2026 NFL free agency winners (Rams!) and losers (Colts...)
· Yahoo Sports
The first wave of 2026 NFL free agency has already crashed ashore, and we know which teams impressed us and which teams left us a wee bit underwhelmed.
Who are the big winners in this free agency cycle? Who are the teams that left us scratching our heads as to what the plan is for 2026 and beyond? Whose big splashes will pay off? Whose could backfire spectacularly?
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Let's break down who the big winners and losers are from this first week or so of NFL free agency.
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Winner: The Titans, who did right by Cam Ward
The Titans entered 2026 free agency with an embarrassment of riches at their disposal. Did all of their signings light the lamp? Not necessarily. However, Tennessee is in a much better place on both sides of the ball after the first week of the new league year. Getting Ward more receiving help with wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson and tight end Daniel Bellinger was important, as was loading up the defense with impact players for new coach Robert Saleh's scheme like defensive tackles John Franklin-Myers and Jordan Elliott, edge rushers Jermaine Johnson II and Jacob Martin and cornerbacks Cor'Dale Flott and Alontae Taylor. Mitch Trubisky as Ward's backup is a savvy move to give the second-year starter a veteran to lean on throughout the year. We're not sure how the Titans will be in 2026, but we do like the raised floor. There is still work to be done, but Ward should enter his second year in better shape.
Loser: The Bills, who felt like they could have done this differently
The Bills made some aggressive moves, like trading for wide receiver D.J. Moore and signing outside linebacker Bradley Chubb to a massive contract. Sure, re-signing center Connor McGovern was smart, and free agent cornerback Dee Alford should fit in well with the secondary. However, will the Moore and Chubb splashes be enough to push Buffalo over the edge? We're not as sure; these moves felt more impassioned than tactical. Josh Allen deserves a steady hand driving the ship; this entire Buffalo offseason has felt wildly reactionary under general manager Brandon Beane. If Buffalo can't improve or even regresses in 2026, who will take the blame?
Winner: The Rams, for understanding the precious moment
The Rams are in Super Bowl-or-bust mode by default. That's just the harsh reality of a supremely talented and well-coached team with one of the best front offices in football. They're in a brutal division, but they have sky-high expectations and a quarterback with a ticking clock in Matthew Stafford. Making big moves to land cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson should put this Rams defense over the top. The secondary was its main vulnerability, and Los Angeles attacked it with force. Will that be enough? With the 13th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Rams can add yet another impact player. The team is apparently watching for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, too. You know what the goal is for the Rams as clearly as any team. Can these moves seal the deal?
Loser: The Bears, who haven't landed a big fish just yet
The Bears have been active in free agency, but the team hasn't landed a big fish. Of any team in the NFL that felt primed to land a big fish, it was the Bears. There is obviously still time, but can Chicago get, say, Las Vegas Raiders outside linebacker Maxx Crosby at a discount? Can they swing for another big edge rusher? Could the team surprise us all and make a move for another veteran receiver to replace Moore? We liked Chicago picking up safety Coby Bryant and wide receiver Kalif Raymond, but this team doesn't seem as improved as you'd hope this far into March.
Winner: The Panthers, who could repeat as NFC South champs
The Panthers clearly recognized how winnable their division is and spent like there's no tomorrow. The team sent a monster contract to outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who the Panthers need to stay healthy to live up to that critical investment. Linebacker Devin Lloyd and tackle Rasheed walker came in at bargains, and wide receiver John Metchie III was a sneaky good depth signing for the offense. Returning safety Nick Scott will help the defense. The NFC South is still wide open, but Carolina made some decisive moves to make sure it stays in the conversation.
Loser: The Chargers, whose moves didn't really help Justin Herbert
The Chargers added some good players in free agency. Running back Keaton Mitchell will be fun in L.A., while defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson should be a key contributor on the defense line. However, Miami's offensive line moves (adding center Tyler Biadasz and guard Cole Strange, re-signing tackles Trey Pipkins and Trevor Penning) make us worried for the group up front, especially if tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt aren't healthy to start the year. The Chargers desperately needed to make the offensive line their priority, but their moves underwhelmed us.
Winner: The Raiders, who set up a good spot for Fernando Mendoza
The Raiders landing center Tyler Linderbaum will be huge for Mendoza, the presumed incoming quarterback for Las Vegas. That's arguably the best move in all of free agency if you ask us; sure, the Raiders spent a lot, but good center play is so critical to helping a young quarterback progress. Linderbaum could also help running back Ashton Jeanty ignite his NFL career after a slow start. We liked the Jalen Nailor signing for the wideout room, and the team's defense is unquestionably better with linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean manning the middle. With Crosby possibly returning for 2026, the Raiders could hit the ground running with new coach Klint Kubiak.
Losers: The Colts, whose plan feels most likely to implode
The Colts made sure to pay their guys in quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pearce. Jones, a hit-and-miss NFL starter, will be coming off an Achilles injury. Pearce, a big-play machine, will have to adjust to being Indy's top receiver with Michael Pittman Jr. off the roster. Neither guy is guaranteed to live up to the contract; Jones' first season post-Achilles surgery could be rocky. The team's defensive splashes didn't really wow us, either. General manager Chris Ballard seems like a guy desperate to save his job, and that's usually when big swings whiff hard.
Winner: The Falcons, who stopped doing stupid things
The Falcons failed to get over the hump during the Raheem Morris/Terry Fontenot years because their big moves never paid off. The team prioritized romantic gestures over sound roster-building, and the approach backfired hard. New general manager Ian Cunningham has prioritized supplanting the team's lacking depth in free agency, and it's a refreshing change of pace for how the Falcons have operated lately. None of their moves will raise your eyebrows outside of the quarterback Tua Tagovailoa deal, but the team added quality veteran depth throughout the roster. Atlanta has always been maddeningly top-heavy; a decisive approach to pad the middle could pay off huge dividends in the NFC South. The team's lack of draft capital made deals like this essential to compete in 2026.
Loser: The Bengals, who mostly just pressed buttons
The Bengals added players. We can say that much. The Bryan Cook signing should be a plus for the secondary. However, did any of these other moves do much to push Cincinnati further up the AFC pecking order? Outside linebacker Boye Mafe and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen are solid players, but neither are big-money starters at this point in their respective careers. Cincinnati's defense was rancid in 2025, but will these moves fix that?
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 NFL free agency winners (Rams!) and losers (Colts...)