It’s been one week since the NFL’s legal tampering period opened, and we’ve seen some pretty big names put on new jerseys.
It’s always an exciting time of year — the season of eternal optimism with plenty of signings and trades worth getting excited about.
With that optimism front and centre, we’ve looked around the league and found a free agency win (or two!) for all 32 clubs.
Arizona Cardinals: The new leadership group in Arizona hasn’t made a splash in their first off-season in charge but they did dip their toes into the free agency waters with a pair of smart and affordable pickups. The acquisition of ex-Eagles linebacker Kyzir White, for example, gives the defence a lot more flexibility and perhaps gives us a hint about how Monti Ossenfort will approach his roster build with defence in mind.
Atlanta Falcons: Making a run for Lamar Jackson would’ve been really fun, but the Falcons — who filled their QB vacancy by bringing Atlanta-born QB Taylor Heinicke home — made clear their intentions to focus on the other side of the ball by signing former Bengals safety Jessie Bates III to a four-year, $64-million deal.
Baltimore Ravens: Well… Lamar Jackson is still your quarterback…? While it’s unclear how long this standoff will last between the 2019 MVP and the club reportedly trying to correct the post-Watson guaranteed-money market, there remains hope for a resolution here.
Buffalo Bills: The Bills' cap situation dictated we wouldn't see a springtime shopping spree for GM Brandon Beane, but he did some tidy business re-signing Jordan Poyer to a team-friendly two-year pact after it looked like the safety would walk.
Carolina Panthers: The proud new owners of the first overall pick have been in nesting mode, preparing to welcome their soon-to-be new starting QB1 (C.J. Stroud? Bryce Young?) and help him succeed. Bringing in veteran star Adam Thielen, one of the most reliable receivers in the league and a strong mentor, injects a much-needed dose of leadership into this offence while Andy Dalton arrives ready to help guide the future franchise face.
Chicago Bears: After reinforcing his faith in Justin Fields by trading away the first overall pick, GM Ryan Poles turned his focus to defence with a pair of crucial signings in linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds.
Cincinnati Bengals: After patching up Joe Burrow’s offensive line last off-season, Bengals brass brought in a significant upgrade in the big-money signing of former Chiefs tackle Orlando Brown Jr. It’s the best gift they could’ve given their star QB… until they hand the extension-eligible Burrow his first big contract, that is.
Cleveland Browns: Cleveland set the table for a solid free agency with the cap-clearing restructuring of Deshaun Watson's contract, and made excellent use of the space with some well-targeted deals. Signing former Texans defensive end Obo Okoronkwo gives Myles Garrett a new best friend on what should be a formidable pass rush considering they also brought in tackle Dalvin Tomlinson.
Dallas Cowboys: Rather than being overly active on the free agency front, the Cowboys capitalized on the trade market with a pair of bargains. Landing veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Colts for a fifth-rounder is a steal while Brandin Cooks (fifth- and sixth-round picks) gives Dak Prescott another much-needed weapon.
Denver Broncos: Denver learned the hard way last year that bringing in a big-name QB can’t fix everything — you’ve got to keep him on his feet. By bringing in 49ers offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey on a splashy five-year pact, new head coach Sean Payton can perhaps breathe a little easier. (If not, there’s always new backup Jarrett Stidham.)
Detroit Lions: A one-year, $8-million deal certainly isn’t what star safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson had in mind for himself at the beginning of free agency, but it’s a massive win for the Lions. The most entertaining team to watch in 2022 just got a lot more dynamic in an area they really needed to target.
Green Bay Packers: It’s hard to call the pending departure of the best QB in franchise history a win… but for the sake of closure after what’s been a tumultuous, rumour-filled few off-seasons, it’s clearly the right move for both sides at this point. We gained a lot of clarity last week from Rodgers himself, who declared his intentions to play for the Jets. Now, all that needs to happen is… the actual trade.
Houston Texans: Among a series of smart, veteran-minded moves for Houston, including Case Keenum to mentor the QB selected second overall and Robert Woods as a reliable receiver for the rookie, is a familiar face for new head coach DeMeco Ryans. Defensive back Jimmie Ward, whom Ryans coached in San Francisco, gives a young defence a strong identity and leader.
Indianapolis Colts: It’s safe to assume they’re waiting until the draft to make their moves, but in the meantime signing former 49er Sam Ebukam is a nice addition to a team that likes to build from the trenches out.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacksonville’s no longer in the business of winning off-seasons after Trevor Lawrence made great strides in 2022. Now, it’s about retaining talent — hence the re-signing of
Roy Robert-Harris well before he could sniff free agency after the defensive lineman had a strong finish to the season.
