The first day of NFL free agency kicked off on Monday and teams wasted no time getting to work. Several big name players, including Pro Bowlers and All-Pros changed teams. We even had a couple of teams settle on new quarterbacks for the 2025 season.
Through all the NFL free agent chaos, who stands out as the biggest winners so far? Let’s look at the biggest winners from Day 1 of NFL free agency.
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Fringe starting offensive linemen
Teams that allowed competent offensive linemen to test free agency were likely shocked by their contract demands. Yet, the open market sets the price and the truth is, several teams are desperate to upgrade in the trenches. We saw that in Kansas City, where the Chiefs signed Jaylon Moore to a contract worth up to an annual average value of $15 million per season. Moore’s started just 12 games in his four-year career. But he wasn’t the only fringe starter to get paid big bucks.
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Washington Commanders
For the second time this offseason, Commanders GM Adam Peters executed a blockbuster trade. The first was for Deebo Samuel, this time the Commanders added a new franchise left tackle, trading for Laremy Tunsil. They only had to give up a second and third-round pick for a left tackle who had the NFL’s second-best pressure rate across the past three seasons. That feels like a steal.
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Justin Fields
Did anyone have Justin Fields landing a contract worth up to $20 million per season on their offseason bingo card? Clearly, the Jets were desperate to find their next potential franchise quarterback. Yet, they only committed to a two-year contract for Fields, which could mean more QB additions are coming to New York this offseason.
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Baltimore Ravens
One team that won on Day One of NFL free agency didn’t even have to make a big signing, because the Ravens got their work done before the chaos began. Two days before free agency kicked off, the Ravens managed to sign two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley to a three-year, $60 million contract. Meanwhile, the Titans had to pay an average annual value of $21 million per season to find their new left tackle and he’s never been a Pro Bowler.
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Milton Williams
Milton Williams wasn’t even a full-time starter for the Philadelphia Eagles, yet he was able to parlay a career-best five-sack season into a contract worth an average annual value of $19 million from the New England Patriots. Since he just won a Super Bowl ring, it made sense for Williams to chase the bag and a starting role on a new defense.
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Carlton Davis
Before free agency kicked off, Carlton Davis admitted he’d be chasing the bag in free agency, where he expected to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks. Mission accomplished. Davis landed a three-year, $60 million contract from the Patriots, where he’ll form an intriguing tandem with Christian Gonzalez.
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Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks bet on themselves by trading Geno Smith days before free agency kicked off without securing their new starting quarterback. But the NFL’s worst-kept secret came true on Monday when Sam Darnold signed a three-year contract worth an estimated $100.5 million, including $55 million guaranteed. Darnold’s career-best year paid off in a big way and the Seahawks have a new franchise QB, it’s a win-win.
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Dan Moore Jr
The Tennessee Titans signed Dan Moore Jr to a four-year, $82 million contract. Who is Dan Moore? Well, he’s started all 66 games he’s appeared in for the Pittsburgh Steelers since arriving as a fourth-round pick in 2021, but he graded as the 46th-best tackle by Pro Football Focus‘ metrics last season. That level of play is competent, but not worth over $20 million per year.
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New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel wasn’t lying when he said the Patriots might have to overpay to land some of the team’s top targets in free agency. However, the Patriots did have the NFL’s most cap space, with over $100 million to spend, and this roster needed a lot of work.
The Patriots have a new pass-rushing DT (Milton Williams), No. 2 CB (Carlton Davis), starting right tackle (Morgan Moses), starting linebacker (Robert Spillane), and leading pass-rusher (Harold Landry). And they’re not done spending yet.
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Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have already added two new starting offensive linemen via trades, on the first day of free agency, they strengthened their offensive interior even more by signing Drew Dalman. While he landed a three-year, $42 million contract, Dalman graded as PFF’s fourth-best center last season. Most importantly, the Bears can feel good about the progress they’ve made along the offensive line in anticipation of a breakout season from Caleb Williams.
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