NFL: Free Agencies Biggest Winners

NFL Free Agency can be a touchy subject. Every team goes into the process in hopes of getting better. However, for every team that makes a big-time addition, another team loses a great player. When it comes down to it, some teams simply know how to play their cards right in free agency, and it's typically not the teams that spend the most. For example, Jacksonville spends big bucks year after year and still winds up near the top of the draft time and time again.

But enough of the negative talk. Several teams launched themselves into the contender discussion with how they performed in March, and it's time to give them some credit. With that said, here are the top five biggest winners of free agency.

1. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers barely missed the playoffs in 2021, and it was certainly not the fault of second-year phenom Justin Herbert or their high-flying offense. No, anybody that watched the Chargers last year could see that the defense was not just bad; it was single-handedly losing them ballgames.

That shouldn't be the case anymore. Before free agency even began, the Chargers made a huge splash by bringing in All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack from Chicago. Considering the Bears traded multiple first-round picks for Mack just three seasons ago, getting him for only a second-round pick in this year's draft was a major coup for Brandon Staley's squad.

The big additions didn't end there though. They were also able to bring in cornerback J.C. Jackson at a shockingly reasonable rate (only $16.4M AAV). Considering he was one of the top corners that we have seen hit free agency in recent years, the fact that Los Angeles was able to fill such a massive hole was one of the best moves of the offseason. Additionally, the chargers got two hands-on defensive tackles with Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson, coming in to plug the atrocious run defense. The Chargers have retooled their defense in the best way possible.

None of this is to mention the addition of Gerald Everett and the retainment of Mike Williams, two big-play threats for Justin Herbert. The Chargers have set themselves up to have an electrifying 2022, which will be especially crucial in an ultra-competitive AFC.

2. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders watched the Chargers make big moves and realized that they needed to make some splashes to ensure they keep the fans at SoFi Stadium on their side. And ensure they did.

It all started on the Wednesday of free agency when they brought in edge rusher Chandler Jones. Jones had 10.5 sacks last year in only fifteen games for the Cardinals, and that was with Markus Golden as his pass-rushing partner; Maxx Crosby is another story. On that same day, they were able to flip Yannick Ngakoue for Rock Ya-Sin, an excellent move to bolster what was an underrated-but-lacking-sizzle secondary.

Now that they fixed the defense, all there was left was to wait for late April and use their first-round pick on a good receiver, right? Not so fast. Davante Adams, welcome to Las Vegas! Reuniting with his college quarterback Derek Carr, Adams will be an immediate game-changer in Las Vegas and keep them in the playoff picture. The fact that they only had to give up two picks for the best receiver in the game is just icing on the cake.

3. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams came into the offseason with very few needs and a Lombardi. They left with even fewer needs and an excellent shot at another.

Their offseason started with the addition of wide receiver Allen Robinson, who had a down year in 2022 but is just dangerous a threat on the outside as he's ever been. Watching him in a high-flying offense for the first time in his career will be exciting, seeing as he has been catching passes from the likes of Blake Bortles and Mitch Trubisky for his entire career. Losing Robert Woods hurts, but they appear to be in a good position to bring back Odell Beckham Jr., which would surely offset the damage.

Meanwhile, the defense that was already one of the best in the NFL only got better. Perhaps the most crucial element of this was keeping the best defensive player on the planet, Aaron Donald, away from the couch. Super Bowl Sunday had the pall of his potential retirement hanging over it for the city of Los Angeles, and the significance of keeping him in town cannot be understated.

If there was one position on the defense that could be improved, it was linebacker. How did LA go about fixing this? Only by adding the best linebacker of the past decade, Bobby Wagner, from division rival Seattle. Wagner will step in immediately and be a leader on that defense that has already tasted a championship. Incorporating a player of his caliber at the second level will go a long way towards ensuring the Rams defend their title.

4. Miami Dolphins

The time is now for the Dolphins. They need to find out if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be a player to build around or one to move on from. Tua has not been great, to say the least, but he's been hampered by poor play from those around him in the past. He does not have that excuse anymore.

The Dolphins went all-in on building the offense into something Tua could work with. Offensive line playing poorly? Miami brought in one of the best-left tackles in the league, Terron Armstead, as well as Dallas guard Connor Williams. Running backs not helping the offense? The Dolphins addressed that two-fold, bringing in a pair of solid backs in Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert. Receivers dropping too many passes? They remedied that too. They signed breakout player Cedrick Wilson and retained tight end Mike Gesicki.

Oh yeah, and I haven't even mentioned that they added the most dynamic player in the NFL, Tyreek Hill.

Hill will bring an immediate big-play element that has been missing from Miami's offense for years. In a loaded AFC, the Dolphins still might be on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture. But it definitely will not be the front office's fault. The time is now for Tua to show he can be the Dolphins' quarterback for years to come.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Jonah Williams. Quinton Spain. Trey Hopkins. Hakeem Adeniji. Isaiah Prince. What do all of these names have in common?

If you said they were all players who should not be starters in the NFL, you could have an argument (with no disrespect meant to Williams). The actual answer: they were all starting offensive linemen for the Bengals in the Super Bowl. And people wonder how Joe Burrow got sacked seven times.

Looking at that list could make those with a weaker stomach gag, and it appears Cincinnati's front office would be joining them. They had a clear idea of what they needed to do in free agency – fix the offensive line – and they knocked it out of the park. The biggest addition was undoubtedly La'el Collins, one of the best right tackles in football. That signing on its own would have been tremendous, but they also brought in stalwarts at right guard and center, respectively, in Alex Cappa and Ted Karras.

Losing CJ Uzomah at tight end will hurt, but the Bengals did an admirable job of filling his shoes. They replaced Uzomah with a cheaper option in Hayden Hurst, who has a similar skill set. Meanwhile, the defense returns several big names, headlined by safety Jessie Bates III.

At the end of the day, Cincinnati just needed to fix the o-line to remain contenders in the NFL, and they absolutely accomplished that. The defending AFC champions have plenty of teams gunning for their crown, but their performance in March will go a long way to helping them repeat (and potentially winning the big one this time).

Reach reporter Beau Gleason at gleasonbeau@gmail.com. Twitter: @BGleasonUW.