NFL 2026: 3 Players Who Won Free Agency And 3 Players Who Lost

As NFL free agency ends in 2026, teams are starting to look at 2026 NFL Draftit’s time to evaluate which players won during free agency and which players lost. This is not just a matter of dollars and cents. It’s about which players can be productive for their teams now, and which players will take a step back.

Players to win in 2026 free agency

This is important because in most cases, a player winning the free agency period and increasing his value to a team (and his statistics) equals an increase in their fantasy football stock.

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Bo Nix, quarterback, Denver Broncos

besides Broncos Comeback! After a quiet start to free agency, Broncos make big move, trading former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

Last season, the Broncos’ top three receivers were Courtland Sutton (124 carries), Troy Franklin (104 carries) and tight end Evan Engram (76 carries). The two catchers, Sutton and Franklin, combined for nine throws (Sutton five, Franklin four). But their controversial catch rate was subpar. Sutton ranks 57th in contested catch rate at 38.5%, and Franklin ranks 63rd in contested catch rate at 35.7%. (Statistics courtesy Player profile website)

Now the Broncos have acquired Waddle. In 16 games last season, Waddle was hit by 100 targets. That’s a team that ranks 30th in pass attempts per game, with 28.2 per game. Now, Waddle’s opponents are the Knicks and Broncos, who rank fourth in passing attempts per game at 36.3.

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The Knicks now have receivers who rank sixth on first downs per route (.127), with a true catch rate of 94.1 percent and a contested catch rate of 53.3 percent.

The Knicks ranked seventh in fantasy points per game last season, averaging 18.6 points per game. He was buoyed by five rushing touchdowns and an 18.6 percent offensive share. Now with Waddle, the Broncos have little room to add to their running back roster, looking to add to Nix’s 612 pass attempts and 3,931 passing yards and still be buoyed by his ability to run the ball.

Justin Jefferson, wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings

If the Vikings acquire nearly any veteran quarterback during free agency, it would be a step up for Jefferson. Last season, Jefferson was a WR30 in standard fantasy leagues and a WR21 in PPR leagues. (For comparison, Jefferson finished as WR2 in both standard and PPR leagues in 2024.)

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JJ McCarthy completed 57.6 percent of his passes last season, completed 59.1 percent of his clean pocket passes, and had 12 interceptions. His contender to be the starting quarterback in the 2026 season is Kyler Murray. The last time Murray played a full season was in 2024. During that season, he finished with a 68.3 percent completion rate, a 70.6 percent clean pocket completion rate, and four interceptable passes.

We all witnessed Jefferson’s frustration last season. It makes sense for him, the Vikings and the fantasy football managers who drafted him in the first and second rounds of the draft. There is hope now.

Ashton Jeanty, running back, Las Vegas Raiders

To say the Raiders’ offensive line was terrible last year would be an understatement. The offensive line ranks last in run-win percentage at 62%. Rookie Janet totaled 975 yards, 863 of which came after contact!

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Even so, Jeanty ended up being the RB15, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt and having 24 pinch-hit snaps, which was the most in the league.

The offensive line now has newly acquired center Tyler Linderbaum to bolster the offensive line. Left tackle Colton Miller is expected to return from injury. With potential as a rookie quarterback under center, Genty could become the centerpiece of Clint Kubiak’s offense.

Jandy won by addition.

Players lost to 2026 free agency

Malik Willis, quarterback, Miami Dolphins

Willis, a free-agent quarterback favorite (until Kyler Murray was released), signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Dolphins. There is $45 million guaranteed in the first two years.

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The Dolphins cut wide receiver Tyreek Hill in February before free agency began, leaving Willis with a very useful Waddle. But then, as free agency began to wind down, the Dolphins traded Waddle to the Denver Broncos! Leave it to the newly acquired quarterback:

• Malik Washington played 17 games in 2025, finishing with 65 goals and 46 catches. Washington is known for its slot game and yards after the catch.

• Tutu Atwell, signed a one-year contract, Atwell played 10 games for the Los Angeles Rams last season. He had 15 targets, six receptions and a 53.9 percent snap rate.

• Jalen Tolbert, played 13 games in 2025. Tolbert also signed a one-year contract. He had a breakout season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024; he was overshadowed last season when the Cowboys acquired George Pickens.

Tolbert is known for his blocking ability. Over his career, he’s hit 35 percent of his steals.

So Willis lost a combined 129 targets and 85 catches. Hill and Waddle (mostly Waddle) combined for 1,175 receiving yards. He now has three receivers totaling 114 targets, 70 receptions and 712 yards. Oh yeah, he also has tight end Greg Dulcic.

Theo Johnson, tight end, New York Giants

In addition to being listed as “ill” at the end of the 2025 season and then appearing in Extra large screen In one game with the New York Knicks, Johnson had a decent 2025 season. Among all tight ends, he ranks seventh in snap share (86.2%) and slot snap share (291). With the Giants, he ranks sixth in red zone target share (28%) and ninth in designed target share (8).

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A personnel change ensued, with John Harbaugh becoming head coach. During free agency with a new team, Harbaugh acquired tight end Isaiah Likely from the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens’ offense was in disarray last season, highlighted by quarterback Lamar Jackson’s injury, and Leckley had 170 fewer receiving yards and five fewer touchdown receptions in 14 games than the previous year.

So what do we make of this acquisition? According to Sharp Analysis, the Giants used multiple tight ends only 38% of the time last season. However, Harbaugh’s Ravens are tied for the most multi-tight end combinations among teams, with a usage rate of 51%. It’s not unusual for Leckley and Johnson to be on the court at the same time this season. The question is, who will take the dominant receiving role? Last season, Leckley played in 54.4 percent of his slots, catching 27 passes for 307 yards and 117 yards after the catch.

Even if the Giants employ 12 players, Johnson will lose snaps and targets.

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Bryce Hall, running back, New York Jets

Franchise tag! That pretty much sums it all up. Rather than releasing or trading Hall to a contending team, the Jets put the franchise tag on Hall. Then they began revamping their defensive lineup with veterans who embody the culture of their head coach Aaron Glenn Want to build.

So Hall will once again see himself carrying the majority of the Jets’ offense on a team that ranks 19th in rushing attempts per game (26.8) and 11th in rushing yards per game (123.3). Last season, his 243 carries, 1,065 rushing yards, 63 tackles evaded and 17 breakout runs were outstanding in fantasy only at RB19. It’s likely because the Jets rank 29th in points per game (17.6), three spots ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders, who added a quarterback this season.

2026 free agency winners and losers

Knicks, Jefferson and Jeanty all left free agency in better shape than they entered it. Nix gets another weapon, a more reliable quarterback in Jefferson, and Jeanty gets an offensive line that will help him get to daylight sooner.

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There were obstacles in the way for Willis, Hall and Johnson. Willis is a subtraction, Johnson is an addition, and Hall and his team are on the offensive side.

But hey, there’s still the 2026 NFL Draft.