Winners and losers from NFL free agency
A busy first week of the NFL offseason is in the books. Dan Wilkins, theScore's senior NFL writer, puts all the action into perspective by picking out the biggest winners and losers around the league so far.
Winner: Centers
Tyler Linderbaum resetting the center market was the lock of the week. A three-time Pro Bowler hitting free agency at age 25 seemed likely to become the highest-paid player at the position by a healthy margin. But nobody quite envisioned the contract he got.
Desperately in need of reinforcements to improve the foundation around presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders were willing to do whatever it took to land the top lineman available. Linderbaum got $27 million per year, marking a staggering 50% increase over Creed Humphrey's previous league record for centers. And as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk points out, the structure of the three-year, $81-million deal effectively makes the entire thing guaranteed.
Other top centers who will soon be in line for contract extensions - Aaron Brewer, Zach Frazier, and eventually Humphrey again - must be thrilled with Linderbaum's payday. (Other franchises, not so much.) The days of teams being able to get bargains on elite center talents are officially over. Las Vegas needed to use a significant amount of cap space this offseason just to reach the NFL's three-year spending floor, and there's a lot to like about the collection of players they added in doing so.
Loser: Maxx Crosby
The Raiders carried out Monday's spending spree under the assumption that Crosby and his $30-million salary would no longer be on the roster. But it looks like he's not going anywhere. The Ravens backed out of the blockbuster trade Tuesday night due to a reported failed physical. Baltimore team doctors were apparently concerned about the long-term outlook for his surgically repaired knee.
It was a devastating turn of events for all parties. The Ravens no longer get the superstar pass-rusher we thought would put their defense over the top, and the Raiders no longer receive a pair of first-round picks that could have accelerated their rebuild. Crosby is the real victim in this saga, though. Not only was he spurned by the kind of Super Bowl contender he'd hoped to find upon seeking a trade out of Las Vegas, but he was effectively labeled damaged goods in the process.
Just because the Ravens declined to green-light his physical doesn't necessarily mean other teams would do the same. But there's no reason for the Raiders to entertain lowball offers from clubs looking to take advantage of this situation. Simply keeping the elite edge rusher also makes sense considering the additional talent he'll now have around him on defense (Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, Kwity Paye, Taron Johnson).
Crosby, to his credit, is making the most of the situation. His viral tweet Wednesday night suggests he's rolling with the punches and has already recommitted himself to the Raiders. Perhaps the 28-year-old will wind up spending his entire career with the Silver and Black after all. The question, then, is whether the roster can be built up quickly enough for him to play meaningful January football while he's in his prime.
Winner: Rams
With all due respect to the Seahawks, there's a real chance that the Rams would be the defending Super Bowl champs if not for a patchwork cornerback room. There was no way Sean McVay and Les Snead were about to let that derail them again in what could be Matthew Stafford's last season.
Going all-in to chase down another title, Los Angeles got aggressive to shore up that all-important position group. Trading for Trent McDuffie was a home-run move to begin those efforts. It cost the Rams four draft picks, including their own late first-rounder in April. They also had to make him the highest-paid corner in football with a four-year, $124-million extension. It's a significant price all around, but it's well within reason for an elite cover man with inside-out versatility.
And the Rams weren't done. Doubling up on former Chiefs defensive backs with Jaylen Watson in free agency was a savvy way to round out the position. The 27-year-old ranked 12th among all corners in passer rating allowed last year, according to PFF, and his 6-foot-2 frame finally adds some size and physicality on the boundary.
I'm not sure this roster has a weakness anymore. And remember, after fleecing the Falcons by trading down during the 2025 draft, L.A. also holds the No. 13 pick this year. With the Seahawks losing a few key defensive players in free agency (Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, Boye Mafe), I think it's fair to consider the Rams the early Super Bowl favorites.
Loser: Cowboys
I have no idea what the Cowboys are doing. In fairness, the widespread backlash to last year's hire of Brian Schottenheimer proved misguided. He's well on his way to being a successful head coach in the NFL, so perhaps we can reserve judgment here.
But this was supposed to be the offseason where Jerry Jones got aggressive to improve the defense. A few big pickups to address clear problem areas could have allowed this unit to put the Micah Parsons trade in the rearview. Stealing Jalen Thompson away from the Cardinals to fill a starting role at safety was a solid move, but that's about all I've got here.
Trading a fourth-round pick to acquire Rashan Gary - who had already posted on social media that the Packers were cutting him (and then said he'd been hacked) - seemed wildly unnecessary. The 28-year-old's pass-rush win rate has steadily declined since his career-best 2021 campaign. Why not keep the pick and sign one of the many available free agents to upgrade the pass rush?
