When you think of winners in free agency, you think of teams that made big splashes.
Teams with a ton of cap space, including those that played poorly the year prior, usually are the favorites to “win.” The Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Chicago Bears brought in new playmakers in hopes of making a quick turnaround.
There are always exceptions, however. The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who ranked towards the bottom in cap space, continued to load up on their rich defensive line. The New England Patriots, a consistent Super Bowl contender, lost their starting tackles but acquired some players via trade, as well as signed several outside free agents.