Free agency can make or break an NFL team… plain and simple. If your favorite team signs the wrong player to the wrong deal, it can tank not only the next season but even beyond that into the future.
On the other hand, if you find the right talent, man, that can just change everything and turn your team into a legit contender.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look around the NFL and pick out every team’s best free-agent signing of all time!
Who are the best free agency signings for each NFL team?
Arizona Cardinals: Kurt Warner, QB
Warner took the scenic route to the NFL, traversing a stock boy job and NFL Europe, but the adversity didn’t stop there. He hit the highest of highs with the Rams but soon thereafter fell out of favor with the organization—and then endured an ill-fated stop with the Giants.
But Arizona saw the forest through the trees and signed him to a deal to replace Matt Leinart as the starter, and Warner had a nearly perfect second act. In 2008, Warner tossed for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns, carrying Arizona to their first Super Bowl appearance, where they were narrowly edged out by the Steelers.
A victory would have been icing on the cake, but considering he elevated the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance, he earned this spot in full.
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Atlanta Falcons: Michael Turner, RB
After living in LaDainian Tomlinson’s shadow for four years with the Chargers, Michael Turner hit the open market, and the Falcons rolled the dice, signing him to a six-year $34.5 million dollar deal.
He rewarded them handsomely and exploded onto the scene in Atlanta, pounding out 1,699 yards in his first year, earned two Pro Bowls, an All-Pro selection, and became the cornerstone of the Falcons’ rushing attack—totaling 60 touchdowns and over 60000 rushing yards during his time in Hotlanta.
Baltimore Ravens: Rod Woodson, S
The 2000 Ravens defense was special—and in many ways—that started with signing the talented safety to a four-year $11.5 million deal in 1998. Baltimore needed a defensive anchor and a leader, and Rod Woodson delivered big-time, picking off 20 passes in four seasons and playing an instrumental role in their historic 2000 Super Bowl run.
Buffalo Bills: Micah Hyde, S
Buffalo isn’t exactly known for luring big-name NFL free agents, but it hit the mark with the Micah Hyde acquisition in 2017.
Hyde quickly became Buffalo’s Swiss Army knife in the defensive backfield, earning two All-Pro nods and helping build one of the league’s most formidable secondaries alongside Jordan Poyer.
Carolina Panthers: Sam Mills, LB
When the Panthers were building their franchise from the ground up, they needed a leader—a veteran with a presence that could establish the team’s culture from day one. Sam Mills was that guy.
Mills signed a two-year, $2.8 million deal with Carolina in 1995, and despite being 36 years old, he played like he was in his prime. He immediately became the heart and soul of the defense, finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in ‘95 and following it up with a first-team All-Pro nod in ‘96.
Chicago Bears: Steve McMichael, DE
Signing Steve Mongo McMichael was a game changer for the Chicago Bears, as he surprised many—becoming a cornerstone of the team and, of course, the legendary ‘85 Bears defense.
He played 191 straight games in a Bears uniform, starting 157, and was named a Pro Bowler in 1986 and 1987.
McMichael’s ability to outwork everyone—whether in practice or on Sundays—made him a fan favorite, and he will forever be recognized as a Bears legend.
Cincinnati Bengals: Pacman Jones, CB
Pacman Jones’ career in Cincinnati was as turbulent as it was impactful, but when he was on the field, he was one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL.
After missing two of the previous three seasons due to suspensions and off-field issues, Jones landed with the Bengals in 2010. It was a risky signing, but it paid off in a big way.
He played eight seasons in Cincinnati, earning an All-Pro nod in 2014 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2015, and was integral in fueling the playoff runs the team made during that stretch.
Cleveland Browns: Jamal Lewis, RB
For years, Jamal Lewis was Cleveland’s worst nightmare—a wrecking ball of a running back who tormented the Browns while playing for Baltimore. Then, in 2007, he flipped sides, signing a deal with the team he had previously dominated.
This was a big signing for Cleveland, which was considered a lowly franchise at the time, considering Lewis had topped 1,000 yards in five of the six seasons in Baltimore.
Though his tenure was somewhat brief, Lewis’ signing gave the Browns something they rarely had in the modern era—an elite running back who could carry the offense, as he went for over 1000 yards in two straight seasons for Cleveland before injuries derailed him.
Dallas Cowboys: Deion Sanders, CB
The Cowboys signed Sanders to a record-breaking deal, seven years, $35 million with a $12.99 million signing bonus—making him the highest paid defensive player in the game at the time, and it immediately paid dividends.
