The Raiders came into this week with one of the most hyped young coaches in Klint Kubiak and Fernando Mendoza soon to be on their roster. While that’s a nice starting point, surrounding the IU quarterback with a strong supporting cast was the key to their free agency. So far, they’ve added the class’s top center in Tyler Linderbaum, traded for Taron Johnson, and brought in a pair of former Georgia linebackers in Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean. They also re-signed Eric Stokes, who was quietly one of the league’s better defensive backs in 2025, and managed to trade away Geno Smith for draft capital. Inking Malcolm Koonce also offers them another QB hunter in ‘26. They admittedly committed a lot of money to Jalen Nailor and Kwity Paye, but overpaying early raises a team’s floor. The Ravens shockingly backed out of the Maxx Crosby deal following a failed physical. For better or worse, that does improve the Raiders’ defensive line in the short-term. Don’t be surprised to see fans drink the Raiders Kool-Aid this summer.
Loser: New York Jets
The Jets have made an effort this offseason to patch up their quarterback situation, but their solutions have hardly been inspiring. Aside from still rostering Justin Fields, they traded a late round pick to reunite with Smith. Guards John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker both walked, and they failed to add any meaningful receiving option. They’ve yet to agree to a long-term deal with Breece Hall, either. Defensive additions David Onyemata (33) and Demario Davis (37) are signings that a competing team might make, not a rebuilding team. Minkah Fitpatrick could prove to be a star in the defensive backfield with his versatility, and I do like the Dane Belton signing. Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai are not inspiring edge options, however, and Nahshon Wright was the team’s lone cornerback addition. While he’s a ball hawk, he also allowed 8 touchdowns this season. The NFL Draft will be the time for the Jets to make significant upgrades towards the team’s future, but they set a very old and uninspiring baseline.
Winner: L.A. Rams
Free agency is a time to find immediate fixes for a team’s roster, and the Rams had one major need: cornerback. They sent a package of draft picks centered around the 29th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, who they subsequently paid $31 million a year. They stuck with the Chiefs theme, signing Jaylen Watson as well. They additionally re-signed standout safety Kam Curl. Emmanuel Forbes will be on the roster next season, but it appears midseason addition Roger McCreary and veteran Akhello Witherspoon will have new homes next season. For a team looking to compete while Matt Stafford is still under center, the Rams have done an excellent job, all while retaining their 13th pick in the upcoming draft.
Loser: L.A. Chargers
The Chargers went into the offseason with some of the most cap space of any team, and they haven’t able to do much with it. Odafe Oweh left for a $100 million payday, and the team instead opted to retain Khalil Mack on a one-year contract. Zion Johnson inked a contract with the Browns, and Cole Strange was signed to replace him, a rather significant downgrade. Tyler Biadacz will be a solid center for the duration of his three-year contract, but relying on Strange to one side and Trevor Penning to his other to protect Justin Herbert wouldn’t be an upgrade. Alec Ingold is a nice addition at fullback, and Charlie Kolar went from Harbaugh to Harbaugh after four years with the Ravens. There are some decent moves, but it has thus far been disappointing from the former San Diego squad.
Winner: New York Giants
The Giants have been a way-too-early longshot playoff team for the 2026 season. The Patriots went from a 4-13 record to a Super Bowl appearance thanks to a last place record and exciting young QB, so to think the Giants could make the playoffs this season isn’t unreasonable. The Giants hired a veteran head coach in John Harbaugh, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he brought in some of his own players. Former Ravens Pat Ricard, Isaiah Likely, Ar’Darius Washington, and Jordan Stout were all brought in. Even Jermaine Eluemunor, who entered the league as a fifth-round pick by Harbaugh’s Ravens, was re-signed. Aside from Stout, All-Pro kicker Jason Sanders was signed to replace the constantly injured Graham Gano. Defensive additions Tremaine Edmunds and Greg Newsome are two of my favorite additions across free agency in general. The team saved money with the releases of James Hudson and Bobby Okereke too.
Loser: Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals’ defense was one of the league’s worst last season, only allowing fewer points than the Cowboys. They’ve made an effort to improve the unit thus far through the additions of Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook, but neither are particularly inspiring adds. Mafe finished 2025 with only two sacks, but earned himself a 3-year deal worth $60 million. The departure of Trey Hendrickson and Ossai signing with the Jets necessitated an addition, but between Mafe and former first-rounders Shemar Stewart and Myles Murphy, the Bengals top three edge defenders totaled just 8.5 sacks last season. On the back end, paying Cook $13 million per season isn’t an awe inspiring move, but it does shore up the second safety spot next to Jordan Battle. Without any significant offensive line additions, either, I’d expect the Bengals to once again struggle with the “boring” elements of football in 2026: blocking and defense.