Free Agency Frenzy is almost upon us! Which means we are entering the peak of the offseason as teams begin to look to fill the holes on their roster, whether that is a team beginning a rebuild, or a team looking to reload for a potential Super Bowl run, every team has needs and questions heading into next week. Throughout this week I will be doing an offseason preview for every division, the previews will look at the impending free agents of the team, the biggest questions heading into this offseason, some potential names to target next week, and what they need to accomplish before the season begins. All of the contract estimations are used from Pro Football Focus via Over The Cap.
Buffalo Bills
Impeding Free Agents
FB – Reggie Gilliam (1 yrs, $1.75m total)
WR – Elijah Moore
C – Connor McGovern (3 yrs, $39m total)
G – David Edwards (3 yrs, $35m total)
DT – DaQuan Jones (1 yrs, $4.5m total)
DT – Larry Ogunjobi
ED – Joey Bosa (1 yrs, $11m total)
ED – A.J. Epenesa (1 yrs, $5m total)
LB – Matt Milano (1 yrs, $3.25m total)
LB – Shaq Thompson (1 yrs, $1.65m total)
CB – Tre’Davious White (1 yrs, $5m total)
S – Damar Hamlin (1 yrs, $1.22m total
Biggest Questions
The biggest offseason question will be the change at Head Coach from Sean McDermott to former Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Since Sean McDermott is leaving, they are bringing in a new defensive mind in Jim Leonhard, so it will be interesting to see the defensive roster rebuild, as they lose some aging veterans on that side of the ball. They will also need to address the offensive line throughout the offseason, as both David Edwards and Connor McGovern are projected to hit free agency at the time of this writing, so two spots on the interior offensive line are open, and Buffalo has less flexibility in the cap, so it might be more difficult to retain both of them.
Free Agents to Watch
The Bills have been in need of a true “X” wide receiver since Stefon Diggs left a few seasons ago, so the option of adding a short-term option in free agency is there. Alec Pierce is going to be the top choice for any team, barring he actually hits free agency, but it sounds like he will stay in Indianapolis. Then you will have to look at Mike Evans, again, barring him from deciding to leave Tampa Bay, as a short-term option. Rashid Shaheed could also be a name to keep an eye out for, but he might cost too much for them to make that move. Also, every team that needs help on the Defensive Line will be targeting Trey Hendrickson. If Buffalo could land Hendrickson, it would instantly add another playmaker to play opposite Greg Rousseau and give Jim Leonhard a good pass rush to work with. On the Offensive Line, Buffalo could look to add a short-term guard on a cheap deal. Kevin Zeitler, Teven Jenkins, or Greg Van Roten could all be options.
Top Goals
Bring back one of your free agent offensive linemen, most likely Connor McGovern, as David Edwards is more likely to get a long-term deal done elsewhere. Continue to add depth on your defensive line, and look to bring in either Mike Evans in free agency or target a bigger-bodied “X” in the draft.
Miami Dolphins
Impeding Free Agents
HB – Alexander Mattison (1 yrs, $1.3m total)
TE – Darren Waller (1 yrs, $3.5m total)
G – Daniel Brunskill (1 yrs, $1.3m total)
G – Cole Strange
G – Liam Eichenberg (Released)
T – Kendall Lamm (1 yrs, $1.3m total)
T – Larry Borom
DT – Benito Jones
ED – Matthew Judon
LB – Willie Gay (1 yrs, $1.5m total)
CB – Rasul Douglas (1 yrs, $6.5m total)
CB – Kader Kohou (1 yrs, $3m total)
CB – Jack Jones (1 yrs, $2m total)
S – Ashtyn Davis (1 yrs, $2m total)
Biggest Questions
The Dolphins’ roster is dangerously thin due to the severe lack of draft picks over the last few years. They are going to need to start rebuilding this roster under the new regime. Cornerback being the most glaring need, you still need receivers to complement Jaylen Waddle, the offensive line is still not good, the defensive line is not good, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are both gone, and you might need starters after almost every position in the secondary. However, the biggest question is who is playing quarterback for them next year? It’s going to be hard to simply trade Tua Tagovailoa due to his contract, so do you play Quinn Ewers for a year? Or do you try and sign someone in free agency, it could be Malik Willis, it could be Marcus Mariota, either way, the entire foundation of the roster is a question mark.
