With four days in the books, the first wave of NFL free agency is basically over.
There are some decent players still on the market, but most of the best free agents already are off the board. By Thursday afternoon, Monday’s firehose of news had been reduced to a steady drip.
As the dust settles, let’s look at which teams have done the best in NFL free agency and which have significantly underwhelmed.
Six Winners After Four Days of NFL Free Agency
Houston Texans
Key signings: DE Danielle Hunter, TE Dalton Schultz, EDGE, Denico Autry, WR Noah Brown, RB Joe Mixon (trade)
Some rebuilding teams rest on their laurels after enjoying a great season that thrust them into relevance sooner than expected. They play things safe during the offseason and assume their process will continue yielding improved results.
Then, there are teams like the Texans that just go for it. Houston made one of the biggest signings of free agency, landing star defensive end Danielle Hunter on a two-year, $49 million deal. He’ll now pair with stud sophomore Will Anderson to form a formidable pass-rushing duo.
The Texans also wisely re-signed Schultz and Brown, both of whom showed good chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud. Finally, Houston traded for aging but still productive running back Joe Mixon, who’ll replace Devin Singletary.
It was an impressive display from the Texans, who rightly believe they can compete next season.
Arizona Cardinals
Key signings: OT Jonah Williams, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, DT Bilal Nichols, LB Mack Wilson, DE L.J. Collier
Not many people are talking about the Cardinals, but they should be.
Arizona entered the offseason with three important goals: fortify the offensive line to protect Kyler Murray, improve their awful defense, and add skill players on offense. They’ll probably address the last goal in the 2024 NFL Draft, but they put a dent in the first two during free agency.
Williams will slot in at right tackle, with Paris Johnson moving to the left, forming an above-average tackle duo. Murphy-Bunting will provide a needed boost to the secondary, and the ultra-athletic Wilson is an underrated addition at linebacker.
No, Arizona didn’t set off any major fireworks, but the Cardinals did a good job.
Baltimore Ravens
Key signings: RB Derrick Henry, DT Justin Madubuike, WR Nelson Agholor, LB Malik Harrison
Some might argue Baltimore should be in the “losers” category, as failing to add a receiver and allowing Patrick Queen to join the Pittsburgh Steelers are both tough to swallow. But the Ravens are in the thick of Super Bowl contention, and signing Henry might be enough to put them over the edge.
The Ravens also re-signed Madubuike, who’s one of the better defensive tackles in football. They didn’t do a ton, but the quality is there.
Green Bay Packers
Key signings: RB Josh Jacobs, S Xavier McKinney, KR Keisean Nixon
Like the Texans, the Packers decided to be aggressive after a surprisingly resurgent season.
Jacobs should be an upgrade over Aaron Jones, who was released and now is with the Minnesota Vikings. Jones is a great player, but he’s aging and seemingly always injured. Jacobs is younger and has more juice in his legs.
The Packers also signed McKinney, who arguably was the best safety available in free agency. He’ll join a young, rising defense that came on strong late last season.
Atlanta Falcons
Key signings: QB Kirk Cousins, WR Darnell Mooney, TE Charlie Woerner, WR Rondale Moore (trade)
We want to knock the Falcons for giving $180 million ($100 million guaranteed) to Kirk Cousins, who’s old, overrated, and coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon. That’s way, way too much money.
However, you have to give credit to a franchise that, in the span of a few days, went from a laughingstock to arguably the most talented team in its division.
In addition to signing Cousins, the Falcons added Darnell Mooney to serve as the No. 2 wideout opposite Drake London and traded for Rondale Moore, who’s dealt with injuries but is talented enough to be a third wideout. This offense should put up a lot of points.
New England Patriots
Key signings: Hunter Henry, Mike Onwenu, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Antonio Gibson, Jacoby Brissett, Sione Takitaki, Kyle Dugger (transition tag)
One of the busiest teams in free agency, the Patriots haven’t made any splash signings. And they wisely set their limits with Calvin Ridley, who got overpaid by the Tennessee Titans.
MORE: Best Remaining Free Agents After League Year Begins
But the new regime, led by head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto GM Eliot Wolf, has done a great job of adding on the margins and re-signing the Patriots’ core free agents. If they somehow land a starting left tackle and high-end receiver, they could be surprisingly decent next season — even if Brissett is the starter.
Of course, the Patriots ultimately will be judged by whether they nail it with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Four Losers After Four Days of NFL Free Agency
Dallas Cowboys
Key signings: LB Eric Kendricks
If it weren’t for signing Kendricks (who initially planned to join the San Francisco 49ers), the Cowboys essentially would have nothing to show for the first four days of free agency.
Such is life when you rank near the bottom of the NFL in salary cap space. The Cowboys are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, but they still have some holes to fill this offseason. At this point, it looks as if most of their offseason additions will come in the draft.
Denver Broncos
Key signings: DB PJ Locke, S Brandon Jones, K Will Lutz
Denver has egg on its face after having to release Russell Wilson and incurring a record-setting dead cap hit as a result. The financial disaster clearly is handcuffing the Broncos in free agency and likely will next year as well. They even had to release safety Justin Simmons to get some cap relief.
Denver likely now will go bargain shopping as it looks to assemble an inevitably mediocre roster.
Buffalo Bills
Key signings: OT Dion Dawkins, S Taylor Rapp, DE A.J. Epenesa, DT Daquan Jones, WR Mack Hollins, QB Mitch Trubisky
The Bills predictably regressed last season, and the slide might continue in 2024. Buffalo underwent its own salary purge, releasing multiple veterans who became faces of the franchise. The Bills also watched Gabe Davis sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With Josh Allen at quarterback, Buffalo won’t have to deal with a rebuild. But consider this a soft reset, one that admittedly could be expedited with a solid draft and a big trade or two.
Los Angeles Chargers
Key signings: RB Gus Edwards, TE Will Dissly, S Alohi Gilman
Mired in salary cap hell, the Chargers had to release Mike Williams and restructure contracts for Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack just to become salary-cap compliant. And they still might have to trade or release franchise receiver Keenan Allen.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Free Agents by Position
The future in Los Angeles should be bright, with Jim Harbaugh now coaching Justin Herbert. But free agency isn’t getting the Chargers any closer to competing.
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