NFL · 6 hours ago

The 5 Biggest Losers in 2026 NFL Free Agency’s First 2 Days

Grant White

Host · Writer

C.J. Stroud and David Montgomery
Offensive linemen are the most underappreciated part of an NFL roster. The Houston Texans' blissful ignorance is on full display yet again, coming at the expense of C.J. Stroud and newly acquired David Montgomery.

Offensive lines serve two major purposes: protecting quarterbacks and creating run lanes. Apparently, the Texans aren't interested in either. Houston invested heavily in its o-line last season, and the moves didn't yield the positive results everyone was hoping for. Stroud has been sacked 113 times over the past three seasons, which has negatively impacted his development and production.

Moreover, the Texans averaged the 11th-fewest rushing yards per game and the fourth-fewest yards per carry. Obviously, those metrics are tied to the running backs toting the ball, but we're not dismissing the limited impact of Houston's offensive linemen.

Texans General Manager Nick Caserio brought back an aging Trent Brown and overpaid for Ed Ingram in free agency to shore up their offensive line. It's going to be a long season for C.J. Stroud and David Montgomery.
Mike Borgonzi and the Tennessee Titans
Some may look at the Tennessee Titans' offseason moves and commend them for trying to right the ship. We're not that deluded. Mike Borgonzi picked a shoe out of the trash bin, battered and deep-fried it, and is now trying to sell it as Nashville hot chicken.

Throughout his first four years in the NFL, Wan'dale Robinson accumulated 2,465 receiving yards, with nearly half of those coming in last year's 1,014-yard effort. Robinson's production was a function of being the only competent pass-catcher on a below-average team. Yet, Borgonzi is paying him like he's a perennial Pro Bowler capable of turning the offensive tide for the Titans.

While John Franklin-Myers may be deserving of his contract, Alontae Taylor and Cordale Flott are not, illustrating how out of touch Borgonzi is with the players needed to fit his schemes.

In short, Borgonzi just condemned the Titans franchise to additional years of top draft picks. In doing so, he's also tanked Cam Ward's once-promising trajectory. Belly up to the bar and enjoy your shoe sandwich, Tennessee.
The Baltimore Ravens
Just a few days ago, the Baltimore Ravens pulled off one of the most unsuspecting moves of the offseason, acquiring Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders. While other teams were busy in the legal tampering period, the Ravens were fawning over Crosby and making arrangements for a physical assessment. Ultimately, the Ravens decided that Crosby was damaged goods and they reneged on the deal. That put them at a free-agent deficit, leaving the Ravens in turmoil.

Baltimore lost, arguably, the best center in the league. With Crosby potentially on the books, the Ravens didn't have the capacity to re-up with Tyler Linderbaum. Similarly, Isaiah Likely moved on to more profitable pastures, Dre'Mont Jones joined the Patriots, and several other contributors found new homes. The bigger issue is that they didn't have their hands in the free-agent pool to fill holes on their roster.

The Ravens need to find a way to reload, and it won't be easy with some of the most prominent names off the board. They have their first-round pick back, but that won't solve all of the problems they've created for themselves.
The AFC East
The AFC East is the new AFC South, with every team striking out early in the free agency window.

Most notably, the Miami Dolphins' solution to their quarterback problem was to overpay for Malik Willis. Now with his third team in five seasons, Willis lacks the winning pedigree to transform the franchise or complement their current group of receivers. The Bills were noticeably quiet, failing to address any defensive needs. New England moved into the passenger seat and is happy to let regression take the wheel in 2026. The Jets' free agent signings were overshadowed by the acquisition of Geno Smith, who couldn't complete a pass more than 10 yards downfield.

In an era of constant improvement, the AFC East collectively decided to make a conscious attempt to get worse, or at least, not get better.
Mike Evans (knees) and the 49ers' Offense
Conspiracy theorists have fully committed themselves to the electrical substation theory. For those without tin foil hats, it's basically a theory that points to the electrical substation next to the San Francisco 49ers' practice facility as the reason for the constant injuries to 49ers' players. Whether it has merit or not, San Francisco clearly has an issue with protecting its players and avoiding significant injury. Unfortunately for them, that will come at the expense of Mike Evans next season.

Already 32, Evans is in the autumn of his career. More worryingly, injuries have started to rear their wretched heads, affecting Evans' ability to stay on the field. He appeared in just eight games last season and fell below 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. That's a sign of things to come, now that he's signed on with the most injury-plagued team in the league.

The Niners need a premier wide receiver. Mike Evans was once that guy, but he'll be 33 years old when the next season starts, and San Francisco has a terrible track record of keeping players on the field. If a young and healthy Christian McCaffrey can't stay healthy in San Francisco, what chance does Mike Evans have?
C.J. Stroud and David Montgomery
Offensive linemen are the most underappreciated part of an NFL roster. The Houston Texans' blissful ignorance is on full display yet again, coming at the expense of C.J. Stroud and newly acquired David Montgomery.

Offensive lines serve two major purposes: protecting quarterbacks and creating run lanes. Apparently, the Texans aren't interested in either. Houston invested heavily in its o-line last season, and the moves didn't yield the positive results everyone was hoping for. Stroud has been sacked 113 times over the past three seasons, which has negatively impacted his development and production.

Moreover, the Texans averaged the 11th-fewest rushing yards per game and the fourth-fewest yards per carry. Obviously, those metrics are tied to the running backs toting the ball, but we're not dismissing the limited impact of Houston's offensive linemen.

Texans General Manager Nick Caserio brought back an aging Trent Brown and overpaid for Ed Ingram in free agency to shore up their offensive line. It's going to be a long season for C.J. Stroud and David Montgomery.
Mike Borgonzi and the Tennessee Titans
Some may look at the Tennessee Titans' offseason moves and commend them for trying to right the ship. We're not that deluded. Mike Borgonzi picked a shoe out of the trash bin, battered and deep-fried it, and is now trying to sell it as Nashville hot chicken.

Throughout his first four years in the NFL, Wan'dale Robinson accumulated 2,465 receiving yards, with nearly half of those coming in last year's 1,014-yard effort. Robinson's production was a function of being the only competent pass-catcher on a below-average team. Yet, Borgonzi is paying him like he's a perennial Pro Bowler capable of turning the offensive tide for the Titans.

While John Franklin-Myers may be deserving of his contract, Alontae Taylor and Cordale Flott are not, illustrating how out of touch Borgonzi is with the players needed to fit his schemes.

In short, Borgonzi just condemned the Titans franchise to additional years of top draft picks. In doing so, he's also tanked Cam Ward's once-promising trajectory. Belly up to the bar and enjoy your shoe sandwich, Tennessee.

The 5 Biggest Losers in 2026 NFL Free Agency’s First 2 Days

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