep some of the team’s stars fresh, so I’m not opposed to this signing.
Grade: B

Bears Re-Sign DE Daniel Hardy:
Hardy is a reserve DE, so his contract is a modest $4.97M over 2 years with $2.45M guaranteed. However, I don’t see what the Bears are getting. Hardy is good at setting the edge against the run, but he has 0 career sacks. Mostly, he plays on special teams, and you know how I feel about paying for non-elite special teamers. I don’t have much more to say here; special teams matter, but not enough to roster guys playing 5% of the snaps at their real position unless they’re truly exceptional. Hardy is not.
Grade: D+

Rams Extend CB Trent McDuffie:
You knew when LA traded for McDuffie with 1 year left on his contract that they’d need to extend him. I prefer to do that as part of the trade to maintain some sort of leverage. Otherwise, you get this deal: 4 years, $124M, and $100M guaranteed. McDuffie is now the league’s highest-paid CB. I think he’s a very good player, but the BEST corner in football? Not so much. He’ll be making $7M more per season than Pat Surtain for crying out loud. I know that LA needed to keep McDuffie in town, but this contract is insane. And why so high on the guaranteed money? At least he’s young and talented, but wow is this poorly spent cash.
Grade: D

Cardinals Re-Sign P Blake Gillikin:
One thing you can say about Gillikin: his team got a lot of data on him over the past three years, though an injury limited him to 5 games in 2025. Arizona’s offensive limitations caused Gillikin to come out a lot, and the Cardinals want to keep the partnership going. He’s back on a 1-year deal worth up to $2.65M. That’s the average rate for an average punter, and I think Gillikin is at least a decent one. Arizona won’t be very competitive this year, so their 1-year signings aren’t all that important. However, punters are people too, and I find the plan to re-sign Gillikin to be a smart move.
Grade: A-

Colts Re-Sign K Blake Grupe:
Following a multiweek tryout due to injuries to other kickers, Grupe impressed the Colts enough to bring him back on a 1-year, $1.4M contract. His highlight was a 60-yard go-ahead FG late against Seattle, though the team did not win. In his time with the Saints, Grupe was a very erratic kicker. He made only 18 of his 26 FG attempts in New Orleans during the 2025 season, though he went 11/11 for Indy. Small sample sizes shouldn’t lead teams to major conclusions, but this contract doesn’t preclude the team from upgrading later. I don’t love Grupe for reliability reasons, so hopefully the Colts do in fact find a better option.
Grade: C

Broncos Re-Sign LB Justin Strnad:
Often overlooked on Denver’s great defense is Strnad, a reserve who has started half of the team’s games over the past two years due to Dre Greenlaw injuries. During that time, he has been really good, earning 7.5 sacks, 6 PBUs, and 131 tackles. More than other teams, the Broncos know what he’s capable of doing and thus re-signed him to a 3-year, $18M contract with a maximum value of $19.5M and $10M fully guaranteed. If Strnad becomes the full-time starter, this is a fantastic signing. Even if he’s a backup who starts a decent amount because of Greenlaw’s lack of durability, the deal is ok. It’s not so good if Strnad plays less than half the snaps though. The guarantee makes me think Denver has big plans for him, which is promising.
Grade: A-

Packers Re-Sign IOL Sean Rhyan:
While we all discuss tackle Rasheed Walker, it’s interior lineman Sean Rhyan who got Green Bay’s money. He’s re-signing on a 3-year, $33M contract with $11M guaranteed and a maximum value of $39M. A versatile player who can man all 3 interior OL positions, Rhyan did best at guard in 2024. However, the plan could be for him to play center, as Elgton Jenkins may be released. I didn’t love the initial numbers, but with only one year guaranteed, the contract is far more tame than I thought. Rhyan is still probably not an $11M player, but if he exceeds expectations, Green Bay will have a solid deal on their hands.
Grade: B

March 7, 2026

Ravens Re-Sign QB Tyler Huntley:
Teams often learn about the importance of a backup QB once it’s too late. Baltimore thought they had the position settled when they signed Cooper Rush last season, but he was awful in relief of Lamar Jackson. The Ravens brought back their old pal Huntley, who fared far better. They’ll keep him around on a 2-year, $11M contract. Huntley is better in Baltimore than anywhere else, but that’s fine given that he’s signing with that very team. The Ravens are comfortable with him, and given Jackson’s injury history, he may be called into service again. We’ve got a nice string of excellent grades going here!
Grade: A

