The NFL’s new league 12 months started with bang on Wednesday with the Baltimore Ravens finishing the pivot away from five-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby and towards four-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Baltimore started Wednesday morning by inking Hendrickson, the 2024 NFL sacks chief, to a four-year, $112 million contract with $60 million assured. That is precisely what the 31-year-old was on the lookout for after enjoying out one-year offers the final two seasons. Quite a few different notable signings occurred on Wednesday as fellow NFC contenders, the Washington Commanders and the Inexperienced Bay Packers, bolstered their rosters with notable signings.
At CBS Sports activities, we’re noting each deal accomplished by each crew, even in actual time on our dwell weblog. Nevertheless, some contracts garner further curiosity from a wide range of angles: the participant, the crew concerned, the place crammed or the monetary phrases of the contract. These free company offers warrant further evaluation. With that in thoughts, listed here are the grades for essentially the most intriguing contracts from Day 2 of the NFL’s 2026 free company cycle. Which signings netted essentially the most worth? Listed here are the grades for essentially the most notable contracts from Day 3 of the NFL’s 2026 free company cycle.
For extra 2026 NFL free company protection:
DE Trey Hendrickson to Ravens: B+
Hendrickson was the massive winner of the failed Crosby commerce. He went from being unemployed via the primary two days of the negotiating interval earlier than turning into the primary massive signing on Wednesday by the Ravens.
He underwent core muscle surgical procedure that reduce his 2025 season quick after seven video games, however he is been the most effective move rushers in soccer since turning into a Bengal in 2021. Hendrickson is simply the fifth participant since sacks turned an official, individually tracked statistic in 1982, to provide 17-plus sacks in consecutive seasons, one thing he achieved in 2023 and 2024 with 17.5 sacks annually.
He wins with phenomenal utilization of his palms in tandem with nice bend off the road of scrimmage, two parts that might age properly even after the core muscle process. That is how he was capable of get a deal of this dimension coming into his age-32 season. Getting Hendrickson is a easy restoration for Baltimore, questionable optics be damned. The one factor retaining them from an A-grade is the size and $28 million-average-per-year wage for a participant of their 30s coming off of an injury-plagued season in 2025.
QB Daniel Jones to Colts: C+
Daniel Jones performed what’s simply one of the best soccer of his seven-year profession because the Indianapolis Colts‘ beginning quarterback in 2025, enjoying like a prime 10 quarterback via the primary 14 weeks of the 2025 season earlier than struggling a torn Achilles. Jones might be able to roll for Week 1 after six to eight months, however there is not any assure he instantly seems just like the man who balled out at first of 2025. Each Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers wanted a number of years to shake off the results of a torn Achilles, however he is a lot youthful than each as Jones is about to show 29 on Could 27.
In the course of the first 10 weeks of the season, earlier than Jones reportedly performed via a fractured fibula, the Colts led the NFL in scoring offense (32.1 PPG), whole offense (396.9) and anticipated factors added (EPA)/drive (1.1). He thrived in head coach Shane Steichen’s play-action heavy offense, 19.9% play-action charge in Weeks 1-14 (third-highest within the NFL), and he repeatedly hit massive performs deep down the sphere. Jones appeared his greatest whereas surrounded with one of the best supporting solid of his profession with a gentle offensive line, Professional Bowler Jonathan Taylor at operating again, Alec Pierce at broad receiver and Tyler Warren at tight finish.
All of them are again in Indianapolis in 2026, however Jones getting an average-per-year wage of $44 million off a torn Achilles does not totally compute. Lacking their first-round picks in each the 2026 and 2027 drafts due to their commerce for cornerback Sauce Gardner, Jones and his agent appropriately famous that they had all of the leverage and completely gained their contract negotiations with the Colts.
Completion proportion | 68% | T-Seventh* |
Cross yards/sport | 238.5* | ninth |
Cross yards/try | 8.1* | fifth |
Cross TD | 19* | T-Twelfth |
Passer score | 100.2* | eighth |
Anticipated factors added (EPA/play | 0.23* | 1st |
* Profession excessive
S Nick Cross to Commanders: B+
The Washington Commanders had been the NFL’s sixth-worst scoring protection (26.5 factors per sport allowed) and the league’s worst whole protection (384.3 whole yards per sport allowed). Any and all assistance is appreciated in Washington. Based on Subsequent Gen Stats, security Nick Cross tied for essentially the most run stops leading to an unsuccessful play on the security place in 2025 with 33. That ought to assist the Commanders’ Thirtieth-ranked run protection (141.8 speeding yards per sport). The worth on the contract is stable right here as properly for a participant who turns 25 in September.
