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NFL Free Agency Day 1: Biggest Winners & Losers
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- NFL Free Agency Day 1: Biggest Winners & Losers
Monday was the first day of the NFL free agency negotiation window. As usual, it's when all the action happened. Many of the top free agents have already agreed to sign contracts with teams, though, they'll have two days before anything can be finalized. That always leaves room for a change of heart.
Still, with so many deals being agreed to in principle, it's time to break down the biggest winners and losers free agency thus far.
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Winner – Tyler Linderbaum
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Linderbaum seemed like a strong bet to re-sign with the Ravens . Trading for Maxx Crosby may have altered Baltimore 's spending plans. Or, perhaps it was just the fact that the Raiders offered to not just make Linderbaum the highest-paid center in NFL history , Linderbaum inked a contract worth $27 million per season when the previous mark was sitting at just $18M. Talk about resetting a market.
Winner – Malik Willis
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There was some chatter that Willis would top Justin Fields ' two-year, $40 million contract signed last season. He cleared that with ease. Miami inked Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal . Not bad for a player with just six starts to his name. Yet, if the dual-threat QB can live up to Miami's projections, the Dolphins could have a star on their hands.
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Winner – Mike Evans
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It was hard to envision, but Mike Evans left the Buccaneers after 12 seasons. Though, the decision to do so couldn't have been easy, he found a really great opportunity with Kyle Shanahan on the 49ers. He'll step in as a top target for Brock Purdy but he won't have the defense's full attention with the likes of Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle by his side either. Plus, getting over $20 million per season at the age of 32 while coming off a new career-low in production is good value for Evans, even if he's a likely future Hall of Famer.
Winner – Pass-Rushers
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Pass-rushers tend to get paid on the open market. Jaelan Phillips was right not to sign an extension with the Dolphins or with the Eagles after being dealt to Philadelphia for a third-round pick at the trade deadline. Now he joins a playoff team in the Panthers, while also cashing in with a massive four-year, $120 million contract . Not bad for a player who hasn't gotten more than 8.5 sacks in a single season, but the sky could be the limit for the 26-year-old in Carolina.
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Meanwhile, we also saw Boye Mafe become the Trey Hendrickson replacement in Cincinnati . The Bengals signed the 27-year-old to a three-year, $60 million contract. He recorded a career-high nine sacks in 2023, but has gotten just eight since. Then, Washington signed Odafe Oweh away from the Chargers with a four-year, $100 million contract. Oweh has recorded 17.5 sacks in the past two seasons and is a huge get for the Commanders.
Winner – Alec Pierce
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All along, Pierce said he deserved the right to hit the open market after a breakout season where he recorded 1,003 receiving yards while leading the NFL with an average of 21.3 yards per reception. Rightfully so, as Pierce received interest from a large collection of the league, but ultimately opted to build upon his success with the Colts. Although, getting a four-year, $116 million contract surely didn't hurt.
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Winner – Fernando Mendoza
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He's not even on the team yet, but likely No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza ends up as a big winner here after the Raiders solidified their core, especially on offense. Linderbaum is touted as a great fit for Klint Kubiak's offense, which values having an excellent center. Plus, having an elite and experienced center is always good for rookie QBs. The Raiders also got their eventual new franchise QB a new deep threat with Jalen 'Speedy' Nailor who could be primed for a breakout season if given more opportunities than he got behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota .
Winner – Tennessee Titans
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The Titans aren't happy with finishing in the bottom five, and now the new regime is ready to upgrade the roster talent. Tennesee has added multiple starters, including a new target for Cam Ward in 1,000-yard receiver Wan'Dale Robinson. Robert Saleh's defense also got a couple of upgrades too. First they signed John Franklin-Myers away from Denver with a three-year, $63 million contract. He's recorded 14.5 sacks in the past two seasons. They also added 24-year-old cornerback Cor'Dale Flott on a $45 million contract. Three key upgrades to address weak points in Tennessee, and they're all already familiar with the coaching staff .
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Winner – New York Giants
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The Giants may have lost a 1,000-yard receiver in Wan'Dale Robinson , but they didn't flinch. The Giants still managed to get franchise QB Jaxson Dart a new weapon by stealing tight end Isaiah Likely away from the Ravens. Likely had been viewed as the eventual replacement for Mark Andrews in Baltimore, but now he gets a starting job in New York instead.
Winner – Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs are set to have their highest draft pick since making Patrick Mahomes the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Yet, now they've injected a major playmaker into their backfield by signing Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $45 million contract . Walker gives Andy Reid another threat to utilize on all three downs. Plus, the Chiefs made sure to get Travis Kelce back under contract for 2026 too.
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Winner – New York Jets
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Even though their first move of the day took place before free agency kicked off, we still have to note that the Jets picked up Minkah Fitzpatrick , an All-Pro defender, for just a seventh-round pick. But the Jets weren't done adding accomplished players to Aaron Glenn's defense. They also added former All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis on a two-year deal. Both vets will help set the tone in New York.
Winner – Punters
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It was a good day to be a punter. The Giants made Jordan Stout the highest-paid punter in the NFL, bringing him over from Baltimore with John Harbaugh. Stout got a total of $12.3 million over three years. Then, the Saints gave Ryan Wright a four-year, $14 million contract. The Dolphins added to the party by re-signing Jake Bailey to a three-year, $9 million contract. Not bad to boot a ball.
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Loser – Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans
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Saying goodbye to a franchise icon and likely future Hall of Famer like Mike Evans isn't easy. He's spent all 12 seasons of his career with the Buccaneers, becoming the franchise's leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He even won a Super Bowl. Nevertheless, now Bucs fans will have to root for Evans' success in San Francisco for the next three seasons. Tampa Bay did make some underrated signings in Kenneth Gainwell and Alex Anzalone while retaining Cade Otton , but that's still Mike Evans walking out the door.
Loser – Baltimore Ravens
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The Ravens lost several starters, seeing Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely, Dre'Mont Jones, and Jordan Stout to other teams in free agency. Baltimore did sign offensive lineman John Simpson, but he graded just 54th among guards per Pro Football Focus in 2025. We've seen the Ravens get worse since trading for Crosby, but their defense should be a lot better.
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Loser – Alvin Kamara
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Franchise icon Alvin Kamara is being phased out of Kellen Moore's offense in New Orleans . He's coming off a career-low 471 rushing yards and one touchdown to go with 186 receiving yards. Plus, the Saints just signed his replacement by giving Travis Etienne a $52 million contract. Now 30 years old, Kamara may have played his last snap in a Saints uniform.
Loser – Seattle Seahawks
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The Seahawks won a Super Bowl. They've been hemorraging talent ever since. It started by losing offensive coordinator/playcaller Klint Kubiak to the Raiders. Now the players are getting paid to take jobs elsewhere too. Rashid Shaheed remains unsigned, but the Seahawks' chance to run it back has evaporated after watching Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker sign with the Chiefs , where he might be able to add to his Lombardi total.
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Loser – Michael Penix Jr.
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One of free agency's biggest losers when all is said and done may end up being Michael Penix Jr. Recovering from a torn ACL suffered on Nov. 16, now there's a Pro Bowl quarterback joining him in Atlanta after the Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa . After throwing a career-high 15 interceptions last season, Tagovailoa will be highly motivated to not only show the Falcons he's capable of being an elite QB again, but he'll need to boost his value in time to enter the open market again in 2027.
Related: Philadelphia Eagles Have Fielded Trade Offers for Young Pro Bowl Defender
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