Chargers Re-Sign OLB Khalil Mack:
Mack considered exploring free agency, but he opted for a 5th year with the Chargers. He’s back on a 1-year, fully guaranteed $18M contract. Injuries held the 35-year-old to 11 games last year, which probably dampened his market. When he was on the field though, he still looked like an impactful edge rusher and racked up 5.5 sacks. In his 11-year career, Mack has only missed significant time in two seasons, so I’m willing to bet on a better bill of health for him in 2026. There’s no risk on this contract, and losing Mack would create a huge hole at a critical position. I don’t see an alternative that what LAC just did.
Grade: A+

49ers Re-Sign K Eddy Pineiro:
It seems as though San Francisco’s kicking adventures have come to an end. After spending a 3rd-round pick on Jake Moody, the 49ers had no kicking consistency. They cut him in 2025, and Pineiro stabilized things. He’s being brought back on a 4-year, $17M contract with $10M guaranteed. I always say that if you like your kicker you should keep him, and I think SF has learned that lesson. Pineiro doesn’t have one of the league’s biggest legs, but he’s extremely accurate. That’s what the Niners were missing, which is why it makes total sense to bring Pineiro back. Now they can stop worrying when a game comes down to an FG.
Grade: A

Cowboys Place 2nd-Round Tender on K Brandon Aubrey:
I don’t normally grade tenders other than franchise and transition tags, but this one is interesting. Aubrey, an RFA, is the best kicker in the NFL. Nobody matches both his range and accuracy simultaneously. As a result, Dallas has already offered him a record-setting deal for a kicker, but Aubrey’s agent wants $10M per year. For perspective, Harrison Butker is the current standard-bearer at $6.4M per season. You can understand why they wouldn’t want to go THAT high, especially with a 1-year, $5.76M tender available. Ultimately, Dallas made the right call. The franchise tag is still available next year if things get that far, but a new deal can be reached over the coming season. Aubrey is getting barely more than half of his agent’s asking price, and that’s enough.
Grade: A+

Bills Re-Sign C Connor McGovern:
Expected to be one of the most coveted linemen on the free agent market, McGovern won’t even reach free agency. He’s staying in Buffalo on a 4-year, $52M contract with $32M guaranteed. That’s third among centers but well below the $17M Cam Jurgens (second place) makes. With that in mind, I like this signing. McGovern is certainly above average, and the Bills are smart to keep their elite line intact. G David Edwards could still depart, but that’s at most one hole to fill instead of two. The money is also fair, since McGovern now leapfrogs just ahead of similar players while not coming close to the elites.
Grade: A

Eagles Extend DT Jordan Davis:
Davis is another player from the 2022 draft I was bullish on, and although he too had a bit of a slow start to his career, he really turned it on in year 2 and beyond. He came into the league is a mammoth run stopper, but he was one-dimensional. After shedding some weight (he wasn’t fat, just not in the optimal form for his play style), he exploded. Still great in the run game, he became a strong pocket pusher as well and was able to stay on the field for longer stretches. 2025 was his best year, with 72 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 6 batted passes (plus a game-winning blocked FG). Now he’s being rewarded with a 3-year, $78M extension containing $65M guaranteed. This salary is first among all NTs in NFL history and tied for second among current DTs in general. I don’t love the price, but I love the player. This is a case of the market dictating the deal rather than the team, but Davis should be a star for its duration. I expect him to live up to the contract, but it’s nearly impossible to outplay it.
Grade: B+

Chiefs Re-Sign LS James Winchester:
Don’t expect any other long snapper grades unless there’s something special about their deals. This one qualifies because it’s a new record: at 1 year and $1.75M fully guaranteed, Winchester has now become the highest-paid player at the position. While the common perception is that long snappers grow on trees (and they are readily available), when you lose one, you really feel it. When it comes to special teamers, as long as the price is reasonable, I say to keep the guys you like. Clearly KC wants Winchester specifically, and $1.75M is nothing in salary cap terms. Keeping the status quo is a good idea for this strong ST unit.
Grade: A

