Every spring, teams spend millions. Four weeks into the 2026 season, here are the NFL’s biggest offensive free-agent signings. Perhaps no player has emerged more from the shadows than New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely.
For years, Likely was buried behind Baltimore legend Mark Andrews. The talent was obvious, but the opportunity was not. The Giants, who are now led by former Ravens coach John Harbaugh, saw what many around the league already knew, and rewarded Likely with a three-year, $40 million contract. So far, that investment looks brilliant.
Likely immediately became a trusted target for second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, helping spark a Week 1 victory over the rival Dallas Cowboys with eight catches, 72 yards and two touchdowns. While injuries and quarterback changes briefly slowed his momentum, he reminded everyone of his value in Week 4 with seven receptions for 66 yards in a 36-24 win over Arizona. He draws an appealing matchup this weekend against a Washington defense that has struggled to contain tight ends, ranking near the bottom of the league in targets yards per attempt and touchdowns allowed to the position.
What has made Likely’s emergence so impressive is that he is being featured as a primary weapon rather than a complementary piece. His combination of size, athleticism, route-running ability, and yards-after-catch potential gives the Giants a dangerous option alongside star receiver Malik Nabers, who’s been playing through a shoulder ailment. In a league where elite tight ends are worth their weight in gold, Likely is proving the Giants may have found one at a bargain price.
NFL’s Biggest Offensive Free Agent Signings Through Week 4
If Likely has been the revelation of the 2026 offensive free agency class, Kenneth Walker III has been the catalyst, the player capable of swinging a game with a single touch.
The Chiefs’ decision to hand Walker a three-year, $45 million contract raised eyebrows at the time. Four games later, it looks like one of the smartest moves of the offseason. Walker has restored something the Chiefs have lacked for years: balance.
The 25-year-old is leading the NFL in rushing yards (537), yards per carry (6.2), and scrimmage production (621) through the first month of the season. Walker has transformed the identity of the offense. The result has been a more efficient and explosive attack, and under center snaps increasing to 42.1 percent. The Chiefs remain contenders every year because they adapt before problems become crises. Signing Walker was another example of that organizational intelligence.
Speaking of smart investments, few moves have aged better than the Las Vegas Raiders signing 38-year-old Kirk Cousins. The Raiders have jumped out to a surprising 3-1 start because Cousins has operated the offense efficiently with a heavy play-action concept under coach Klint Kubiak that has registered a top-ten offense.
According to Adam Levitan, Brock Bowers has operated as a true matchup nightmare since returning in Week 2, running routes on 83 of Cousins’ 90 dropbacks while lining up like a slot receiver. With Bowers and Michael Mayer giving defenses multiple probems to solve, the Raiders’ passing game has found new life, and so has the case for Cousins as one of the offseason’s smartest free-agent investments.
The Veterans Still Raising the Bar In The Bay
Then there’s Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel, whose move to San Francisco feels almost unfair to the rest of the NFC. Evans signed a three-year, $42.5 million deal with the 49ers in March 2026, and Samuel, after a year in the nation’s capital, resigned due to injuries to the receiver position on a one-year deal.
Evans has been a perfect fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, giving MVP-caliber quarterback Brock Purdy another weapon on the outside. His numbers may not jump off the page, but his impact is undeniable. Defenses already have to account for Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. Adding a receiver of Evans’ caliber has made the 49ers even more dangerous, particularly in the red zone. Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel’s usage near the line of scrimmage continues to showcase Shanahan’s creativity; Samuel has averaged seven yards after contact per carry and has an above-50 percent tackles avoided per carry rate, adding yet another layer to one of the NFL’s most difficult offenses to defend.
The 49ers were in awe of Evans’ availability after playing through rib injuries this past weekend in their 24-14 win against the Denver Broncos. He led the 49ers with five receptions and 76 receiving yards.
“That’s the reason why he is who he is, and he’s a golden jacket guy,” 49ers left tackle Trent Williams said. “Everybody knows how painful rib [injuries] are. Nobody in this locker room would’ve blamed him if he said, ‘I can’t go. It’s too painful’ “We would’ve expected that. But for him to go out there and put it all on the line for his teammates, I think that speaks to why he’s a gold jacket guy.”
Four weeks into the NFL season, plenty of free-agent signings are a work in progress. The biggest winners of free agency aren’t determined in March. They’re identified in the fall on Sundays.
