The first big event of the 2026-2027 NFL season has begun in the form of free agency (which lets players whose contracts have expired change teams) and the draft (which brings new players into the league). This is when teams can hit the reset button and start fresh, or add a couple of key positions to push for a championship run. On the other hand, it can be a time when players enter disputes with management, which can lead to player holdouts, trade requests, or not being re-signed. 

The team, I believe has taken advantage of free agency the most is the Carolina Panthers, but the Miami Dolphins have put themselves at a disadvantage.

Our very own Carolina Panthers have added two of the best available linebackers in free agency–Devin Lloyd and Jaelen Phillips–to help their core (tackles, interceptions, sacks, and average yards allowed per game all taken into consideration), which was ranked 30th of 32 in total production.

Lloyd was third in tackles for the Jaguars and was tied for second in interceptions in the NFL (though he did have the most interceptions for a linebacker). Adding arguably the most versatile linebacker in the NFL will certainly be a net positive for this Panthers defense and can help them become a consistent playoff-caliber team.

Jalean Phillips is a much more intriguing prospect, as he has had serious injuries (an Achilles tear in 2023 and an ACL tear in 2025), but when he is on the field, he has all-pro level talent. The Panthers did offer Phillips a hefty 4-year, $120 million contract with $80 million guaranteed. It will be a worthwhile investment if he can stay healthy and on the field. 

Additionally, the Panthers bolstered their offensive line to protect Bryce Young, as they selected Monroe Freeling, a 6’7”, 315-pound offensive tackle from Georgia in the first round. Along with this pick, they filled in key positions such as defensive tackle, safety, and wide receiver in later rounds. The Panthers hope to retain their title as NFC South champs and have a bright future ahead of them with Bryce Young entering year three with the best receivers, offensive line, and defense yet.

The biggest losers of NFL free agency are the Miami Dolphins. After a mediocre 2025 season, the Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniels, who, in all honesty, was not the problem, as the roster was very lackluster. This staffing change was their first off-season mistake, but several roster moves made the situation even worse. 

Miami released quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in favor of Malik Willis, a career backup QB who admittedly did put up impressive numbers for the Green Bay Packers when their starting quarterback was hurt. Cutting Tagovailoa means the Dolphins had to pay out $99 million in dead cap (when a player has underperformed to the extent that the team is willing to pay off their contract and another team can pick them up at a minimum cost) over 2 years, so losing so much money on a player who isn’t part of the team is definitely detrimental.

Additionally, the Dolphins cut wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who, although on the latter end of his career, can still be productive: in the last season, he played all 17 games and had just under 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns. Another mistake was Miami’s trading away their leading receiver Jalyen Waddle, leaving the just-acquired Malik Willis no way to seize his opportunity because they have no receiving depth at all.

                                                                    The lack of reliable receivers is something Miami should’ve addressed in the draft, but the Dolphins ended up passing up on first-round-caliber wide receivers in favor of offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. Proctor’s addition can help a quarterback in a new offensive scheme, but only if he has someone to find open.

Overall, the Carolina Panthers have taken full advantage of the offseason by aggressively addressing their weaknesses and building a more complete roster around Bryce Young. In contrast, the Miami Dolphins have made a series of questionable decisions that weaken both their roster and long-term outlook, especially on offense. As the 26-27 season approaches, Carolina looks poised to compete, while Miami may be facing the consequences of a poorly managed reset.