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.
Atlanta Falcons
Impending Free Agents
HB – Tyler Allgeier (2 yrs, $10m total)
WR – Ray-Ray McCloud lll
TE – Kyle Pitts (3 yrs, $48m total)
T – Elijah Wilkinson (1 yrs, $2.25m total)
DT – David Onyemata (1 yrs, $3.5m total)
ED – Arnold Ebiketie (2 yrs, $16m total)
ED – Leonard Floyd
LB – Kaden Elliss (3 yrs, $36m total)
CB – Dee Alford
Biggest Questions
The Falcons will enter a new era this offseason, with Kevin Stefanski as head coach, Ian Cunningham as general manager, and franchise legend Matt Ryan joining the front office. The new regime must figure out how to move forward with a roster that has some strong pieces but limited offseason flexibility, as they have no first-round pick, limited salary cap space, and very few draft picks as a whole. One major question is James Pearce Jr., who Atlanta traded back into the first round to draft him, and he had a relatively productive rookie season, but recent legal troubles have caused his future to remain uncertain.
Free Agents to Watch
One of the Falcons’ biggest roster decisions was placing the franchise tag on Kyle Pitts, who finally had a breakout season in a contract year, but Atlanta is still unsure if that production is sustainable. Atlanta is expected to lose Tyler Allgeier in free agency, meaning they may need to add a complementary back behind Bijan Robinson. They will also need a WR2 next to Drake Long after the departure of Darnell Mooney. Due to the limited cap space, they will probably target affordable veteran options, potentially names like Brandin Cooks, Gabe Davis, or Marquise Brown. Defensively, Atlanta could also explore cheaper additions at linebacker, defensive tackle, and edge rusher, depending on who is retained.
Top Goals
The biggest goal needs to be putting Michael Penix Jr. in the best position to succeed. It will help that they are returning all five starting offensive linemen, and if they can add another reliable pass catcher alongside London and Pitts to help Penix operate. The Falcons may need help along the defensive front, especially if Pearce’s legal situation impacts his availability, so adding some rotational defensive linemen would strengthen the unit. Finally, with limited cap space and only two picks in the first three rounds (48 and 79), Atlanta must rely on smart value moves rather than splash signings.
Carolina Panthers
Impending Free Agents
HB – Rico Dowdle (2 yrs, $17m total)
WR – David Moore (1 yrs, $1.3m total)
C – Cade Mays (1 yrs, $4.5m total)
G – Austin Corbett (1 yrs, $2.5m total)
G – Brady Christensen (1 yrs, $3m total)
T – Yosh Nijman (1 yrs, $1.5m total)
ED – D.J. Wonnum
LB – Christian Rozeboom
S – Nick Scott (1 yrs, $1.5m total)
Biggest Questions
The biggest question looming over the franchise is Bryce Young. Carolina is approaching a major decision point, and they have to decide if Young is truly the long-term franchise answer worth a massive extension. While Young has shown flashes, he hasn’t been consistent enough, and this upcoming season will likely determine whether Carolina commits to him long term. There is also a major question surrounding the health of left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who is recovering from a major knee injury, and his availability for the 2026 season is in question.
Free Agents to Watch
Carolina began to add veterans to the defense last season, but they are still in need of more pieces. Linebacker is a major need, with some possible names being Alex Anzalone, Quincy Williams, or Alex Singleton, who are all cheaper mid-tier veteran options. Carolina also has a need at tight end, so they could target Cade Otton or Chigoziem Okonkwo.
Top Goals
The biggest goal for the Panthers this offseason has to be to put Young in the best situation and give him the best chance to succeed. Adding a tight end and strengthening the offensive line is extremely important as well. Defensively, the Panthers still need help across the defensive front and at linebacker. While rookies Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen were able to provide some pass rush, the unit still needs some more consistent pressure and depth.
