5 NFL teams who improved in free agency the most, and 2 teams who did not

At 12:01 p.m. Monday, the legal tampering window exploded and NFL free agency began. The team ran wild, spending a huge amount of money in his first two days. NFL Network’s Greg Rosenthal top 101 For players who were free agents before the start of the league year, here’s their current status on the list:

Yes, a lot of money is being thrown at them quickly at this point in the free agency window. However, not all movements are created equal. While some teams have made significant changes to their roster outlook, some teams still have a lot of questions to answer. With that said, here are five teams that have improved and two that need more work in free agency.

5 NFL teams that grew with free agency

houston texans

One of the NFL’s best passers is entering his second year on his rookie contract, and the Texans are making a big-spending addition to improve a team that advanced to the divisional round last year.

They came in early in the free agency period and completed a grand slam. Their biggest catch was DE Daniel Hunter, who signed a two-year, $49 million contract with $48 guaranteed. After losing Jonathan Greenard in free agency, the Texans made a more cost-effective move to acquire Hunter, a better pass rusher, creating the best EDGE duo in the division.

In addition, the signing of LB Azeez Al Shaair upgrades the vacancy left by Blake Cashman in free agency. Al Shail has experience with DeMeco Ryans and is a physical run defender who can match up with Mike. Denico Autry provides some strength and versatility up front and can play 3T or kick on the outside. That defense instantly stepped up and strengthened the Texans’ weakest link from last year.

Offensively, they largely stayed on their contracts, as most players are on rookie or long-term contracts. A trade for RB Joe Mixon could be a very good thing if Mixon returns to his 2021 form, but Houston quickly fixed the defensive issues and boosted his stock heading into 2024.

Photo by Candace Ward/Getty Images

atlanta falcons

Atlanta made a big QB fish on Kirk Cousins ​​and was an automatic winner. The contract structure works well here, too, but on the field, this is a perfect fit for a team that feels like it’s close to being a serious contender in the NFC, which has a good but flawed squad. Cousins ​​played the best football of his career under Kevin O’Connell, who came from the same McVay system as the Falcons’ new OC Zach Robinson. He believes he can be successful with an offense that has the same structure as Minnesota’s.

Additionally, the Falcons added WR Darnell Mooney, a speedy receiver who can do a lot of work with jet motion, to their 11-man system. He is a great complement to Drake Rondon and Kyle Pitts and can work very well with Kirk Cousins ​​downfield. Atlanta still needs to make some moves, but they’re off to a very good start.

Photo credit: Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Los Angeles Rams

big. Thick. Lineman. pavement. road.

The Los Angeles Rams have undergone a change in offensive philosophy, moving from an outside zone-heavy approach to more of a duo and vertical approach in the run game. They paid big money to keep RG Kevin Dotson and solidified this by spending even more money to sign LG Jonah Jackson and TE Colby Parkinson. Their motives are clear. He wants to crush teams with the run game and make life a little easier for his QB Matthew Stafford and his guys in the passing game. I love what they’re doing offensively and it graphically shows they want to be ahead of his time in the NFL.

There hasn’t been a lot of movement defensively, but bringing back CB Darius Williams is a great move. He’s an experienced corner player who excels in off coverage, which the Rams do well. Not only that, but he’s a veteran on a team filled with undrafted and late-round young players. Williams was on a Rams team that won a Super Bowl and can bring that back to Los Angeles.

Photo by Rich Story/Getty Images

carolina panthers

Let’s be clear: there was no place for him to go in free agency other than to the Panthers. With one of the worst records in the NFL and no first-round draft picks, the Panthers were a bit of a deadlock in first-year general manager Dan Morgan’s first offseason. But the moves they made made them better. Trading Brian Barnes away sucks (especially at that price), but the moves they made offensively will help them get off the floor and give us a glimpse of what they want to be offensively. .

Spending a lot of money on guards Robert Hunt and Damian Lewis has made it clear that the run game is a top priority while protecting second-year QB Bryce Young’s pressure up the middle. . Additionally, they only had to give up cornerback Donte Jackson and a seventh-round pick. steelers WR Diontae Johnson will give Young the talent to create easy separation. Yes, it’s a lot of money, but you have to overpay when you’re with the Panthers. This doesn’t change the franchise, but it’s a start.

Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

commander of washington

I honestly loved the moves the managers made in free agency, especially on defense. Many Cowboys came in, including EDGE’s Dorrance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. Neither player may be three-down starters, but they can provide rotating pass rushers for head coach Dan Quinn’s pressure package. Signing LB Frankie Lew to a three-year, $36 million deal is great value, and S Jeremy Chinn is a good fit for what Quinn wants to do defensively.

On the offensive side, there are some interesting moves. Center Tyler Biadasz, who came over from Dallas and is perhaps the anomaly in Ricky Stromberg, creates an interesting logjam on the interior. Austin Ekeler comes over from Los Angeles and could be an interesting fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. QB Marcus Mariota is also here. Washington has made some good moves this free agency period, moves that could help a rookie quarterback.

NFL teams still have work to do

seattle seahawks

There are a lot of questions about what the Seahawks plan on in head coach Mike McDonald’s first year. Re-signing TE Noah Fant and DT Leonard Williams was great, but they still have a lot of work to do. LB He lets Jordyn Brooks walk and seeing as he only receives $10 million a year; Dolphin I have to sting a little. Losing Damian Lewis felt like a no-brainer, but now I’m a little confused as to what they’re doing.

dallas cowboys

Hmm…have the Cowboys realized that free agency has begun? All of their moves seem to go against their “all-in” mantra. jerry jones said before the window opens. What does “all in” mean? Now, it looks like this:

• Re-signs long snapper Trent Sieg
• Letting LT Tyron Smith walk without a true succession plan
• Not extending QB Dak Prescott to increase cap space…
• Give WR CeeDee Lamb a new contract

Cornerback Stephon Gilmore is also a free agent, but the Cowboys have been strangely quiet. It might be good for them to let running back Tony Pollard walk, but there are currently no viable replacement plans other than the draft. Still, there is still a hole at linebacker, and the free agent market for linebackers is rapidly disappearing. Dallas’ plans and vision are confusing and may not be known until after free agency.