Best and Worst NFL Free Agents Moves SO FAR

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 3/10/2026

Best Moves

Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig/ Getty Images

- Tyler Linderbaum - Raiders

3yr/ $81 Million

Spending 27 Million a year on a Center is unheard of and $9 Million per year more than the next highest but Linderbaum is worth it. Especially to a team like the Raiders that has struggled to build an O-line and has a Franchise RB to build around.

Linderbaum was a Captain for Baltimore's O-line for years and now comes to Vegas as THE captain. As a zone run blocker, no one's better in the league. As a pass blocker, he's also Top-5 for his position. I have a feeling Vegas isn't done with their O-line just yet but even now they have improved this group ten-fold.

- Alijah Vera-Tucker - Patriots

3yr/ $42 Million

The Patriots were always going to build their O-line this offseason after being exposed in the Super Bowl and they ended up getting the best Guard at a bargain price. That's called excellent General Managing.

Vera-Tucker was good but not great as a Jet but likely just needs a new change of scenery since he was... ya know a Jet. Vera Tucker is a large and powerful pass blocking Guard who should immediately slot in as a starter and allow the Patriots to choose the best between Onwenu and Wilson moving forward. Now do they still go after a Tackle..?

- Rashid Shaheed - Seahawks

3yr/ $51 Million

Shaheed turned the Seahawks' offense and Special Teams deadly after their Trade Deadline move and took the top off of defenses. Alongside JSN, Shaheed adds a dynamic to this offense that is crucial now that they don't have Kenneth Walker anymore.

Shaheed is a playmaker flat-out, and for $17 Million a year he's a bargain too. As the #2 or #3 Wide Receiver on the market, the Seahawks signed him for $12 Million less than what the Colts signed Alec Pierce for. This move will keep the Seahawks offense almost identical to it's second half last season and for that alone this deal is more than worth it.

- Devin Lloyd - Panthers

3 yr/$45 Million

The Panthers splashed right away during the Tampering period and went after 2 Linebackers at the very top of the market. Defense was always going to be where they went after and while I have my thoughts on their other signing, this one is perfect.

Lloyd was always a great downhill-backer in Jacksonville and in 2025 made leaps and bounds in pass coverage as well. I'm not quite comfortable enough to say he's Top-5 in the league just yet but I'd say he's Top-10, and for $15 Million a year he's getting paid as if he was Top-20 to anchor this defense.

- Tua Tagovailoa - Falcons

1yr/ $1.3 Million

Alright this is definitely debatable because Tua is... well he's Tua. But he's still an undeniable veteran of the league with multiple-20+ TD seasons and will be a better backup QB than Kirk Cousins undoubtedly.

Michael Penix Jr is recovering from ACL-surgery and is considered questionable to be ready to return by Week 1. For $1.3 Million, the Falcons got a competent and accurate starting QB who could hold it down until Penix returns or if he gets injured some time along the way too.

Worst Moves

Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack/ Associated Press

- Alec Pierce - Colts

4yr/ $116 Million

So as an admitted Colts fan I think Alec Pierce is a great receiver but $29 Million is too much especially for a team that is hurting for Cap Space. Pierce has never caught 50+ catches in a season and now will be WR1 alongside Josh Downs after they traded Pittman Jr.

This move is a calculated risk for the Colts as they prepare to go forward behind Daniel Jones. Besides the money which is too much, the biggest reason for this move being "bad" is it's lasting effect when extending others on the roster, such as Josh Downs next season and the cap casualties like Zaire Franklin and Braden Smith they've already let go of.

- Jaelen Phillips - Panthers

4 yr/ $120 Million

On paper, this makes sense, especially for a Panthers team that needed Defense this offseason both off-ball and on the Edge. Phillips is probably the best OLB-rusher of this Free Agent class so garnering $30 Million a year is right for the demand but let's look deeper.

Phillips has torn his ACL twice so there's that. He was sharp in 2025 afterwards which is a good sign but two ACL-tears is a huge deal. Second of all, his sack total has decreased in every season he's played, from 8.5 to 7 to 6.5 to 5 last season. Phillips is a good rusher and when healthy could be the Panthers' best rusher but comes with way too many red flags to grab this kind of deal and be expected to captain this defense for 4 years.

- Odafe Oweh - Commanders

4/yr $100 Million

Like the Phillips move, this one was needed for the Commanders who don't have any Defensive Ends on their roster worth anything right now. Oweh was a solid rotational Edge in Baltimore that clearly isn't needed anymore after they secured Maxx Crosby.

So now he becomes a huge piece of the Bengals' defense we all know needs A LOT of help so this is a good start to the rebuild. Thing is, good starts usually don't come with a $100 Million contract. Oweh got 10 sacks 2 seasons ago and 7.5 this year as a Charger but his move to Washington will make the first time he's asked to be a 4-3 DE instead of a 3-4 OLB. While I believe he will make this transition, the whole move just stinks of the Bengals trying to buy someone for their defense and not thinking it through all the way.

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-Z.D. (@DrapeauZak on Twitter)