NFL free agency is just about to end, and there have been some major splashes that could shake up the 2026 NFL season.
With some of the best teams in the league gaining even better stars, and some of the worst teams getting stars and major teams losing major players, the 2026 season should be exciting.
The Kansas City Chiefs signed the Super Bowl MVP, running back Kenneth Walker after a disappointing season. Travis Kelce regressed last year, and Patrick Mahomes is recovering from a torn ACL. Along with the run game being almost nonexistent and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014, the Chiefs dynasty looked to be coming to close until the signing of Walker. Not only that, but they traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for another first round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and signed quarterback Justin Fields to back up the recovering Mahomes.
The Las Vegas Raiders, after being the worst team in the league, had to have a massive offseason to even be competitive next year, and they did. They retained defensive end Maxx Crosby after a trade to the Baltimore Ravens fell through and hired the most promising young head coach in Klint Kubiak. They also signed one of the best centers in the game in Tyler Linderbaum and key defensive players to back up Crosby in linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. They also signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to help mentor first overall pickFernado Mendoza.
The New York Giants, after drafting three stars in the 2025 draft, failed to capitalize on their rookie talent. But, with healthy stars, the team is ready to succeed. The new coach hire offormer Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbough brought along several key Ravens players- tight end Isiah Likely and fullback Patrick Ricard. The Giants have definitely upgradedtheir roster and could make a splash next season.
The Atlanta Falcons are the first big losers of free agency. The biggest signing they made was quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on a veteran minimum contract. This signing isn’t the worst move they made, as having two left-handed quarterbacks will make it easier on the wide receivers if they switch quarterbacks mid-game. Other than that, they made very smallsignings, including wide receiver Jahan Dotson, right tackle Jawaan Taylor, running back Brian Robinson, Jr. and linebacker Christian Harris.
These signings are to account for the loss of several key players, running back Tyler Algier, linebacker Kaden Ellis, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and the retirement of right tackleKaleb McGary. The reason why the Falcons may have not looked to sign bigger players was because they have very limited cap space and have several large signings looming over them, including the signing of tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London.
