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.
Chicago Bears
Impending Free Agents
WR – Olamide Zaccheaus (1 yrs, $1.5m total)
TE – Durham Smythe
T – Braxton Jones ( 1yrs, $5m total)
DT – Andrew Billings
LB – D’Marco Jackson
CB – Nahshon Wright (2 yrs, $14m total)
S – Kevin Byard (2 yrs, $18m total)
S – Jaquan Brisker (3 yrs, $25m total)
S – Jonathan Owens (1 yrs, $1.22m total)
Biggest Questions
How are the Bears going to address the defensive line after losing out on the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes? They will also have a hole at center with the surprising retirement of Drew Dalman, they have added Garrett Bradbury via trade, however they will most likely need to draft a younger center. They also have a short-term question at left tackle as Ozzy Trapilo is recovering from a torn patellar tendon. Trading away DJ Moore also creates the need for a potential wide receiver as other than Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, the room is incredibly thin. The biggest weakness on the team was the lack of any consistent disruption along the defensive line, and the cutting of Tremaine Edmunds opens up a potential linebacker spot, and both starting safeties are free agents, so resigning one or both is crucial.
Free Agents to Watch
The Bears should look at adding more edge rushers to the room, names like K’Lavon Chaisson, Arden Key, Arnold Ebiketie, and Joseph Ossai could all be used in a rotation with Austin Booker and any potential draft picks. Khalil Mack could be an option as well to come back to Chicago for a year or two. Ben Johnson might want to bring in a speed deep threat, similar to what he had with Jameson Williams in Detroit, so the Bears might look at Rashid Shaheed as well.
Top Goals
Adding to the defense as a whole needs to be the top priority, all three levels of the defense needs some work, however the bears have four top 100 picks, and due to recent moves, have cap space to play with as they attempt to reload for another deep playoff run next season. Adding temporary band-aids to the offensive line is also going to be essential to maintain continuity for Caleb Williams and the offense.
Detroit Lions
Impending Free Agents
WR – Kalif Raymond (1 yrs, $1.3m total)
G – Trystan Colon
DT – DJ Reader (1 yrs, $4.5m total)
DT – Roy Lopez (1 yrs, $2.25m total)
LB – Alex Anzalone (2 yrs, $15m total)
LB – Malcolm Rodriguez
CB – Rock Ya-Sin (1 yrs, $6.5m total)
CB – Amik Roberston
Biggest Questions
The offensive line is going to need to be addressed for the Lions, Graham Glasgow and Taylor Decker have been released and now they are potentially looking for two to three starters along the offensive line. Center is the big position of need as the position has been unstable since the retirement of Frank Ragnow. They have also been in desperate need of adding another presence to compliment Aidan Hutchinson, which the team has been severely lacking. They will also need to add to the secondary, as the unit has proven to be rather injury-prone and could use some more depth.
Free Agents to Watch
The Lions need edge rush help, Malcolm Koonce, Josh Uche, and K’Lavon Chaisson could all be good additions to boost the pass rush. They are most likely not in the market to be adding any offensive linemen in free agency, but I would predict the Lions will be quieter this free agency cycle as they look to extend key players, rather than bring new names in via free agency.
Top Goals
The Lions need to keep drafting well, it is getting harder and harder for them to rely on free agency due to needing to pay a lot of key contributors on the Lions’ roster, they have had two rather lackluster drafts in 2024 and 2025, and they don’t have the money to sign big free agents, so they are going to have to retool through the draft.
Green Bay Packers
Impending Free Agents
QB – Malik Willis (2 yrs, $40m total)
WR – Romeo Doubs (3 yrs, $45m total)
T – Rasheed Walker (4 yrs, $84m total)
LB – Quay Walker (3 yrs, $45m total)
ED – Kingsley Enagbare
Biggest Questions
The Packers are in need of both bolstering the secondary and the offensive line. They will also need some increased production from both Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness on the edge opposite of Micah Parsons. In the secondary, specifically at cornerback, the room has a severe lack of talent, and will need some significant investment in an outside cornerback. The Packers will be losing Romeo Doubs, but I don’t think they will retain him as they still have a large group of receivers to work with. Getting Micah Parsons back will be beneficial as they were competing with the best teams in the NFL before he suffered a torn ACL, but you can’t have your roster collapse with the injury to one player, and losing five games in a row to end the season before losing the Chicago Bears in the wildcard round, in a game in which they led 21-3 at halftime.
Free Agents to Watch
Green Bay is usually a team that tends to stray away from free agency and if they do they usually will invest in cheaper veterans. Shelby Harris, Tim Settle could both be options as short-term cheaper veterans on the defensive line. At corner they could look at a cheaper option such as Montaric Brown or Amik Robertson, they are also planning on losing Quay Walker at linebacker so bringing in another starting caliber linebacker would be wise
Top Goals
The biggest goal for the Packers is to add to the cornerback and defensive line room. They are rarely in the market for making a big swing at any positions (except the trade for Micah Parsons) so they are going to continue what they do best, develop the young talent on the roster, bring in veterans on cheaper deals and in addition to the roster moves, the team will need to shift the mindset to not allow what happened at the end of last season to happen again.
Minnesota Vikings
Impending Free Agents
FB – C.J. Ham
WR – Jalen Nailor (1 yrs, $3.5m total)
T – Justin Skule (1 yrs, $1.5m total)
LB – Eric Wilson
CB – Jeff Okudah
S – Harrison Smith (1 yrs, $10m total)
S – Tavierre Thomas
Biggest Questions
Minnesota’s biggest question is how they will handle this tumultuous quarterback situation. They could either start J.J. McCarthy, who it sounds like Minnesota is looking to pivot from. Kyler Murray could be the short-term solution, he won’t be a long-term answer but he will keep the team afloat as they try and manage the roster with an extremely tight cap situation. Kevin O’Connell has shown to elevate whichever quarterback he is working with, so you could make the argument that he will be able to bring the best out of Kyler Murray. Minnesota’s reliance on free agency the past few seasons has left this roster with expensive players and not a lot of depth, so building back up the depth of this roster will be crucial. The defensive line will also be in need of some work, Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargave have been released and Jonathan Greenard is on the trade block so they are probably going to bring in younger guys this offseason.
Free Agents to Watch
Kyler Murray is the obvious choice to fill in at QB next season, the big reason is he will come with a low price tag, and since Minnesota has a rough salary cap situation, Murray will help the roster get back to where it needs to be in terms of salary. With the releasing of Aaron Jones, the Vikings could also be in the market for another running back to complement Jordan Mason, could be names like Tyler Allgeier, Rico Dowdle or Rachaad White.
Top Goals
The Vikings are going to need to figure out the situation at quarterback, and the success of this team hinges on who is under center next season. They have needs in the secondary, along the defensive line, and at center with the retiring of Ryan Kelly, so the biggest goal is going to be to allocate their resources accordingly, while simultaneously giving themselves more cap space to play with. This might be the team that is in most desperate need of a good draft in 2026.
Cover Image Courtesy of NFL.com
