NFL offseason

Every single NFL offseason, the same thing happens… Teams fall in love with names. They start bidding against themselves on players they can’t quite afford. They sign a guy who had one great season and tell their fan base it’s the missing piece — and then the rest of the league quietly moves on, picking up legitimate contributors for a fraction of the price while nobody’s watching. This offseason has been a masterclass in both. There are teams that saw opportunity and pounced. And there are teams that saw a name on a jersey and just started writing checks. We’re going to break all of it down—the five best value deals of the 2026 NFL offseason and the five biggest rip-offs—let’s get into it. Which offseason deals are the best and the worst in the NFL? Value: Kyler Murray, QB, Minnesota VikingsKyler Murray. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images While Kyler Murray’s stock is just about as low as it’s ever been, the Vikings still have to be thanking their lucky stars that they were able to bring in the former first overall pick, given the price tag that they got him at. One-year on the veteran minimum—that’s what the Vikings paid to bring in a former top overall pick, a dual-threat quarterback, and a much-needed insurance policy to avoid spending another full season watching J.J. McCarthy look lost behind center. The Cardinals released Murray after he landed on injured reserve with a foot injury last November. But because his contract still had fully guaranteed money left on it, Arizona doesn’t get to just walk away from that obligation. The Cardinals are still on the hook for the bulk of his contract, so Minnesota was able to scoop him up for literal pennies on the dollar. For all his flaws, Kyler has shown repeatedly that he can play at a high level in this league.  The injury history is real, and nobody’s pretending it isn’t. But that’s a risk Minnesota is taking for $1.3 million this NFL offseason. That’s not a gamble — that’s essentially a free lottery ticket with real upside attached to it. If Murray stays healthy, this is the steal of the entire offseason. If it doesn’t work out, they cut him, and they’ve lost almost nothing. That’s how you win free agency. Ripoff: Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) There is no denying that Daniel Jones looked like a man revived last season before he went down with the injury… but the context matters here, and there is no doubt that the devil is in the details! This is why so many eyebrows were raised when the Colts gave Daniel Jones such a large contract, considering he is currently recovering from a torn Achilles, and how much of his game relies on his mobility. It is fair to say here that the Colts were in a difficult position this NFL offseason. The transition tag they placed on Jones created leverage issues. But the follow-up question is one that nobody in Indianapolis seems to want to answer: who else was bidding for Daniel Jones? Who was the competition that drove this price to the largest two-year deal in NFL history? The Achilles compounds everything. A torn Achilles for a quarterback who relies on mobility is one of the more serious injury concerns you can have entering a season. The recovery is typically a full year. Indianapolis is going to spend most of 2026 managing his workload and hoping the leg holds — while paying him like he’s already proven to be a franchise cornerstone, when in reality it was… what? 7 or 8 good games? He has not proven himself as a franchise QB… He has proven to be a solid backup and a capable game manager. That’s not worth fifty million guaranteed. Not even close. Value: Mike Evans, WR, San Francisco 49ersMike Evans (Photo By Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images) The 49ers went 12-5 last season in spite of a litany of injuries… but bowed while the output was impressive, they did still bow out in the divisional round for the third time in four years.  They made it work at quarterback with Brock Purdy and Mac Jones… Christian McCaffrey was a stud… George Kittle was a beast… But what they didn’t have on offense was a true number one receiver, a proven commodity who could win on contested catches, command double teams, and give Brock Purdy a genuine downfield weapon. And then they went out and got exactly that this NFL offseason. Evans signed a three-year deal worth $42.4 million in base value, with incentives that push it toward $60 million if he earns them. For a player who has eleven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start his career — tying Jerry Rice — that base number is extraordinarily reasonable. Now, the caveat is real, and we’re not going to bury it. Last season, Evans dealt with hamstring and collarbone injuries and played just eight games. He turns 33 in August. There is a version of this deal where the injuries have piled up, and the Evans that San Francisco is getting is not the Evans who dominated for over a decade in Tampa Bay. That is a legitimate concern. But considering Evans forwent the hometown discount in Tampa and signed with the 49ers for less money, San Fran should be feeling good… really good.  Evans is determined to get back to the big game and add a second Lombardi Trophy to his massive trophy case. Long story short— if Mike Evans has anything left in the tank, San Francisco just found their missing piece for a very reasonable price. Ripoff: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Kansas City ChiefsKenneth Walker III (Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images) The Chiefs needed a running back. That’s true. Their running game last year was genuinely bad — Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco combined for just one run of more than twenty yards all season. One. Kenneth Walker had twelve such runs, including the postseason. The contrast is real, and the Chiefs identified a legitimate need. Here’s the problem with their prized signing this NFL offseason. Three years, $43 million is buy-high territory on a running back who just had the biggest stretch of his career, and it’s money committed to the one position in football where value craters the fastest. Walker is explosive when he’s on. But consistency has been an issue throughout his career, and the Chiefs are now paying him like he’s the version that dominated the playoff stretch rather than the guy who disappears for four-game stretches during the regular season.  Not to mention, running back contracts at this price almost never age well, and in Kansas City specifically, the offensive line is going to make whoever takes handoffs look better than they actually are. They could have found competent production at the position for significantly less money and allocated those resources elsewhere. Especially considering how many holes they had on their roster coming into this offseason. Value: Coby Bryant, S, Chicago BearsDec 8, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images This one doesn’t have the flash of some of the other moves this offseason, but it’s exactly the kind of signing that builds a real defense. Three years, $40 million for Coby Bryant coming off a Super Bowl run in Seattle. The Bears had both of their starting safeties from last season hit free agency, which left a significant hole at the back end of a defense that was already trying to find its identity. They needed a real answer. Bryant is a real answer. Here’s what the tape says. Bryant played a pure deep safety role in Seattle last season — lining up at that position on 94 percent of his snaps, which was third most among all safeties in the league. His on-ball production was outstanding—and he is just now starting to really enter his prime years. It is fair to say that it’s hard to separate what Bryant did individually from the benefit of playing in a well-organized Seattle system around elite teammates.  