Did the Raiders WIN Free Agency? + Colts Make a Brutal Decision

NFL Free Agency always changes the league overnight, and this year was no different. In this episode of Big Game Energy, we break down the biggest winners and losers after the first wave of NFL Free Agency.

Did the Las Vegas Raiders just pull off the best offseason in the league? After a chaotic stretch involving Max Crosby trade drama, major signings like Tyler Linderbaum, and new defensive additions, the Raiders may have completely flipped their roster.

Meanwhile, some teams may have made moves that will haunt them all season. The Indianapolis Colts shocked everyone by giving Alec Pierce a massive contract, while also committing big money to Daniel Jones. Could this decision cost GM Chris Ballard his job?

We also debate the Tennessee Titans' strategy, the Pittsburgh Steelers adding Rico Dowdle, and whether the Atlanta Falcons signing Tua Tagovailoa is actually being unfairly criticized.

Plus we talk about:

Why the Bills signing Bradley Chubb could backfire

Whether Kyler Murray is the biggest quarterback loser in free agency

Sneaky moves that could impact fantasy football next season

Which teams are quietly building contenders

Free agency is only the beginning — the NFL Draft is coming next, and these moves could shape the league for years.

👇 Let us know in the comments
Who were YOUR biggest winners and losers in NFL free agency?

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00:00 Free Agency Winners and Losers
00:30 Raiders Big Splash Moves
03:25 Titans and Steelers Winners
04:49 Colts Offseason Disaster
09:52 Falcons Tua Debate and Wrap

Transcript

Speaker 0:00

Who are the biggest winners and losers after NFL Free Agency? We're going to get in that today, what teams did well, what players did not get the contracts that they desired. We're gonna break all that down and more. Before we get into that though, if you are joining us for the first time, make sure you subscribe to us here. On YouTube, big game energy sports, but also get us over there on TikTok and Instagram as well. We post daily content all throughout the off season A team that is the biggest winner in my opinion after the first wave of free agency, they're a team that had a very rough year last year. Came into the off season with a lot of holes to fix, but I really like what the Las Vegas Raiders have done now. It was a very eventful first wave. Obviously the big move they made. Was before free agency when they traded away Max Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens. More on that in a sec. Then they signed Tyler Linder Baum to the biggest contract a center has ever gotten in NFL history. And there's a large gap between him and the next guy, but also resigning guys like Eric Stokes, adding good line backing depth with Quay Walker and Dean, one of your boys from the Eagles. Mm-hmm. And I really have. Always liked watching Jalen Naylor from his time with the Vikings. He's always one of those guys I watched because I have a fantasy football interest in watching Justin Jefferson. Mm-hmm. And yet I was always getting mad when Jalen Naylor was scoring all the touchdowns and getting all these receptions. And that tells me usually that he's a pretty solid player. I really like a lot of what the Raiders did and now with the trade getting, now with the Ravens backing out of this trade, max Crosby back with the Raiders, it's possible that the Raiders, after all that off the field drama with Max Crosby, he might be back in the fold for that team. And so now you're looking at keeping your franchise Cornerstone happy, sees all the moves that they've made, and he's back in the fold. Now, they still could trade him, but.

Speaker 2 2:10

Mm,

Speaker 2:11

man. What a 180 of an off season and all of this is before they draft Fernando Mendoza first. Overall,

Speaker 2 2:18

yeah.

Speaker 2:18

They've got some pieces around him. That makes sense. So the Raiders, I think were big winners.

