{"id":561079,"date":"2026-03-24T12:22:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T12:22:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/561079\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T12:22:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T12:22:28","slug":"bengals-commanders-are-contenders-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/561079\/","title":{"rendered":"Bengals, Commanders Are Contenders Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spending money in NFL free agency<\/a> does not equate to winning more games, although I would argue that axiom has been challenged in the NIL era, where draft classes are a little more inconsistent. Couple this with evolutions in longevity science\u2014cue everyone pulling up info about Matt Stafford\u2019s rejuvenation chamber<\/a> that magically healed his back and propelled him to a 46-touchdown, MVP season\u2014and the veteran contract can, emphasis can, be more meaningful in the right hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s with that in mind that we unveil our first set of power rankings since the start of the new league year. We\u2019re placing a special emphasis on additions during the first few waves of veteran free agency<\/a> and how that might alter the landscape heading into the 2026 offseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. Seattle Seahawks\"\"Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow<\/a><\/p>\n

Seattle general manager John Schneider faced a similar problem this offseason to the one he had during the Legion of Boom era: keeping together an increasingly expensive roster while maintaining the core of a team that romped through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. So, landing Rashid Shaheed last season and keeping an element of the offense intact that helps the scheme work is just as\u2014if not more\u2014important than headhunting in free agency and landing a big name. He did this while inking Jaxson Smith-Njigba to a market-setting contract. <\/p>\n

2. Los Angeles Rams<\/p>\n

The Rams didn\u2019t just attack the cornerback position; they demolished the room. This was the team\u2019s one glaring weakness from a year ago, and, understanding the ever-finite nature of time and open windows, the Stafford era will roll on for one more season with a freshly remade secondary. Imagine what skilled defensive coordinator Chris Shula will be able to do without all the breakdowns on the back end and clear matchup nightmares.\u00a0<\/p>\n

3. Denver Broncos<\/p>\n

The Jaylen Waddle trade<\/a> is an absolute ripple-maker. While I think it’s fair to wonder about long-term durability and efficacy, we\u2019ve seen how desperate Sean Payton\u2019s offense was for the type of receiver that can make a defense pay with punishing deep-ball scores. Waddle, I\u2019m guessing, will be among the league leaders next season in touchdowns of 20 yards or more and will help the Broncos evolve going into a critical season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. San Francisco 49ers<\/p>\n

I am on record: The Mike Evans deal is my favorite signing of free agency. While the 49ers will have to duel with the electrical substation<\/a> to keep this aging roster on the field together, Evans takes a defender out of the box and lets Christian McCaffrey cook on the ground. Here\u2019s a whole column about it<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

5. Kansas City Chiefs<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve written a lot already<\/a> about Kenneth Walker III and the Chiefs, and why I like giving Patrick Mahomes a scheme-averse game-breaker who can gain the tough yardage on the ground and remove stress from the quarterback\u2019s shoulders. But it\u2019s worth noting that safety Alohi Gilman and DT Khyiris Tonga are also fantastic signings in the hands of the capable Steve Spagnuolo. This defense has been in desperate need of an ideological turnaround, and these pieces can be pivotal in that process.\u00a0<\/p>\n

6. Buffalo Bills<\/p>\n

The Jim Leonhard era is off to a strong start. Bradley Chubb, this year\u2019s Bills veteran pass rusher of choice, joins a refurbished safety room and defensive backfield that should give Leonhard some coverage flexibility as a first-year DC. While one imagines that Buffalo will remain active in post-draft veteran free agency, the Bills\u2019 primary goal in the first wave was to retrofit a defense for Leonhard, who will thrive on simulated pressures and on altering the picture for opposing quarterbacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Drake<\/p>\n

Drake Maye and the Patriots saw their special season end in the Super Bowl. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

7. New England Patriots<\/p>\n

I love Mike Vrabel\u2019s style, which continues to prioritize surrounding Drake Maye and the rest of his young roster with veterans who can fit under the coach\u2019s umbrella of unusual misfits. Alijah Vera-Tucker was one of the higher-upside signings of free agency. Assuming that the versatile guard\/tackle can stay healthy, he has plenty of good football ahead and takes some of the pressure off the Patriots\u2019 maligned offensive line.\u00a0<\/p>\n