New Orleans Saints
Impending Free Agents
TE – Foster Moreau (1 yrs, $2.5m total)
TE – Taysom Hill
C – Luke Fortner
G – Dillon Radunz (1 yrs, $2m total)
DT – Jonathan Bullard
ED – Cameron Jordan (1 yrs, $7.5m total)
LB – Demario Davis (1 yrs, $8m total)
Biggest Questions
The Saints enter the offseason in a very different position than in the last decade. For the first time in years, the team is not buried in salary cap trouble, and they finally have real flexibility to improve the roster. The development of Tyler Shough seems very promising as he was able to finish the season strong and showed signs that he could be the team’s quarterback of the future. A significant question surrounds wide receiver Chris Olave, as his concussion history raises concerns about his long-term durability and could potentially impact his future contract decisions.
Free Agents to Watch
One of the Saints’ most important needs is wide receiver depth to complement Olave. Romeo Doubs could be brought in as a reliable WR2 option, and if they want to add some deep threats, they could bring in Kalif Raymond or Tyquan Thornton. Along the offensive line, the Saints need help at both guard spots, and they could potentially target some veterans. Graham Glasgow, Isaac Seumalo, and Teven Jenkins could be the most realistic options to bring in. Finally, on defense, adding interior defensive line depth behind Bryan Bresee and edge rush help next to Chase Young and Carl Granderson remains a priority.
Top Goals
The Saints should continue the roster around Tyler Shough, if he continues to develop, he is going to need a stronger supporting cast, particularly at wide receiver and along the offensive line. The Saints return strong pieces like Erik McCoy and Taliese Fuaga, but both guard spots need improvement, and adding one or two starting-caliber guards could dramatically strengthen the offense. With the salary cap finally stabilizing, the Saints are entering a new phase after years of cap management and veteran-heavy rosters, as the focus shifts to gradually building a younger core of talent.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Impending Free Agents
HB – Rachaad White (2 yrs, $11m total)
WR – Mike Evans (1 yrs, $18m total)
WR – Sterling Shepard
TE – Cade Otton (3 yrs, $32m total)
DT – Logan Hall
DT – Greg Gaines
ED – Haason Reddick (1 yrs, $7.5m total)
LB – Lavonte David (1 yrs, $7m total)
CB – Jamel Dean (2 yrs, $27m total)
CB – Kindle Vildor
Biggest Questions
The biggest question is the future of Mike Evans. Tampa Bay could face its first season without him in over a decade, and the expectation is that Evans likely returns on a short-term deal unless another team offers a massive contract. On the other side of the ball, Linebacker Lavonte David might also test free agency, as last season started to really show that age is starting to catch up to him. If Tampa were to let him walk, the defense would lose a tremendous veteran leader. The defense as a whole struggled for Tampa Bay last season, as they had no consistent pass rush, a weak secondary, and, combined with declining linebacker play, caused the defense to drastically underperform. Todd Bowles’ defense depends heavily on pressure and blitzing, so fixing the pass rush and linebacker play will be crucial.
Free Agents to Watch
Tampa Bay needs to find some edge help opposite YaYa Diaby, and they could be in the market for some big names. Trey Hendrickson would be the big catch, but he is going to come with a high price tag. They could look at one-year deals for Jaelan Phillips, Khalil Mack, or Joey Bosa to add to the room as well. If David leaves in free agency, Tampa Bay could target Devin Lloyd, widely considered to be the best linebacker on the open market, and could fit very well into Bowles’ blitz-heavy defense.
Top Goals
The top defensive priority is to fix the pass rush. Tampa Bay needs a legitimate edge rusher to pair with YaYa Diaby and generate pressure without relying solely on blitzes. Whether Lavonte David returns or not, Tampa Bay needs future starters at linebacker, so this could mean both a free-agent signing and a draft pick. There is also a small need at tight end, as Cade Otton is projected to leave; they might look to add one or two starters this offseason.
Cover Image Courtesy of NFL.com
