Ben SolakMar 25, 2026, 06:35 AM ETCloseBen Solak joined ESPN in 2024 as a national NFL analyst. He previously covered the NFL at The Ringer, Bleeding Green Nation and The Draft Network.Multiple Authors
play1:56How Jaylen Waddle’s trade to Denver transpiredAdam Schefter joins “The Pat McAfee Show” and details the Dolphins’ decision to trade Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos for two first-round picks.
play0:46Schrager: Devin Bush a great signing for BearsPeter Schrager is a big fan of the Bears signing LB Devin Bush.
play2:32Orlovsky: Kenneth Walker III can ‘100%’ change everything for ChiefsDan Orlovsky, Peter Schrager and Pat McAfee react to the news that Kenneth Wallker III is signing with the Chiefs.
Michael Pittman is ‘stinking fired up’ to be a Pittsburgh Steeler (1:14)Michael Pittman joins “The Pat McAfee Show” and reflects on his time in Indianapolis as he looks forward to playing with the Steelers. (1:14)
How Jaylen Waddle’s trade to Denver transpiredAdam Schefter joins “The Pat McAfee Show” and details the Dolphins’ decision to trade Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos for two first-round picks.
Adam Schefter joins “The Pat McAfee Show” and details the Dolphins’ decision to trade Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos for two first-round picks.
Schrager: Devin Bush a great signing for BearsPeter Schrager is a big fan of the Bears signing LB Devin Bush.
Orlovsky: Kenneth Walker III can ‘100%’ change everything for ChiefsDan Orlovsky, Peter Schrager and Pat McAfee react to the news that Kenneth Wallker III is signing with the Chiefs.
Dan Orlovsky, Peter Schrager and Pat McAfee react to the news that Kenneth Wallker III is signing with the Chiefs.
NFL free agency should be over now. Of course, we aren’t quite there. Players such as Jauan Jennings, Kirk Cousins, Stefon Diggs, Calais Campbell, DJ Reader, Deebo Samuel, Aaron Rodgers, Haason Reddick, Joey Bosa and Cameron Jordan are all still unsigned and available.
But at some point, we have to sit down and take stock of how the NFL has done since the new league year began. I ranked all 32 teams’ free agency performances across signings, re-signings and trade acquisitions. I also tried to take into account departed talent.
These rankings are highly contextual. Any list of “the most improved teams in free agency” would start with the likes of the Raiders and Titans … who incidentally were the teams that had the most money to spend. Instead, I tried to rank the teams for:
Key acquisitions and returning players: Michael Pittman Jr., Rico Dowdle, Jamel Dean, Jaquan Brisker, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Asante Samuel Jr.
I loved: Getting Pittman on the late-round pick swap. The Colts were always going to trade him after they re-signed Alec Pierce, so they didn’t have a ton of leverage. And because Pittman is a true possession receiver, he needed to go to a team with a ton of targets to give out. There aren’t many such teams. But Pittsburgh is a great fit for him, as he pairs well with DK Metcalf (who is definitely a Steeler in 2026) and Aaron Rodgers (who is probably a Steeler in 2026).
The Steelers signed Pittman to an extension after the trade that guarantees him some money, which was an unnecessarily early commitment to his future on the roster, but a sixth-seventh pick swap for a starting receiver is great business.
Key acquisitions and returning players: Mike Evans, Osa Odighizuwa, Christian Kirk, Dre Greenlaw, Nate Hobbs, Eddy Pineiro
I loved: The Evans deal. This was one of the most team-friendly signings in this free agency period. With only $14 million guaranteed at signing and most of his 2027 and 2028 money tied into option bonuses, the 49ers are committed to Evans for only one season, which would be important should he look completely unplayable in his age-33 season. Far more likely, Evans should fill a valuable role of vertical specialist, third-down stick mover and red zone matchup nightmare.
Remember the short-yardage issues that the Niners endured against the Seahawks’ stifling run defense? Evans is the answer to that. If he’s even 75% of his prime self, the 49ers got an enormous deal on a ring-chasing veteran leader.
I had WR depth questions, too, but in comes Kirk. If the 49ers can just keep Trent Williams in the building for one more year and get full recoveries from Mykel Williams (knee) and Nick Bosa (knee), I’ll be a full believer.
Key acquisitions and returning players: Cade Mays, D.J. Wonnum, Larry Borom, Isiah Pacheco, Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary, Juice Scruggs
I loved: The dart throws. Detroit has more needs than it has money to throw around, but it did extremely well to take high-upside swings in the margins. Pacheco can’t be 100% of what David Montgomery was for them, but the Lions don’t want that anymore — they want a capable short-yardage, pass-protecting back to relieve Jahmyr Gibbs, and they got that for near the veteran minimum.
