It did not take long for the NFL offseason to dominate the sports world, as NFL free agency started last week after the NFL combine had just concluded. Team representatives have been able to speak with each other, creating rumors about the draft, free agency, and other information that would inevitably leak to insiders like Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter.
That is just the beginning of a highly anticipated offseason that included the top overall pick being moved and quarterback question marks across the league.
With the bulk of major names being taken off the market by their respective teams, it is now time to assess how teams walked away from the NFL Free Agency period.
We will begin with the free agency winners.
2023 NFL Free Agency Winners: Chicago Bears
When you have over $90 million to spend and the first pick in the upcoming draft, it is easier to win the early portion of the offseason but give Ryan Poles and the Bears credit. Chicago wasted no time putting its stamp on the NFL offseason.
It first began when the Bears moved the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers. In return for the first pick, the Bears received the ninth overall pick, the 61st overall pick, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and wide receiver DJ Moore.
Not only did Chicago get immense draft capital that will allow the organization to build a more complete roster, but the team finally gave Justin Fields a legitimate go-to option on the outside.
Moore has compiled multiple 1,000-yard seasons with the likes of Sam Darnold and Cam Newton, among others. The 25-year-old wideout is also under contract through 2025, giving the Bears stability at the wide receiver position. Moore will be joining weapons like Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, and Cole Kmet in an offense that is looking to take a leap in 2023.
With so many holes on the roster, and as stated earlier, over $90 million in cap space, the Bears had more than enough to be aggressive in free agency.
On the “first day” of free agency, which is the legal tampering period in the NFL, Chicago signed former Eagles’ linebacker TJ Edwards to a three-year, $19 million deal. A cheap deal for a 26-year-old linebacker that recorded 99 tackles, seven passes defended, and two sacks in 2022 in a loaded Philadelphia defense.
Beefing up the interior offensive line was the next line of action for Chicago, signing former Titans Guard Nate Davis to a three-year deal.
It was clear that the Bears wanted to be better in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and that was magnified when Chicago made their first splash signing by inking linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to a four-year, $72 million deal. Despite already being in the NFL for five seasons, Edmunds is still only 24 years old and has proven to be one of the best linebackers in the league. He will now take on more responsibility in Chicago’ defense starting in 2023.
Smaller signings made by the Bears include D’Onta Foreman, Robert Tonyan, Andrew Billings, Travis Homer, DeMarcus Walker, and PJ Walker. Nonetheless, the Bears have added a lot of pieces to the team, and that is not to mention all the talent they will collect through the draft.
It would have been nice if the Bears were able to grab one of the top available offensive linemen like Orlando Brown Jr. or Mike McGlinchey, but there should be stable, cheap options at offensive line help at the ninth pick.
Chicago is going to look a lot different this season if Fields can make that necessary jump, we have seen from quarterbacks in their second or third seasons after adding immense talent.
2023 NFL Free Agency Winners: Denver Broncos
This is a rare positive moment for the Broncos. Ever since signing Russell Wilson to that five-year, $250 million extension last offseason, Denver’s situation has looked bleak.
There is reason to hope for Broncos’ fans, however. Denver was able to secure Payton as the team’s next head coach by trading a 2023 first-round pick to the Saints. The 59-year-old coach has since shut down any possibilities of Wilson having his PR team in the building.
"“I’m not too familiar with that,” Payton said when asked about Wilson having his ‘team’ in the building. “That’s foreign to me – that’s not going to take place. I’m unfamiliar with it. Our staff will be here, our players will be here and that will be it.” Sean Payton, via ESPN"
In addition to Wilson being put in his place by Payton, the Broncos have actually made some solid football moves in free agency.
Protecting the quarterback was something Denver clearly valued in its free agent acquisitions, and it is a validated assessment as Wilson was sacked 55 times last season. Some of that is on the 34-year-old quarterback, but nonetheless, the Broncos’ offensive line was not good.
It was thought that the Bears were going to land Mike McGlinchey, but Denver was far more aggressive in the pursuit of the former 49ers’ tackle, signing McGlinchey to a five-year, $87.5 million deal with $50 million guaranteed. In addition, Denver also got reinforcements in the interior by signing guard Ben Powers to a four-year, $52 million deal. Both of these acquisitions are examples of overpaying, but getting protection for Wilson is key to Denver’s success in 2023.
Quarterback play was the main culprit of holding the Broncos back from contending last season, and Denver also addressed that by signing Jarrett Stidham to a two-year, $10 million deal. The former Patriots and Raiders quarterback is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league, and if Wilson is absolutely dreadful again in 2023, the Broncos could turn to Stidham.
Another underrated signing for the Broncos this offseason was bringing in running back Samaje Perine. With Javonte Williams’ injury status heading into the offseason, Perine is someone who can step in and be a major contributor. We saw Perine outperform Joe Mixon in multiple games last season. The 27-year-old running back is more than capable of producing solid rushing numbers while giving Williams more time to get to 100% before taking on a significant role in the offense.