Kansas City Chiefs: In typical Chiefs fashion, Brett Veach wasted no time filling the significant o-line void left behind by the departure of Orlando Brown Jr, signing former Jaguar Jawaan Taylor to a four-year, $80-million deal.
Las Vegas Raiders: It’s hard to see what the Raiders are doing other than assembling a few former Patriots who never took off in New England for Josh McDaniels. Their best move was keeping game-breaking running back Josh Jacobs in the fold, giving new QB Jimmy Garoppolo a reliable run game like he’s used to.
Los Angeles Chargers: Bringing in Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks is a nice addition after the Chargers’ shopping spree last year, but the success of this off-season lies in whether or not the club can convince Auston Ekeler to stay after the star running back requested permission to speak with other teams.
Los Angeles Rams: They won it all in 2021-22, and now they’ve gotta foot the bill. Trading away Jalen Ramsey was a sad and necessary move and while there aren’t any free agency wins in L.A. these days. The hope sits squarely on the shoulders (or, elbow) of Matthew Stafford and the other two pillars of this crumbling team, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald.
Miami Dolphins: Trading for Jalen Ramsey is a huge win not just for Miami but for football fans everywhere. The star cornerback joins a conference stacked with elite quarterbacks. This should be fun.
Minnesota Vikings: The additions of defensive end Marcus Davenport and cornerback Byron Murphy weren’t cheap, but that could just be the cost of repairing a dysfunctional defence.
New England Patriots: In a move that shocked exactly no one, Bill Belichick went shopping for a tight end this off-season. Landing Mike Gesicki gives Mac Jones a reliable target after Jonnu Smith didn’t work out, and JuJu Smith-Schuster’s arrival could set the stage for an offence that might actually be fun to watch for a change.
New Orleans Saints: Derek Carr traded silver for gold when he signed with the Saints, and while that’s a lot of money for a QB who has yet to win a playoff game, it brings consistency to the position for the first time since Drew Brees retired.
New York Giants: The Giants did the football equivalent of shopping in your own closet, re-signing Daniel Jones after his turnaround season in 2022 put the Giants in the playoffs, tagging Saquon Barkley, and bringing back receiver Darius Slayton on an affordable deal.
New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers himself confirmed he intends to start for the Jets in 2023, and while that trade may not be official just yet the signing of his top weapon, Allen Lazard, sets the stage for his arrival… sometime.
Philadelphia Eagles: It’s not easy keeping your core together, and while Howie Roseman had to say goodbye to some really important members of Philly’s Super Bowl defence, bringing centre and key leader Jason Kelce back for 2023 is a victory. The retaining of Darius Slay — who’d said his goodbyes to Eagles fans before the surprise re-signing — and James Bradberry are big wins, too.
Pittsburgh Steelers: You know those signings that you didn’t see coming, and yet once they’re done it makes total sense? That’s cornerback Patrick Peterson to the Steelers, whose long-standing tradition of dynamic defenders continues.
San Francisco 49ers: What’s scarier than San Francisco’s defence? San Francisco’s defence with the addition of former Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. The 49ers lost a few big names in free agency, but shouldn’t lose a step thanks to the addition of Hargrave, who played a major role on Philly’s defence last year.
Seattle Seahawks: After signing a one-year, $3.5-million prove-it deal in Seattle last year, Geno Smith did exactly that. Re-signing Smith to a three-year pact answers a major positional question for the Seahawks, which means they can focus their fifth overall pick (via Denver) on a game-changer at another key position.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Who are the post-Brady Buccaneers, and can they keep contending? A lot of that will depend on whether Baker Mayfield can make the most of his opportunity to start after signing a low-risk, high-reward deal. Bringing longtime Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David back on a $7-million deal helps ensure that as this group undergoes some major adjustments, familiar locker-room leadership remains in place.
Tennessee Titans: New GM Ran Carthon spent the past six seasons with the 49ers, helping build one of the most formidable groups in the game. One of his first moves in free agency was bringing in a familiar face in former 49er Daniel Brunskill, whose versatility should serve Tennessee well as Carthon overhauls his O-line.
Washington Commanders: The Commanders have been building what could be a pretty special defensive line, and keeping 2018 first-rounder Daron Payne in the fold with a long-term deal just days after tagging him is a well-placed investment.
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