TE Chigoziem Okonkwo to Commanders: C
With Zach Ertz hitting free company and coming off a season-ending leg damage on the age of 35, the Commanders wanted a brand new starter at tight finish. Okonkwo’s manufacturing, 194 catches for two,017 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns, throughout 4 seasons is not large, however on the age of 26, Washington is betting on an uptick for him alongside quarterback Jayden Daniels.
S Jaylinn Hawkins to Ravens: A
Jaylinn Hawkins was a 2020 fourth-round choose of the Atlanta Falcons, bounced round to the Los Angeles Chargers after which landed with the New England Patriots in 2024. In 2025, leveled as much as turn into an affect participant for the defending AFC champions. Hawkins does a bit little bit of all the things with 4 interceptions, six passes defended, a compelled fumble, a fumble restoration and one-and-a-half sacks in 15 video games performed, all begins. Professional Soccer Focus graded Hawkins as its No. 5 general security with an 83.3 defensive grade. He’ll slot in properly alongside Baltimore All-Professional security Kyle Hamilton. The contract worth is powerful given Hawkins is 28 years outdated.
S Kevin Byard to Patriots: A
The New England Patriots desperately wanted a brand new security after Hawkins departed for Baltimore. They had been capable of scoop up 2025 interceptions chief Kevin Byard, who earned his third first-team All-Professional choice in 2025 after a seven-interception season, after he helped lead the Chicago Bears to an NFC North title whereas main the NFL with 33 takeaways. Sure, he’ll be 33 years outdated in August, however the Patriots did an excellent job securing his providers for 2026 on only a one-year deal. If he performs wherever near his 2025 kind, that is an underpay. If he regresses, it is a one-year deal, so there’s a straightforward out.
DE Bradley Chubb to Payments: C
- Three years, $43.5 million with $29 million assured and value as much as $52.5 million
Buffalo Payments common supervisor Brandon Beane overpaid two-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb, a participant who has missed almost a 3rd of his 143 attainable video games performed (43). He’ll flip 30 years outdated on June 24, so there’s actual concern about his sturdiness in 2026. He did rack up 8.5 sacks in 2025 for an underwhelming Miami Dolphins squad, a determine that might have led the Payments in sacks in both 2024 or 2025.
His 13% quarterback stress charge ranked twenty sixth within the league amongst 72 gamers with at the very least 350 pass-rush snaps in 2025, however for somebody with Chubb’s damage historical past and age, $29 million assured feels a bit wealthy.
Partially torn ACL in left knee (2019) | 12 |
Ankle (2021) | 10 |
Torn ACL in proper knee (2023) | 1 |
Torn ACL in proper knee (2024) | 17 |
* Additionally missed one sport in 2018 and two video games in 2020
DT Javon Hargrave to Packers: B+
- Two years, $23 million with $13 million in 12 months 1 wage
Two-time Professional Bowl defensive deal with Javon Hargrave wasn’t a free agent for over an hour after the Minnesota Vikings launched him at first of the brand new league 12 months. The Inexperienced Bay Packers signed him expeditiously on a two-year, $23 million take care of a $13 million wage in 2026, and the 33-year-old defensive deal with fills an enormous want.
Beginning defensive deal with Devonte Wyatt fractured his fibula and suffered torn ligaments in his ankle within the Packers’ 31-24 Thanksgiving victory over the Detroit Lions. Hargrave’s presence will permit Wyatt to not really feel like he has to hurry his restoration as a way to return for Week 1.
This deal can also be a reunion between new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and Hargrave. Gannon was Hargrave’s defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2021 to 2022, the 2 seasons with Hargrave’s highest sack totals. He produced 7.5 in 2021 and a career-high 11.0 in 2022 when the Eagles gained the NFC earlier than shedding to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the Tremendous Bowl. Their relationship might be why this transfer got here collectively moderately rapidly.