Speaker 2 2:23

Yeah. I'm not disagreeing with you. The only thing I, I'll push back on all of this. They're doing all of this. For third in the A FC West, if that's what we're calling it, third in the A FC, and they might still be fourth depending on how miraculous Pat Mahomes comes back from his ACL tear. But no, I agree with you. I love what they've done. I get it. These teams that are bad, that have all those cap space, spend the money, build up these rosters, and I love Quay Walker and Dean. They trying to build the Georgia Raiders. Let's see if that works for them. It's worked for the Eagles and some other teams, but I'm, yeah, I'm with you. I still do think that the Raiders will trade Max Crosby because I'm with you. I know you like nailer, but I do think. If they would've been able to get that, that 14th pick from the Ravens, let's say they had kept it, the trade it went through, I do believe they would've drafted a receiver, the USC receiver lemon. I would've, that would've been perfect. I think then this team is shooting on all cylinders, so I can't disagree with you on the Raiders. I think they were a big winner. Another team I think that spends a lot, maybe not get as good as the Raiders, but I do like what the titan's done. You just put little pieces all around in little areas. Wonell Robinson, and then you know, three cornerbacks. Lord Jesus, he knows this you, this league is all about passing, passing, passing. And these receivers in the division for the A FC South on top of the conference. You need corners to lock down these number one receivers. So I like what the Titans did. I don't expect them to do anything crazy either in the A FC South, but at least it shows me like, Hey, we sucked last year and we need to do whatever the F we need to do to get. Over this because we don't have much until they deciding, maybe to exercise. And I know it's still a while from now, but when Cam Ward decides to get paid because all these other guys will keep getting paid. A winner in my eye. Rico Doddle, going to the Steelers. I really like that deal. Now, of course, love that. It doesn't make sense. Doesn't make sense on who the quarterback is and that situation, but

Speaker 4:27

we don't even know who the quarterback's gonna be at this point.

Speaker 2 4:29

We don't even know. It's just, who knows? I've heard Kirk. heard Aaron, who knows at this end. But yeah, I would say he, what he did with Carolina moving on, definitely. I can't wait to see him exceed and flourish in that, in the Steelers.'cause, they just lost Kenneth, gain well to the box. I really thought was a good, signing for the Steelers.

Speaker 4:49

Onto the negative side of things though. James, I am a Texans fan.

Speaker 2 4:56

Oh.

Speaker 4:56

So seeing the Indianapolis Colts have just a disastrous off season has been music to my ears. I feel like what the Colts have done this off season, and I'll get into what their moves were in a sec. I feel like this has cemented that Chris Ballard, the gm, will be fired after this season for what? He did this off season, right? Their big move was resigning Alec Pierce, and they were very happy to do it, and they were excited that they got him back, but Alec Pierce is now going to be making four years,$114 million. He is going to be making more this season than the following players. Tell me if you hear any of these guys. That Alec Pierce is actually better than Jalen Waddle. DJ Moore, George Pickens on the franchise tag probably gets a new deal, probably exceeds Alec Pierce. But for now on the franchise tag, Alec Pierce makes more than George Pickens, Jameson Williams, your boy, Devonte Smith, my boy, Nico Collins. Devonte Adams. Cortland Sutton. All of these guys are going to be making less money. Next season, then Alec Pierce. Now I understand how free agency and the market works and how NFL contracts always fluctuate and it helps to go to free agency and re-sign contracts like this. Like that's how it works. I get that. But is Alec Pierce really that big of a priority for you to resign him you could have let him walk and got a third round compensatory pick next season, not have to trade Michael Pittman, which they had to do as a result of them giving out this massive contract. And for multiple years he was the true wide receiver won. I guess we see where he was in the pecking order Now. But you do that's your big move, and then you double down on bad contracts where you give Daniel Jones, who was already struggling before he tore his Achilles, and then he tore his Achilles. You give him two years,$88 million, which again. In the quarterback landscape. Really not that bad, but you're committing to him for these next two years and we don't even know what you're gonna get from him

Speaker 2 7:17

next year.

Speaker 7:18

Meanwhile, Braden Smith, qui Pay, Zaire Franklin and Michael Pittman all leave your team. All leave their team. I feel like the cults barring some crazy trade, some crazy draft pick. I truly feel like they are a lock. With what you said about the Titans I agree. I think the Titans made some good moves as well. I feel like based off of that and the Titans activity, the cols are guaranteed to be the last in the a FC South next season.

