NFL free agency - Day 1: Instant analysis and grades for all major moves
The NFL offseason is kicking into high gear. Follow along for live analysis and grades of all major transactions over the course of the league's free-agent negotiation period, which opened today at noon ET.
Day 1
π Falcons sign Tua Tagovailoa
1-year, $1.3M deal
Landing Tagovailoa on a veteran minimum deal will be seen as incredible value in some corners. I understand the logic: Atlanta is effectively getting an experienced starter at the NFL's most expensive (and important) position for free. And I'll absolutely take that stance when Kyler Murray finds his next home. But this situation is a bit different. Given the way Tua's play dropped off during his last season in Miami, it's not clear whether he's still a starting-caliber player. It's obviously a low-risk move - and sure, maybe he's simply coming aboard to provide insurance at the position. But considering he agreed to the deal this soon after Monday's release from the Dolphins, and Michael Penix Jr. is spending his offseason recovering from ACL surgery, I would bet that Tagovailoa enters the season as the starter. That's not going to help the Falcons compete this year, no matter how cheap his contract is.
Grade: C-
Commanders sign Odafe Oweh
4-year, $100M deal
The Commanders get on the board with a potentially massive addition to the defensive front. Making Oweh one of the 12 highest-paid edge rushers in the game is a gamble that he'll maintain the level of play he displayed after a midseason trade to the Chargers. The contract is a little rich for my liking considering his relatively underwhelming track record beforehand. This will be tough to swallow if his breakout ultimately proves to be unsustainable contract-year magic. But Oweh always had this kind of potential as a disruptive pass-rusher off the edge, so I don't hate the bet. If the second half of last season truly was a sign of things to come, a $25-million AAV with four years of control will wind up looking like a steal in an edge-rush market that currently peaks at $46.5 million.
Grade: B-
βοΈ Bengals sign Bryan Cook, Boye Mafe
Cook: 3-year, $42.5M deal
Mafe: 3-year, $60M deal
It seemed like the Bengals had no choice but to make some big moves on defense this offseason. Then again, you never really know with this team, so I wasn't about to get my hopes up. Cincinnati landing Cook and Mafe on the first day of the negotiating period is a pleasant surprise. Cook is a versatile safety who can make an impact either as a deep cover man or coming downhill in run support. The roster needed all the help it could get in both of those areas. Mafe adds some much-needed explosiveness to replace the departing Trey Hendrickson on the edge. He only had two sacks with the Seahawks in 2025, but it's reasonable to expect his production to take off in a lead pass-rush role. The notoriously conservative Bengals got quite a bit better on defense in the first few hours of free agency. Will they stay aggressive in the days and weeks to come?
Grade: B+
π Saints sign David Edwards
4-year, $61M deal
As you can see below, I wasn't a huge fan of the Saints spending big money on Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency. My feelings about this move in the trenches are the complete opposite. Arguably the top available guard, Edwards was a key component of an elite Bills offensive line for each of the last two years. With recent top picks Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga at tackle, and veteran duo Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz still in place on the interior, Edwards is the final piece of what could soon be one of the league's best offensive lines. We've seen what Kellen Moore is capable of doing when he's got a solid foundation up front (even if this group may not be on the same level as the dominant unit he had during his offensive coordinator stint with the Eagles). Tyler Shough and his group of playmakers, Etienne included, should be set up for success in 2026.
Grade: A
βοΈ Rams sign Jaylen Watson
3-year, $51M deal
I'm circling back to this one after a wild start to Monday because it shouldn't go overlooked that the Rams made another splash in the secondary. Their cornerback room got exposed in a big way down the stretch last season, ultimately playing a significant role in their heartbreaking loss in the NFC title game. Les Snead and Sean McVay aren't about to let that happen again. Last week's trade for Trent McDuffie was the perfect first step to shore up that problem area, and going back to the well of former Chiefs defensive backs is an excellent way to round out the new-look group. Watson is coming off a strong 2025 season in which he ranked 12th among all qualified corners with a 69.0 passer rating allowed. He finally brings some size and physicality to the position on the outside, and getting him for quite a bit less than Alontae Taylor's $20 million per year is impressive value for the potential Super Bowl favorites.
Grade: A-
π¨ 49ers sign Mike Evans
3-year, $60.4M deal
It'll take some time to get used to seeing Evans in another uniform. The potential Hall of Famer is on the move after an incredible 12-year career in Tampa Bay, and he's a fascinating fit with the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan's offense becomes more difficult to defend with a true X receiver on the outside - think back to what he did with Julio Jones in Atlanta. Evans won't produce at that level at this point in his career, but he remains a tremendous difference-maker when healthy. His ability to win one-on-one matchups on the outside could mirror Davante Adams's impact upon landing in Los Angeles last year. And the 49ers managed to get Evans at a cheaper annual rate than the Rams did their veteran star. This feels like a perfect all-in move for a team that has a real chance to win now.