That unit also took a major hit when Dallas traded Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco for a third-round selection Wednesday. One of the expensive contracts on the interior defensive front had to go, and it wasn't going to be Quinnen Williams. It probably should have been Kenny Clark. Releasing the 30-year-old nose tackle before restructuring his deal would have saved the team $20 million in cap space. Trading the 27-year-old Odighizuwa, one of the NFL's most disruptive interior pass-rushers, saves just $4.75 million. Was Jones simply unwilling to cut the veteran he was so happy to land in the Parsons trade? We'll see how the Cowboys use their two first-round picks before drawing any sweeping conclusions, but Dallas' offseason is off to a disappointing start.
Winner: 49ers
The 49ers are setting themselves up to make a run. Landing Osa Odighizuwa from the Cowboys for a third-round pick is an obvious win for a defense that really struggled to get after the quarterback in 2025. The former third-rounder is fourth among interior defensive linemen with 112 pressures over the last two years.
Odighizuwa should be an excellent interior complement to a returning Nick Bosa on the outside. And if Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and CJ West can make the sophomore leap, this group will have no trouble improving on last year's league-low 20-sack output.
Mike Evans should make a similar impact for the offense. The future Hall of Famer still has plenty left in the tank at 32 years old. His ability to win one-on-one matchups on the outside as a true X receiver can help Kyle Shanahan's offense operate at its peak. And with recent reports suggesting that his contract is worth a modest $42.4 million over three years, the 49ers seem to be getting a steal. Evans is evidently focused on winning another ring before he calls it a career, and San Francisco just might give him that opportunity.
Loser: J.J. McCarthy
Kyler Murray is off to Minnesota. And make no mistake, he's there to start.
The Vikings' official message might be that J.J. McCarthy still has an opportunity to compete. That would be easier to believe if they had settled for an older journeyman under center. But this is something of a dream scenario for the cap-strapped Vikings if they want to compete in 2026.
The Cardinals releasing Murray with $36.8 million left on his contract meant he could be scooped up on a one-year, league-minimum deal at $1.3 million. The scheme fit with Kevin O'Connell's offense probably isn't perfect, and Murray's inconsistency was the primary factor in Arizona moving on from a former No. 1 overall pick who is only 28. It wouldn't be the first time that a talented quarterback took off in a more favorable environment, though. And Murray, who's flashed top-12 quarterback play in the past, arguably has more upside than any late-breakout star that's emerged in the last few years.
It's not completely over for McCarthy - a full year on the sidelines could do wonders for his development. And maybe he'll put himself in a position to take over in 2027. But he'll have to be patient. And if Murray helps the Vikings back to the playoffs, performing well enough to earn an extension, McCarthy might need another team to give him a chance.
Winner: Chiefs' offense
I had a feeling that the Chiefs would make some sort of bold move at running back - I just wasn't sure whether they'd pay up for the Super Bowl MVP. The rest of the league might regret letting it happen.
Kenneth Walker III is the perfect addition for Kansas City's offense. People will continue to complain about the state of the receiver room, and I agree - the Chiefs should absolutely make an impact addition there too. But addressing the run game was equally important to get this offense back on track.
The Chiefs have had the foundation for a strong ground game for years, but Isiah Pacheco and an aging Kareem Hunt couldn't offer much upside when it came to turning rushing lanes into explosive plays. Walker's ability to rip off big gains and create yards beyond what's blocked for him should help Kansas City finally maximize an offensive front led by Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey.
And if Walker's presence at last persuades Andy Reid to embrace an under-center run game, the passing game could also get a spark in the form of Patrick Mahomes attacking downfield off play-action.
Loser: Chiefs' defense
The offense might have to do most of the heavy lifting if Kansas City is going to bounce back in 2026, because the defense could be in trouble.
Considering the success the Chiefs have enjoyed during the Andy Reid era - particularly over the last seven years - it's tough to poke holes in their roster-building strategies. Their confidence in their ability to draft and develop impact players in the secondary is well-earned. But this was probably the right year to break precedent and extend a homegrown talent in the defensive backfield for the first time since Eric Berry.
Trading Trent McDuffie, one of the best corners in football, while letting Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook walk out the door in the same offseason feels too risky. I'm intrigued by the potential value in signing Alohi Gilman and Kader Kohou as replacements, and the Chiefs do have a pair of first-round selections in this year's draft. But they also have needs at receiver, tackle, and on the defensive line, so who knows how they'll use those picks? No one should be surprised if the Chiefs' defense takes a sizable step back in 2026.
