The Pat McAfee Show Free Agency Frenzy Extravaganza | Tuesday March 10th 2026

The Carolina Panthers made substantial moves, signing Jaylen Phillips (best pass rusher on the market) and Devin Lloyd, leading to a jump in their division odds from +425 to +370. This demonstrates a commitment to building around Bryce Young and a belief in their current roster.

The Titans made a lot of moves yesterday. They went from plus 750 to plus 600. The Raiders went from plus 4,000 to plus 2200. Yes, there's still less. Is that the biggest movement of all time? All time, I think. And then we had a a jump. We talked about it yesterday. The Carolina Panthers were in last place uh in the NFC South. They jumped the Falcons to go from plus 425 to plus 370 with their moves yesterday. I'm surprised the Panthers didn't jump a little higher in those odds. I I would like him as a favorite. Obviously, they won it last year and I love what Young is doing. We always talk about them being a good football team. They got a lot better yesterday. Got the best pass rusher on the market with Jaylen Phillips. Then Devin Lloyd, who had an unbelievable year in Jacksonville.

The Las Vegas Raiders spent over $281 million, including a surprising $30 million per year for center Linderbaum, significantly higher than market expectations for the position. This aggressive spending, coupled with 11 draft picks (four first-rounders in two years), signals a complete overhaul and a push for immediate competitiveness.

And then the Las Vegas Raiders, $281 million plus yesterday in full contracts. They're certainly undergoing a brand new era. Oh, Tom Brady may be a little bit more in charge. 30 million a year to a center is quite a message from a franchise. The Las Vegas Raiders send a huge one in signing Linder Bomb. And they weren't done there. They continued to spend. I mean, I think it was like 12 million more than an explic plus interior offensive lineman. So, I mean, that's a huge, huge jump for whenever you talk about a position getting paid, but if you need it and it's going to make you win, we're for it. They have 11 draft picks in this upcoming draft. Uh two in the first round thanks to the Max Crosby trade and then two in the first round next season. So that's four first round picks in the next two years.

The Philadelphia Eagles lost several key players like Nico Dean, Jaylen Phillips, and Reed Blankenship. However, the host frames this as 'Howie season,' trusting GM Howie Roseman's ability to manage the cap and draft effectively, especially with new deals pending for younger core players.

The Philadelphia Eagles lost quite a bit of talent yesterday in free agency. Nico Dean, Jaylen Phillips, obviously Reed Blankenship, and then the receiver, Jan Datson. I got Eagles fans all over my timeline, all over my phone saying, 'What are we doing? What are we calm down? Deep breath.' March and April is what we call Howie season. Howie Roseman, the best general manager in football season. Remember, they have to eventually get new deals done for Cooper Deene and Quinn Yan Mitchell and Nolan Smith and Jaylen Carter.

Kyler Murray (Cardinals) and Gino Smith (Raiders) were held by their teams, delaying their entry into free agency. Teams held onto them until bonus deadlines or potential trade offers, even if unlikely, to maximize value. Murray was expected to be released before a $16 million bonus was due, with the Minnesota Vikings as a logical landing spot. Gino Smith was eventually traded to the Jets.

The quarterbacks, we would expect movement, but not yet because neither Kyler Murray nor Gino Smith officially have been released from their teams. So, they are not allowed to do anything during this time right now and they can't until they are released. Obviously, people waiting on Minnesota to see the Vikings and Kyler Murray. He has he has I think it's a $16 million bonus that's due on the third or fourth or fifth day of the league year. The Cardinals are not going to allow that day to come to where they have to put more money into Kyler. So, they can wait as long as they want up until that point, and they have not released him, but they will and are expected to release him before that happens. The Raiders are sending quarterback Gino Smith and a 2026 7th round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for a 2026 sixthround pick per ESPN sources. Smith returns to the team for which he started his NFL career in 2013.

Travis Kelce confirmed his return for his 14th season, driven by a continued love for the game and a 'hungry' Chiefs team. He noted the competitive AFC landscape and the return of Coach Eric Bieniemy as motivating factors, indicating a chip on the team's shoulder.

Yeah, I'm not going to lie, it was uh it was pretty short and brief and uh the Chiefs knew where I was the entire time on it. I think uh you always need to take a step back. You always need to take a step back, breathe, let the emotions of the season settle down and see where the body is and things like that. But, um man, I'm still I'm still in love with this game. I'd still love going to going to work, putting on the pads, grinding it out, and just, you know, playing the game. And uh and I think my best opportunity was playing for the Chiefs yet again, and uh and running this thing back with Pat Mahomes and Coach Reed, and got my guy Eric Benemy, Coach Benemy back. We're seeing we're seeing what the world's doing right now. We're seeing how everybody's reacting, but uh we know we got the nucleus in uh in Kansas City. We got some we got some big hitters in Kansas City, and we got Coach Reed. So, uh, we're never out of this thing, but we know the the division's getting getting pretty competitive.

The New England Patriots signed wide receiver Romeo Dobs to a four-year, $70 million deal. This move addresses a critical need for the Patriots, providing a 'one-on-one win' receiver for quarterback Drake May, and is seen as a major acquisition, not just a day-two signing.

