Super Bowl LX provided more proof that free agency, when used right, can be a powerful tool in NFL building.
The Seattle Seahawks made one big move in the offseason, and without it they probably would not have won a championship. When quarterback Sam Darnold was available, perhaps at a slight discount after struggling for the final two games of the previous season, the Seahawks signed him to a three-year, $100.5 million deal. Darnold wasa big reason the Seahawks won a Super Bowl.
The New England Patriots had their quarterback but needed to build around him. So they spent $364.4 million on 19 free agents, with $174.9 million guaranteed at signing,according to Spotrac. The Patriots won an AFC championship, with many of those free-agent additions playing key roles.
Each team goes into free agency with different goals, whether it's one big addition, starting a roster rebuild or adding a few players that can help them get over the top. The madness starts on March 9, when the negotiating window opens between teams and free agents.
Here is the ranking of the least to most interesting teams to watch in free agency, with projected cap space available for each team (according to Spotrac):
32:Green Bay Packers
Cap space: $-6.4 million
The Packers will want to see what a full season with Micah Parsons looks like. That was their all-in move, and it affects the team's ability to make more moves in free agency or the draft. There are some holes to fill, like on the offensive line and at cornerback, but it seems like a major move is out of the budget. Green Bay will mostly try again next season with its above-average roster, hoping Parsons' torn ACL has recovered and he raises the ceiling in the playoffs.
31:Miami Dolphins
Cap space: $-6 million
This offseason might not be pretty. There might be pipe dreams ofchasing Malik Willis, but cap constraints are a big reason the team has been talking up Quinn Ewers. It seems like the Dolphins will take their cap medicine this offseason, including a massive dead cap hit for presumably cutting Tua Tagovailoa that will likely affect their 2027 cap as well, and plan on a miserable season with eyes on it getting better in the future. It's necessary to move forward after years of mismanagement.
30:Jacksonville Jaguars
Cap space: $-16.3 million
The Jaguars made huge strides in Liam Coen's first season as head coach. They probably won't be spending much this offseason because of cap constraints, and that could cost them linebacker Devin Lloyd in free agency too. They'll have to figure out bargain ways to fix the interior of the defensive line and the rest of the defense as a whole, while seeing if there's enough left over for some additions to the offensive line and perhaps running back depth if Travis Etienne leaves. The Jaguars should feel good but it might not be an interesting offseason.
29:Carolina Panthers
Cap space: $7.6 million
The Panthers have some reasons for hope after a backdoor NFC South title and a competitive playoff loss against the Rams. But they're another team looking to add to both lines, and don't have a ton of cap space to get all of that done. Perhaps the Panthers get creative with the cap and add an edge rusher or linebacker for the defense.
28:Detroit Lions
Cap space: $-3.8 million
The Lions still have a fantastic roster and will be a contender again in 2026. But paying all those stars means that the offseason could be on the quiet side. Trading away David Montgomery means they'll need to find a backup running back to Jahmyr Gibbs. They'll continue to retool the offensive line and more defensive line help would be great. But there won't be the type of cap space needed to find huge upgrades.
27:Baltimore Ravens
Cap space: $20.4 million
The Ravens want to get an extension done with Lamar Jackson. If that doesn't happen, will everything else get messy? Let's assume something gets settled with Baltimore's franchise quarterback. New coach Jesse Minter might want some different personnel for his defensive scheme (like a prime edge rusher), and the Ravens could also use another receiver and a running back to give Derrick Henry a break. Baltimore should still be in a championship window and accentuating the talent on hand could help them rebound from a bad season.
26:Philadelphia Eagles
Cap space: $362,000
Everyone was projecting an A.J. Brown trade for the Eagles, but that hasn't happened and might not. If it does, finding a new No. 1 receiver becomes a tough assignment for general manager Howie Roseman. There aren't many big needs on the roster after years of strong drafting. They just need that talent to come together a lot better than it did during last season's disappointment. The Eagles will probably have a pretty dull offseason, unless Brown is on the move.