Commanders Re-Sign WR Treylon Burks:
I loved Burks coming out of college (look how young the site was then!), but 3 forgettable and injury-prone years with Tennessee seemed to prove me wrong about him. Following an ACL tear, he joined Washington midseason last year and suited up for 8 games. He had a couple of highlight-reel catches but didn’t get very integrated into the offense amid the Commanders’ QB injuries. Still, the team liked what they saw enough to re-sign Burks to a 1-year deal worth up to $4M. This is fine for me, as he’s just 25 years old and might still have some untapped potential. Washington continues to look for long-term building blocks on the cheap, and if even one such moves hits, it’s a boon. This could amount to nothing, but it’s well worth a shot.
Grade: B+

Texans Extend TE Dalton Schultz:
Houston is enjoying these short-term veteran extensions. Schultz’s deal is $12.6M for 1 year, putting him under contract through 2027. He’s coming off his best year as a Texan, when he earned 777 receiving yards and 3 TDs. That last bit reminds you that Schultz isn’t a great red zone threat, and he’s more of a big-bodied WR that helps the team move between the 20s. His 2027 salary is slightly above his 2026 number ($12M) and slots him 8th among all TEs until the market moves again. I’m good with that, especially if extending Schultz opens a bit of cap space now. He’ll continue to be a reliable part of the passing game.
Grade: B+

Chargers Sign C Tyler Biadasz:
So much for the Chargers pursuing Tyler Linderbaum along the Harbaugh-Harbaugh pipeline. Somehow, Biadasz got cut by the Commanders with $8.8M in unguaranteed salary left on his contract and wound up with a raise. His new LA deal is $30M over 3 years. I’m not sure why Washington cut him, as he’s an above-average center. The Bolts won’t complain though, as he fills a critical need. Their line was awful last year. Losing both tackles got all the attention, but the interior was poor as well. Biadasz helps fix that. The money isn’t bad either, as this is the cookie-cutter center contract from a couple of years ago. LA didn’t pay for any market adjustments, so this is a slight bargain.
Grade: A-

March 6, 2026

Patriots Re-Sign QB Tommy DeVito:
Tommy Cutlets is back in Foxborough! He’ll return on a 2-year deal worth $5.4M with a maximum value of $7.4M and $2.2M guaranteed. It’s that last number that matters, as it probably ensures that DeVito will be on the roster for 2026. While this isn’t an expensive contract by any means, guaranteeing money to a 3rd-stringer (Joshua Dobbs is the backup and remains under contract) is a bit peculiar. DeVito had a few flashes with NYG, but he has never resembled a starting-caliber option. Insurance at the QB position is always wise, but New England might be going a bit overboard. Maybe they see something there to develop and expect Dobbs to leave after 2026. With that in mind, I’ll be kinder with the grade given that the risk is minimal.
Grade: B-

Rams Re-Sign S Kamren Curl:
Just because the Rams brought in a new corner doesn’t mean they’re letting a different secondary member walk. Curl is signing a 3-year, $36M contract with about $24M guaranteed and a maximum value of $39M. While LA’s weakness last year was their secondary, that was more about the CBs than the safeties. Curl is a durable player who has never earned less than 79 tackles and performs well in coverage. A couple of years ago, he joined the Rams on a very cheap contract, but the safety market had greatly rebounded since then, so this is kind of the going rate. I’d say he’s worth it, but his price is no longer a supreme value.
Grade: B+

Rams Re-Sign TE Tyler Higbee:
Many have forgotten about Higbee due to his recent injuries, but he played down the stretch as a key blocker in HC Sean McVay’s newly favored 13 personnel. Now healthier, Higbee is back on a 2-year, contract worth up to $8M. In his best years, Higbee regularly topped 500 receiving yards, but that hasn’t happened since 2022. At age 32, his best years are likely behind him, but he remains a very good TE2. Second-year player Terrance Ferguson should be the primary receiving threat at the position, but Higbee is the better blocker. If the Rams continue to use multi-TE packages, this deal will look smart in a hurry.
Grade: A

March 5, 2026

Texans Extend DE Danielle Hunter:
Entering a contract year, Hunter won’t be playing his last season with the Texans. Houston has signed him to a 1-year, $40.1M extension with a $30.7M signing bonus. The 31-year-old edge rusher has shown no signs of slowing down. He hasn’t missed a game in the past 4 years and has topped 10 sacks during each campaign. With 15 sacks in 2025, he was due for a bit of a raise, at least on the new year of the deal. He and Will Anderson form the best pass rushing tandem in the league, and that’ll continue for at least 2 more seasons. This isn’t a bargain of any kind, but it was a good move nonetheless.
Grade: A-