Replacing Bradley Chubb was another order of business for the Broncos. Denver would land Zach Allen, signing the former Cardinals’ pass rusher to a three-year, $45 million deal. The 25-year-old defensive end should be a solid contributor on the defensive line for the Broncos. Allen will not be asked to be a game-breaker as the Broncos’ defensive personnel is loaded, and not to mention that the defense will be coached by Vance Joseph, who has proven to be a defensive savant.
The Broncos are going to look a lot different than last season, mostly because of the acquisition of Sean Payton. Wilson will also be entering a make-or-break season. If the 34-year-old quarterback does not show any signs of improvement, the organization could rip the band-aid off after 2023 and deal with the dead money, rather than deal with poor production. With that being said, Denver is a major contestant to double its win total from last season, as the Broncos went 5-12 in a disastrous season.
2023 NFL Free Agency Winners: Houston Texans
The Texans’ offseason has been a bit of an overachievement, and new Head Coach DeMeco Ryans and the Texans’ front office have assembled a solid team around the quarterback that they will select with the second pick.
That quarterback will most likely be Bryce Young, who has question marks about his size but is great at diagnosing what is presented to him on the field. Up to this point, Houston has done a great job of surrounding its soon-to-be signal caller with solid weaponry.
Offensively, the Texans have brought in Robert Woods, Dalton Schultz, and Devin Singletary, while retaining left tackle Laremy Tunsil with a three-year, $75 million contract that includes $50 million guaranteed. Houston also traded for veteran guard Shaq Mason, which will be a major boost to the interior offensive line.
Trading Brandin Cooks may be viewed as a mostly negative move, but Cooks wanted to move on, and the Texans collected a third- and a fifth-round pick from the Cowboys in exchange for the 29-year-old wideout. Houston needs to continue to build the offensive line, in addition to other needs on the roster. That trade allows the Texans to do just that. Also, Houston will be getting John Metchie back this season after the then-rookie receiver was battling leukemia for the entirety of 2022, but thankfully, Metchie has been making great strides in his battle with cancer.
The 22-year-old receiver provides a lot of promise for this Texans’ offense. He will also replace Cooks as the field stretcher for this offense. Not to mention, Houston has the Browns’ first-round pick, which is 12th overall. I expect the Texans to grab another wideout like Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Quentin Johnston. That is a very competent wide receiver corps for the incoming rookie quarterback.
It was obvious that Ryans, a defensive mind, was going to solidify the defense. Jimmie Ward, who played under Ryans with the 49ers, has joined the head coach in Houston. The 31-year-old safety will bring leadership and stability to the Texans’ defense. In addition, the Texans beefed up the front seven with the signings of Sheldon Rankins, Chase Winovich, and Corey Littleton.
This will be an intriguing team in 2023, and with the Titans and Colts in limbo heading into the draft, the Texans could be in contention for finishing second in the AFC South. Houston is probably still a few years away from competing for the playoffs in a loaded AFC, but this is a good start to the construction of the roster. It will be intriguing what the Texans decide to do in the draft.
2023 NFL Free Agency Winners: Detroit Lions
The Lions continue their upward trajectory after a season where they went 9-8 and finished in second place in the NFC North. Not to mention the fact that they eliminated the Packers from playoff contention after defeating Green Bay in the season finale.
Detroit has brought in pieces that will be major contributors out of the gate in 2023, including defensive backs C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley, running back David Montgomery, and guard Graham Glasgow. All of these names will be monumental in Detroit’s success next season.
A major weakness of the Lions last season was the defensive backfield. The Lions were one of the worst passing defenses in the league last season, allowing 4,179 passing yards, which was the third worst in the NFL. That should no longer be the case with the additions of Gardner-Johnson, Sutton, and Moseley. These three players are above-average secondary players, and they will give the pass rush a little more time to get to the quarterback.
Even losing Jamaal Williams was not a major loss, as the Lions upgraded their RB2 position by signing David Montgomery. The 25-year-old running back signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Lions, a relatively cheap deal for a more-than-serviceable running back. Montgomery will form a tandem with D’Andre Swift, who offers a change of pace to this offense. The former Bears’ running back will fill the Jamaal Williams role from last season.
Adding Glasgow to an already stout offensive line is another major win for the Lions this offseason. This will be Glasgow’s second stint with Detroit after spending three years with the Broncos.
When looking at Detroit’s roster, there are not many holes. The one complaint you could have is the quarterback position with Jared Goff. The 28-year-old quarterback has been very solid since joining the Lions, but there are clear limitations.
Because the Lions do not have a specific need, the Lions have the luxury of grabbing and developing a quarterback for the future. The perfect quarterback for this situation is Anthony Richardson. The former Florida quarterback has the rawest talent in this year’s draft but is still very raw when it comes to mechanics and accuracy. Richardson would be allowed to sit and learn for a year behind Goff before taking over the reins in 2024 or at some point next season if Goff struggles or gets injured.
Free agency has been very productive for the Lions, and Detroit heads into the 2023 NFL Draft with two first-round picks inside the top 20.
While there were teams that took full advantage of the free agency period, there are teams that got picked off or failed to add any significant pieces.
