The Baltimore Ravens seem committed to maximizing Lamar Jackson's championship window, the Philadelphia Eagles still have A.J. Brown's contractual rights and the Seattle Seahawks let their Super Bowl MVP walk in free agency.
But beyond the obvious implications of 2026 NFL free agency's biggest moves, what are the underrated implications of this year's cycle?
In light of the NFL's legal tampering window opening Monday, following an active week of trades and high-profile scheduled releases, here are Yahoo Sports' winners and losers from the beginning of free agency:
Winners
Kenneth Walker's chance at a Super Bowl MVP repeat:In order to repeat as Super Bowl MVP, you've got to repeat on the Super Bowl stage. And while the Seattle Seahawks showed they could go all the way this season, the Kansas City Chiefs in the Patrick Mahomes era have shown they can go all the way and then get back there again. So insigning with the Chiefs in free agency, Walker didn't settle for money without a chance to be competitive. He joined a team that values playing at your best on the biggest stage, which Walker did both in a 135-yard, 5-yards-per-carry Super Bowl performance as well as his 116-yard, three-touchdown performance in a divisional round win over the San Francisco 49ers.Monday's news that tight end Travis Kelce will return to the Chiefsfor another year, per multiple reports, further suggests the 2026 Chiefs can still contend even if they are retooling their roster.
Dallas Cowboys' secondary:The Cowboys hired defensive coordinator Christian Parker to shore up a defense that allowed more points and more passing yards than any group in 2025. They valued Parker's résumé of developing young defensive backs, including Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, the last two years with the Philadelphia Eagles. But one aid to the young DBs' development was an excellent defensive front.Trading a 2027 fourth-round draft pick for edge rusher Rashan Gary on Mondayadds a proven veteran to a group that also has Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa. That should help the Cowboys' secondary, which won't need to cover as long. "Rush and coverage working together is a beautiful thing," one Cowboys source told Yahoo Sports. An AFC assistant added: "Gotta give Jerry [Jones] and crew credit for being aggressive. With the way the offense played last year, if they can get the defense right, there's a legitimate shot to make a run."
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Bills' chance to smooth over their Keon Coleman mess:Keon Coleman's limited production since the Buffalo Bills selected him in the 2024 NFL Draft has been unideal. But arguably more toxic to the Bills' passing game was a January news conference in which team owner Terry Pegula acted like the leadership still in place didn't want Coleman — even as the receiver remained on Buffalo's roster. The direct relationship may still need mending. But the Bills took a step toward placating the fan base wondering why a front office that failed to stock the team with adequate receiver talent outlasted former head coach Sean McDermott. TheBills are trading 2026 second- and fifth-round picks for Chicago Bears receiver DJ Moore, per multiple reports, in a transaction that can become official Wednesday. Moore's four 1,100+ yard seasons across Chicago and the Carolina Panthers show the type of receiver he can be. And while his production and catch percentage fell off his final year in Chicago, his familiarity with head coach Joe Brady's play-calls from their time in Carolina will help hasten his acclimation to a team with an MVP quarterback and a sense of urgency.
Sauce Gardner's lockdown coverage:The Indianapolis Colts acquired Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline because of his ability to lock down receivers. Last week, he wanted to lock down one of his own team's wideouts. Gardner posted to X: "should I lock Alec Pierce in my basement and force him to sign the contract papers?" The Colts' decision to tag quarterback Daniel Jones rather than Pierce seemed like it might cost them their player. Instead, on the cusp of what seemed like a chance to hit the market,Pierce and the Colts reached a four-year deal worth a reported $116 million. The decision may have cost the Colts fellow wide receiverMichael Pittman Jr., whom they promptly traded to the Pittsburgh Steelersafter paying up for Pierce. But Gardner's public plea came true. He tweeted Monday: "it worked chat".