Seahawks Re-Sign LB Drake Thomas:
An overlooked contributor has gotten a nice payday. Thomas is signing a 2-year, $8M contract with a maximum value of $9M. The former UDFA became a starter last year and rewarded the Seahawks with 95 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 8 PBUs as a legitimate 3-down LB. Seattle’s defense was one of the very best in football, so it’s no surprise that they’d want to keep the gang together. Linebackers of this quality are going for $15M+ per season, but Thomas’s status as a restricted free agent gave Seattle a ton of leverage. They used it well, extracting an extra year beyond the RFA tender. Though a little undersized, Thomas fits what HC Mike Macdonald wants to do, and he has earned his money. In fact, he probably warranted more than this.
Grade: A+

Texans Re-Sign RT Trent Brown:
I guess Houston knows how to add a lineman instead of shipping him away after all! The man they chose to keep is Brown, who will be back on a 1-year deal worth up to $7M. In terms of talent, Brown is a very good right tackle. He showed that down the stretch last year, as well as with several previous teams. The reason he has been with so many teams though is his inability to avoid injury. In 11 pro seasons, Brown has just three 16-game campaigns and five with 10 starts or more. When he plays, he’s a solid option, but you better have a plan B. The price is fine here, and he’s a good start toward building the offensive line, but I sincerely hope he’s not the only plan here for the Texans. One lineman down, about 6 more to go!
Grade: B

Packers Re-Sign RB Chris Brooks:
You might not be familiar with Brooks, a 3rd-string RB and special teamer. However, he’s pretty good at what he does. Green Bay is signing him a 2-year, $4.85M contract to continue in his current role. While he receives few carries behind Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson, he has a robust 4.8 YPC average for his career. Wilson also didn’t receive an RFA tender, elevating Brooks to the #2 job if former 3rd-rounder MarShawn Lloyd can’t get and stay healthy. As a contingency plan, he’s a great option given that he at least provides special teams value. I think he could complement Jacobs well, making this a good signing.
Grade: A

March 3, 2026

Colts Place Transition Tag on QB Daniel Jones:
For 9 games last year, the Colts were the talk of the league. Jones seemingly revitalized his career in Indy, leading a scorching hot start against an easy schedule. Then, as is often the case with Jones, injuries struck. A mild fibula fracture limited him before a torn Achilles finished his year. The team was starting to crumble anyway as the schedule toughened, but losing Jones wrecked their chances. Indianapolis is still discussing a long-term deal with Jones, but his potential lack of availability to start the season complicates things. I really like the transition tag over the regular franchise tag. It’s 1 year with a fully guaranteed $37.833M salary. Any team can try to sign him without owing the Colts a pick, but Indy can match any offer. The actual best outcome for them would be another team offering Jones a fortune and Indianapolis declining to match. We’ve seen by now that Jones is a tempting but ultimately unsatisfying answer. This grade has a bit of “TBD” in it, but it’s a fine move on the surface.
Grade: B

Jets Franchise Tag RB Breece Hall:
New York told us they would do this if they couldn’t reach a long-term deal with Hall by today’s deadline. It’s a 1-year, fully guaranteed $14.293M contract for the RB, who made things tough on the Jets with a strong contract year. Injuries limited Hall throughout his rookie contract, so I can see why the Jets might want to commit for just 1 year. This is far above his market value though, as I’d estimate around $10M per him on a free agent contract. He’s talented, but he isn’t one of the elite backs. What makes this more curious to me is that the Jets will not be contenders this year, so what do they need a highly-paid RB for? That’s especially true if they aren’t spending a first-round pick on a QB, which they don’t seem to be doing. I would’ve accepted the reported mid-round pick they were offered for Hall at the trade deadline. Even with ample cap space, this isn’t a smart move.
Grade: D+

