NFL free agency: 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 Monday.

👉 Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Day 3

🔁 49ers acquire Osa Odighizuwa
Trade terms: Dallas sends DT to San Francisco for 3rd-round pick

I love this move for the 49ers. San Francisco had a clear need for a strong interior pass-rush presence, and that's exactly what they're getting in Odighizuwa. Although the sack numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, the former third-round pick has become one of the NFL's most disruptive players at the position. His 60 pressures in 2024 ranked third, behind only Zach Allen and Chris Jones, and he placed sixth in that metric in 2025, according to PFF.

Odighizuwa's skill set is an ideal addition to round out a San Francisco defensive tackle rotation that includes a pair of promising sophomore run stuffers in Alfred Collins and CJ West. And while the edge group should be in decent shape with Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams returning from injury, I can't help but wonder whether the 49ers might also be planning to pitch Joey Bosa on chasing a title with his brother. A sub-package with Williams kicking inside next to Odighizuwa and the Bosas coming off the edge likely ensures San Francisco avoids a repeat of last year's dreadful sack production.

The contract inherited is also a bit of a value for San Francisco. Odighizuwa received a four-year, $80-million deal to avoid the franchise tag last offseason. That $20 million AAV makes him the 16th highest-paid interior defensive linemen, and the 49ers are only responsible for the remaining $57.75 million over the next three years.

As for the other side of things, this is a bizarre move for the Cowboys. While the position group became a little crowded (and expensive) after last year's deadline deal for Quinnen Williams, it's fair to wonder whether the Jones family let pride prevent them from moving on from 30-year-old Kenny Clark instead. As much as that decision would have been a tough look for the Micah Parsons trade haul, it probably would've made more sense than dumping a 27-year-old impact pass-rusher to clear $4.75 million in cap space.

49ers grade: A
Cowboys grade: D

✍️ Bills sign Bradley Chubb
3-year, $43.5M deal

The Bills needed to upgrade the defensive line, and Chubb is certainly a notable name to fill a role on the edge. We'll see whether being another year removed from his 2023 ACL injury helps him recapture his previous form. His eight sacks in 2025 look decent enough on paper, but the underlying numbers are decidedly less flattering. Chubb finished his age-29 season ranked 82nd among all qualified edge rushers with a 12.8 win rate against true pass sets, according to PFF. Joey Bosa, who he'll be replacing opposite Gregory Rousseau, finished 23rd all the way up at 21.2%.

Again, a bounce-back is absolutely on the table here, and Chubb could very well have some good football left in the tank. The $14.5-million AAV might even seem like a reasonable bet to make in a pricey edge-rush market. But considering his age and injury history, especially after a concerning year, this contract shouldn't have been anything more than a one-year flier following his release from the Dolphins. Chubb getting $29 million guaranteed probably makes the deal in Buffalo a two-season commitment. The cap-strapped Bills spending this kind of money will likely limit their flexibility to keep bolstering the position, which could create a challenge for new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

Grade: C

✂️ Cardinals release Kyler Murray

The Cardinals didn't find a trade partner for Murray before the new league year started Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. On one hand, Arizona opting for a fresh start makes sense - it's been a frustrating few years for the former No. 1 pick. On the other hand, why pay a talented 29-year-old quarterback to play somewhere else when you have no clear path to a promising replacement? Still due $36.8 million in guarantees from the Cardinals, Murray can now sign a league-minimum contract elsewhere. A few teams should be looking to capitalize on this low-risk, high-reward opportunity, including the Steelers, who landed Russell Wilson under the same circumstances back in 2024. But it may only be a matter of time before Murray is on his way to Minnesota to start ahead of J.J. McCarthy.

