Biggest Winners of NFL Free Agency

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The mourning period for football fans, realizing there is no NFL action for the next six months, is relieved for a short period when free agency opens in early March – that is if their team makes an effort to improve, versus continuing on mediocrity or making moves that indicate a step-back in quality for the upcoming season. This year, teams have fallen into both categories; however, six have stood above the rest in their dealings so far this offseason. Whether it is using their cap space wisely to bring in strong players or spending money on players who should be in the XFL, the contrasting parallels of sports management are on full display this time of year. So, which teams have succeeded? And who are the ones that have set back their franchise years, if not decades, due to their moves over just a matter of weeks? 

Starting on a positive note, the New England Patriots have done phenomenally well this offseason. While the firing of Jerod Mayo was harsh after just one season, when you have an experienced leader and a winning coach in Mike Vrabel waiting in the wings, there have been more positives than negatives in the fallout. Vrabel set to work immediately, assembling his squad while spending the second most out of any team in the NFL, only behind the Minnesota Vikings, bringing in experienced, yet youthful, defensive players such as Harold Landry from the Titans, Robert Spillane from the Raiders, and Milton Williams from the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles. Bringing in Carlton Davis to play alongside the young Christian Gonzalez at cornerback is also a smart addition and could prove to be one of the most dominant defensive pairings in years to come. Wide receiver Mack Hollins, tight end Austin Hooper, and offensive lineman Morgan Moses all bring experience to the offensive side of the ball. With the number four overall pick in this year’s draft, they can add youth to the team by selecting either a star receiver in Colorado’s Travis Hunter or an incredibly talented offensive lineman like LSU’s Will Cambell. Coupled with their free agency spending, this makes the New England Patriots’ future look incredibly bright. 

Let’s move on to another team whose fans will be delighted with the way their offseason is unfolding. The Denver Broncos’ plan to return to greatness is obvious yet genius. Get experience on the defensive side of the ball while drafting promising young talent on the offensive side. After losing to the Buffalo Bills in the wildcard round of the playoffs this past season, the Broncos went straight to work addressing their key defensive needs. D.J. Jones and Justin Strnad were both brought back on long-term deals, while the San Francisco 49ers pair, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga, add elite experience to their young defense. They also addressed their need at tight end, where they had struggled to find a consistent starter all season, with the addition of Evan Engram from the Jacksonville Jaguars. While I’m a huge fan of the signings of the players themselves, the price they got each of them at is also phenomenal value. Greenlaw for just thirty-five million dollars, Hufanga with twenty million dollars guaranteed, and twenty-three million for Engram, all reflect their true value, a rarity for deals on the current NFL market. All you can do is applaud Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton for their shrewd deals this offseason. If they add the same shrewdness in the draft, they could be a force to reckon with this upcoming season. 

The final team that won big this free agency was the Chicago Bears. After going 7-10 last season, firing their head coach Matt Eberflus in the process, there was uncertainty surrounding the organization and their new star quarterback Caleb Williams. They needed to make aggressive moves this offseason, and to the credit of General Manager Ryan Poles, they have done exactly that. First, they went out and got the hottest head coaching candidate on the market in the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Renowned for his offensive line in Detroit, Johnson got straight to work on one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season. First, they traded for former Lion, guard Jonah Jackson, from the Rams in return for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick. They then traded for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs in return for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick. Both trades represent incredible value for two players at the very top of the guard market. They finished off the offensive line revamp with the addition of center Drew Dalman from the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, forming an entirely new inner-defensive line in Chicago. Poles and Johnson also addressed the needs on the defensive side of the ball, bringing in defensive linemen Grady Jarret from the Falcons and Dayo Odeyingbo from the Indianapolis Colts. Addressing their two biggest needs in free agency, upgrading their quarterback’s protection, and making it easier to get to the opposing quarterback without overpaying, is incredible work from the Bears' front office. 

As the season drew to a close in early February, a whole different season began for NFL executives and coaches: the season of building. Any good executive or coach knows that your regular season reflects the moves you made in the offseason. While some teams exceeded expectations mightily, there is still time for those who made mistakes in free agency. The time when they can make up for their pitfalls will come in late April, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, when the NFL draft commences. If executives and coaches fail at the draft too, however, they could be at risk of not only losing their upcoming season but their jobs as well.