NFL 2026: 3 Players Who Won Free Agency And 3 Players Who Lost
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 24: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos celebrates with fans following an NFL Football game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesAs the 2026 NFL free agency period winds down and teams start to look toward the 2026 NFL Draft, it is time to assess which players won during free agency and what players lost. This is about more than the dollars and cents. This is about what players are now in a position to be more productive for both their teams, and what players are going to be taking that step backwards.
Players Who Won 2026 Free Agency
This is important because, for the most part, a player winning the free agency period and bumping up his value to his team (and his stats) equals a bump in their fantasy football stock.
Bo Nix, Quarterback, Denver Broncos
And the Broncos make a comeback! After a quiet start to free agency, the Broncos made a serious move with the trade for former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
Last season, the top-three Broncos’ receivers were Courtland Sutton (124 targets), Troy Franklin (104 targets), and tight end Evan Engram (76 targets). The two receivers, Sutton and Franklin, combined for nine drops (Sutton had five and Franklin had four). But their contested catch rate was subpar. Sutton finished 57th with a 38.5% contested catch rate, and Franklin was 63rd with a 35.7% contested catch rate. (Stats courtesy playerprofiler.com)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 11: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins catches a pass in the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium on December 11, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesNow the Broncos have acquired Waddle. In 16 games last season, Waddle was on the receiving end of 100 targets. That was on a team that was 30th in passing attempts per game, averaging 28.2. Now Waddle goes to Nix and the Broncos, who were fourth in passing attempts per game, averaging 36.3.
Nix now gets a receiver who was sixth in first downs per route run (0.127), with a 94.1% true catch rate, and a 53.3% contested catch rate.
Nix finished seventh in fantasy points per game last season, averaging 18.6 fantasy points per game. He was buoyed by his five rushing touchdowns and his 18.6% carry share. And now that he has Waddle in the fold, and the Broncos did little to bolster their running back room, look for Nix to increase on his 612 passing attempts and 3931 passing yards, and still be buoyed by his running ability.
Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings
If the Vikings had acquired almost any veteran quarterback during free agency, it would have been an improvement for Jefferson. Last season, Jefferson finished as WR30 in standard fantasy leagues and WR21 in PPR leagues. (In comparison, in 2024, Jefferson finished as WR2 in both standard and PPR leagues.)
J.J. McCarthy finished last season with a 57.6% completion percentage, a 59.1% clean pocket completion percentage, and had 12 interceptable passes. His competition for the starting quarterback for the 2026 season is Kyler Murray. Murray last played a complete season in 2024. In that season, he finished with a 68.3% completion percentage with a 70.6% clean pocket completion percentage and four interceptable passes.
We all witnessed Jefferson’s frustration last season. It was warranted for him, the Vikings, and the fantasy football managers that drafted him in the first and early second rounds. Now there is hope.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 16: Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs against Tatum Bethune #48 and Luke Gifford #57 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 game at Allegiant Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesAshton Jeanty, Running Back, Las Vegas Raiders
To say that the Raiders' offensive line last year was bad is an understatement. The offensive line was last in run-blocking win rate at 62%. Rookie Jeanty had 975 total yards, with 863 of those yards coming after contact!
Even so, Jeanty finished as RB15, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt with a league high 24 broken tackles.
Now the offensive line gets newly acquired center Tyler Linderbaum to shore up the offensive line. Left tackle Kolton Miller is expected to return from injury. And with the potential of a rookie quarterback under center, Jeanty could be the centerpiece of a Klint Kubiak offense.
Jeanty won by addition.
Players Who Lost 2026 Free Agency
Malik Willis, Quarterback, Miami Dolphins
Willis, the darling of the free agent quarterbacks (until Kyler Murray was released), signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Dolphins. There is $45 million in guaranteed money for the first two years.
Before the start of free agency, the Dolphins released wide receiver Tyreek Hill in February, leaving Willis with a very serviceable Waddle. But then, as free agency started to wind down, the Dolphins traded Waddle to the Denver Broncos! Leaving the newly acquired quarterback with:
- Malik Washington, who played 17 games in 2025 and finished with 65 targets and 46 receptions. Washington is known for his slot play and yards after the catch.
- Tutu Atwell, signed to a one-year contract, Atwell played 10 games for the Los Angeles Rams last season. He had 15 targets with six receptions and played 53.9% of his snaps from the slot.
- Jalen Tolbert, who played 13 games in 2025. Tolbert has also signed a one-year contract. His breakout season with the Dallas Cowboys came in 2024; last season, he was overshadowed by the Cowboys’ acquisition of George Pickens.
Tolbert is known for his blocking ability. In his career, 35% of his snaps have been in the slot.
So Willis lost the combined production of 129 targets and 85 receptions. Hill and Waddle (mostly Waddle) combined for 1175 receiving yards. He now has three receivers who combined for 114 targets, 70 receptions, and 712 receiving yards. And oh yeah, he has tight end Greg Dulcich.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 13: Theo Johnson #84 of the New York Giants in action against the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium on October 13, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesTheo Johnson, Tight End, New York Giants
Besides ending his 2025 season listed as “sick” and then showing up on the Jumbotron at a New York Knicks game, Johnson had a decent 2025 season. Among all tight ends, he was seventh in snap share (86.2%) and slot snaps (291). On the Giants, he was sixth in red zone target share (28%) and ninth in designed targets (8).
Then came the shake-up, and John Harbaugh as head coach. During free agency with his new team, Harbaugh landed his tight end from the Baltimore Ravens, Isaiah Likely.
The Ravens’ offense was in chaos last season, highlighted by quarterback Lamar Jackson’s injuries and Likely in 14 games, amassing 170 fewer receiving yards and five fewer receiving touchdowns than his previous year.
So what do we make of this acquisition? Per Sharp Analysis, last season, the Giants used multiple tight end sets only 38% of the time. However, Harbaugh’s Ravens tied for the most use of multiple tight end sets, utilizing them 51% of the time. It will not be unusual to see both Likely and Johnson on the field at the same time this season. The question is, who will have the dominant pass-catching role? Last season, Likely had a 54.4% slot rate, 27 receptions, 307 receiving yards, and 117 yards after the catch.
Look for Johnson to lose slot snaps and targets even if and when the Giants employ 12 personnel.
Breece Hall, Running Back, New York Jets
Franchise tag! That pretty much sums it up. Instead of releasing or trading Hall to a competitive team, the Jets placed the franchise tag on Hall. They have then proceeded to revamp their defensive side with serviceable veterans who embody the type of culture head coach Aaron Glenn wants to establish.
So Hall, running on a team that was 19th in rushing attempts per game (26.8) and 11th in rushing yards per game (123.3), will once again see himself doing the bulk of the Jets offense. His 243 carries, 1065 rushing yards, 63 evaded tackles,s and 17 breakaway runs were only good for RB19 in fantasy last season. Most likely because the Jets languished in 29th in points per game (17.6), three spots ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders, whose quarterback they acquired this season.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 01: Breece Hall #20 of the New York Jets looks on after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New York Jets, 26-21, at MetLife Stadium on December 01, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Getty Images2026 Free Agency Players Who Won and Players Who Lost
Nix, Jefferson, and Jeanty have all emerged from the free agency better off than when they entered. Nix received another weapon, Jefferson a more reliable quarterback, and Jeanty an offensive line that will help him get to daylight quicker.
Willis, Hall, and Johnson have obstacles in their way. Willis by subtraction, Johnson by addition, and Hall with his team standing pat on the offensive side of the ball.
But hey, there is still the 2026 NFL Draft.