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Fernando Mendoza, in part:Full disclosure, the Indiana quarterback and presumptive first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft earned his spot on the losers list first. More on that in a minute. But by Monday afternoon, he warranted a winning recognition too as theLas Vegas Raiders signed center Tyler Linderbaum to a record-breaking contractworth $27 million per year and $60 million guaranteed, per multiple reports. Protecting quarterbacks in the NFL is one of the most integral keys to ensuring a quarterback grows rather than falters. As a high-caliber, veteran center, Linderbaum doesn't only guard against pocket-collapsing defensive tackles. He'll also help Mendoza transition from college playbooks to pro protection schemes. He can help cover Mendoza's physical and mental blind spots as he develops. The Raiders had to bid high for Linderbaum, and Mendoza should celebrate.
The Broncos' salary cap department:When the Denver Broncos decided to shoulder an $85 million dead cap hit for Russell Wilson two years ago, they set the unenviable record for the largest dead cap hit in NFL history. Thanks to the Miami Dolphins, the Broncos will soon no longer hold that distinction. TheDolphins are expected to release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, absorbing a $99.2 million dead cap hit to do so. Adding insult to injury: The Dolphins are making this move during a year of a weak rookie quarterback class. So while the Broncos were able to balance Bo Nix's rookie salary against Wilson's dead cap hit, theDolphins will be paying Malik Willis more than $20 million a year on a three-year dealworth up to $67.5 million, with $45 million guaranteed. Even with the chance to spread out both quarterbacks' cap hits over multiple years, the Dolphins will still be investing heavily in one room while needing to bolster several others.
Matthew Stafford's chance at another ring:When Matthew Stafford accepted his MVP award on stage with his four daughters last month, the now 38-year-old confirmed he'll return for another run with the Los Angeles Rams. The Seahawks edged the Rams in the NFC championship game by 4 points, despite Stafford's 374-yard, three-touchdown performance. That's because Seattle was able to pick apart the Rams' weakness: their secondary, particularly their cornerbacks. Now, Los Angeles is pivoting from its strategy to hope a strong defensive front will elevate a shaky secondary. The Rams instead traded for Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie and signed Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson to add talented players with playoff experience. Neither came cheap. As long as Stafford stays healthy, that should position the Rams right back in the strongest group of contenders ahead of the 2026 season.
Losers
Fernando Mendoza, in part:We stand by our belief that the Linderbaum signing was one of the most important moves the Raiders could make to help Mendoza develop if and when they draft him first overall. But high-ranking personnel executives across the league often say that the best schematic recipe for young quarterbacks isn't to give them top-tier weapons at wideout; rather, it's to give them a strong defense and run game to take the pressure off the quarterback that shootouts are needed to win. So while theRaiders' haul of two first-round draft picks for Maxx Crosby made sense with their team life cycleand could pay dividends in the medium- and long-term, Crosby's move to the Baltimore Ravens will not help Mendoza's early career. Facing the Raiders looks easier this week than it did last. "Maxx was [the] most disruptive player I've had to game-plan against since Aaron Donald," one offensive coach told Yahoo Sports. "Every play. Every down. Game wrecker." In Baltimore, Lamar Jackson is celebrating.
Rebuilding teams in search of veteran QBs:Stick with us here, but Malik Willis and Sam Darnold are among quarterbacks who have created a low-key trend. The pattern: Quarterbacks looking for their footing should go to winning teams with strong play-callers, not only because of the development they'll receive there but also because of the staff connections that will bolster their future market. While Darnold had a larger body of work when he hit free agency last year, the Seahawks' willingness to invest in him still came in large part because of then-offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's ability to vouch for Darnold from their overlapping year in San Francisco. Signing with the Dolphins, Willis is experiencing something similar: The decision-makers who saw him developing behind the scenes and evolving in practice were most willing to pay him. Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley practiced against Willis last year while Hafley was Green Bay defensive coordinator and now-Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan was in Green Bay's front office. That gave Willis a payday when a shifting market materialized less competitively for his services than initially warranted. QBs on the market this year should take note: Winning staffs are more likely to produce the next wave of decision-makers.