Romeo Dobs is going TO CONNOR'S PATRIOTS. THERE WE GO. More breaking news. So, the former Packers wide receiver had a choice of places to go and has decided to go to the New England Patriots. Romeo Dobs' deal is expected to be four years, $70 million with the New England Patriots. Totally changes their offense. I I love Romeo Dob. Romeo Dobs. Like I I love him. I I think it's a huge loss for Green Bay or significant loss for Green Bay. I would tell you this, like Dobs is one of those quintessential one-on-one win guys. Yep. Like he wins all the time with his route running. Also, if you watch him catch the football, balls more often than not caught away from his body. He's got strong hands, which I think is a huge deal when it comes to pass catchers. And just from a New England perspective now, I'm telling you, this is a big deal.

The Detroit Lions acquired Isaiah Pacheco, pairing him with Jahmyr Gibbs. This move aims to establish a more physical, ground-and-pound offense, reflecting Coach Dan Campbell's identity, and providing depth and balance to the backfield.

The Lions are signing ISAIAH PACHE. THING. We wanted to do the thing. Did you put the thing up? Did you put the thing? Chef tweet day two free agency frenzy. We got one. Ah, this tweet. This tweet was a tweet tweet like he was a bird coming out of his mouth. Isaiah Pacheco is going to the Lions. Demo one half of Sonic and Knuckles in the back field for MCDC's Detroit Lions football team. Isaiah Pacheco going to the Detroit Lions feels like a perfect fit. Love everything about the move now. We have to get back to ground and pound football first and then play action second. Last year it wasn't that way. We weren't controlling games because of that. And now I expect them to get a couple more linemen and shure that thing up and get back to MCDC style football.

Mike Evans signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a three-year, $60.4 million deal (effectively one year, $16.4 million guaranteed). This acquisition provides Brock Purdy with a dominant red-zone target, comparable to Davante Adams or Rob Gronkowski, significantly boosting the 49ers' already potent offense.

What a signing yesterday, Mike Evans. I mean, that was a magical moment here. We go over to Shreggs over in the free agency uh fun friend zone over there and he goes Mike Evans is moving soon mo he's not going back to the Bucks and then bang she tweet he's going to the San Francisco 49ers what a gigantic move yesterday by the ners. The quote that I got back was completely wrong. Again, we'll see how it all shakes out. The contract. You put up the guarant or the money three-year deal worth up to $60.4 million. That was really for cap purposes. It's more like a one-year deal that includes 16.4 4 million of guaranteed money. 16.4. So even though the numbers are advertised bigger, come in bigger. It's really a smaller deal for Mike Evans who felt like it was ready. It was time to move on, try something new, operate in a new offense. We've seen the kind of success that it could have for other receivers later in their career.

The Miami Dolphins signed Malik Willis, a move seen as a strong 'culture fit' because key front office personnel (Jeff Hafley, John Eric Sullivan, John Robinson) who previously drafted or coached him are now with the Dolphins, indicating strong conviction in his potential.

Malik Willis wasn't going to be for everybody. Malik Willis wasn't going to be the starting quarterback for everybody. Malik Willis makes a lot of sense for the Miami Dolphins. The money is fine. The money is not crazy. The money is not something that the Dolphins are going to lose sleep over. But there is no group of people in the entire NFL who know more about that quarterback than Jeff Hafley, John Eric Sullivan, and John Robinson. So John Robinson was the general manager of the Tennessee Titans with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee when they drafted Malik Willis. John Robinson has been in the wilderness for the last couple of years. He was hired a couple months ago by the Miami Dolphins to be a part of their front office. So now you have the guy who drafted Malik Willis, the GM who was a part of the group that brought him in last time with the Packers, and then you have the defensive coordinator who saw Malik Willis in person every day for two years. All three of them vouching for Malik Willis. You better believe that the Miami Dolphins have conviction and that they want him as their quarterback.

The Buffalo Bills re-signed center Connor McGovern to a 2-year, $25 million deal. The team prioritizes rebuilding the offensive line and fostering a close-knit, college-like culture, exemplified by McGovern's tradition of making 30-40 pizzas from scratch for the team on Fridays.

Connor McGovern to a deal. He'll be joining us in the next hour. Obviously, he's excited. I think they uh watched program up there, so I think he's bumped. He just got paid very well. He signed for 32 million guaranteed and a 52 million total deal on Saturday to remain the center for the Buffalo Bills. Uh Bean's made a forefront that rebuilding the offensive line. Like he want to rebuild it, keep him four out of the five. So, at my house and I So, I have like pizza steels, like steel plates built into my oven. And so, that gets it up. So, my oven only gets like 500°. Put those right in. And it's like rocket hot with the steel plates. But we're turning out 30 40 pizzas plus because we get over 30 people every time. It's a very close knit team. Like doesn't matter offense, defense, special teams, we're all just very close. Like I've been a part of teams where you got your clicks, your groups. Not here. It's entire team. Everyone loves hanging out with each other. It's almost like a college vibe how close we are cuz there's not really much to do in Buffalo. You a lot of times you're snowed in. So these guys, everyone in the room is just very close with one another.