The Lions also got a functional starter at center in Mays for $8 million per year in an offseason in which the center market was exploding. Wonnum is ideally a No. 3 edge instead of a No. 2 option, but opposite Aidan Hutchinson, he can fill the Al-Quadin Muhammad shoes and then some. At corner, McCreary can start if he’s healthy, too. This class is filled with great value.
I loved: The overall approach. The Saints didn’t have a ton of cap space, as they’re still extricating themselves from void years of seasons past. But the light is on the horizon, and what space they had they used well.
Edwards is an older player, but guards can age well, and he was the most talented player on the market at that position. Etienne isn’t enough of a playmaker to be a dominant three-down back, but he’s an excellent 1A in a committee, bringing a well-rounded skill set. Elliss is a uniquely good blitzer who will give defensive coordinator Brandon Staley a useful curveball as an off-ball/on-ball hybrid. The Saints gave out only three significant contracts, but I like all three.
I didn’t love: Wide receiver depth was an issue in New Orleans even before Rashid Shaheed was traded at the deadline last year. Chris Olave (156 targets) rightfully dominates when he’s healthy and available, and Juwan Johnson (102 targets) enjoyed a little breakout as a high-volume stick mover. But Shaheed (66 targets) still ended the season as the third-most-targeted receiver, and running back Alvin Kamara (fourth with 39 targets) has an uncertain future with the team.
The Saints desperately need a big-bodied receiver who can take six or more targets per game, and 10-plus when Olave misses time. Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate at No. 8 overall, anyone?
Key acquisitions and returning players: Jaylen Waddle, J.K. Dobbins, Alex Singleton, Adam Trautman, Justin Strnad
Key acquisitions and returning players: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Romeo Doubs, Reggie Gilliam, Dre’Mont Jones, Kevin Byard III, Julian Hill
Even the Gilliam signing stands out as an example of the Patriots’ continued excellence in evaluating their own roster; incumbent fullback Jack Westover lost too many reps in the hole last season. Mike Vrabel’s greatest strength continues to be his nose for personnel.
I didn’t love: The results of the defensive carousel. The Patriots replaced Jaylinn Hawkins with a Vrabel favorite in Byard, and I’m not sure betting on the 33-year-old to maintain his All-Pro form from last season is a reasonable alternative. And although Jones is certainly a step up from K’Lavon Chaisson in run defense, I think the Patriots will miss Chaisson’s speed off the edge.
Neither signing is bad in a vacuum. But New England lost a lot of snaps from a defense that dramatically exceeded expectations in 2025, and that sort of shake-up can be tough to endure.
Key acquisitions and returning players: Tyler Linderbaum, Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, Jalen Nailor, Eric Stokes, Kwity Paye, Taron Johnson
I loved: Double-dipping at linebacker. The starting LB market is pretty reasonable, as both Walker and Dean got less money than players like Cor’Dale Flott, Bradley Chubb and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Walker and Dean were teammates at Georgia and complemented one another nicely. The Raiders’ linebacker play was unspeakably poor last season, and anything less than a total overhaul would have limited the defense.
There are still question marks at defensive tackle and outside corner, but don’t be surprised if the Raiders’ defense is a fringe top-10 unit now — at least as long as Maxx Crosby is back for another year.
I didn’t love: Paying Linderbaum 150% of Creed Humphrey’s deal. All of the context behind the Linderbaum number makes perfect sense. The Raiders had money to burn. They prioritized center because of their incoming rookie quarterback. Center was wrongfully a cheaper market than guard and deserved a splash of cash. All totally sound. He’s going to make the team better.
With that said, $27 million per year is an enormous leap, and it’s basically all guaranteed. This is one of the biggest “agent win” deals of the cycle. Even with all the data considered, I simply would not have done this deal for Linderbaum were I in general manager John Spytek’s shoes.
Key acquisitions and returning players: Odafe Oweh, Rachaad White, Leo Chenal, Amik Robertson, K’Lavon Chaisson, Chig Okonkwo, Tim Settle Jr.
It’s not the worst thing, and it happens a bunch in free agency. But I’m interested to see the sort of defense that first-time coordinator Daronte Jones runs, because spending this much money on an edge rusher who doesn’t really defend the run on a defense that blitzes a ton just doesn’t make sense to me.
Key acquisitions and returning players: Kyler Murray, Eric Wilson, James Pierre, Carson Wentz, Ryan Van Demark
I loved: The Murray deal. Of course I did. It’s the best signing of any team this cycle. Murray on a veterans minimum contract ($1.3 million) does more than just provide the Vikings with desperately needed cap relief as they unspool their aggressive spending of the past few offseasons. It also gives them a playoff-caliber quarterback.
Murray has a stronger history of recent quality play than quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold did before they kicked off their career restarts. The Vikings had one of the three worst quarterback rooms in the NFL last season, and now they have at least a league-average starter. Enormous, enormous leap at the most important position on the field.