Howie Roseman's asking price, so far***:The Philadelphia Eagles' interest in shopping receiver A.J. Brown is no secret. But general manager Howie Roseman's asking price for his wideout appears too steep at this step. Roseman wants a first- and a second-round pick, per multiple reports, which has not materialized as receivers including Moore and Pierce settle into their 2026 homes. It's possible that Roseman's asking price could become more palatable as the week goes on and the receiver supply dwindles. The New England Patriots still seem to make the most sense as a trade partner: Brown played for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in Tennessee; the Patriots released Stefon Diggs, creating a hole in their receiver room; and the Patriots' first-round pick would be at No. 31, which could make that part of the package more palatable. This conversation is far from over, warranting the asterisks here. But if the Eagles and Roseman wanted it settled early in order to make subsequent moves accordingly, their bet on early bidders lost.
Jets' chance to continue making history:The New York Jets defense managing to secure zero interceptions in 2025 will remain hilarious to everyone except the Jets and some of their fan base. Prior to that, no team in the NFL had recorded fewer than two interceptions dating back to the Jets' establishment as a team in 1960. Extending that streak to two years would also be funny, but the Jets' free agency moves suggest they'll instead begin rebuilding a defense from which they willingly dealt Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. New upgrades include edge rusher Joseph Ossai, linebacker Demario Davis and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. With the bevy of draft capital from recent trades, expect the Jets also to add strong young defensive talent in April — beginning with the second overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Aaron Rodgers' market:Aaron Rodgers said last week on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he did not have a contract offer on the table, from his most recent team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, nor anyone. The four-time MVP's market has not gotten smoother in the last week, with a sudden influx of not just available but also extremely cost-effective veteran quarterbacks. Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Kirk Cousins and Geno Smith are all getting paid to not play for their former teams — making them attractive options for the veteran minimum cost of $1.3 million. Tagovailoahas reportedly already landed with the Falcons. Rodgers' arm still flashed during the 2025 season, he wasn't an in-season distraction, and his ability to diagnose defenses in real time is arguably the best in the game at the position right now. But will a suitor whom Rodgers wants also want him? The Steelers and Minnesota Vikings remain the most likely to appeal to him.
Right-handed QB3s interested in Atlanta:With the Atlanta Falcons on track to sign Tagovailoa, the Falcons will now have left-handed quarterbacks at each of their top two spots on the depth chart. Whoever joins Michael Penix Jr. and Tagovailoa should recognize that practices, and offensive installations, will be geared toward southpaws. This might sound silly, but protections and formations are often flipped for left-handed quarterbacks and thus coached accordingly. If teammates are used to running plays that way, a right-handed quarterback may have more difficulty getting on-field familiarity from players to the side favoring his dominant hand. And while third-string quarterbacks may seem like an obscure position to care about in March, both Penix and Tagovailoa have significant injury histories (torn knee tendons, concussions, respectively) that could thrust a third quarterback into action.
The Eagles' Super Bowl defensive corp:When the Eagles won the Super Bowl 13 months ago, their top-ranked defense's dismantling of Mahomes and Co. played a huge role. Already last spring, key contributors including defensive linemen Milton Williams and Josh Sweat departed in free agency. As of Monday, the Eagles have now also lost linebacker Nakobe Dean to the Las Vegas Raiders and safety Reed Blankenship to the Houston Texans. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is more likely than most in the league to identify and develop replacements. But as coaches and players are courted elsewhere, the defense that already dropped from first in yards per play allowed in 2024 to seventh last year must again hit on draft picks. Restocking the cupboard with some rookie contracts will help offset high-priced extended players including linebacker Zack Baun and defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
The Baltimore Ravens seem committed to maximizing Lamar Jackson's championship window, the Philadelphia Eagles still ...