✍️ Patriots sign Kevin Byard III
1-year, $9M deal

Mike Vrabel's connections continue to pay off. Byard was a coveted free agent after recording a league-best seven interceptions en route to his third career first-team All-Pro nod. It's no surprise that he quickly found his way to New England, reuniting with his old Titans head coach. I can't quite call it a home-run signing, however, because Jaylinn Hawkins is walking out the door as a result. The 28-year-old, who led the Patriots with four interceptions in 2025, agreed to a modest two-year, $10-million deal with the Ravens soon after this signing was reported. Byard turns 33 in September, so there's significantly less long-term upside here. But the Patriots are focused on getting right back to the Super Bowl, and the playmaking ability and leadership Byard brings to the back end should boost their chances.

Grade: B+

🚨 Colts extend Daniel Jones
2-year, $88M deal

Look, I understand the instinct to run it back with Daniel Jones. I really do. The former Giants bust looked like the NFL's next late-breakout star after landing in Indy last year. His much-improved play was a critical factor in the Colts' 8-2 start. After years of cycling through various veteran quarterbacks and then whiffing on the Anthony Richardson pick, they clearly want Jones to be the guy. Maybe he will be. But it's tough to understand how a player coming off a torn Achilles could command this kind of payday based on such a small sample of production.

Desperate as other teams may be for starting-caliber quarterbacks, let's be real: Nobody was swooping in to steal Jones after the Colts used the transition tag. Treating the $37.8-million tender as a one-year, prove-it deal should have been the absolute most Indy was willing to do. Instead, Jones gets an extension that will pay him $50 million before incentives in 2026. And with a max value of up to $100 million, it can become the largest two-year deal in NFL history. That's all based on a 13-game sample from a quarterback who may not be at 100% for Week 1. This deal will look perfectly fine if Jones comes back healthy and plays the way he did over the first two months of the 2025 campaign, but it's quite the gamble.

The numbers become especially shocking when you consider the alternatives. Were the Colts willing to be the least bit bold, they could have let Jones walk and replaced him with Kyler Murray on a league-minimum, $1.3-million deal. It's easy to argue that the dynamic Cardinals castoff offers more upside than Jones without even factoring in the difference in cost. Murray also would have been an intriguing fit in a Shane Steichen offense that once set its sights on building around another dual-threat quarterback. And just think about what Indy could have done to improve the rest of the roster with that much additional cap space. Again, this might work out. But I can't help but feel like the Colts played it too safe - and somehow got finessed at the same time.

Grade: D

🚨 Ravens sign Trey Hendrickson
4-year, $112M deal

Well, that didn't take long. Baltimore reportedly reached a deal with Hendrickson roughly 12 hours after backing out of the Maxx Crosby trade, which will fuel conspiracy theories about Crosby's failed physical. Did the Ravens, knowing they had a path to landing Hendrickson, simply decide at the 11th hour that they'd rather not give up two first-round picks? Remember, this is a team that had never traded a single Day 1 selection for a veteran player. I'm no doctor, but this sure seems like a case of cold feet. At least, that'll be the perception around the NFL.

It's still easy to make the case that this is the better course of action for Baltimore - even though I was high on the Ravens adding Crosby to put their defense over the top, and he's the more impactful player. Hendrickson doesn't match his unparalleled ability to demolish a run game. The former Bengals star is coming off an injury-shortened season of his own, and he's now 31 years old, so there is risk in giving him the same kind of money Crosby was due over the next four years. But a pair of first-rounders was a significant price for a non-quarterback who will be 29 when the 2026 season gets underway. Keeping those picks and still landing a premium pass-rusher - Hendrickson is one year removed from back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons - is a win for the Ravens, even if the rest of the league hates how it went down.

Grade: A-

Day 2

🚨 Ravens back out of Crosby trade

Day 2 of the negotiating window had been relatively quiet until this stunner. The Raiders announced Tuesday evening that the Ravens are backing out of the agreed-upon trade for Maxx Crosby. NFL insiders quickly reported that Baltimore failed the star defensive end on his physical. The fact that the Raiders beat reporters to the punch with a statement tells me they aren't happy with how the process unfolded.