That’s a real question.  But at $13.3 million per year, the Bears aren’t paying for certainty, rather a high-probability outcome at a reasonable price for the position. Chicago’s defense needed a cornerstone at safety. This signing gives them one, and it doesn’t break the bank getting there. Ripoff: Trey Hendrickson, Edge, Baltimore RavensTrey Hendrickson (Sam Greene/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) The Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade due to alleged medical concerns, and in doing so, they saved two first-round picks and preserved significant draft capital.  The problem is what happened next this NFL offseason. Four years. $112 million. Sixty million fully guaranteed. For Trey Hendrickson. Look… Hendrickson is a good football player. There is no doubt about that… many can get after the quarterback. In 2024, he had 17.5 sacks and led the league in pressures. That’s an elite season. But here’s what that number is missing: Hendrickson is entering his age-31 season. He played just seven games last year before landing on injured reserve. He has never been able to stay healthy for a full season consistently. And most importantly, he is, at his best, roughly 75 percent of the player that Maxx Crosby is. He is a liability in the run game, whereas Crosby is rock solid in all phases. You have to respect that the Ravens are pushing their chips into the middle of the table, but I don’t know if this was the right move. Value: K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge, Washington CommandersNov 9, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; New England Patriots linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (44) walks downfield during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Two days after the Commanders signed Odafe Oweh to a big-money contract, they went out and added a second edge rusher at a fraction of the price, and this might actually be the smarter of the two deals. One year, $11 million for Chaisson, who broke out last season with 7.5 sacks for New England after managing just 10 total sacks across the first five years of his career.  His pass rush win rate coming off the edge was way up last season, and while he’s not a franchise cornerstone one year at $11 million, you’re not paying for a superstar. You’re paying for a legitimate pass rusher who just had the best season of his career. The bet Washington is making is reasonable… This isn’t a situation where Chaisson has to be a week-in, week-out difference maker all by himself. He needs to be a legitimate contributor in a rotation, and at $11 million on a one-year deal, that’s exactly what Washington is asking for. Ripoff: Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Tennessee TitansNov 23, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (17) runs upfield after catching a swing pass in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images The Titans had $90 million in cap space coming into this offseason, the kind of financial freedom that is genuinely rare in the NFL. It should be used to build a foundation for Cam Ward to grow, not to massively overpay a middle-of-the-road receiver. Four years, $78 million. $19.5 million per year. For a player who has never had a 1,000-yard season in his NFL career. To be clear—Wan’Dale Robinson is a real player. He’s quick, elusive, and capable of making things happen in the short and intermediate game. He is a good receiver. But $19.5 million per year puts him in the same neighborhood as receivers who can align outside and win against top corners in the league. Robinson has never done that. His entire value is predicated on being a nice complementary option… a couple of big plays here and there, but he’s never had to be the guy. That’s a $10 or $12 million per year player. Not $19.5 million. I get that Tennessee was looking for a wideout to help facilitate Ward’s growth, but I don’t know if this was the move! Value: Jamel Dean, CB, Pittsburgh SteelersDec 15, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (35) celebrates after a fumble recovery in the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Three years, $36.75 million with $12 million guaranteed for a cornerback who led the entire NFL in coverage DVOA last season. Not a good cornerback. Not a solid contributor. The best coverage cornerback in the league by that metric, ahead of players like Derek Stingley Jr. and Quinyon Mitchell. Now, the honest caveat is that cornerback statistics are notoriously inconsistent year to year. One great season doesn’t mean the next one looks the same. Dean turned in an above-average performance in 2024 as well, which suggests this isn’t purely a one-year outlier, but you can’t crown him a perennial All-Pro based on a single dominant year, either. Either way… Pittsburgh needed cornerback help, and they got the best available option at a number that doesn’t crush their cap flexibility moving forward. If Dean plays like himself, this is a bargain. If he regresses to average, it’s still a manageable contract. That’s exactly the kind of risk-reward balance you want in free agency. Ripoff: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Pittsburgh SteelersDec 29, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) celebrates his touchdown during the second half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Picking up Pittman via trade for essentially a late-round pick swap was smart roster management… the trade itself was fine—they snagged a strong player for almost nothing in terms of draft capital. No complaints there. The extension, though? That’s a different conversation. Three years, $59 million for a receiver who is coming off a down year? Seems strange…  Pittman is an excellent deep-ball specialist who led the league in yards per reception in each of the last two seasons. He is fast, he creates explosive plays, and he is a legitimate weapon in the right system. But can he handle volume? Can he win on the outside against top corners consistently? Can he be the guy the team’s game plan for? The honest answer to all three of those questions is: we don’t know, because he’s never had to be.  In Pittsburgh, he’s going to be asked to step into that role, and the Steelers paid him as if the answer is already yes. The trade: smart. The extension at $19.6 million per year for an unproven number one?  That’s the part that makes you pause. Time will tell if Pittsburgh just unlocked him — or if they just overpaid for someone else’s very good second option.