5 biggest winners and losers from NFL free agency

Loser: New York Giants

In a glass half empty view, the Giants free agency decisions left something to be desired. While they did re-sign Jones, tag Barkley, add speedy wideouts, and add a franchise tight end in Waller, Big Blue failed to address the interior of their offensive line, one of the franchise's main needs.

The Giants lost two important interior offensive linemen, Nick Gates and Jon Feliciano in free agency. Even with those two on the roster, Big Blue needed help on the interior of the offensive line. Now they desperately need help.

The 2023 NFL Draft is not stacked with elite interior offensive lineman, so the Giants missed an opportunity to address a huge need in free agency.

The Giants also have a need for a second starting corner to play opposite of Adoree' Jackson, but failed to find one. Julian Love signed with Seattle, and the Giants have yet to find his safety replacement. The Giants signed multiple veterans to be depth pieces in the secondary, but none are starting caliber players.

If the Giants draft their CB2, new starting safety, and two interior linemen starters, they will be relaying on a lot of young players next season. The Giants are in a win-now mode, which makes it essential they have a ton of veteran starters.

Winner: Any quarterback looking to get paid

If you are a quarterback looking to get paid, you are a massive winner of this NFL free agency period. Carr signed a four-year, $150 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, that includes $100 million guaranteed, while Jones signed a contract that can earn him as much as $195 million.

I love Danny Dimes, but he had three mediocre- to-bad seasons before breaking out in 2022, a season in which he only had 22 total touchdowns. That production got him $40 million a season.

Unlike Jones, Carr had a miserable 2022 season. Despite, acquiring Davante Adams, Carr’s Raiders went 6-11. The veteran QB threw 14 interceptions, tied for third most in football. He has also never won a playoff game in nine seasons as a starter, and has only started one playoff game. Despite all the negatives, Carr just secured a contract that will pay him $37.5 million a season.

Hurts, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow are all in line for lucrative extensions. If Carr received $37.5 million a year and Jones got $40 million, those three, all of which are younger and have a proven track record of elite play, could break the bank. Those three could receive contracts in the $50-55 million a year range.