Primetime helped them win Super Bowl 30, blanketing receivers, returning punts, and even contributing on offense. Over five seasons in Dallas, Sanders made four Pro Bowls, recorded 14 interceptions, and scored eight total touchdowns—plus all of the hype he brought to Dallas—proving he was worth every penny.
Denver Broncos: Peyton Manning, QB
In one of the greatest free-agent signings in NFL history, let alone for Denver, the Broncos landed Peyton Manning in 2012 after his surprising release from the Colts. The results speak for themselves: NFL passing touchdown record, an MVP, Four division titles, two Super Bowl appearances, and a championship in Super Bowl 50.
Detroit Lions: Golden Tate, WR
Signed in 2014, Golden Tate quickly became Matthew Stafford’s go-to target, racking up three 1,000-yard seasons in four years, marking some of the best seasons of his career thanks to his crafty route-running, which complemented their offense very well.
Green Bay Packers: Reggie White, DE
Before Reggie White’s arrival in Green Bay, free agents didn’t exactly flock to Wisconsin, but the man did they hit on this one.
White was everything Green Bay hoped for and more, racking up 68.5 sacks in six seasons while making six Pro Bowls. His presence helped transform the Packers from a middling franchise into a powerhouse, culminating in a victory in Super Bowl 31, ending their 29-year drought.
Houston Texans: Jonathan Joseph, CB
One of the most underrated free-agent signings of the last decade, Johnathan Joseph wasn’t just a shutdown corner—he was a culture-changer for Houston’s defense.
Before Joseph’s arrival in 2011, the Texans were among the worst pass defenses in the league, but after signing him to a five-year, $48.75 million deal, the secondary went from liability to strength, and, albeit in part thanks to J.J. Watt as well, Houston’s defense became one of the best in football.
Indianapolis Colts: Adam Vinatieri, K
It’s rare that a kicker ends up being the best free-agent signing in a franchise’s history—but then again, Adam Vinatieri isn’t just any kicker.
When the Colts lured Vinatieri away from New England in 2006, they weren’t just getting a reliable leg… they were getting a clutch, battle-tested weapon. And right away, he proved his worth, drilling five field goals in the divisional round and nailing three more in the AFC title game to help lift Indy to Super Bowl XLI.
When all was said and done, Vinatieri played 14 seasons in Indianapolis, becoming the all-time leading scorer in NFL history while winning a fourth Super Bowl ring in the process.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Keenan McCardell, WR
When the Jaguars paired Keenan McCardell with Jimmy Smith, they weren’t just building a good receiving duo—they were building one of the most underrated one-two punches of the late ’90s.
He wasn’t the flashiest NFL receiver, but he was as consistent as they come. Whether it was a crucial third-down grab or a red-zone target, McCardell was always where he needed to be!
Not a bad return for a three-year $6 million dollar deal.
Kansas City Chiefs: Marcus Allen, RB
At 33 years old, Allen revitalized his career after signing as a free agent in Kansas City, winning Comeback Player of the Year in 1993 and scoring 12 touchdowns while helping the Chiefs reach the AFC Championship Game alongside Joe Montana.
Over five seasons in Kansas City, he found the end zone 47 times and gave the Chiefs the kind of steady weapon most teams dream about.
Las Vegas Raiders: Jim Plunkett, QB
The first overall pick in the 1971 draft, Plunkett’s career was hanging on by a thread when the Raiders signed him in ‘78.
Plunkett spent two years as a backup before taking over the starting job in 1980 following an injury to Dan Pastorini, but when he stepped in, magic happened.
He led the Raiders to a historic Super Bowl 15 win as the first wild-card team to ever hoist the Lombardi Trophy—the first of two Lombardi Trophies he’d win for the Silver and Black.
Los Angeles Chargers: Antonio Gates, TE
Before he got his start in the NFL, Antonio Gates helped lead Kent State to the Elite Eight in college hoops.
Luckily for the Chargers, he decided to give Pro football a shot, signed with San Diego as an undrafted free agent in 2003, and the rest is history. Over 16 seasons, Gates racked up 955 catches, 11,841 yards, and an NFL-record 116 touchdowns for a tight end.
Los Angeles Rams: Kurt Warner, QB
Imagine that—Kurt Warner actually has two appearances on this list. Seems crazy, but then again, so is the fact that he was bagging groceries and playing in NFL Europe before he got his shot with the Rams.
But when Trent Green went down in 1999, Warner stepped in and took the league by storm. He threw 41 touchdowns, won MVP, his first of two, and led the Rams to a Super Bowl title.
