Following the initial flurry of free agent signings during the “legal tampering” period and the first days of the NFL League year, I asked the following question:
Given the flurry of free agent signings around the NFL thus far, which NFL team do you think made the best overall free agent signing, and which made the worst signing? This can be based on who the player actually is, based on their production, or it can be based on the contract that they received, which can be perceived as either a bargain
for the level of talent or a huge mistake based on the player being unlikely to ever produce at the level that would justify their new massive payday.
Below are some of your thoughts and answers-
MiamiItaliano says the Dolphins made the best signing with Willis, and the Bills’ signing of Chubb and the Jets’ trade for Geno were the worst deals.
Best signing: Dolphins getting Willis for only $45 million guaranteed. I thought there would be some other bids from desperate QB teams. So if it doesn’t work out after 2 years, par for the course for this franchise but not too bad of a dead cap hit in 2028. If it works out and Willis turns out to be the guy, hooray.
Worst signing: Chubb getting $29 million guaranteed from the Bills. The guy is done.
Honorable mention (because technically this was a trade and not a FA signing): Jets getting Geno Smith back. Darren Moughey should be fired and Aaron Glenn along with him after this year.
CluelessNFLfan says the worst signing was the Carolina Panthers’ four-year, $ 120 million deal for former Dolphin Jaelen Phillips.
Worst was Jaelen Phillips. All that money for an injury prone edge who’s never had more than 8.5 sacks in a season, and only 5 last year
Phoenix6 says we had the best while the hated New York Jets had the worst deal with their trade for Geno.
Which NFL team do you think made the best overall free agent signing, and which made the worst signing?
Best: Miami w/Malik.
Worst: Jets w/Geno.
MIAMI235 says both answers could be Malik, depending on how it turns out.
Just to start the discussion….
Best Signing. Malik Willis
Worst Signing. Malik Willis
* Yes, it sounds like a fun joke….but, however this plays out could fit the Answer.
THEphinz points out the Ravens’ shadiest move thus far this offseason.
Most bonehead? Whatever swindle, backdoor, fishy, no good, rotten thing the Ravens did with the crosby deal. Talk about a way to make sure other GMs never trust you again
tvegas897 believes the front office is building a very under-the-radar defense.
Shhh… don’t tell anyone but the FO is building the next No Name defense!
Molly Polly II says the best signing was the Chiefs getting a new running back, and the worst was the Lions signing a not-so-great backup QB.
My vote goes to Chiefs signing Walker
Worst…it’s gotta be Lions sign Teddy 2 gloves…he should stick with Progressive commercials.
JUK says Miami had the best signing, and the Bills made more than one bad move.
Best (Dolphins). Willis, obviously. A low cost/high upside deal for a potential quality starter. Also a great guy who took less money to join us over the Jets.
Best (others). Unfortunately I’ll say the Bills getting McGovern for 4/52 just before the raiders threw a bomb into the Center market. They also got James cook for a ridiculous deal at the start or 2025. The good news is I don’t like their other deals. 29m guaranteed for Chubb is a hell of a lot for a 30 year old who didn’t generate consistent pressure and his injury history.
Worst (dolphins). Nothing really to complain about, but I would have liked to bent Borom back at 1/5m, and while I get we had to do it to make the cap room a 7th for Minkah stung.
Worst (others). I’ve got to go with Lindebaum. He’s a top 3 center in the league (with brewer and Humphries) but that contract is insane. A 50% increase on the previous record AAV at your position is completely unprecedented for a reason.
NeenerWhacker thinks the Bills are slipping and overpaid for Chubb and didn’t need to trade for DJ.
I like Chubb, thought he was a true professional and another unlucky with injuries. But the Bills gave him a lot of money. He is not close to an elite pass rusher, just a solid DE … And that trade for DJ Moore left me scratching my head. Second Highest paid receiver room and they have Moore, Shakir and Keon Coleman (on a rookie deal), not good.
I think Buffalo is slipping – and quite frankly wasting a generational talent. I think Beane’s over his head and is another bad draft away from taking them down.
madcitydave never thought the Dolphins had any real chance of signing Willis, and now here we are.
Malik. I thought there was no way that the Dolphins had a chance to get Malik. Figured Arizona or the Jets would get him. Living in Wisconsin most of my friends are Packer fans and a lot of them would rather have Willis than Love. I think that’s a win for Miami.
The Earl says Miami’s best move was signing Uche and the worst was letting Minkah go for only a 7th.
Best deals for Dolphins: Josh Uche – gonna be a sneaky depth addition. I’m gonna say 4-5 sacks in 2026. Greg Dulcich is target #2 right now. He may go over 1000 yards.
Worst deal for the Dolphins: Minkah – it was a cost cutting move, but dumped him for peanuts.
Best deal for everyone else: Steelers just got Jaquan Brisker on a 1 yr, like $5M deal. You telling me Miami couldn’t have worked something out for that? Several depth WRs have gone for cheap.
Worst deal for everyone else: Jaelen Phillips for $30M AAV is reminiscent of when the Giants overpaid for Olivier Vernon. Ḥe’s 8th highest in AAV for edge players and has never had double digit sacks in a season. I like the player, but I don’t believe he’ll live up to that contract. Not necessarily the worst overpay third offseason, but a noteworthy one.
StanleyDoyle1 says Miami’s best move was bringing back Dulcich, and their worst was signing Willis.
Smartest – Dulcich, a guy who just got open.
Smartest – all of the rest who no one has ever heard of and that they didn’t pay top money to, which leaves out only
Dumbest – Willis. I’ve seen no media reporting that anyone besides the Dolphins were seriously pursuing Willis – for good reason. At least he’ll be entertaining to watch, as he leads the Dolphins to consecutive 7-10 seasons.
TheRoo1 says the best overall move was for no team to add Chris Grier to their staff.
Smartest move this offseason?????
Nobody signed Grier
PhinsTifosi says the Jets’ signing of Geno checks both boxes.
Geno to the Jest
Best for us, worst for them
Well, that’s our list of comments for this evening. We nearly got to 15, so I’ll happily take it. Most see the signing of Willis as a solid move for the Dolphins, while the Jets’ signing of Geno Smith was often cited as the worst move, one that will also help the Phins. As alwasy thank you to each of you who took the time to answer our question of the day.
