The NFL‘s new yr started on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, marking the official begin of free company.
Though a lot of the notable agreements had been made throughout the first two days of the authorized tampering interval, there have been nonetheless strikes that shifted the dial. Beneath, we study the day’s largest winners and losers.
Winner: DE Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson’s persistence paid off. After refusing to budge on his asking worth throughout the first two days of the authorized tampering interval, the pass-rusher agreed to a four-year, $112M cope with the Baltimore Ravens. (The contract might be price as much as $120M.) This got here after the AFC North membership backed out of an agreed commerce for Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby on Tuesday night time.
The agreed contract can pay him greater than Denver Broncos LB Nik Bonitto (getting into the second yr of a four-year, $106M deal), a 2025 Defensive Participant of the 12 months finalist. For that type of cash, Hendrickson had higher start producing elite numbers once more. The 2024 first-team All-Professional logged 4 sacks in seven video games with the Cincinnati Bengals after totaling a league-leading 17.5 in 17 in 2024. It is price noting he underwent surgery in December 2025 for a core problem, which clearly impacted him.
Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Eagles and Indianapolis Colts had been making presents to Hendrickson earlier than he landed with Baltimore. Now that he has spurned Philadelphia, it should pivot to a different edge-rusher.
The NFC East squad already misplaced Jaelan Phillips (who has signed a four-year, $120M cope with the Carolina Panthers). According to Pro Football Reference, he tied with defensive sort out Jalen Carter for third on the Eagles in pressures final season (17 in eight regular-season video games). Phillips — whom Philadelphia acquired earlier than the commerce deadline handed — had 18 pressures in his first 9 video games with the Miami Dolphins (via PFR).
Russini later reported the Eagles are holding tabs on Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard. Nonetheless, he is probably not an improve for Philadelphia. PFR credited him with 24 pressures in 12 video games in 2025.
Winner: Security Kevin Byard
Byard led the league in picks (seven in 17 video games with the Chicago Bears) in 2025 and earned a first-team All-Professional nod. Due to that stellar season, he has now collected a payday.
The New England Patriots
are signing Byard, who turns 33 on Aug. 17, to a one-year, $9M deal. He is set to reunite with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, whom he performed for six seasons with the Tennessee Titans (2018-23).
Leaving Chicago does not take away an opportunity to win his first Tremendous Bowl ring, both. The Patriots, after all, made Tremendous Bowl LX this previous season however misplaced to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13. New England ought to stay within the championship hunt with a robust roster that now contains the three-time first-team All-Professional.
Loser: Chicago Bears secondary
With the departures of Byard and cornerback Nahshon Wright (who has signed a one-year, $5.5M cope with the New York Jets), the Bears have now misplaced their high ballhawks from 2025. Wright tied for second within the NFL in interceptions (5 in 17 video games) final season.
The Bears have signed defensive again Coby Bryant — who had 4 interceptions in 15 video games for Seattle in 2025 — to a three-year, $40M deal. Nonetheless, Chicago ought to take into account taking a DB within the 2026 NFL Draft (scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh) to fill its sudden secondary holes, maybe USC Trojans security Kamari Ramsey (6-foot, 202 kilos).
Winner: QB Daniel Jones
Regardless of struggling a proper Achilles tear in December 2025, Jones agreed to a two-year, $88M deal that might be price as much as $100M, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. After the information broke, Jones told “The Pat McAfee Present” he is aiming for a Week 1 return.
If Jones stays wholesome subsequent season, he ought to assist the Colts vie for a playoff spot. The previous New York Giants bust went 8-5 in 13 begins final season and posted a career-high 63 QBR (above the league common).
Loser: Veteran QBs
QBs Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo could also be on their couches for some time.
The Arizona Cardinals officially released QB Kyler Murray on Wednesday. A needy group (Vikings) will virtually actually signal the 2019 No. 1 choose earlier than it considers including one of many aforementioned veterans.
Wilson (0-3 with the Giants) and Wentz (2-3 with the Vikings) had shedding data as starters final season. Garoppolo, in the meantime, tried no passes in three video games for the Los Angeles Rams when enjoying mop-up responsibility for Matthew Stafford.
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