The 2022 NFL free agent deals are just now starting to slow down, but a few top names are still in the market. Numerous playmakers and high-profile talent have agreed on terms for 2022 and beyond, and we are seeing a flurry of movement in the trade market, especially under center. What moves stand out so far, and what have we learned from the week the players moved to new teams?
The Jaguars came out of the gate with their wallets open. The AFC West has turned into a race to the top with big name signings and deals. Teams with egregious problems attacked their weaknesses with tricky trades. Some of the best teams in the NFL made moves that could take them to the top spot, while others quietly made signings with less effect. Who is in the lead this offseason?
Our expert team weighs free agents, including the most advanced teams. We’ll be updating this file throughout the week with a new question every day regarding the top signings, the hottest deals, and the biggest deals. Let’s delve into our response to the free agent frenzy this offseason.
Read more: Deal Tracking | Ratings
Which team has moved the best after free agents and other action in the last two weeks?
Stephanie Bell, NFL Analyst: Cincinnati Bengals. They may not have made the sexiest moves, but the offensive line was perhaps the main thing that stood between them and winning the Super Bowl. Quarterback Joe Burrow was fired 51 times last season, a league record. Teams went 16-34 last season with at least 42% of the dropouts under pressure and the Bengals’ Super Bowl loss was among them (42.9%). The addition of right tackle Lael Collins — Barrow’s new self-proclaimed bodyguard — and linemen Ted Karras and Alex Kappa could be just what it takes to propel them to number one in 2022.
Matt Bowen, NFL Analyst: Buffalo Bills. The accounts added a tipping point in the form of Von Miller’s pass rusher, while defensemen Tim Settle and DaQuan Jones bolstered the inside of the front end. Buffalo has upgraded the defensive line here to control the best AFC quarterbacks and win the Super Bowl.
2 Related
Mike Clay, NFL Analyst: Los Angeles Chargers. There are a lot of good options here, but I give the Chargers credit for their success surrounded by young QB Justin Herbert with a much better supporting cast. Corner JC Jackson and winger Khalil Mak are among the best in the league in their positions. Los Angeles’ run defense was terrible last season, so Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson’s defensive tackles were much-needed upgrades ahead. The re-signing of wide receiver Mike Williams and the addition of tight end Gerald Everett help the offensive.
Tristan H. Cockcroft, fantasy football writer: Los Angeles Chargers. They played offensively in 2021 but were severely lacking in defense, trailing 10th in yards and fourth in points. This was probably the main reason why they just didn’t make the playoffs. But the Chargers have done a good job of modernizing this area, adding Mack, Jackson, Joseph-Day and Johnson. And re-signing with Williams and keeping the offensive parts, too, certainly helps.
Jeremy Fowler, NFL National Reporter: Las Vegas Raiders. The doorstep team has just added the necessary players to make a major breakthrough. The deal with Davante Adams takes the whole offense to the next level, and Chandler Jones is a Hall of Fame-level edge rusher. With Jones replacing Yannick Ngakoue opposite Max Crosby, the Raiders traded Ngakue for Rock Ya-Sin, an intriguing 25-year-old cornerer with untapped potential. The Raiders have gotten a lot better, and AFC West will notice. Now, regarding this line of attack…
Dan Graziano, NFL National Reporter: Jacksonville Jaguars. You can argue with some (if not all) contracts, but you can’t say Jaguars aren’t working to get better under free will. They got the best guard in Brandon Scherff, starting guard in Darius Williams, two key defenders who caught the attention of other teams in Foyesade Oluokun and Folorunso Fatukasi. I don’t know exactly how the pass catcher situation will change with new guys Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram in the mix, but the receivers they had last year didn’t set the world on fire. Plus, the factor of a sharp increase in the position of head coach. I don’t think the Jags are ready to compete with all these AFC heavyweights, but after the 3-14 mess, I expect them to be at least a lot better than they were.
Eric Moody, fantasy football writer: Cincinnati Bengals. They added offensive linemen Collins, Karras and Kappa to protect their quarterback. And given the other offensive playmakers in the Bengals’ roster, tight end Hayden Hurst – on a one-year contract – would be a mismatch for the opposition.
Matt Miller, NFL Draft Analyst: Denver Broncos. A trade for quarterback Russell Wilson will get the most attention (and rightly so), but adding to an already impressive defense by signing winger Randy Gregory and defenseman DJ Jones could make the Broncos a legitimate contender for the AFC West.
Jordan Reed, NFL Draft Analyst: Los Angeles Chargers. Having a quarterback on a rookie contract like the Chargers had with Herbert is a big asset to building a roster. This helped them sign Williams to a contract extension. But their most impressive moves were mostly defensive. The trade for Mack and the signing of both Joseph-Day and Jackson provided key improvements. The AFC West will be a battle every week and the Chargers have greatly improved their defense to help complement the explosive offense led by their rising star in the center.
• Tracking autographs, more » | Ratings “
• First winners, losers » | Top Teams »
• Top 100 » | Guide » | Fantasy spin »
More Information About NFL Free Agency »
Kevin Seifert, NFL National Reporter: Baltimore Ravens. I thought about the Browns, but I wondered how much quarterback Deshawn Watson would affect them, given that he could serve a suspension. The Broncos made a deal with Wilson but play in the toughest division in football. Meanwhile, the Ravens have filled a big need with good players – safety Marcus Williams and right tackle Morgan Moses, among others – and should return to the AFC North this season.
Mike Tannenbaum, NFL Front Office Insider: Cleveland Browns. The quarterback’s dramatic upgrade overshadows everything else. Watson gives them a chance to seriously challenge for the Super Bowl every year as long as he stays healthy. Receiver improvement with Amari Cooper replacing Jarvis Landry makes Cleveland’s offense even harder to stop given he already has playmakers around Watson and Cooper at tight end David Njoku, running back Nick Chubb and running back Karim Hunt.
Seth Walder, sportswriter: Denver Broncos. The move from Teddy Bridgewater/Drew Lock to Wilson outpaces any other team’s success and instantly turns Denver from non-contender to contender.
Field Yates, NFL Analyst: Denver Broncos. The addition of Gregory and Jones helps solidify an already solid defensive seven, but the Wilson trade is what solidifies Denver as a pick here. No team has been the subject of more “if they had a quarterback” talk than the Broncos. They need to be sure that they now have someone who can lead them to the Super Bowl.