25:San Francisco 49ers
Cap space: $22.9 million
The 49ers have some cap challenges as their star-filled roster continues to age. Adding at all levels of the defense remains a need, though getting Nick Bosa and Fred Warner back from injuries will help solve some of those problems. Receiver and tight end are issues with Brandon Aiyuk on the outs, Jauan Jennings hitting free agency and George Kittle coming off an Achilles injury. And a running back to give Christian McCaffrey a break might be nice too. San Francisco's hope is that avoiding the terrible injury luck it has had the past two seasons puts the team back in line to contend for a championship. There isn't much flexibility to do much else.
24:Houston Texans
Cap space: $-13.8 million
The Texans need a lot of offensive line help. Again. Trading two offensive linemen (Tytus Howard to Cleveland and Juice Scruggs to Detroit) just means there are two more positions to fill. New running back David Montgomeryis an upgrade, but does it matter if the offensive line is inept? Houston's defense is one of the best in the NFL, so the team doesn't need to worry much there. There's one priority this offseason, and it's fixing the offensive line. Which was the same priority as last offseason.
23:New Orleans Saints
Cap space: $-44 million
The Saints are among the teams in the worst cap situation heading into the offseason. That's not surprising because the Saints live in cap purgatory. They'll get out the credit card again, sign some players and push those cap hits to the future. The Saints were better than expected last season, in large part because rookie quarterback Tyler Shough played well, but the roster still desperately needs more young talent. Overpaying for old veteran talent in free agency won't fix that.
22:Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cap space: $11.3 million
It seems fairly obvious the Buccaneers will be pouring all available resources into improving the defense, though they also have the question of what to do with franchise icon and free agent Mike Evans. Last season's collapse, which resulted in the Bucs giving up a huge lead in the NFC South and missing the playoffs, could add some urgency to their approach. There are plenty of blue-chip players in Tampa Bay. If the defense can improve, the Buccaneers can get back to winning a bad division.
21:Indianapolis Colts
Cap space: $-4 million
The Colts made a big move before last season's trade deadline when it traded for cornerback Sauce Gardner. That will affect their ability to improve the roster in this year's draft, but Gardner is a good player. The Colts have cap space, but a lot of it could be tied up in retaining Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce. The Jones situation is paramount. The Colts put the transition tag on Jones, but that means other teams can sign him to an offer sheet. If the Colts can't bring Jones back then their entire offseason focus will have to change, especially with Anthony Richardson on the trade block.
20:Chicago Bears
Cap space: $1.4 million
Most teams with a quarterback still on his rookie deal that just won a division should be in line to spend big in free agency. The Bears don't have a ton of cap space though, and they'll have to get creative to add to the defense. An edge rusher could help a below-average pass rush. And center became a need when Drew Dalman suddenly retired. So there are some issues to address. Overall, the Bears should feel great coming off an NFC North title, and while their offseason might not be very splashy, the arrow is pointing up regardless of how much money they spend.
19:Arizona Cardinals
Cap space: $38.8 million
The Cardinals will be interesting because they have a decent amount of cap space and also a need at quarterback. Could this be the Malik Willis landing spot? Perhaps. The Cardinals weren't one of the top options for good candidates in the head-coaching cycle, partially because the roster is not good. There's a lot of work to be done, starting with a solution at quarterback.
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18:Pittsburgh Steelers
Cap space: $43.9 million
The Steelers don't expect Aaron Rodgers to take long to make a decision on whether he'll play again this season, which is good news. It's not like a 42-year-old Rodgers is a great option, but he would be an option (if he decides to play and also returns to Pittsburgh). If the Steelers go into the quarterback carousel, it might not be pretty. The Steelers also need to address an expensive and aging defense, and maybe should add a playmaker at receiver too. But it's hard to chart a course without knowing who is playing quarterback.