2023 NFL Free Agency Losers: Philadelphia Eagles
When your team goes to a Super Bowl, there is a high chance of losing key coaches and players. That is exactly what happened to the Eagles this offseason. Offensive Coordinator Shane Steichen left for Indianapolis’ head coach vacancy, while Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Gannon was hired by Arizona for its head coaching position. That was just the beginning of the departures the Eagles had to endure this offseason.
Philadelphia lost T.J. Edwards (signed with Bears), Javon Hargrave (signed with 49ers), Andre Dillard (signed with Titans), Marcus Epps (signed with Raiders), Kyzir White (signed with Cardinals), Miles Sanders (signed with Panthers), and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (signed with Lions). The one that probably hurts the most is Hargrave. Not only is Hargrave a great defensive tackle, but he will join the Eagles’ top competition for the NFC in the 49ers.
Now, the Eagles have drafted very well in the last couple of drafts, and because of this, Philadelphia will have three rookies from last season step up into more prominent roles. These players include Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, and Cam Jurgens. However, it is an overall hit to the depth that is the main concern from these NFL Free Agency losses.
In the NFC, the Eagles should absolutely be fine, but there is reason to brace for some regression in 2023. It does help to go to the Super Bowl and still attain a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft. Philadelphia owns the Saints’ first-round pick after New Orleans traded up with the Eagles to select Chris Olave. Puzzling move by the Saints and a great move by the Eagles.
I am not worried about the Eagles falling out of the playoffs, but the team had a loaded roster last season and failed to win the Super Bowl. It is going to be tougher to get to the Super Bowl with less talent, while there were teams in the NFC that made monumental jumps ahead of the draft in April.
2023 NFL Free Agency Losers: Baltimore Ravens
To say the Ravens have had a long offseason is an understatement. The Lamar Jackson contract situation has taken the air out of Baltimore’s organization. Contract disputes and not knowing what exactly Jackson is looking for in an extension are quickly becoming a headache for the Ravens’ front office. In addition, Baltimore has done very little in free agency, while teams within the division and conference have made moves to separate themselves from the Ravens.
Baltimore gave Jackson the non-exclusive franchise tag, which pays the 26-year-old quarterback only $32 million in 2023. While that is fully guaranteed, that is low money for a former MVP. What the non-exclusive tag means exactly is that Jackson can negotiate with other teams about a contract, but the Ravens are allowed to match the offer sheet from another team. However, if the Ravens choose not to match the offer, they will lose Jackson for only two first-round picks.
What I am suspecting is that teams do not want to give up a 2023 first-round pick, so this could take place after the draft. One team that comes to mind in this theory is the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts currently hold the fourth pick in the upcoming draft, and are better off selecting someone at four and then signing Jackson to a contract. That way, Indianapolis would be giving up a first-round selection in 2024 and 2025.
Not only have the Ravens not signed Jackson to a long-term contract, but they have also remained stagnant in free agency.
One position that everyone knows the Ravens desperately needs is wide receiver, a position that will help Jackson. However, like Jackson’s entire tenure with Baltimore, there has been an underwhelming group of weapons. Something that has to frustrate Jackson at this point.
There is a strong possibility that Baltimore will lose Jackson and have no draft compensation that will help them in 2023. The Ravens are a team that could suddenly be in the quarterback market and is in danger of missing the playoffs because of the turmoil this offseason.
2023 NFL Free Agency Losers: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are quickly going to revert to the franchise they were for nearly 15 years before Tom Brady came to town. With Brady retiring and a mostly old, run-down roster, Tampa Bay will be lucky to finish over .500. Now, the Buccaneers are fortunate to be in the NFC South, which will be the worst division in the NFL.
At the moment, Derek Carr is the best quarterback in the division. So, that tells you how underwhelming the quarterbacks are within the division. It is yet to be seen which quarterback the Panthers will select with the first pick, but that will be a rookie with so-so talent on the outside after trading DJ Moore to the Bears.
If Tampa Bay does not draft a quarterback, the Buccaneers will be heading into the season with Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield as the two options for the starting quarterback. Good luck with that proposition. If those are the two quarterbacks Tampa Bay indeed to go forward with, there is a better chance of Tampa Bay ending up with a top-three pick in 2023 than winning more than seven games.
This was an offense last season led by Tom Brady that could barely muster drives together each and every week. What is that offense going to look like with Mayfield or Trask at the helm? There are talented pieces like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but those two even struggled to be consistent last season, especially Evans.
In 2022, the Buccaneers went 8-9, averaged 18.4 points per game (25th in the NFL), averaged 76.9 yards rushing (last in the NFL), converted 37.4% of third downs, and finished 21st in time of possession. Barring a major offensive transformation, I do not expect these numbers to improve drastically with a downgrade at quarterback.
Tampa Bay also lost guard Shaq Mason and left tackle Donovan Smith. The left tackle had a down year in 2022, but it is still a void Tampa Bay will have to fill before next season.
Because the NFC South is so weak, it is up for grabs, but I do not think Tampa Bay has done enough to put itself in position to be legit contenders in the NFC South.
There are still a number of veteran free agents available on the market, but at this point, these are the main winners and losers of the offseason so far.