2026 NFL free agency: Five most improved teams, best signings - ESPN

Did we all enjoy the first week of NFL free agency? The deals came fast and furious once the negotiating period began on Monday, with many of the top free agents being linked to new teams within the first couple of hours. By Wednesday, when free agency officially began, many of the players listed in our top 100 ranking of the 2026 free agent group were already snagged.

Some teams signed more top players than others. And now that a few frenzy-filled days have passed, we thought it would be a good time to crown the early winners of free agency. We named five teams that have improved the most and picked each team's best and most underrated signings.

Which rosters might look different in 2026 due to their early success in free agency? Let's start with a franchise that made its biggest moves on defense. (Teams are listed alphabetically.)

Best signing: Jaelan Phillips, LB

There was some debate over whether Phillips or Trey Hendrickson was the best edge rusher in this free agent class, but Phillips, at 26, is the younger of the two and still has some possibility for growth. The Eagles' defense improved on film once it added Phillips at midseason, and although he had just two sacks for Philadelphia, he had 27 pressures.

Edge rusher was a huge need for a Panthers team that ranked just 28th in sacks (30) and 24th in pass rush win rate (34.4%) last season. Signing Phillips was very expensive, with a four-year, $120 million contract, but the Panthers had the cap space to make the move.

Most underrated signing: Devin Lloyd, LB

Lloyd matured into a top linebacker over the past couple of seasons with the Jaguars. Since 2024, he has recorded 3.5 sacks, 194 total tackles and 11 passes defended. The «underrated» part here is the price to