March 2, 2026

Browns Extend RT/G Tytus Howard:
I graded the Browns’ trade for Howard earlier, but now comes the extension: $63M over 3 seasons with $45M in new money. That screamed “overpay” to me, but I had to remember the current market. Top guards are making over $20M per season, and while Howard isn’t on that level, he’s good. Among tackles, $21M per year is above-average but not at the top of the market, though I’d consider Howard average at best on the edge. He’s a versatile lineman but not adequate in run blocking. For a Cleveland team still trying to solve the QB puzzle, his pass blocking is the obvious draw. I wouldn’t have given him this contract after paying a draft pick, but line scarcity makes teams do odd things. Howard will help, just not as much as the salary indicates.
Grade: B-

February 27, 2026

Bills Re-Sign ST Sam Franklin Jr:
Buffalo has been busy retaining their reserves, but I just roll my eyes at a 3-year deal for a non-elite special teamer. The contract is worth up to $7.5M over 3 seasons. This salary isn’t too meaningful in regular circumstances, and another salary cap explosion means it’s even less detrimental. That’s no reason to be reckless though. Technically Franklin is also a DB, but I’d be more kind to this pact if he played more than 1% of the defensive snaps. Special teams definitely matter; ask the Seahawks and Patriots. Franklin isn’t a Brenden Schooler though, so I’m not sure why Buffalo thought they needed to be so aggressive here.
Grade: D

Cowboys Franchise Tag WR George Pickens:
The Cowboys traded for Pickens without simultaneously extending him because they didn’t know which version of the mercurial receiver they’d get. He’s highly talented but sometimes inconsistent, so they let him play out his contract year. All he did was shatter his career highs with 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and 9 TDs. When CeeDee Lamb was out, Pickens also showed that he could be a high-end WR1. Naturally, he’s primed to cash in, but Dallas doesn’t want him to walk. They’ve given him a 1-year, fully guaranteed $27.298M contract on the franchise tag, and they really had no choice. You can’t let such elite weapons walk out the door for nothing. However, Lamb is paid a ton of money, and having two highly-paid WRs may not be the optimal roster-building move. The tag give the two sides time to work out a long-term deal or find a trade partner if negotiations go south. Time will tell.
Grade: B+

February 25, 2026

Falcons Franchise Tag TE Kyle Pitts:
Our first official franchise tag has been used, though I suspect more will be forthcoming. For Pitts, the tag is a 1-year, $15.045M fully guaranteed contract. Once the 4th overall pick, Pitts has been inconsistent in his Falcons career, showing flashes but not top-tier production. He picked a good time to get hot though, closing the 2025 season strongly when Kirk Cousins replaced Michael Penix Jr at QB. Atlanta wants to see if he finally turned the corner, and I agree with a 1-year contract. Unless Pitts signs for a below-market rate, I wouldn’t even bother with a long-term commitment right now. The franchise tag value itself is too high, but the disaster scenario would be letting Pitts walk and blossom for another team. Atlanta hedged their bets nicely.
Grade: A-

February 21, 2026

Cowboys Re-Sign RB Javonte Williams:
Not willing to make the Rico Dowdle mistake twice, Dallas didn’t let a productive free agent RB walk out the door. In fact, they didn’t even let Williams reach free agency, signing him to a 3-year, $24M contract with $16M guaranteed. Williams was highly touted coming out of UNC, but his Broncos career was marred by injury. Finally recovered from a torn ACL, Williams signed a prove-it deal with the Cowboys and did just that, earning career highs with 1201 yards and 11 TDs on the ground. I see this as less of a fluky breakout and view this version of Williams as the guy we thought Denver drafted. He’s worth this contract if his health issues are in the past, and the cost isn’t too huge if it doesn’t work out. It’s identical to D’Andre Swift’s Bears deal, which feels fair.
Grade: B

Bills Re-Sign OL Alec Anderson:
Versatility is the name of the game here, as Anderson can play any of the 5 spots on the offensive line. The former UDFA has only 6 starts in his career, but I’m still a bit surprised that he didn’t wait for free agency. Instead, he signed a 1-year, $3M contract with $1.8M guaranteed to stay in Buffalo. This is a coup for the Bills. Anderson could compete for a starting job on numerous teams, and he’ll be one of the most valuable reserve linemen in the league…if he doesn’t unseat an incumbent on his own team. Many squads can’t even find a viable starting 5, yet Buffalo may have 6. The signing here is cheap to boot!
Grade: A+

