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Re-Grading Biggest Trades, Free-Agent Signings of 2026 NFL Offseason
A few weeks ahead of training camp, we have time to revisit the biggest moves of the offseason. With a closer look at major free-agent signings and blockbuster deals, thoughts on early headline acquisitions can change.
So, let's re-examine the most notable veteran roster additions of the year.Ā Would you give the same grades to those big-ticket first-wave signings and transactions?
We graded the 10 most significant roster acquisitions that involve the most established players and premium draft capital.Ā
The grades are based on resources used to execute these deals and the player's potential impact on his new team.
Bears Trade WR DJ Moore to the Bills
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Bears Get: 2026 2nd-round pickĀ
Bills Get: WR D.J. Moore, 2026 5th-round pick
Even with quarterback Josh Allen playing at an MVP-Pro Bowl level, the Buffalo Bills haven't had a pass-catcher rack up more than 821 receiving yards since 2023.Ā
The Bills needed to bolster their wide receiver group, but they did so at a costly price for a player who hasn't eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards since 2023. That said, Moore could be Buffalo's lead pass-catcher and brings much-needed speed to the team's aerial attack. Yet his receiving yard totals have been on the decline over the last two years.
Nonetheless, it's worth noting that Moore played with Caleb Williams, who has struggled with accuracy in his first two seasons, completing just 60.3 percent of his passes. Also, the 29-year-old wideout ceded targets to younger pass-catchers, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland last season.
Perhaps Moore plays a bigger role in the Bills offense, though it's not a guarantee with wide receivers Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer vying for targets.
Buffalo is looking for an offensive spark, and Chicago traded a player who had faded in its offense for premium draft capital.
Bears Grade: B+
Bills Grade: C
Broncos Acquire WR Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins
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Broncos Get: WR Jaylen Waddle, 2026 4th-round pick
Dolphins Get: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick, 2026 4th-round pick
The Denver Broncos went through the first wave of free agency without a major move on the open market and then pulled off a headline trade for Waddle.
The Broncos took advantage of the Miami Dolphins' rebuild process and picked up their lead receiver from the 2025 season. Waddle played second fiddle to Tyreek Hill for most of his time in Miami. Now, he can be the lead pass-catcher in Denver.
Waddle will have competition for targets, though. Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant are still on the roster ahead of training camp. Still, the speedy receiver's big-play ability could lead to gaudy weekly numbers and career highs this year. That said, he'll need to quickly build a rapport with quarterback Bo Nix, who's still recovering from ankle surgeries.
The Dolphins did what rebuilding teams are supposed to doāadd draft capital to infuse the roster with young talent. They used the Broncos' picks to select cornerback Chris Johnson, wide receiver Chris Bell and edge-rusher Trey Moore.
Broncos Grade: B+
Dolphins Grade: B
Browns and Rams Swap Edge Myles Garrett and Edge Jared Verse
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Browns Get: Edge Jared Verse, 2027 1st-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, 2029 conditional third-round pick
Rams Get: Edge Myles Garrett
In the biggest blockbuster trade of the offseason, the Los Angeles Rams made a win-now move (no shocker there) for Garrett, who etched his name into the NFL history books as the all-time single-season sack leader in the previous term.Ā
Los Angeles gave up a two-time Pro Bowler in Verse, who won 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and early-round picks for the next three years. General manager Les Snead favors proven talent over draft capital, so it's business as usual for the club.Ā
As the NFL's top pass-rusher, Garrett will immediately elevate the Rams' 19th-ranked pass defense from the previous season. He'll also command a ton of attention, which should allow his fellow defensive linemen to make more plays on the quarterback and against the run.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry should've known that the team's timeline for playoff contention and Garrett's desire to play in the postseason didn't align in the short term.Ā
Remember, Garrett requested a trade last offseason, but Cleveland signed him to a new deal. The Browns' money didn't fix everything, and they traded the star edge-rusher one year later.
Nonetheless, Cleveland may have been able to get more from Los Angeles with Garrett coming off a historic season.