Grade: A-
βοΈ Saints sign Travis Etienne
4-year, $52M deal
I don't understand this one from the Saints' perspective. Etienne set himself up for a nice payday with a strong season in Jacksonville, but did anyone expect he'd become the NFL's seventh highest-paid running back at $13 million per year? As I saw it, Etienne should have been the cheaper alternative for teams that missed out on Kenneth Walker. It's a bit rich that this deal is so close to the Super Bowl MVP's new contract with the Chiefs - it's even got an extra year. And that's before considering that the Saints are likely still a season away from competing. Etienne may not be the kind of game-changer who can accelerate that process. Why not spend their limited cap space elsewhere?
Grade: D+
βοΈ Titans sign Wan'Dale Robinson
4-year, $78M
Everyone saw this move coming a mile away. Robinson was poised to cash in after taking his game to another level in his final season with the Giants. Formerly something of a short-area merchant, his improved production at the deeper areas of the field led to his first career 1,000-yard season. The Titans had lots of money available to address their glaring need at receiver, and Brian Daboll arrived as offensive coordinator after four years in New York, creating an obvious connection with Robinson. I don't love the price at $19.5 million per year - it blows away the Khalil Shakir deal ($13.25M AAV) that seemed like a logical starting point for a rising slot-only receiver. Like the Raiders, however, the Titans were in a position to spend big. The offense needs all the help it can get at the skill positions, and Robinson provides a meaningful upgrade to Cam Ward's cast of playmakers.
Grade: B
βοΈ Raiders sign Tyler Linderbaum
3-year, $81M deal
Linderbaum has blown the roof off the center market. This morning, Creed Humphrey was the NFL's highest-paid player at the position at $18 million per year. The Raiders giving Linderbaum a deal with an annual average of $27 million represents a stunning 50% increase over the previous record. That pulls down the grade quite a bit, but Las Vegas does have a truly ridiculous amount of cap space after freeing up another $30 million with the Maxx Crosby trade. The front office could find worse ways to spend that money than ensuring projected top pick Fernando Mendoza has a solid foundation up front. Adding Linderbaum is an important step in that direction, and the three-time Pro Bowler's athleticism should be a great fit for Klint Kubiak's wide-zone run game.
Grade: B-
π¨ Dolphins sign Malik Willis
3-year, $67.5M deal
Miami has its new quarterback. Willis appeared to be a likely and logical fit with new head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan coming over from Green Bay. I admittedly wasn't sure whether the Dolphins would be able to justify spending big money at the position with Tua Tagovailoa's release leaving behind a record $99 million in dead money. Willis' market wasn't as competitive as some were expecting, though. The contract might seem a little pricey for a player with such limited experience, but it easily could have been a lot bigger based on the flashes he showed in spot duty for the Packers. A deal topping the $20-million AAV Justin Fields received last year with the Jets is a perfectly reasonable gamble on the former second-rounder joining the growing list of late-breakout stars at the most important position in football.
Grade: A-
π Steelers trade for Michael Pittman Jr.
Trade terms: Indianapolis sends WR to Pittsburgh for late-round pick swap
The Steelers finally have a No. 2 receiver. Trading for Pittman isn't the most exciting way to fill that spot, as his production trended downward over the last two years in Indianapolis. His 784 yards last season represents his lowest total since his rookie campaign in 2020. In that sense, this feels like yet another Band-Aid move by an organization that remains in denial of the obvious need to rebuild. The grade has to reflect that. That said, Pittman is still only 28 years old and could conceivably enjoy a bounce-back season as a reliable possession target opposite DK Metcalf. The trade compensation is negligible, and the three-year, $59-million extension reportedly handed out as part of the deal is fair value in an exploding receiver market. It's a reasonable gamble. The risk, knowing this organization, is that Pittman is the Steelers' only major addition at receiver. That would be a mistake.
Grade: C
βοΈ Panthers sign Jaelan Phillips
4-year, $120M deal
The Panthers aren't messing around. The industry seemed to expect the Eagles would find a way to re-sign Phillips - and that was likely the plan after Howie Roseman gave up a third-round pick for him at the deadline - but Philly was never going to match this kind of money. Carolina addresses a pass-rush need with a deal that makes Phillips the NFL's eighth highest-paid edge defender at $30 million per year. Injuries have prevented the former first-rounder from fully capitalizing on his potential, and his play did tail off down the stretch in 2025. But he still finished the year with a career-high 73 pressures, good for ninth among the league's top performers at the position. Expensive as the contract may be, Phillips' arrival could help Carolina's defense take the next step.