Speaker 2 7:51

Yeah, no, I with you on this. My biggest gripe about it all is the Daniel Jones signing. We get it. The team was excellent at the time, and then like you mentioned, things started falling off. Then you tear your achilles, this is not a meniscus, not an, a, an Achilles and you sign this guy to basically. Unless people are just like shooting up roids or doing something Spencer, that I don't know, I don't see Daniel Jones coming back because by the time he may be healthy to play, it's gonna probably be week 13 and this team is not going to be in the running be with the Jags and with the Texans in that division, hell no, they're not gonna be doing anything. Why not go for someone like Kyler Mary, who I think right now is the biggest loser in the quarterback realm like. W I'm pretty sure we agree. We thought he was the best quarterback in this free agency with the position. I agree. And to still not get signed, like to a team begging, that minimum 10 year deal, whatever it is. For Kyler not to get signed yet. And I know we predicted, we think he'll go to Minnesota and that hasn't happened yet, but. I thought the Colts could have just done this again, to just get Kyler fill in the Daniel Jones thing, and if Kyler blows it up, guess what? It was a one year deal. But if he succeeds, then it's like, okay, do I want to proceed with Kyler or do I wanna proceed with Daniel Jones? And I'm with you. I yeah, I thought the cold slip this year a loser of mine spin. I think this guy got paid because of his name, and I don't like Bradley Chubb's deal with the bills. It is a three year,$44 million contract. The reason why I don't like it is because how much is he getting paid, when you rank all the past rushers and past success. He was 82nd last year, and. When you're getting paid that high, I, it's okay if you're like 20th in the league and pass rate. So for me, I just felt like the Bills signed a guy because of his name and of whatever he did in the past, his

Speaker 9:50

status, he

Speaker 2 9:51

was high

Speaker 9:51

draft pick.

Speaker 2 9:52

A loser that everyone keeps poo-pooing on. Spence But all these people saying the Falcons are a loser for getting Tua, I, I find insane. You get the guy for 1 million, it's basically free money.

Speaker 10:05

True.

Speaker 2 10:06

If you're telling me why sign Tua because of health, I'm not gonna debate you on it, but what is the worst case scenario you got with Tua? You know, Michael Pennix ain't playing. So the worst case you may get, and everyone says two is one hit away, two is one hit away. God dang man. He's gonna be playing on that nice turf in freaking Atlanta. It's not MetLife, and hopefully his offensive line will block a lot better than the freaking dolphins did. But. In my eye. I think Tua is not that big of a loser'cause he is still gonna get paid with the Dolphins. Then he is going to Atlanta. And who's his weapons? Vince, you love the guys in Atlanta.

Speaker 10:43

I do

Speaker 2 10:43

Don't get me wrong. Am I saying the Falcons are gonna freaking win 10 games? Hell no. Because I don't believe in T's hell either, but damn man. Quit acting like two is a bum, man.

Speaker 10:54

I not only agree with you that the Falcons were not as big of losers as people are making it out to be. I think they have the potential to have a really sneaky, good signing here next season. Johann Dotson. I don't know why. I've been a fan of this guy since he was a commander. I know. And he was buried in the depth chart in Philly. Had a couple of good moments, a big catch in the Super Bowl.

Speaker 2 11:18

A big catch.

Speaker 11:19

I think he's talented. I really do. And he's going to be replacing Darnell Mooney. I think he is going to be a better play. I think he's a better player than Darnell Mooney. He'll fit better for Atlanta. Opposite of Drake, London. In that offense and for fancy football owners. Hallelujah. Bija Robinson is on his own. Finally, Tyler Algire is gone. He's gone to Arizona. Oh, okay. Bijan Robinson's going to eat. Fancy football. We are winners because we are happily drafting all the Atlanta falcons

Speaker 2 11:48

And plus I'll say this, why, like I disregard health. It is the NFC South that we're talking about. Yeah. Like, come on man. Like come on. No one believes in the Panthers except me. Maybe there's some bias in these Alabama quarterbacks, but look what the Bucks. Did the bucks let their legendary receiver go, Mike Evans, which he'll probably tear his Achilles in practice in San Francisco. Yeah, that's whatever station's still

Speaker 12:11

there.

Speaker 2 12:12

Yeah, whatever. With the power plant, whatever, all that crap. The NFC side, we thought, what did we think last year? We thought, oh, this is the Bucks Division, and there was a three-way tie. With the Falcons, the Carolina Panthers and the Box all for eight and nine. So you're telling me, and mind you, the Falcons didn't get there to that record with Michael Pennix. They got that record with freaking Kirk Cousins the last four games of the year and won four in a row. And they let Kirk walk. So I do believe two will be fine.

Speaker 12:43

Who were the biggest winners, who were the biggest losers in the NFL after free agency. Y'all Let us know down below and we'll see y'all next time on Big Game Energy.

Speaker 2 12:53

Man, we forgot about Trey Hendrickson. He's gonna sack Joe Burrow six times, week one.