January 26, 2026

Chargers Extend DT Teair Tart:
Can a player turn his reputation around for good? Tart may have done just that, cementing his newfound status with a 3-year extension worth up to $37.5M with $20M guaranteed. In 2023, Tart was dumped by the Titans for reasons of effort and attitude. Miami scooped him up but cut him before he could appear in a game. Houston also held onto Tart for just 2 games that year. Upon signing with the Chargers in 2024, he wasn’t a starter, but he became a more consistent player. Fast forward to 2025, and Tart was a 17-game starter and a key run stuffer for the Bolts. This type of player is important, but considering he offers nothing in the pass game and plays just under 50% of the snaps, $12.5M per season is way too high for me. Other players have more of a track record of success yet are making less. So while I’d have wanted to retain Tart too, this contract is poor.
Grade: C

January 4, 2026

Seahawks Extend LT Charles Cross:
Even though he didn’t play yesterday, Cross is getting paid. I guess Seattle had some time on their hands with no Sunday game and a first-round bye, so they handed Cross a 4-year, $104.4M extension with $75M guaranteed. His new salary is 3rd among LTs and 6th among all OTs. Including his week 18 injury, he has missed only 6 games since becoming a week-1 rookie start in 2022. Originally know as a much better pass protector than a run blocker, Cross has become much better at the latter this season. While Seattle’s line has been in flux for years, he has been the one constant producer. He plays one of the most crucial positions in sports, and he’s among the better players at it. This deal didn’t even reset the market, so that sounds good to me!
Grade: A

January 3, 2026

Ravens Extend LS Nick Moore:
I don’t normally grade long snapper signings, but this one is fairly large. It’s $6.415M over 4 years with a $1.2M signing bonus. These are pennies in terms of the salary cap, but the years and the presence of a guarantee make the deal notable. To be completely honest, I don’t keep track of much long snapper play unless something goes wrong. In these cases, based on how cheap their contracts are, I say if you like your long snapper than you should keep your long snapper. For Baltimore, Moore has done a good job navigating a transition to a rookie kicker, so this signing is totally fine.
Grade: A

Jaguars Extend OL Cole Van Lanen:
Well, this certainly came out of nowhere, just like Van Lanen’s play! Formerly a 6th-round pick of the Packers who Jacksonville acquired via trade, Van Lanen was a pure backup for 4 years. In 2025, injuries have led him to make 9 starts thus far at 4 different OL positions (thus the designation in the title). He’s been rock solid, but this is a 3-year, $51M contract with $32.5M guaranteed and a maximum value of $55.5M. That’s a hefty chunk of change for someone with less than one full season’s worth of starts under his belt. Clearly, the Jags are viewing Van Lanen as their LT of the future based on this salary. That makes me curious about Walker Little, the young tackle who the team still owes guaranteed money. The presence of too many tackles is a good problem to have, but I’m not comfortable with this sort of guarantee and AAV. Once bitten, not twice shy?
Grade: C+

January 2, 2026

Ravens Extend DT John Jenkins:
This is a special moment for Jenkins, who’s in his 13th pro season. Believe it or not, this is the first extension of his entire career, as he has played on a multitude of 1-year pacts. This extension is technically a 1-year agreement as well, but it’s coming before he hits free agency. Therefore, it’s meaningful to him! Jenkins is signing a 1-year, $2.1M deal to return, which is a pittance for a player like him. A large nose tackle who actually puts up stats, Jenkins has earned 36 tackles to go along with 2 forced fumbles in 2025. The big man’s primary job is still to create plays for others though, and he does that well. Congrats to the 360-pounder!
Grade: A

Rams Extend S Quentin Lake:
We got our first signing of 2026 really early! Instead of licking their wounds following back-to-back losses, the Rams have signed Lake to a 3-year extension worth up to $42M with $25. 7M guaranteed. The timing is odd as he has been out with an elbow injury since week 11. I guess they really didn’t want their former 6th-round pick hitting the market. As a tackler, 2024 was Lake’s best year (111). However, his pass coverage took a step forward this season, and he has a career-high 10 PBUs in just 10 games played. He’s now being rewarded with a deal that’s just outside the top 10 for safeties in terms of annual salary. Personally, I think this is fair. It would cost more to retain him in free agency, and he’s the best player in LA’s secondary. The price is a bit high for my taste, but I can get behind this deal.
Grade: B+