Grade: B
π¨ Chiefs sign Kenneth Walker III
3-year, $43.05M deal
This is a major splash for the Chiefs. While many people would argue against paying up for a running back, particularly when a team has so many needs elsewhere on the roster, how can you not love the fit? Kansas City will no longer trot out a middling backfield that fails to make the most of a favorable situation. Walker, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, is a true home-run hitter. He represents a massive upgrade over what the team has gotten from Isiah Pacheco and an aging Kareem Hunt over the last few years. Being able to move the ball on the ground with some semblance of consistency will go a long way toward getting the Chiefs' offense back on track. Crucially, this also ensures Patrick Mahomes won't have to do everything himself in the early stages of returning from his torn ACL.
Grade: A
βοΈ Colts re-sign Alec Pierce
4-year, $116M deal
The Colts evidently weren't going to be outbid for Pierce, and the final numbers are jarring. At $29 million per season, Pierce tops Tee Higgins to become one of the 10 highest-paid receivers in football. That's quite the feat for a receiver whose 47 catches and 1,003 yards in 2025 set new career highs, even though those numbers pale in comparison to established superstar wideouts' statistics. But his raw production doesn't tell the full story. Pierce has quietly become one of the league's most effective big-play receivers, leading all receivers in yards per catch over each of the last two seasons. Still an ascending player at 25 years old, this deal is more a reflection of where he's headed than what he's produced to this point. Keeping Pierce was a must if the Colts are going to set Daniel Jones up for success.
Grade: B-
βοΈ Chiefs re-sign Travis Kelce
No surprises here. Kelce was technically scheduled to be a free agent, and some recent reports indicated he was planning to talk to other teams once he hit the market. Yeah, sure. Kelce was never going to play for anyone other than the Chiefs, and news that he intended to return to Kansas City came down near the start of the negotiating period. Not only does he have the rare opportunity to play an entire Hall of Fame career in one uniform, but this was also his best chance of going out with another Super Bowl. The 36-year-old evidently has a little juice left in the tank, too: He finished the 2025 season ranked third among all tight ends with 851 receiving yards.
Grade: B+
π Cowboys acquire Rashan Gary
Trade terms: Green Bay sends DE to Dallas for 2027 4th-round pick
An announcement shared on Gary's Instagram account over the weekend suggested he was being released by the Packers. The post was quickly taken down, though, and reporters soon chimed in to say he was hacked. Who's buying that? Gary's pass-rush win rate dropped in each of the past four seasons, according to PFF. The opportunity for the Packers to save $19.5 million in cash commitments made him a likely cut candidate. With that in mind, the Cowboys giving up a fourth-rounder seems like a clear overpay. Gary fills a need on the edge, and the 29-year-old could bounce back with a fresh start. But it'll be a bit of a disappointment if this ends up being Dallas' only big move to round out the defensive front.
Grade: D+
π Jets acquire Minkah Fitzpatrick
Trade terms: Miami sends safety to New York for 2026 7th-round pick
Miami's new leadership is in the process of tearing down the roster, so it was only a matter of time before Fitzpatrick was shipped out. The only surprise here - and it may have been an unpleasant one for the veteran safety - is that he wasn't scooped up by a contender. Fitzpatrick's leadership will be invaluable for a young New York defense, and his playmaking ability is a welcome addition for a unit that somehow finished the 2025 campaign without a single interception. And it's not like this is a reckless, short-sighted move on the Jets' part. The draft compensation is effectively nothing, and the extension Fitzpatrick reportedly got as part of the deal - three years, $40 million - puts him 13th among NFL safeties in terms of average salary. That's good value for a three-time All-Pro who is still only 29 years old.
Grade: B-
π Raiders acquire Taron Johnson
Trade terms: Buffalo sends CB, 7th-round pick to Las Vegas for 6th-round pick
The Raiders and Bills kept the trade fun going late Sunday night, agreeing to a deal that sends veteran cornerback Taron Johnson to Las Vegas for a late-round pick swap. Buffalo announced Johnson's release at the end of last week, so this is effectively Las Vegas's way of beating other interested teams to the punch. The fit is a bit curious, as the Raiders should probably be focused on adding young talent that might match their eventual competitive timeline. The 29-year-old should have a few good seasons left in the tank, though. And since the Raiders have more cap space than any other team, it's tough to argue against picking up a $8.67-million cap hit for one of the best reliable slot defenders in football.
Grade: C+
π¨ Last week's blockbusters
A few teams got an early start on their offseason business last week. Maxx Crosby is headed to the Ravens in a blockbuster deal that sends a pair of first-round picks back to the Raiders, the Rams are addressing their need at corner by acquiring Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs, and the Bills are swinging big with an aggressive deal to acquire DJ Moore from the Bears. Click here for a full breakdown of all three deals.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.