Best, Worst Value Signings in NFL Free Agency Belong to a Pair of QBs

Imagine predicting this after Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones were the top two quarterbacks taken in the 2019 draft: Jones will flop as the Giants’ quarterback after signing a lucrative extension, but will get another massive payday from a different team not long after enduring a late-season slide and sustaining an Achilles injury. As for Murray, his road won’t be as bumpy, but he will ultimately be cut by the Cardinals before getting a league-minimum deal with a new team.

Obviously, there are a lot more details to unpack for these 2019 first-round picks, but you get the idea of how wild their journeys have been so far in the NFL.

I know the Cardinals are paying the bulk of the tab on Murray’s 2026 salary (he’s owed $36.8 million) and the Vikings are only on the hook for $1.3 million. But that’s still more than what the Colts are going to pay Daniel Jones this season after agreeing to a two-year, $88 million extension last month.

Again, it’s wild how we got here, and you could argue that Murray has been the better quarterback despite his subpar play the past two seasons in Arizona.

With these two QB journeys in mind, let’s assess the best and worst value signings of 2026 NFL free agency.

BEST VALUE SIGNINGS

Cade Otton, TE, Buccaneers (three years, $30 million)

Otton doesn’t get talked about as much when it comes to being one of the top tight ends in the game because his receiving numbers don’t pop out.

However, the Buccaneers likely didn’t hesitate to pay $10 million per season for a versatile playmaker who’s one of the better blockers at his position. He provides nearly 500 receiving yards per season while being a difference-maker in the running game. There’s plenty of value with this extension, and it’s cheaper than what the top free agent tight end got on the open market. (Isaiah Likely signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Giants.)

Kyler Murray, QB, Vikings (one year, $1.3 million)

I have my concerns about Murray because he’s an inconsistent quarterback, but what he provides at his best is worth a lot more than what the Vikings paid to land the 2019 No. 1 pick.

Murray chose the ideal landing spot to get his career back on track. He’ll now get to work with coach Kevin O’Connell and throw to star receiver Justin Jefferson. He’s well situated to possibly cash in next offseason, and if the Vikings can’t afford to re-sign him, well, at least this partnership bought some time for J.J. McCarthy to develop from the sidelines. This has the makings of being a win-win scenario for all sides.

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Falcons (one year, $1.3 million)

Initially, this signing didn’t make much sense because the Falcons signed an injury-prone quarterback to back up their injury-prone 2024 first-round pick, Michael Penix Jr.

However, it’s hard to overlook the low-risk, high-reward scenario here with Tagovailoa, who generated a league-high 4,624 passing yards in 2023. He’s proven he can be a quality quarterback when surrounded with many weapons, which the Falcons have with Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson.

If Tagovailoa can stay healthy, he can either push Penix for the starting job or be one of the better backups in the league at an extremely affordable price.

Tyler Biadasz, C, Chargers (three years, $30 million)

The Chargers were wise to realize early that they weren’t going to have a realistic shot at signing Tyler Linderbaum, not when the Raiders had more cap space and weren't paying a quarterback $50-plus million per season.

Biadasz was the second-best option at center, signing at a much lower rate than the three-year, $81 million deal the Raiders handed Linderbaum. Maybe it’s a red flag that the Commanders made the decision to cut Biadasz, but he had strong performances last season.

Now, if the Chargers can find a top guard in the draft, Justin Herbert could finally have a dominant offensive line in 2026, with Biadasz and tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.

Rasheed Walker, OT, Panthers (one year, $4 million)

Walker never earned the Packers’ full trust despite winning multiple camp battles as a 2022 seventh-round pick.

He’s not viewed as one of the top players at his position, but Green Bay could always count on him to be a serviceable starting left tackle, which is hard to find in this league. It’s a bit surprising that Walker didn’t have more suitors in free agency—he did have some legal issues to address.

For comparison, Cam Robinson, who might not be as good as Walker, received a one-year, $12 million deal from Houston last year. Walker gives the Panthers insurance and can start at left tackle if Ikem Ekwonu misses time due to his knee injury.

Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones — Daniel Jones signed a two-year, $88 million contract with the Colts after the team had placed the transition tag on him. | Travis Register-Imagn Images

WORST VALUE SIGNINGS

Odafe Oweh, edge, Commanders (four years, $96 million)

What Oweh did in two months with the Chargers after being traded by the Ravens led to him getting a lucrative contract with the Commanders. While he was dominant during that short stretch, Washington may have put more stock into why the 2021 first-round pick couldn’t find consistency in four and a half seasons in Baltimore.

As for another concern, Oweh will no longer be working with Jesse Minter, the former Chargers defensive coordinator who helped unlock his vast potential. However, Commanders coach Dan Quinn has a reputation for putting his pass rushers in ideal situations. Still, that’s a lot of money for an up-and-down edge rusher.

Boye Mafe, edge, Bengals (three years, $60 million)

Yes, the Bengals should take all the help they can get on defense. But it’s a giant red flag that Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, perhaps the best defensive mind in football, couldn’t get more from Mafe, a 2022 second-round pick.

Mafe was shopped at the trade deadline after his snaps declined over the past two seasons, playing only 50% of the defensive snaps in 2025, down 10% from the ’24 season. Paying $20 million per season for a part-time edge rusher doesn’t seem ideal for the Bengals. It’s on defensive coordinator Al Golden to help reignite Mafe’s career.

Romeo Doubs, WR, Patriots (four-year, $68 million)

The Patriots would have been better off saving their money and adding a wide receiver in the draft, which is filled with quality pass catchers. They’re also reportedly still interested in Eagles star receiver A.J. Brown, who will be easier to trade closer to June 1.

Pairing Brown with Doubs seems like a terrific scenario for Drake Maye, but adding Brown with one of the top wide receivers in the draft at pick No. 31, such as Denzel Boston or KC Concepcion, is the more appealing and cost-effective option.

Doubs had his highs in his four seasons with the Packers, but he often went quiet for long stretches and hasn’t put together a 1,000-yard receiving season in his career.

Alec Pierce, WR, Colts (four years, $114 million)

What Pierce provides as a downfield target is certainly special, but paying this much for a specialist wide receiver doesn't seem ideal.

Maybe if Pierce was as dangerous downfield as a prime Tyreek Hill, then this price tag should be no problem for the Colts. But Pierce isn’t Hill, and he hasn’t proven that he’s capable of being a consistent No. 1 target, and that’s what the Colts are paying him to be, especially after they traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers to create the necessary cap space to re-sign Pierce.

Pierce, who has averaged more than 21 yards per reception the past two seasons, needs to evolve as a wide receiver for the Colts to get true value with this lucrative extension.

Daniel Jones, QB, Colts (two years, $88 million)

The Colts practically boxed themselves into having to pay Jones because they gave up on Anthony Richardson, the 2023 No. 4 pick, and they coughed up two first-round picks for cornerback Sauce Gardner.

They have operated like a team that’s ready to win now, but the Colts should have taken a longer look in the mirror. They’re not a true Super Bowl contender, and they should have admitted to making reckless mistakes last season.

Now, they’re hoping Jones can make a speedy recovery from a torn Achilles sustained in December, and are banking on a quarterback who has struggled to put together back-to-back stellar seasons in his career.

The last time Jones signed a hefty extension, it didn’t go well for the Giants. Maybe I should focus more on this being a shorter deal. Still, committing this much to Jones for the 2026 season shows how desperate Indianapolis is to win now.