The 8 biggest bargains in NFL free agency: Bucs, Chargers early winners

Just a week into NFL free agency, the bulk of the major deals are done. There's now an opportunity to evaluate which teams got better and why. Did they throw money at the big names? Did they spend wisely? Strategically? Who played the game the best?

To figure that out, you can start with who got the most bang for their buck. For as many big contracts teams handed out, especially to wide receivers, there were some surprises on the other end of the spectrum. Who went for less, or which deals will age well?

Let's take a look at some of the best bargains of free agency thus far.

8. Titans OG Kevin Zeitler : one year, $9 million ($8.745 million guaranteed)

The Titans needed interior offensive line help, and badly — especially if they're about to draft a rookie quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick. Zeitler, even at an advanced age, was the best of the options that made it to free agency. He was economical for the Titans, too.

7. Buccaneers OLB Haason Reddick : one year, $14 million ($12 million guaranteed)

Last year was … weird for Reddick. He was the first to say so in his introductory press conference in Tampa. A fresh situation in an established locker room should be a recipe for success for both parties. Reddick is just a year removed from back-to-back Pro Bowls while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He had 27 sacks between 2022-2023. 

If Tampa Bay can unlock that Reddick, and he's playing next to the monsters the Bucs have on the interior of their defensive line (namely, Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey), then Reddick could easily return to form as a double-digit sack artist. It would make his deal absolute peanuts in comparison to others at his position. Otherwise, this year-long chance won't cost the Bucs