17:Cleveland Browns
Cap space: $-24.6 million
The Browns had a very good season from their rookie class. That is a positive going forward. But there are still questions about quarterback, and the Browns had all five starting offensive linemen from last season become free agents. They already filled one hole on the line by trading for Texans right tackle Tytus Howard, but more work needs to be done. The Browns also have a surprising lack of cap space, because the Deshaun Watson mistake will loom over the franchise for a long, long time.
16:Minnesota Vikings
Cap space: $-44.4 million
The J.J. McCarthy conundrum hangs over everything. Minnesota went 9-8 with terrible quarterback play, which is reminiscent of the 2024 Colts, who took off in 2025 with Daniel Jones before his injury. The Vikings have talked about wanting to add quarterback depth, but the market for quarterbacks will be rough this offseason. Will they pay up for another quarterback to push or even replace McCarthy, like the Colts did with Jones? There isn't much cap space to do that, or much else. But there is a clear question to be answered.
15:New York Giants
Cap space: $13.7 million
The Giants keep making moves that provide hope for the future. Hiring John Harbaugh as their new head coach was a much-needed step. It's a team with a strong defensive line and a lot of young talent, including quarterback Jaxson Dart, and bolstering the offensive line seems smart this offseason. It will be interesting to see how the team-building philosophy changes in the first year of the Harbaugh era.
14:Washington Commanders
Cap space: $86.1 million
The Commanders got old in a hurry. Now the warts of the roster, including edge rusher, secondary, interior offensive line and tight end, are more glaring. The Commanders do have a lot of cap space to fix some of the issues. Helping Jayden Daniels after an injury-filled encore to his amazing rookie season is a big key. But the Commanders won't be back in the playoffs without some big defensive improvements.
13:Cincinnati Bengals
Cap space: $47.5 million
Same story: The Bengals need defense and offensive line help. There is enough cap space to fix some of those issues, but will ownership commit to spending money? After watching Joe Burrow miss plenty of last season due to injury, offensive line has to be addressed. But that might just mean that the defense is among the worst in the NFL again. A more aggressive franchise might be able to make wholesale changes, but Cincinnati hasn't always been into making big outside splashes. We'll see what their level of urgency is as Burrow's prime continues to slip away.
12:New England Patriots
Cap space: $35.3 million
Another spending spree? Life with an MVP candidate at quarterback on his rookie deal is good. The Patriots spent big in free agency last offseason and still are one of the top 12 teams in terms of projected cap space entering this offseason. It seems clear that the offensive line will get some reinforcements, and receiver upgrades would be a big help too. And somehow, the Patriots still have enough cap flexibility to address both areas.
11:Seattle Seahawks
Cap space: $60.7 million
The Seahawks were a dominant champion last season, losing just three games by a combined nine points. And they come into this offseason with the sixth-most projected cap space in the NFL. Seattle will try to retain Kenneth Walker, but have the cap to find a competent replacement if he leaves. They could also add some help at receiver to go with All-Pro Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Anything the Seahawks add will be a bonus, considering how good they were last season. And they have enough flexibility to add a couple of luxury impact players.
10:Atlanta Falcons
Cap space: $8.9 million
The Falcons are in an interesting position. They did some good things last season but fired their coach because ultimately they underachieved. They have a roster that has plenty of talent but also a quarterback situation that is unsettled due to Michael Penix's health and inconsistent play. With Kirk Cousins gone, it seems that another quarterback to back up Penix or replace him as he works back from a torn ACL will have to be added. That won't come cheaply. There's also a big question surrounding defensive endJames Pearce Jr. and his legal situation. There's a lot to sort out here as the Falcons try to transition into being a contender.
9:Las Vegas Raiders
Cap space: $85.7 million
There will be two major moments of the Raiders' offseason, and one we can predict now. The Raiderswill draft Fernando Mendoza first overall, barring a big surprise. But what happens with defensive end Maxx Crosby is tougher to figure out. The Raiders say they want Crosby back, but could a huge offer change their mind? There are pros and cons to trading Crosby, and whichever path the Raiders choose will go a long way in shaping a roster that needs some big improvements, specifically on the offensive line. Once the Crosby situation is settled, we'll get a clear picture of what the Raiders will do in free agency.