Crosby reportedly underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in January, making the physical an important part of the trade. Oddly enough, Las Vegas' decision to shut him down with two games left seems to have been the catalyst for the longtime face of the franchise quietly pushing for a fresh start. This latest news is a massive development on many fronts. For one, the Ravens are no longer getting the All-Pro-caliber pass-rusher who had the potential to put their defense over the top. However, they could pivot to signing Trey Hendrickson while keeping those two first-round picks. Some might even consider that a net positive.

The trade falling apart is potentially quite a bit more devastating for the Raiders, who started this week by going on a free-agent shopping spree. Though they still have more than enough cap space to process those deals and retain Crosby's contract for the time being, they executed their strategy with that extra $30 million in mind. Losing out on any free-agent agreements while sorting out the next steps would be a crushing blow for Las Vegas.

And then there's the most important part of this whole thing: What are the Raiders going to get for Crosby now? That pair of first-round picks, starting with the No. 14 overall selection this year, was a dream haul for a long-suffering team finally trying to rebuild the right way. Crosby will surely still want to be moved, and there may be other clubs willing to green-light the physical at this early stage of his rehab. The Bears come to mind. But many potential suitors have already been busy spending money elsewhere. Any team re-engaging in negotiations will look to take advantage of an unprecedented situation and push to get Crosby at a discount. With that in mind, it's tough to imagine the Raiders getting anything close to that initial haul elsewhere. We'll see what the next few days bring, but the outlook for the rebuild project in Las Vegas could now be decidedly less promising.

✍️ Eagles sign Riq Woolen
1-year, $15M deal

Howie Roseman can't keep getting away with this. It's possible that I had been overrating Woolen's value, but come on. No boundary cornerback allowed fewer than his 0.5 yards per man-coverage snap last season, and he led all players at the position with a 31.3% completion rate allowed in such opportunities, according to Next Gen Stats. Woolen was a key piece of Seattle's Super Bowl-winning defense, and he offers a truly rare combination of size and speed at only 26 years old. Since when do players like this not cash in on the open market?

A one-year, prove-it deal feels like a ridiculous steal for the Eagles. It probably won't take long for the rest of the league to realize the mistake, as Woolen stepping in alongside Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean gives Philly the clear best cornerback room in the game. Add another edge rusher to the mix, and Vic Fangio might have this defense right up there with the Seahawks and Texans.

Grade: A+

💰 Browns remodel offensive line

I really wasn't sure whether the Browns could pull it off. Cleveland appeared to enter the offseason facing a nightmare scenario on the offensive line. All five starters from last year's group were headed for free agency, and there wasn't exactly a ton of cap space available to replace them. Well, we're two days in, and the Browns already have four of the five spots filled. Last week's trade for Tytus Howard locked in a capable right tackle, Monday's signing of Zion Johnson brought in an ascending left guard, and Tuesday's return of Teven Jenkins fills the opening at right guard.

And then came my favorite move of the bunch: scooping up Elgton Jenkins to play center. I'm assuming the two-time Pro Bowler's release from the Packers was strictly a financial decision, because he can still play at a high level. This is a pretty exciting haul for the Browns, as they're suddenly not far away from having the infrastructure in place to support a young quarterback. Get a left tackle and a receiver with those two first-round picks, and Todd Monken could soon have this offense headed back in the right direction.

Grade: A

✍️ Patriots sign Romeo Doubs
4-year, $70M deal

Drake Maye might have himself a new go-to target. Doubs isn't the flashiest addition to the receiver room, but it's important to look beyond the raw statistical production in this case. Although the former fourth-rounder topped out at 724 yards across his first four seasons, that was largely a result of Green Bay effectively spreading the ball around. There's some WR2 upside here; Doubs is a good route-runner who's strong at the catch point. Considering his ability to make plays either on the boundary or over the middle, a contract that's in line with earlier deals for receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Rashid Shaheed feels like a win for the Patriots. Will they double up on big moves at the position with a trade for A.J. Brown?