Browns Grade: C
Rams Grade: A
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Chiefs Trade CB Trent McDuffie to the Rams
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Chiefs Get: 2026 1st-round, 2026 5th-round pick, 2026 sixth-round pick, 2027 3rd-round pick
Rams Get: CB Trent McDuffie
This offseason, the Los Angeles Rams overhauled their cornerback group after they finished the previous season with the 19th-ranked pass defense. With its first transaction to strengthen the secondary, Los Angeles made a bold move for Trent McDuffie.
McDuffie earned first- and second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 and 2024. He's an inside-outside cornerback who had some inconsistencies in coverage. In two seasons, the versatile cover man allowed a passer rating below 87, but in the other two campaigns, the four-year pro allowed a passer rating above 94.Ā
It's impossible to know which version of McDuffie will show up in Los Angeles until the team defines his role. As a slot defender, he can make tackles closer to the line of scrimmage, but the Rams need a surefire starter on the boundary opposite another former Kansas Chief, Jaylen Watson.
Head coach Sean McVay hinted that McDuffie will line up in different spots, which may be best for him. Yet when he's not on the perimeter, someone must fill a spot on the outside, unless Emmanuel Forbes continues to see time there.
The Chiefs used their draft capital wisely, bundling a third-rounder with Los Angeles' fifth-round pick in a trade up for top cornerback prospect Mansoor Delane. They also used the Rams' first-round pick to draft Peter Woods, who, according to B/R scoutĀ Matt Holder, draws comparisons to All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
Kansas City received a favorable package for McDuffie and may have used those picks to add two immediate impact rookie starters.
Chiefs Grade: A
Rams Grade: B-
Giants Trade DT Dexter Lawrence II to the Bengals
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Bengals Get: DT Dexter Lawrence II
Giants Get: 2026 1st-round pick
The Cincinnati Bengals aren't usually an aggressive team on the trade market, though they may be feeling the urgency to maximize their winning opportunities with rumors swirling around quarterback Joe Burrow.
ESPN's Adam Schefter believes the Bengals traded a top-10 pick for Lawrence, an established three-time Pro Bowl veteran, to keep Burrow happy ahead of a "critical season."
Regardless of the reason behind the transaction, the Bengals should be more resistant against the run with Lawrence on the interior. Last season, they gave up the most rushing yards and needed to bulk up on the defensive front.
On the other hand, it's noteworthy that Cincinnati gave up premium draft capital for a player coming off a down year compared to recent seasons. Perhaps Lawrence needed a change of scenery. Per Schefter, the star defensive tackle had been trying to get a new deal over the last two years.
Lawrence will line up alongside fellow Bengals newcomer Jonathan Allen within a revamped unit. Cincinnati could improve from worst to top 10 in run defense with those two additions.Ā
The New York Giants used the Bengals' pick to select offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa. Before the draft, head coach John Harbaugh said the offensive line was "a work in progress." So, it's no surprise that Big Blue addressed that unit with one of its first-round picks.
In college, at Miami, Mauigoa lined up primarily at right tackle, but he'll transition inside to guard in New York. Quarterback Jaxson Dart expects the Giants to be a run-first team, and Mauigoa can help them establish that identity.
Bengals Grade: B+
Giants Grade: A
Panthers Sign Edge Jaelan Phillips
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Contract Terms: Four years, $120 million
Jaelan Phillips made our list of the most overpaid players at every position, but that doesn't mean the Carolina Panthers deserve a low grade for this signing.
The Panthers had the cap space to invest in a position of need and inked a premier free agent on a long-term deal.Ā
In 2025, the Panthers finished with the second-lowest pressure rate (16.5 percent) and tied for the third-fewest sacks (30). No one on their defense recorded more than five sacks for the season.
However, Carolina signed Phillips to the biggest deal among 2026 free agents, which is a huge risk given his injury history. He's missed nine or more games in two out of five seasons. Even while healthy for full 17-game slates, the 27-year-old has yet to log a double-digit sack campaign.
If Phillips avoids significant injuries, he'll lead the Panthers in sacks and pressures, but his track record suggests his pass-rushing numbers may be closer to average than exceptional.
Grade: B
Patriots Acquire WR A.J. Brown from the Eagles
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Eagles Get: 2027 5th-round pick, 2028 1st-round pick
Patriots Get: WR A.J. Brown
In a transaction many saw coming, the Philadelphia Eagles waited until June 1 to trade Brown, so they could spread his dead cap hit across two years rather than take on a $43.5 million charge for the 2026 term.