8:New York Jets
Cap space: $74.1 million
The Jets' big push will probably happen in 2027. But this is also a hugely important offseason for their rebuild. The Jets have the second-most projected cap space in the NFL. That doesn't mean they should spend it all; just like having extra 2026 draft picks doesn't mean they should panic and use a valuable one on a quarterback they don't love. That's what next offseason will be for. But smart decisions this offseason could start to lay a foundation.
7:Kansas City Chiefs
Cap space: $-8.6 million
Kansas City has an interesting offseason coming. The Chiefs are coming off a shocking 11-loss season and also have to wonder when Patrick Mahomes will be healthy from a torn ACL. They'll be intent on rebounding right away, but there are challenges. The Chiefs have been shedding cap to get compliant, and it will be hard for them to become a big player in free agency given the cap constraints. That could hinder them from adding a key player at running back or perhaps at tight end if Travis Kelce retires. How the Chiefs approach this pivotal offseason will be fascinating to watch.
6:Tennessee Titans
Cap space: $90.4 million
No team has more projected cap space than the Titans. Not many teams have more holes to fill either. The top priority will be to surround Cam Ward with better talent, though the defense needs a ton of work as well. Presumably, new coach Robert Saleh will want reinforcements for the defense he wants to run. How the Titans allocate all that cap space will be interesting, but getting Ward help to assist in his development has to be a big part of the plan.
5:Buffalo Bills
Cap space: $-8.8 million
The Bills let it be known that they are not putting up with the status quo when they fired coach Sean McDermott following an overtime loss in the divisional round of the playoffs. Will that carry over to roster building? GM Brandon Beane has gotten a pass from ownership, but the offense around Josh Allen needs work. Will the Bills figure out a way to land a top receiver in free agency? That would be a huge help. But it won't be easy to pull off.
4:Los Angeles Chargers
Cap space: $84.9 million
The Chargers went 11-6, get two of the NFL's best offensive tackles back to the lineup from injury and also have the most projected cap space of any team that made the playoffs last season. The interior of the offensive line will need some work, and adding defensive talent following coordinator Jesse Minter's departure to Baltimore will be addressed. But the Chargers have the type of cap space to be one of this offseason's big players, and they were already in pretty good shape coming off last season.
3:Dallas Cowboys
Cap space: $-58.4 million
Jerry Jones continues to say what fans want to hear when it comes to spending in free agency. He said he is willing to"bust the budget"this offseason, but it's not like his team was "all in" two years ago like he famously claimed. So, we'll see. The one big move, albeit expected, wasputting the franchise tag on receiver George Pickens. If the Cowboys do make some moves, after some procedural moves to clear a lot of cap space, it's going to be on defense. Dak Prescott played very well last season and the Cowboys weren't even .500. That's only going to change if there are serious additions to the defense.
2:Denver Broncos
Cap space: $21 million
The top paid player on the Broncos roster each of the past two seasons, in terms of cap number, was Russell Wilson. He wasn't on the team. Having that cap anchor removed gives the Broncos some options in free agency. Sean Payton teams are always aggressive in free agency whether they have cap space or not, so expect the Broncos to get to spending now that they have their Wilson rebate. The Broncos with a star running back and maybe an impact receiver, to go with a stellar defense, could be very interesting in 2026.
1:Los Angeles Rams
Cap space: $42 million
The Rams with two first-round picks is quite intriguing. They haven't been the "(expletive) them picks" team in a couple years, but it's in their DNA. They have to know Matthew Stafford's time as an MVP level quarterback won't last forever as he's 38 years old, so could they make some big moves to get back to another Super Bowl? They might after barely missing out last season. Even if the Rams don't trade the picks, they could make important moves. Cornerback stands out as a glaring need. The Rams also have a decent amount of cap space. This is a team to watch.