Free Agency Week: A Mixed Bag

The first week of free agency has wrapped up, yet it seems like past years offered more excitement. Perhaps this year’s cycle was less dramatic, or maybe NFL teams are just more hesitant to part with star players, whether through trades or free agency. Regardless, it’s clear that any significant roster changes for 2025-2026 are likely set, barring the NFL Draft.

What About Maxx Crosby’s Future?

As a Dallas Cowboys fan, I’ve been curious about my fellow fans’ reactions regarding Maxx Crosby’s situation. Many are frustrated that the Cowboys haven’t made a move yet. However, I wonder if it’s even fair to call it a “sweepstakes” at this point. A week has gone by with no team circling back to Crosby—a sign that maybe this deal won’t materialize after all, right?

Sure, one could argue that teams just weren’t in the market for Crosby, but what does that say about how the Cowboys allocated their free agency spending? Personally, I have my doubts that a trade is imminent. The Raiders might see their decision not to deal him as a stroke of luck. This could set a precedent for how teams approach similar situations moving forward—though that seems less like coincidence and more like intention.

I’m honestly torn about Crosby’s future. It seems like the Raiders initially sought to trade him after spending on defense with the idea of moving on from him. But now without those picks, he’s still in the picture. It’s possible that general manager John Spytek could pivot and double down on building a strong defense, especially to support what many hope will be an elite rookie quarterback, presumably Fernando Mendoza.

In any case, I still expect the Raiders to struggle this season.

Geno Smith Returns to the Jets: Exciting or Dull?

It would have been great if Geno Smith’s return to the Jets coincided with his impressive performance in Seattle. However, given his rocky stint in Las Vegas, I suspect his comeback won’t be much different than before. This situation has me thinking that many quarterbacks might not be as bad as they’re made out to be—perhaps they just find themselves in less-than-ideal circumstances.

Seattle was a great environment for Smith, but moving to Las Vegas, which has had its share of turmoil, can’t have helped his performance. Now he’s back with the Jets, and—well, what does that mean for their fans? The Jets have endured a lot since Geno’s first go, but, honestly, not much positive has come from it.

Though one could argue that the Raiders could end up being the big winners of this offseason. They splurged in free agency under the assumption that Crosby would be gone, thinking they had plenty of cap space. Soon, they will have a Heisman Trophy winner leading the charge each week.

Admittedly, the NFL Draft isn’t the same as free agency, but I think the Raiders might have hesitated more if things had played out differently. It reminds me of a comic where someone ventures down a dangerous path, mistakenly believing they have a safety net. The psychological freedom in their spending seems to have worked out for them—at least for now.

Then again, those famous last words…

Looking at this free agency period, I think the Carolina Panthers could be the real hidden winners. They managed to win their division in 2025, albeit with an 8-9 record, but they’ve got solid pieces on both sides of the ball to build upon.

They brought in Jaelan Phillips, who was earning $30 million a year as their top edge rusher, and secured linebacker Devin Lloyd for $15 million annually. With rising stars like Bryce Young and rookie standout Tett McMillan, their offense seems to be coming together nicely.

I predict the Panthers will clinch the district championship in 2026—a bold claim, but I’m sticking with it.

So, what’s up with the Ravens? Is that an easy target?

No one can say for sure what happened in Baltimore with Maxx Crosby, but even discounting that, it’s hard to feel like their offseason made them a stronger team overall.

They’ve lost valuable players without clear replacements. Lamar Jackson can’t do everything himself, and it appears they’re expecting even more from him now.

I’m leaning towards the Ravens as a team that might struggle. Sure, they signed Trey Hendrickson, but they’ve let go of several good players, and their offense seems to be hitting a reset button that extends beyond just a new offensive coordinator. Losing key tight ends and a top center isn’t easy to recover from. They should be better defensively under Jesse Minter, but I’m not convinced that Jackson and Derrick Henry can carry the offense alone.