More things I liked
Commanders go young
I've talked a lot about Washington's failed attempt to build on a surprise NFC title run by trotting out the oldest roster the NFL's seen in decades. It was an absurd series of decisions that yielded unsurprisingly poor results. It's nice to see Adam Peters learning from his mistakes and spending big money to get young talent in the building. Odafe Oweh, Leo Chenal, Nick Cross, and K'Lavon Chaisson are all exciting pieces to help lead a turnaround on defense. And keep an eye on athletic tight end Chig Okonkwo as a dynamic target for Jayden Daniels.
Jets go old
This might sound strange after dumping on the Commanders for their decisions last year, but hear me out: I like what the Jets have done with the roster so far. Does their early free-agent haul have long-term upside? No. But the franchise has five first-round picks over the next two years, so it was always going to rebuild by collecting talent through the draft. After an embarrassing first season under Aaron Glenn, I see the value of signing a few veterans who can provide stability. Geno Smith comes cheap as a bridge quarterback. A better offensive line should give him a real opportunity to bounce back from last year's disaster in Las Vegas. And Minkah Fitzpatrick, Demario Davis, and David Onyemata figure to be excellent leaders for a young defense. Getting this team in position to compete will be a multi-year process. Signing players who can help establish a culture and raise the floor in the short term isn't a bad idea with so many premium picks on the way.
Tennessee turns over the roster
The Titans were unsurprisingly busy in the first week of free agency, doing their best Patriots impression by overhauling the roster around a promising sophomore quarterback. It's unfair to expect the same outlier results, but the overall talent level is trending in the right direction. Jermaine Johnson II, John Franklin-Myers, Alontae Taylor, and Cor'Dale Flott give Robert Saleh four new starters to help him build another strong defense, and Wan'Dale Robinson reunites with Brian Daboll to give Cam Ward a much-needed upgrade at receiver.
Bengals add defensive pieces
Cincinnati probably hasn't been as aggressive as fans wanted, but the team's early moves to address its defensive needs were promising. Boye Mafe is an intriguing replacement for Trey Hendrickson, Jonathan Allen is a solid veteran addition on the interior, and Bryan Cook should be a steadying presence on the back end. One or two rookie starters plus some Year 2 development from the 2025 class could allow this unit to make the necessary strides this fall.
Browns spend big on OL
The Browns' offensive line improved more than any position group across the NFL over the first few days of the offseason. Granted, with all five of their 2025 starters hitting free agency, the bar was on the floor. But credit to the organization for not using the salary cap as an excuse to trot out a disaster group up front. With Tytus Howard, Teven Jenkins, Elgton Jenkins, and Zion Johnson locked in, Cleveland might be a rookie left tackle away from a solid foundation in the trenches for first-year head coach Todd Monken.
More things I didn't like
Colts pay Jones
I touched on this in my instant reaction column during the week, but it bears repeating: The Colts did not have to do this. I understand that they want Daniel Jones to be the guy, and it'll be great for everyone if things shake out that way. But the transition tag, which came with a $37.8-million salary, was bold enough. Indy went a step further, replacing the tender with a two-year, $88-million extension that will see Jones make $50 million in 2026. That's an obscene price to pay for a still-unproven commodity coming off a torn Achilles - particularly when the Colts also (understandably) dished out $29 million per year to keep Alec Pierce. Signing Kyler Murray for the minimum and using that cap space elsewhere would have been a much smarter move for a team with no first-round picks until 2028.
The Cardinals
I really thought the Cardinals would be the team that signed Malik Willis. Paying a decent amount of money for a quarterback based on three starts over the last two years carries plenty of risk, but at least it would have been an exciting pivot from Kyler Murray. If Arizona's plan was to roll with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew while paying Murray anyway, why not keep him for one more year? This team will be a tough watch in its first season under Mike LaFleur.
Bucs don't bolster pass-rush
It's still early in the offseason, so there's no need to overreact, but it would have been nice to see the Buccaneers show some urgency when it comes to their biggest need. Most of the top edge rushers are off the board now, so they're unlikely to find a game-changer in the second or third wave of free agency. Calling the Vikings about Jonathan Greenard might be their best option, but he'll probably cost them a Day 2 pick and an extension that's in line with his market value. Tampa Bay might be content to sit back and see what the draft brings. Jobs will be on the line if the upcoming season goes anything like the last one, though, so it's a dangerous game to play.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.