NFL Teams Set Record with Billions in Contract Spending Since Start of 2026 Free Agency

The first four days of the NFL free agency have produced a record amount of money spent on player contracts.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, since the start of the legal tampering period on Monday, the league's 32 teams combined to hand out $5.83 billion in contracts, including $2.59 billion guaranteed at signing.

One of the things that makes this spending period so unique compared to past years is there hasn't been a major quarterback deal signed so far in this cycle.

In each of the previous three years, there was one free-agent quarterback who signed a deal worth at least $100 million. Sam Darnold got $100.5 million over three years from the Seattle Seahawks in 2025. Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. Derek Carr received a four-year, $150 million contract from the New Orleans Saints in 2023.

The richest quarterback contract so far this cycle is Malik Willis' three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins. Kenny Pickett is second on the list at $7.5 million to be Bryce Young's backup with the Carolina Panthers.

Where this free-agent class has made up for the lack of quarterback contracts is the depth of talent at premium positions. There have been four deals worth at least $100 million given out, with three going to EDGE players.

Wide receiver Alec Pierce got the other on a four-year, $114 million deal to return to the Indianapolis Colts. He also received the most total guaranteed money of any free-agent contract so far at $84 million.

That number doesn't even account for extensions that have been signed. Trent McDuffie got a four-year, $124 million deal from the Los Angeles Rams after the trade with the Kansas City Chiefs was finalized.

By comparison, Darnold and Milton Williams were the only free agents who signed for at least $100 million last year. There have been 11 contracts worth at least $60 million handed out so far, up from eight in 2025.

Jaelan Phillips' four-year, $120 million deal with the Panthers is the richest free-agent contract in total value. Trey Hendrickson (four years, $112 million) and Odafe Oweh (four years, $100 million) were the others who got a nine-figure contract.

Another factor contributing to the record is Tyler Linderbaum obliterating the center market with a three-year, $81 million deal from the Las Vegas Raiders. He's the first player at his position to earn more than $18 million in average annual salary.

Linderbaum's $27 million average salary ranks fifth among all offensive linemen. The four players ahead of him are all left tackles, including Rashawn Slater, Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell and Trent Williams.

There figures to be a lot more offseason spending coming in the next few weeks and months leading up to training camps. Some of the key players from the 2023 draft figure to be in line for market-resetting extensions, including Will Anderson Jr., Puka Nacua, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Baltimore Ravens are looking to work out a new deal with Lamar Jackson. He would likely be targeting an extension in the same area as Josh Allen's six-year, $330 million deal with the Buffalo Bills signed last offseason.

Even though many of the headline names from free agency have been signed through the first few days of the new league year, business is far from over for all 32 teams looking to make moves leading up to the regular season in the fall.