Grade: A-

🔁 Jets trade for Geno Smith
Trade terms: Las Vegas sends QB, 7th-round pick (No. 228) to New York for 6th-round pick (No. 208)

How's this for a reunion? It's fascinating to see Smith find his way back to New York a decade after being run out of town and written off as a draft bust. The Jets were in the market for a veteran bridge quarterback, and Smith is a more appealing option than last year's circus in Las Vegas might suggest. It's not unreasonable to imagine that a better offensive line situation might help him get back to the player he was across three years as the starter in Seattle. Nobody would have stood much of a chance with the disastrous Raiders unit.

Expectations shouldn't be too high, though, as the Jets' roster is nowhere close to being ready to compete. I also have some major questions about the coaching staff, and they were not answered by Aaron Glenn pivoting to Frank Reich as his offensive coordinator heading into Year 2. But New York only had so many options at quarterback with Kyler Murray likely set on playing for a contender. A 20-spot pick swap late on Day 3 is a small price to pay for a chance at some semblance of offensive stability. And with the Raiders reportedly eating the majority of the contract, the Jets are only on the hook for a salary slightly above the veteran minimum. Why not?

Grade: B

✍️ Texans sign Braden Smith
2-year, $20M deal

The Texans entered the offseason in desperate need of reinforcements on the offensive line. It was a surprise, then, to see Houston trade away arguably the best returning player from that group. But Smith is a strong replacement for the departed Tytus Howard. The longtime Colts lineman could either challenge Trent Brown and Blake Fisher for the starting job at right tackle or kick inside to provide a much-needed upgrade at left guard. It's been a while, but the 29-year-old did play on the interior back at Auburn. Either way, adding a proven starter for $10 million per year seems like excellent value in an inflationary offensive line market. For comparison, Howard received a three-year, $63-million extension as part of the trade to Cleveland.

Grade: B+

Day 1

✍️ Patriots sign Alijah Vera-Tucker
3-year, $42M deal

Vera-Tucker was, in my mind, one of the more interesting free agents available this year. He'd been an impact player when healthy during a five-year stint with the Jets. The former first-rounder also offers the versatility to play any position across the offensive front. Injuries have been a consistent theme, though, as a completely lost 2025 campaign marks the third season in which Vera-Tucker has missed significant time. In total, he's sat out 42 of 85 games during his NFL career. The clear risk impacts the grade a bit here, but I still love the upside. A $14 million AAV will end up looking like quite the value if he can manage to stay on the field. Vera-Tucker slotting in at left guard - between a pair of developing sophomores in left tackle Will Campbell and center Jared Wilson - could stabilize the offensive line in front of Drake Maye.

Grade: B

✍️ Panthers sign Devin Lloyd
3-year, $45M deal

This might be the biggest steal of the day. Maybe I'm getting carried away with Lloyd's recent ascent - teams could very well be worried about the chances of him ever coming close to the second-team All-Pro production he provided in Jacksonville last season. But relatively small samples of high-level play have never stopped teams from swinging big on the open market before. At just 27, the former first-round pick seemed like a contender to push for $20 million per year. Instead, he lands in Carolina on a deal that will pay him $15 million annually.

It's still a decent chunk of change, but the $17-million average Zack Baun received in a similar free-agent situation last year probably should have been the starting point. Lloyd's $15-million mark is closer to the deal Quay Walker is getting in Las Vegas than it is to the late-breakout Eagles linebacker. That's outstanding value for Carolina. And from a football perspective, adding Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips mere hours apart dramatically changes the makeup of what had previously been an underwhelming front seven.

Grade: A

💰 Titans follow the Patriots model

The Raiders aren't the only team throwing cash around on the first day of free agency. I had my eye on the Titans as a likely big spender, and they have not disappointed. The idea? Take advantage of a unique cap situation and get aggressive to turn over the roster around your promising sophomore quarterback. It's a risky way to go about stockpiling talent, but what choice do you have when there's so much work to be done on the roster and such limited time with an affordable rookie QB contract? Mike Vrabel and the Patriots proved last year that there's a way to make it work with the right incoming players.

