#nfl-free-agency

#nfl-free-agency

Queen is three years removed from an All-Pro season, and he hasn't missed a single game for his career. Even if he's not an elite playmaker, he's a well-rounded middle linebacker who would immediately raise the floor of the Cowboys defense in all areas. If the Steelers are open to dealing Queen for the third or fourth-round, I'd make the deal in a heartbeat.

Epenesa, 27, played all six of his NFL seasons with the Bills. Originally a second-round pick by Buffalo in the 2020 NFL draft, Epenesa was a reliable member of the team's defensive line rotation over the years and a strong backup. He has played in 91 games with 19 starts.

The Cowboys offense is returning 90.8 percent of its snaps in 2026. The only notable players from last year's offense that aren't returning this year are Brock Hoffman (474 snaps) and Jalen Tolbert (464). They signed OL Matt Hennessy (173 snaps in 2025) to fill the OL gap, and WR Ryan Flournoy already took over most of Tolbert's snaps by midseason last year.

During the first week of free agency, when almost all of the costly contracts are signed, the Vikings committed the NFL's third-lowest amount of cash, according to Over the Cap. Their biggest deal was to retain linebacker Eric Wilson, who will be paid a total of $8.25 million in 2026, three of their other five transactions were for special teams players.

He didn't get on the field with Carolina until midway through the 2024 season due to quad injury he suffered with the Minnesota Vikings and was limited to four sacks. He had only three sacks this past season despite starting 15 games for the Panthers.

Taylor-Britt, 26, departs Cincinnati after an up-and-down stint with the Bengals. The team's 2022 second-round pick was the team's No. 1 cornerback for much of his tenure. But that shifted last season following inconsistent performances.

Hennessy first made a name for himself at Temple University, where he was far more than just a body in the trenches. He was a three-year starter and eventually became the first Owl to ever be a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the best center in college football. His technical prowess was so advanced that he earned an elite 92.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus during his final collegiate season, allowing only a single sack over his entire career in Philadelphia.

The No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Lance hasn't reached the potential that made him a top pick, though he hasn't been given a significant chance to do so. He started four games in two years with the 49ers, posting a 2-2 record while throwing for 797 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions on 56-of-102 passing.