NFL Free Agency: 4 teams who won the legal tampering period

One of the funniest things about the NFL is how the league still openly uses the term “legal tampering period.” It’s inaccurate, makes no sense, and sounds far more nefarious than “negotiation period.”

These teams don’t care what it’s called, because they went into Monday with a lot of holes to fill, and immediately went about making huge moves that push their teams closer to either being competitive, or may have done enough to get over the hump and into contention. In no order, these are the teams who absolutely killed it on the first day.

No. 1: New England Patriots

It would have been really difficult to mess up free agency when you’re the team that had over $120M in cap space to play with. Still, the Patriots showed serious restraint in not just signing players willy-nilly, but targeting key guys who can drastically assist one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2024.

Milton Williams is a massive win for the defensive line. For a while there were reports that Williams was shockingly headed to Carolina, but in the end the most obvious scenario was the outcome, with one of the best defensive players in free agency landing on the team with the most to spend. Williams is a plus-level pass rusher, and a guy who can collapse the middle of the pocket — taking pressure off edge rushers. He’s young, wins one-on-one, and is the kind of difference maker this team needs.

It will be fascinating to see what New England does in the NFL Draft after signing Carlton Davis. A favorite to select Travis Hunter in April, Davis gives the Pats a tremendous cornerback duo with Christian Gonzalez. This could either signify that New England views Hunter as a primary wide receiver, part-time corner — or that they’ll go in a different direction. Either way it was a brilliant signing landing Davis, an elite man corner.

It wasn’t all perfect. Harold Landry was a definite overpay, but it can be forgiven because the organization made some other wily signings like Morgan Moses and Mack Hollins that were both added for fair market value, and can operate as bridges until the team finds youth through the draft.

This was a home run of a day for the Pats.

No. 2: Chicago Bears

I love a team that has an identity and builds to it. The group of signings the Bears made on Monday have Ben Johnson’s fingerprints all over them. Chicago is an organization that now understands the trenches are what wins football games, and built to that ideal in free agency.

Part of winning the day centers on deals already made. Trading for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney filled two massive needs on the offensive line, and adding Drew Dalman continued that trend. Protection for Caleb Williams is more or less set now, and that’s a mammoth win — but it wasn’t all Chicago has done.

While not as impressive as the work on offense, the additions of Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo give much-needed teeth to the pass rush. It might be a touch hopeful to think that Jarrett can still perform at a high level, but overall this was a great tandem to put together.

If this is all for the Bears in free agency it’s a massive win and this team should take leaps, not steps forward in 2025.

No. 3: Jacksonville Jaguars

This definitely wasn’t the sexiest free agent haul of the day, but it was a pure football nerd series of signings by new GM James Gladstone and HC Liam Coen — targeted, and intentional.

The team made a duo of signings on the offensive line in Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey. Both excel in pass protection, with Hainsey in particular being one of the best, most-underrated pass blocking centers in football. Making Trevor Lawrence’s life easier in a priority, and the team gets that.

The secondary got a big lift too with Jourdan Lewis and Eric Murray. Lewis is a huge impact nickel back and this should cause major headaches for opposing quarterbacks that like to go three-wide at receiver — especially the Texans, who represent the Jaguars’ biggest threat in the south.

Despite these moves my favorite might be the sneaky signing of receiver Dyami Brown. He will perfectly fill the role Christian Kirk had as a deep threat, but is much cheaper, more reliable, and better in a Coen offense.

No. 4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs lost some pieces, sure — but this is about what they kept. Tampa Bay managed to retain Chris Godwin when many assumed he was going to be lost to another team, and added Haason Reddick as a pass rusher.

When you combine these two deals with the team retaining OG Ben Bredeson, it positions the Buccaneers as one of the few playoff teams that managed to get better, while the vast majority of established winners retracted.

This is a testament to the culture in Tampa Bay that GM Jason Licht has cultivated. Players, especially stars, want to stay with the Buccaneers over chasing other opportunities. Few teams are able to accomplish this without drastically over-spending, but the Bucs keep finding ways to stay competitive while getting market value deals.