Ranking the 5 Best NFL Free Agency Signings: Was Snagging Malik Willis the Ultimate Heist?

Scoring a true bargain during the initial frenzy of NFL free agency—when franchises are tossing around over a billion dollars—is no small feat. With a scarcity of bona fide superstars on the market, many players land heavily inflated contracts. However, amidst this initial spending spree, a handful of signings look like absolute steals. While time will be the ultimate judge, here is a look at the five best deals we’ve seen so far.

Malik Willis, QB, Miami Dolphins

Three years, $67.5 million ($45 million guaranteed)

Maybe $22.5 million per year seems like a lot for a player who has made just six starts in four seasons, but not in the world of NFL quarterbacks.

Think of it this way: Willis now ranks 17th on the list of highest-paid quarterbacks in terms of average annual value. The only starters behind him are either still on their rookie contracts or outliers like Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa, both of whom were just released after signing megadeals at their previous stops.

Yes, Willis’ deal is more about potential than performance, but he’s still young (he’ll turn 27 in May), and he’s shown progress in his limited action. That’s why he had several suitors when the market opened. If he works out, the Dolphins not only have a quarterback for 2026, but they have their long-term answer at the position, too. And if it doesn’t, the low cost gives them the flexibility to move on next year, either in free agency or the loaded 2027 draft.

Connor McGovern, C, Buffalo Bills

Four years, $52 million ($35 million guaranteed)

Keeping a young, durable, Pro Bowl center in front of their MVP quarterback seemed like a great move for the Bills from the beginning. Getting him at $13 million per year, though, looks like a steal considering the way Tyler Linderbaum so dramatically reset the center market a few days later with his three-year, $81 million pact with the Raiders.

McGovern gets less than half what Linderbaum makes annually, but he’s hardly half the player. He is a top-five center in the NFL, who probably could’ve gotten more on the open market. Between Linderbaum’s deal and the rise of the salary cap, the center market is surely going to explode in the next few years. But the Bills won’t have to worry about that.

Rico Dowdle, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Two years, $12.5 million

There isn’t much of a middle class for NFL running backs anymore. They either get big money in free agency or they don’t get much at all (relatively speaking).

Dowdle easily falls into the “undervalued” category with this highly team-friendly deal, which could turn out to be a massive steal for Pittsburgh. He enters this season on the heels of consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, boasting over 230 carries and 39 receptions (averaging 273 receiving yards) in both years. At 27 years old, he still has remarkably fresh legs, having logged only 567 rushing attempts throughout his first five NFL seasons. Adding to the appeal, Dowdle is teaming up once again with his former Cowboys head coach, Mike McCarthy, who guided him to his first 1,000-yard milestone in 2024. It’s an ideal fit for the player, and an absolute bargain for the Steelers.

Jermaine Eluemunor, RT, New York Giants

Three years, $39 million ($26 million guaranteed)

Despite being a late bloomer, Eluemunor has solidified his status as one of the NFL’s premier right tackles over the last four years. In fact, Pro Football Focus ranked him sixth overall among all tackles in pass-blocking efficiency last season. The Giants also highly value his run-blocking abilities. Given the scarcity of premium tackles on the open market, Eluemunor would have likely generated significant interest despite being 31. Instead, he opted to remain in New York on an incredibly team-friendly deal worth $13 million annually, placing him just 13th in average salary among right tackles.

Eluemunor rates higher than that as a player, though, and the Giants surely know it.

Jermaine Eluemunor has quietly developed into one of the top right tackles in the NFL. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Alex Anzalone, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Two years, $17 million

While it might not be a blockbuster move that lights up the stat sheet, it is easy to see why several teams pursued the 31-year-old veteran middle linebacker. He is a highly intelligent, fundamentally sound player who consistently elevates the defense around him. Furthermore, Anzalone remains a top-tier coverage linebacker—his nine passes defensed last season actually surpassed the combined total of Tampa Bay’s entire linebacking corps. He is also a capable pass-rusher whose sack totals could easily increase within Todd Bowles’ blitz-heavy defensive scheme. Securing him for a mere $8.5 million annually is a major coup for the Buccaneers, especially given the heavy interest from the Jets, Giants, Bears, and 49ers, along with the Lions’ initial desire to retain him.