8. Los Angeles Chargers<\/p>\n

Another take I am on the record with already: Tight end Charlie Kolar and fullback Alec Ingold are gigantic signings for Justin Herbert and will improve the infrastructure of an offense that fell apart last year when both of its anchor tackles went down. By possessing talent at blocking tight end and fullback, the Chargers can mitigate some of the fallout and continue building a cleaner pocket for Herbert and a dynamic running game for Omarion Hampton.\u00a0<\/p>\n

9. Houston Texans<\/p>\n

I love what the Texans have done this offseason, adding veteran tackle Braden Smith and dependable Wyatt Teller to help overhaul the offensive line. Reed Blankenship adds a heady piece in the secondary for DeMeco Ryans\u2019s defense, and David Montgomery gives Houston\u2019s offense something it has sorely lacked: a dependable pass-protecting back who can also bring the all-important physicality to a ball-control offense.\u00a0<\/p>\n

10. Chicago Bears<\/p>\n

The Coby Bryant\u2013Devin Bush one-two punch was a major victory for Dennis Allen and a Bears defense that was still struggling with an identity crisis in the post\u2013Matt Eberflus era. Bush has shed all of his early-career labels and turned into one of the more underrated front-seven weapons in the NFL: a lane-clogging linebacker who is an instant threat to deflect or intercept passes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

11. Cincinnati Bengals<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure about anyone else, but I, particularly, am done overrating the Bengals during the preseason simply because Joe Burrow may be healthy enough to play significant games with Ja\u2019Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. I am now overrating them because I like the combination of Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook. Cook can solve some of the team\u2019s run defense woes, while Mafe can help defensive coordinator Al Golden recreate a more versatile mystery-rush defense in the wake of losing Trey Hendrickson.\u00a0<\/p>\n

12. Baltimore Ravens<\/p>\n

Speaking of Trey Hendrickson, Baltimore came into this offseason needing a run-stopping edge defender in Jesse Minter\u2019s defense. Maxx Crosby fit the bill better than Hendrickson, but health\u2014or cold feet\u2014stopped Baltimore from consummating the deal. The Ravens lost a boatload of offensive infrastructure but did manage to nab a replacement for Alohi Gilman in the team\u2019s three-safety sets and upgraded at guard, signing of John Simpson.\u00a0<\/p>\n

13. Washington Commanders<\/p>\n

I was critical of the Commanders’ offseason last year. This year, I feel like the team\u2019s moves better align with the franchise\u2019s growth rate. Tight end Chig Okonkwo could be a menace in this offense if used correctly, and adding both Leo Chenal and K\u2019Lavon Chaisson shows me that Dan Quinn plans to really alter how Washington is going to pressure opposing quarterbacks next season. I see Washington slotting right back into contender mode, having added the right pieces rather than splashy ones this winter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

14. Philadelphia Eagles<\/p>\n

The Eagles feel like a team trying to hold the fort for one season before making major decisions that could ideologically change the franchise\u2019s course. Assuming A.J. Brown is traded at some point and Philly is left with a pieced-together receiver room that needs to be supplemented through the draft, the Eagles do not profile as a unit that is \u201csurging\u201d this time of year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

15. Jacksonville Jaguars<\/p>\n

The Jaguars came and left free agency without making much of a statement. While this is all well and fine, Jacksonville doesn\u2019t have a first-round pick thanks to the Travis Hunter trade, and Hunter is now almost assuredly going to be a full-time cornerback. Getting cornerback Montaric Brown back was an important part of the Jaguars\u2019 offseason checklist, but I\u2019m struggling to see the evolution taking place here.\u00a0<\/p>\n

16. Dallas Cowboys<\/p>\n

It\u2019s frustrating to see Jerry Jones bemoan the lack of defense from 2025, only to utilize free agency to admit that he was the problem. The Cowboys layered their defense with critical role players as they try to set the table for a Vic Fangio\u2013lite scheme under the famed coordinator\u2019s longtime understudy, Christian Parker. I imagine Dallas will continue to bolster its defense in the draft.\u00a0<\/p>\n

