NFL Free Agency is in full swing. The first winners and losers are already emerging.

The new NFL year began on March 12. Some transfers were announced in advance, and these became official on this date.

Some franchises are already particularly willing to shop, while others are holding back (for now?).

Big deals have been signed, contracts extended, and deserving players released.

But who are the winners of the first days of free agency? Who are the losers? ran gives you an overview.

Winners: Washington Commanders

An already strong roster, which made it to the NFC Championship Game last season with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, has been further strengthened. This is how the Washington Commanders’ free agency so far can be summarized. The franchise currently has time to go all in while Daniels is still playing under his cheap rookie contract

That’s why top stars Laremy Tunsil (tackle) and Deebo Samuel (wide receiver) were brought in via trade to strengthen the offensive line and the offense. Contracts with tight ends Zach Ertz and John Bates have also been extended. Offensively, the franchise is incredibly strong.

Defensively, they have already strengthened their D-Line with Javon Kinlaw (to replace the departed Jonathan Allen) and Deatrich Wise. In addition, safety Will Harris and linebacker Bobby Wagner were kept on board.

The Commanders are a strong draft away from being able to play at the top again, with their first and second round picks still to come. If the defense, which is still too vulnerable, is further strengthened here, anything is possible.

Winner: Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams will have no excuses in 2025! The Bears have done everything they can in free agency to ensure that their young quarterback has a strong season. He was sacked a whopping 68 times last season. The most in the entire league.

General manager Ryan Poles tackled this issue early on, trading for the guards Joe Thuney (from the Chiefs) and Jonah Jackson (from the Rams), two top O-liners for his quarterback. In addition, free agent center Drew Dalman, who most recently played for Atlanta for four years, has also been signed.

The O-line has been massively bolstered to give Caleb Williams the protection and time he needs. With new head coach Ben Johnson, he also has an offensive mastermind at his side who has whipped the Detroit Lions offense into shape in recent years. If things don’t go better now, it’s probably his fault.

Winner: Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders have addressed their most important issue in free agency – and made sensible additions. Geno Smith is the new quarterback in Las Vegas. He is once again working with his former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who already helped him make the breakthrough in Seattle. A match made in heaven.

On defense, edge rusher Maxx Crosby was retained and given a monster contract. With the exception of guard Alex Cappa, the defense has been strengthened in free agency so far.

And a promising draft is still to come, in which the Raiders will be able to pick sixth and 37th. A lot is possible when, like the Raiders, you don’t necessarily have to focus on a quarterback.

Winner: Milton Williams

In a nutshell: perhaps the biggest winner of the free agency so far is defensive lineman Milton Williams. Why? Because the 25-year-old has so far signed the biggest contract in free agency.

Williams, who recently spent four years in Philadelphia under his rookie contract and can now call himself a freshly minted Super Bowl champion, has signed a four-year, $104 million deal with New England.

Winner: Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings lose starting quarterback Sam Darnold (to the Seahawks) and backup Daniel Jones (to the Colts) and still come out ahead! That’s because both were only a temporary solution anyway, and last year’s rookie JJ McCarthy, who missed the entire season due to a torn meniscus, will take over in the future.

The money the Vikings save on Darnold will be distributed instead among targeted reinforcements. These include the two new O-linemen Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, both of whom were part of the strong Colts O-line. In addition, running back Aaron Jones’ contract has been extended.

And there have also been notable additions on defense. Jonathan Allen comes from the Washington Commanders and strengthens the D-Line just like Javon Hargrave (last with the 49ers).

In the secondary, the deserving players Harrison Smith, Byron Murphy and Theo Jackson were provided with new contracts. The team is already in a strong position and, despite only four remaining picks, is allowed to pick once in the first round in the upcoming draft.

Losers: Green Bay Packers

Not much going on in Green Bay. The franchise has so far held back in the free agency market. Only two notable moves have taken place so far, which can be viewed critically.

On the one hand, the signing of Nate Hobbs in the secondary has addressed a clear weakness. However, it is questionable whether the injury-prone cornerback, who has only started 29 games in the past three seasons, is worth a four-year, $48 million contract.

The same applies to guard Aaron Banks. The left guard is receiving $77 million for a position on the Packers’ team that is already occupied by Elgton Jenkins, who will now probably switch to the center position. Quite a few see the $77 million over four years for Banks as a somewhat overpriced. All in all, there is little movement and questionable transfers.

Losers: San Francisco 49ers

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw gone, Aaron Banks gone, starting cornerback Charvarius Ward gone, fullback Kyle Juszczyk gone, pass rusher Leonard Floyd gone, wide receiver Deebo Samuel gone, D-lineman Javon Hargrave gone, D-lineman Maliek Collins gone. And a new contract from Brock Purdy has still not been negotiated.

For that long, the 49ers’ hands have been more or less tied when it comes to big decisions, as the franchise has to expect a whopping budget for Purdy. That’s one of the reasons why so far only minor signings and mostly departures have been made.

Loser: C.J. Stroud

C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times last season. Only Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears was taken down more often. While the Chicago organization addressed this very weakness with three new offensive linemen, the Houston organization is doing exactly the opposite! And sending Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders.

And guard Kenyon Green was also traded to the Eagles. At least they got backup Laken Tomlinson from the Seahawks. Still, quarterback C.J. Stroud faces an even tougher situation, possibly having to deal with the departure of free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Losers: Cincinnati Bengals

Lots of re-signings, few real impact moves. And that’s for a franchise that missed the playoffs last season with star quarterback Joe Burrow. The fans have surely hoped for more so far.

Especially since star receiver Ja’Marr Chase is entering his final year of his contract and his congenial partner Tee Higgins is once again being put off with the franchise tag – if he is kept at all, that is, as the possibility of a trade still exists.

And: Chase is getting expensive! The Bengals have already announced that Chase is set to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. With the new contracts for Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett, however, this value continues to rise. Chase will be pleased. The Bengals’ cap space will not.

$36 million for three years! This is the amount Giants general manager Joe Schoen was unwilling to pay running back Saquon Barkley last year. Instead, they are now getting wide receiver Darius Slayton.

The latter has never caught more than 800 yards in a season. The former signed with the Eagles for almost the same amount, ran for over 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns, was Offensive Player of the Year and won the Super Bowl.

Schoen’s priorities are all wrong in this free agency. Now the franchise is stuck with Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito as quarterbacks. The only other options are Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. If Schoen blows it here too, it will be another wasted season.