Miami Dolphins: Brent Grimes, CB
Coming off a torn Achilles, Brent Grimes wasn’t exactly a hot commodity in free agency. The Dolphins took a one-year, $5 million gamble on him in 2013, and it turned out to be one of the best moves they ever made.
Grimes immediately locked down the first-string corner role, picking off four passes and making the Pro Bowl, his first of three straight in South Beach.
Minnesota Vikings: Steve Hutchinson, OG
The Vikings pulled off one of the biggest free-agent heists of all time when they signed 28-year-old Steve Hutchinson away from the Seahawks in 2006 as a restricted free agent with the richest NFL contract offered to an offensive lineman at the time.
Hutchinson made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons in Minnesota, earned three first-team All-Pro nods, and paved the way for Adrian Peterson to dominate.
New England Patriots: Mike Vrabel, LB
A third-round pick by the Steelers, Vrabel spent four years as a backup in Pittsburgh before landing in New England in 2001. The move transformed his career. He quickly became a fixture in the Patriots’ front seven, playing an integral role in their first Super Bowl win that same season—and eventually becoming a franchise legend.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees, QB
After five seasons in San Diego, the Chargers decided to move on from Brees in favor of Philip Rivers—and he rewarded New Orleans’s faith handsomely, leading the team to their first-ever Super Bowl win—and rewriting the record books throughout the remainder of his Hall of Famer career in NOLA.
New York Giants: Plaxico Burress, WR
Burress was much more than just the one play he famously made to elevate the Giants to victory in their famous Super Bowl showdown with an undefeated New England team. Over four seasons with the Giants, he racked up 3,681 yards and 33 touchdowns, providing a physical target who could dominate in the red zone.
Unfortunately, his tenure ended abruptly after his infamous nightclub incident in 2008, but for those four years, Burress was one of the most valuable weapons in the league—and quite a value considering his six-year, $25 million dollar deal.
New York Jets: Kevin Mawae, C
The Jets were mighty bullish in signing Kevin Mawae, as they made him the league’s highest-paid center with a $17 million dollar deal.
Mawae anchored New York’s offensive front for the next eight seasons, making six Pro Bowls and bringing durability, toughness, and leadership to an NFL team that desperately needed it.
Philadelphia Eagles: Malcolm Jenkins, S
After starting his career in New Orleans, Jenkins landed in Philadelphia in 2014 on a three-year, $15.5 million deal. Right away, he transformed the defense. His leadership and versatility made him the backbone of the secondary, and when the Eagles needed big plays, he delivered—even helping them to a championship in 2017—the first in franchise history.
Pittsburgh Steelers: James Farrior, LB
The former eighth overall pick struggled to really hit his stride with the Jets, but after signing with the Steelers in 2002 on a three-year, $5 million dollar contract, he became the heartbeat of their defense, going on to become the Steelers franchise leader in tackles and snagging two Super Bowls wins in the process.
San Francisco 49ers: Ken Norton Jr.
Ken Norton Jr. signed with San Francisco in 1994 after winning back-to-back Super Bowls in Dallas, and immediately, he brought a toughness and attitude the Niners had been missing. In fact, that season, he helped San Francisco finally get past the Cowboys in the NFL playoffs and led them to their fifth Super Bowl title—definitively earning his five-year, $8 million dollar contract.
Seattle Seahawks: Cliff Avril, DE
Signed in 2013 to a two-year, $15 million deal, Avril immediately transformed the Seahawks’ front four. His speed off the edge helped Seattle’s defense go from great to historically dominant, culminating in back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, including the blowout victory over Peyton Manning and the high-powered Denver Broncos.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tom Brady, QB
Brady’s impact on Tampa Bay was immediate and undeniable after the Bucs shocked everyone by signing him away from New England. In his first season with the Bucs, he threw 40 touchdowns, led the team to the NFL playoffs, and won Super Bowl LV—his seventh ring and Tampa’s second in franchise history.
Tennessee Titans: Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE
After four injury-plagued seasons in Arizona, Vanden Bosch arrived in Tennessee on a one-year prove-it deal worth less than a million dollars in 2005… and he did just that.
The Titans got an absolute monster off the edge. He erupted for 12.5 sacks, made the Pro Bowl, and became the defensive anchor the Titans needed, earning a nice extension in the process.
Over five seasons in Tennessee, he totaled 38.5 sacks, made three Pro Bowls, and became the tone-setter for the Titans’ defense.
Washington Commanders: Doug Williams, QB
After struggling to find a starting job following his stint in Tampa Bay, Williams landed in Washington as a backup. But when the team needed him most, he delivered, leading the team to a dominant victory in Super Bowl 22, despite famously undergoing root canal surgery the day before.