17. Green Bay Packers<\/p>\n

Reuniting Jonathan Gannon with DT Javon Hargrave is one of the better pairings of new coordinators with familiar free agents, given that it stops the bleeding for Green Bay on two fronts: one, it adds some much-needed depth to the Packers\u2019 defensive line, and two, it gives Gannon a leg up in replacing the talented Jeff Hafley. Do I think it\u2019s enough right now for me to consider the Packers an NFC North favorite? No.\u00a0<\/p>\n

18. Detroit Lions<\/p>\n

I have not seen a team come undone from its peak as quickly as the 2024 Lions. But after changes at both coordinator spots and key free-agency departures, Detroit is desperately attempting to hang onto difficult-to-replicate tenants: a physical, game-altering offensive line and a fearless, take-on-anyone secondary. Isiah Pacheco is not an upgrade over David Montgomery, but former Panther Cade Mays is at least a serviceable stopgap at the center position.\u00a0<\/p>\n

19. Minnesota Vikings<\/p>\n

I\u2019m curious to see what\u2019s behind the mass career reconsideration of Kyler Murray<\/a> that seems to be underway. In our industry, we are adept at utilizing a slew of analytics to prove a point, when those numbers could just as easily make the opposite point. Assuming that Murray will now flourish in the Kevin O\u2019Connell offense is just as faulty as the assumption that J.J. McCarthy automatically would\u2014in my opinion. Murray is no doubt an upgrade over McCarthy, and perhaps with elevated QB play and the Brian Flores standard on defense, we\u2019re looking at a transformed roster. But is that too generous an assumption?<\/p>\n

\"Aaron<\/p>\n

It\u2019s late March. Do you know where your quarterback is? | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

20. Pittsburgh Steelers<\/p>\n

The Steelers are hard to hype up right now because we still don\u2019t know whether Aaron Rodgers will be playing quarterback. While every day that he doesn\u2019t retire leads me to believe he\u2019s running it back, we\u2019re awaiting the revelation of a known quantity: Rodgers is a capable-to-very-good veteran who can command a game and clearly still possesses the necessary gusto and cowboy toughness to get the job done. But \u2026 the Steelers, even under Mike McCarthy, continue to invest in pieces that keep the team quintessentially itself: a plodding, veteran-laden, defense-heavy unit. At the very least Pittsburgh should be commended for attacking the cornerback position so aggressively in free agency.\u00a0<\/p>\n

21. Carolina Panthers<\/p>\n

The Panthers take a big leap forward (at least from the perspective of where Carolina would rank on a list like this a season ago) thanks to the aggressive moves for Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd. Getting pieces together to add flexibility for ace defensive play-caller Ejiro Evero will end up being the most impactful move the Panthers make during this critical offseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n

22. Indianapolis Colts<\/p>\n

I am selling my Colts shares, as I have mentioned multiple times this offseason. Spending big to return players from a team with few quality wins last year and doubling down on Daniel Jones is worrisome at best<\/a>\u2014not because Jones is bad, but because Jones was buoyed by a phenomenal running game that will be difficult to replicate again this season, in addition to the fact that he\u2019s coming off some real injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/p>\n

I am perhaps overrating the loss of Mike Evans, given how talented the wide receiver pool is beneath him in Tampa Bay. And, take a player thinking the grass is greener elsewhere with a grain of salt in the NFL. But I do wonder if we\u2019ll begin to see the wear of so many coordinator changes, coupled with the division\u2019s growth around them. While I think the Kenneth Gainwell signing was one of the most underrated moves of free agency, the Buccaneers still have some work left to do.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Kaden<\/p>\n

Kaden Elliss switching teams within the NFC South could be a crucial offseason move. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

24. New Orleans Saints\u00a0<\/p>\n

I really like New Orleans\u2019s offseason plan. This offensive line is going to be an absolute unit in 2026 after pivoting to the more sure-handed David Edwards, and the Travis Etienne Jr. signing (paired with either Alvin Kamara or another drafted back) should set the tone for Year 2 of the Tyler Shough era. Kaden Elliss caps off a flurry of moves that I think give this team a legitimate shot at second place in the NFC South this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