Can the Titans recreate that magic under a defensive-minded second-time head coach of their own in Robert Saleh? That's a tough ask. As was the case with the Raiders, a few of these contracts (Robinson, Taylor) are quite a bit more expensive than I was expecting. But I love the aggressiveness to completely overhaul the cornerback room with three solid additions. Franklin-Myers is a supremely underrated interior rusher who should feast lined up next to All-Pro Jeffery Simmons and Jermaine Johnson, and Robinson will be a target machine for Cam Ward. It's a solid start to get a barren roster moving in the right direction.

Grade: B+

✍️ Steelers sign Rico Dowdle
2-year, $12.5M deal

Getting Dowdle for a fraction of the cost of this year's top free-agent running backs represents a really nice value signing for the Steelers. The 27-year-old proved last season in Carolina that his 2024 breakout was no fluke, again topping the 1,000-yard mark on 4.6 yards per carry. He and Jaylen Warren, who were each among the NFL's top 13 backs by rush yards over expected in 2025, should be a strong tandem to lead the backfield in new head coach Mike McCarthy's offense. Keep an eye on Kaleb Johnson, last year's third-round pick, as a potential trade candidate in the coming weeks. The Iowa product will be buried on the depth chart now, and the scheme fit isn't as clean with Pittsburgh transitioning away from Arthur Smith's wide-zone run game.

Grade: A

✍️ Seahawks sign Rashid Shaheed
3-year, $51M deal

Seattle swinging a deal for Shaheed ended up being the best move of last year's trade deadline. His electric playmaking skills showed up in some critical moments on offense, and he also chipped in three special-teams scores after coming over from the Saints. Shaheed's $17-million AAV may seem a little pricey for a player who has never posted more than 719 yards in a season, but his ability to stretch the field is such a perfect fit with Sam Darnold that I'm expecting his production to tick up in his first full season with the Seahawks. The 27-year-old will continue to provide an excellent complement to Jaxon Smith-Njigba while also moonlighting as the NFL's most dangerous return man. All in all, a strong piece of business for the defending champs.

Grade: A-

💰 Raiders spending spree

The Raiders spent as much money as any other team in the first six hours of the negotiating window, and it makes sense. Not only was this roster in need of a substantial overhaul, but Las Vegas is obligated to use the vast majority of its $130 million in cap space just to reach the NFL's three-year spending floor.

Admittedly, there aren't many value adds in that haul. The Linderbaum deal, as I explained earlier, blows the center market out of the water. And I would argue the Walker contract is a bit of an overpay for a linebacker who does his best work in the run game. But the encouraging thing here is that this appears to be a team that now understands its timeline after last year's wake-up call. The money spent was always going to be secondary to the desperate need for an influx of young talent. Linderbaum, Walker, and Dean are still only 25, while Nailor, Paye, Koonce, and Stokes are all 27. It'll take some time, not to mention plenty of success in the draft, but the Raiders finally committing to rebuilding the right way could pay off in the long run.

Grade: B+

✍️ 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-

✍️ 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+

✍️ Broncos re-sign J.K. Dobbins
2-year, $16M deal

There were some rumblings about the Broncos taking a big swing at running back in free agency. I certainly would have been on board with that strategy given how the run game struggled down the stretch this year, but there was no need to meet the price tag for Kenneth Walker or Travis Etienne when they could simply re-sign one of the league's most underrated running backs at a more modest rate. Dobbins was an excellent addition to Denver's backfield in 2025, racking up 772 yards on 5 yards per carry before having to undergo Lisfranc surgery in November. The extensive injury history is a concern here, but that's baked into the cost and contract length. Dobbins can be a star with some better injury luck working behind an excellent Broncos offensive line.

Grade: A

✍️ 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

✍️ 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-

🚨 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-

✍️ 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+

✍️ 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

✍️ 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-

🚨 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-

🔁 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

✍️ 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

🚨 Chiefs sign Kenneth Walker
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

✍️ 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-

✍️ 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+

🔁 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+

🔁 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-

🔁 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+

🚨 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.