General manager Howie Roseman made a fiscally responsible move, and this may be a case of addition by subtraction.
During the previous season, Brown publicly expressed his frustrations with the Eagles offense. Although the team hired Sean Mannion to replace offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, Brown's issues may have gone beyond play-calling. The three-time Pro Bowl receiver said he grew apart from quarterback Jalen Hurts (h/t Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper).
Philadelphia signed Hollywood Brown, acquired wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks from the Green Bay Packers and traded up for Makai Lemon on Day 1 of this year's draft. The Eagles' receiver additions foreshadowed Brown's departure. Both sides needed a divorce.Ā
The New England Patriots picked up a No. 1 receiver without having to give up a first-round pick in next year's draft, which may be an elite class in terms of blue-chip prospects.Ā
According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, Brown has built an "immediate" connection with quarterback Drake Maye, who finished second in 2025 MVP voting. The Patriots' aerial attack should make strides with its new lead quarterback-receiver duo.
Eagles Grade: B-
Patriots Grade: A
Raiders Sign C Tyler Linderbaum
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Contract Terms: Three years, $81 million
The Baltimore Ravens allowed three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum to test the open market, and he signed the second-richest deal among offensive free agents.Ā
Linderbaum played for a perennial contender and chose to sign with a franchise that's been in a perpetual rebuild for over two decades, which says a lot about general manager John Spytek's ability to close big deals and first-time head coach Klint Kubiak's appeal.
According to The Athletic's Sam Warren, Kirk Cousins has taken all the first-team reps so far this offseason.Ā
In Year 1 with the Raiders, Cousins and Linderbaum will set the foundation for the offense. When the team inevitably inserts No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza into the lineup, he'll have help from one of the league's best centers in making pre-snap calls and changes at the line of scrimmage.
Linderbaum's impact on the Raiders offense could be similar to that of former NFL center Rodney Hudson, who helped solidify the unit with three Pro Bowl campaigns in six years with the team between 2015 and 2020.
Grade: A
Ravens Sign Edge Trey Hendrickson
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Contract Terms: Four years, $112 million
The Baltimore Ravens signed Trey Hendrickson to the second-biggest deal among defensive free agents. He left the Cincinnati Bengals for greener pastures within the division.
Last offseason, Hendrickson held out and held in amid an extended contract dispute with the Bengals. Cincinnati reworked his deal, and he didn't miss any games until suffering a hip/pelvis injury that sidelined him for more than half of the 2025 season.
Hendrickson's lucrative contract is a testament to his production with the Bengals in recent years. It should be noted that the Ravens signed him after they backed out of an agreement to acquire edge-rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders.
According to ESPN's Ryan McFadden, Baltimore had concerns about a degenerative issue in Crosby's knee. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters that he planned to pair Hendrickson and Crosby together before he nixed the deal with Las Vegas.
Regardless of the intentions, the Ravens paid a premium for an edge-rusher coming off an injury-shortened campaign. Baltimore felt more comfortable with Hendrickson's physical than with Crosby's, but the former's short-term durability remains a question mark in his age-32 campaign.
Grade: B-
Vikings Sign QB Kyler Murray
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Contract Terms: One year, $1.3 million
The Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray at a bargain rate, though it's still the most notable veteran quarterback signing of the offseason.Ā
Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall pick with respectable passing numbers. He's thrown for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions with a 67.1 percent completion rate in seven seasons. The 28-year-old could be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate.
Despite inconsistent quarterback play, the Vikings barely missed the 2025 postseason, finishing 9-8 behind the 9-7-1 Green Bay Packers.Ā
Murray doesn't need a Sam Darnold rebirth-type season to lead Minnesota to the playoffs. If he stays healthy and gets the ball to wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings, the Vikings' passing attack should be far better than last year's 29th-ranked unit.
Furthermore, the Vikings' low-risk, high-reward signing at quarterback gives them a chance to re-evaluate their plan for J.J. McCarthy after he struggled mightily last season, throwing for 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 57.6 percent completion rate. Keep in mind, they fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who drafted McCarthy, and hired Nolan Tinsley to replace him.
Murray could revitalize his career in a new chapter with the Vikings.
Grade: A
Player contract details are provided by Spotrac.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.Ā
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