25. Atlanta Falcons<\/p>\n

Count me as very worried about the Falcons\u2019 quarterback position. Moving from Kirk Cousins to Tua Tagovailoa as a backup is an obvious cost-cutting measure, though I\u2019m concerned what will happen if Michael Penix Jr. doesn\u2019t take to the Kevin Stefanski offense, or, ultimately, gets hurt again. Atlanta is also trying to throw darts at a replacement for Kaden Elliss, but did address the lack of a run-stopping defensive tackle by signing Da\u2019Shawn Hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n

26. Tennessee Titans<\/p>\n

I love the energy of Tennessee\u2019s offseason, which, like the Patriots\u2019 before it, has allowed the Titans to function as if they were a competitive franchise. Maybe not a playoff outfit, but not necessarily a team with so many holes that we can\u2019t reasonably project any meaningful growth. Robert Saleh has totally remade a defense that finished among the worst units in football. Bringing that number even to league median is going to have a considerable impact on Tennessee\u2019s prospects.\u00a0<\/p>\n

27. New York Giants<\/p>\n

We can all agree that the addition of John Harbaugh was the largest move the Giants made this offseason, though it\u2019s hard not to love bringing in both Isaiah Likely and Patrick Ricard, who, like Charlie Kolar and Alec Ingold in Los Angeles, will have an immediate impact on the security of the quarterback. Harbaugh\u2019s professional sheen will give the Giants a shield against the chaos for one offseason, allowing the organization to function similarly to how it did during the heyday of the Tom Coughlin era.\u00a0<\/p>\n

28. Las Vegas Raiders<\/p>\n

Similar to the Titans, the Raiders were incredibly aggressive this offseason\u2014giving center Tyler Linderbaum a market-setting deal\u2014but it was especially true on defense. Retaining Maxx Crosby, while ultimately not part of the plan, alongside the additions of Nakobe Dean, Kwity Paye, Malcolm Koonce and Quay Walker could bring Las Vegas into top-10 consideration on defense. While that sounds like a reach, the Raiders actually defended the run quite well last year and getting Crosby back can be an anchor in that investment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

29. New York Jets<\/p>\n

I think the Jets did a better job than many of these flailing teams at finding quality stopgap solutions that will not interfere with the creation of a long-term plan. The Jets\u2019 defense should be better by virtue of importing a handful of brand names that meet the Aaron Glenn rubber-stamp of approval. However, they\u2019re almost all very easily wiped off the books when a trove of new draft picks comes in over the next two years. Geno Smith and Frank Reich are also a pairing I don\u2019t hate as much as I thought I would.\u00a0<\/p>\n

30. Cleveland Browns<\/p>\n

Cleveland pivoted away from its longtime cadets on the offensive line, seeking upside elsewhere with the signings of Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson. When adding the Tytus Howard trade, Cleveland\u2019s offensive line will not necessarily be better, but it will be younger, presumably more injury-averse and able to implement Todd Monken\u2019s new scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n

31. Miami Dolphins<\/p>\n

The Dolphins have made it clear their intentions for 2026, which feels like an even more extreme version of the pre\u2013Brian Flores, Tank-for-Tua iteration. Trading Jaylen Waddle<\/a> leaves Miami with the worst skill-position unit in the NFL and a major uphill climb for new quarterback Malik Willis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

32. Arizona Cardinals<\/p>\n

A Jacoby Brissett\u2013Gardner Minshew II quarterback room is a tough spot for the Cardinals to land after Wave 1 of free agency. Barreling into a draft with no clear No. 2 option behind Fernando Mendoza leaves Arizona with a team that better pray the vision general manager Monti Ossenfort is selling\u2014that there is talent, albeit underutilized by the previous staff\u2014is true.<\/p>\n

More NFL From Sports Illustrated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Spending money in NFL free agency does not equate to winning more games, although I would argue that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":561080,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[64,63,593,85],"class_list":["post-561079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=561079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/561079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/561080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=561079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=561079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=561079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}