Free Agents to Watch
I believe the likelihood of Miami bringing in any big-name free agents is rather slim; however, they need to sign a few players if they want to have competent depth at these positions. Some options in the secondary could be Chuck Clark at safety to line up next to Minkah Fitzpatrick, or bring in C.J. Gardner-Johnson to play in the slot or at safety, but they need to not overspend, as their cap situation is already not the greatest. If they were to sign any big-name free agent, it would most likely be at the Quarterback position. Malik Willis makes sense due to the Green Bay connection with John-Eric Sullivan and former Packers Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley at head coach, but they should most likely wait until the roster is strengthened before bringing in a QB.
Top Goals
Build up this roster through the draft; they have nine draft picks in this upcoming draft, and they need to be used to add depth and begin to rebuild this roster. If they look towards free agency, it should be short-term, cheap deals at players who are being brought in to be depth pieces during the rebuild.
New England Patriots
Impeding Free Agents
TE – Austin Hooper (1 yrs, $5.25m total)
T – Vederian Lowe
DT – Khyiris Tonga (1 yrs, $2.25m total)
ED – K’Lavon Chaisson (3 yrs, $45m total)
S – Jaylinn Hawkins (3 yrs, $33m total)
Biggest Questions
Will New England be the team to pull the trigger by trading for Maxx Crosby? I do think the roster is not as strong as the other potential teams interested, but they have a strong edge rusher and it is by far their biggest need, especially with K’Lavon Chaisson most likely leaving in free agency. The offensive line and the wide receiver group are still not particularly great. The young offensive line got exposed in the Super Bowl, and finding a guard to play next to Will Campbell, so Jared Wilson could play at center, which is where he played in college, will help to boost the offensive line. We also currently don’t know what the future holds with Stefon Diggs, so adding some receivers will help to solidify that room.
Free Agents to Watch
Due to the high edge rush needed, you can look at Odafe Oweh or Jaelan Phillips versus making a big swing for Maxx Crosby. They could also go and do a one-year flyer on Khalil Mack or Malcolm Koonce, so they have numerous options to pivot to if the top guys go elsewhere. Also, keep an eye out for a potential receiver addition; Romeo Doubs, Jauan Jennings, and Deebo Samuel could all be in play for the Patriots,as they have a decent amount of cap space to play with.
Top Goals
The biggest goal is going to be to add depth along the defensive line, whether that is through free agency or via the draft. They could also add some help at guard, as well as bring in a wide receiver. If the Patriots were able to draft Omar Cooper Jr. at the back end of Round 1, it would provide the missing piece in that wide receiver room.
New York Jets
Impeding Free Agents
QB – Tyrod Taylor (1 yrs, 2.75m total)
HB – Breece Hall (3 yrs, $37m total)
WR – Tyler Johnson (1 yrs, $1.22m total)
WR – Josh Reynolds
WR – Allen Lazard
G – Alijah Vera-Tucker (4 yrs, $70m total)
G – John Simpson (3 yrs, $24m total)
ED – Micheal Clemons
LB – Quincy Williams (2 yrs, $8m total)
S – Andre Cisco (1 yrs, $2m total)
S – Tony Adams (1 yrs, $3.35 total)
S – Isaiah Oliver
Biggest Questions
The New York Jets have four picks in the top two rounds, in addition to more picks coming next year. They also have the 4th most cap space heading into free agency, so the question becomes, how do you continue on this rebuild without getting greedy and properly allocate the vast amount of resources they have at their disposal? The Jets have one of the worst rosters in the NFL and currently have a sitting duck at Head Coach, so this team is not being built to compete in 2026; it’s being built to compete in 2027 and 2028, and every move made this offseason needs to be made with that in mind.
Free Agents to Watch
The Jets have been pretty adamant that Breece Hall will be returning to the team next year, so that is most likely going to be the only big-name free agent that is brought in. They could stand to bring in another bridge QB, whether it’s Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Flacco, or maybe Anthony Richardson, but this team should be focused entirely on building through the draft, and unless they are bringing in cheap deals for depth pieces, I think signing anyone to an expensive deal would be counterintuitive to everything the rebuild has been about so far.
Top Goals
Continue to build the roster for the future and not build the roster too dependent on Aaron Glenn’s scheme, as he is most likely gone after this next season. Use your large amounts of draft capital to begin to fill the holes on your roster, while also using this current year to build more capital for next season as well. They could also stand to draft a QB in the later rounds of the draft, whether it’s Drew Allar, Taylen Green, or Cole Payton, to potentially compete as the starter for next year.
Cover Photo Courtesy of NFL.com
