The addition of one under-the-radar free agent has helped every NFL playoff hopeful

NFL teams About $5 billion in total contract value has been distributed to free agents this offseason. This included a few contracts in the hundreds of millions and many, many others with minimum veteran salaries hovering around $1 million.

Large contracts receive the most attention. Williams has been a big part of New England’s defensive turnaround. Sam Darnold, the only other 2025 free agent to sign a deal worth a total of nine figures, leads a Seahawks team that looks like it’s part of Super Bowl favorite.

When those signings arrived, they were a huge success. When they miss, they miss big. Will Fries has been a disappointment for the Vikings’ disappointing offense. Same for Tennessee’s Dan Moore Jr. These two offensive linemen signed contracts worth more than $80 million combined. Aaron Banks, who signed a four-year, $77 million contract with the Packers, didn’t have his best year either.

The big separator between successful offseasons and unsuccessful ones is often the young signings who outperform performance over money value. We’ve seen this at the most important position — Daniel Jones with the Colts this year, Darnold with the Vikings last year, Baker Mayfield with the Buccaneers the year before — but also across the roster.

This year, these small signings are making big impacts again. Here’s an important under-the-radar free agent addition that helps anyone hoping for a playoff berth with just over a month remaining in the regular season.

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1. Patriots (11-2)

S Jaylen Hawkins (one year, $1.8 million)

A fourth-round pick in 2020, Hawkins worked his way to a productive start with the Falcons by 2022, was waived the following season, spent a short time with the Chargers, and joined New England in 2024. The Patriots brought him back this year and are grateful they did. Now a full-time starter, Hawkins has a pair of interceptions and 1.5 sacks this year and has been a solid presence against the run. The Patriots spent the most money in free agency this offseason, but it was one of their smallest contracts that was key.

2. Broncos (10-2)

FB Adam Prentice (1 year, $1.1 million)

It’s fitting that the linebacker lands in an “under the radar” story. After injuries to two running backs late in the preseason, the Broncos signed Prentiss in late August. In typical full-back fashion, his stats don’t reflect his impact. The Broncos are averaging 8.0 yards per pass attempt with Prentiss on the field compared to 6.0 with him off the field. One of the best pass-blocking backs in the league, according to Pro Football Focus, Prentiss was an important asset to one of the players. NFL Best protected quarterback, Bo Nix.

3. Jaguars (8-4)

Edge Dennis Jardek (one year, $2 million)

A former undrafted free agent from Division II program Sioux Falls, Gardeck has made a great career for himself as a pass rusher, and he’s doing it again in Jacksonville. Jardek has just 1.5 sacks, but his 21.4% pressure rate is second in the entire NFL among all players with at least 80 pass rushes, behind only Will Anderson Jr.

4. Ravens (6-6)

CB Chidobe Awuzie (1 year, $1.2 million)

A talented but often injured player, Awuzie has been outstanding for Baltimore this season. Opponents complete just 48.8% of their passes when Awuzie is the primary defender, ranking 10th among 119 players who have defended at least 40 passes. For reference, Patrick Surtain II is allowing a completion rate of 48.9%. Awuzie allowing 5.1 yards per attempt also ranks 10th.

5. Chargers (8-4)

S Tony Jefferson (one year, $1.2 million)

Jefferson retired before the 2023 season, came out of retirement to play for the Chargers in 2024 and returned on a one-year deal in 2025. All he did was intercept three passes (he had four in his previous 10 seasons). total), including one against the Raiders in Week 13 in his first game in over a month.

6. Colts (8-4)

DT Neville Gallimore (one year, $1.3 million)

A former top-100 pick by the Cowboys, Gallimore had 3.5 sacks in his first season in Indianapolis after just four sacks in his first five years combined. His six quarterback hits are already a career high, and his four tackles for loss are tied for a career high. Gallimore’s jump as a pass rusher was an important development for the Colts’ surprising season.

7. Bills (8-4)

LB Shaq Thompson (1 year, $1.2 million)

The longtime Panthers standout has already played in more games this year (eight) than the past two seasons combined (six) and was particularly excellent in coverage in his first year in Buffalo. Opponents are averaging just 4.9 yards per attempt when throwing against Thompson. This is the third lowest number among all midfielders who have defended at least 20 passes.

8. Texas (7-5)

DT Sheldon Rankins (one year, $5.5 million)

The Texans have been one of the lowest-spending teams in the league this season, so all of their signings truly qualify as “under the radar.” Rankins was the best, though. PFF has him as the eighth-highest interior defender in the NFL, and his prowess against the run has helped anchor a unit tied for the sixth-best defensive rush success rate. Plus it’s a ladder This is a highlight.

9. Steelers (6-6)

RB Kenneth Gainwell (one year, $1.7 million)

Gainoll has racked up 44 catches this season, sixth among all running backs, and his 615 yards from scrimmage already surpass any total he had during his four years with the Eagles. Gainwell started two games this year — averaging nearly 130 yards from scrimmage in those contests — and was a solid complement to Jaylen Warren.

10. Chiefs (6-6)

RB Kareem Hunt (one year, $1.5 million)

Hunt remains a solid if unspectacular player for Kansas City, and his 4.0 yards per carry this season is on pace to be his best since 2021. Hunt has eight total touchdowns, a tough task to handle near the goal line and had 130 yards in the Chiefs’ most important win of the season so far, a 23-20 victory in Week 12 over the Colts.

NFC

1. Bears (9-3)

CB Nahshon Wright (one year, $1.1 million)

Wright is the perfect example of the Bears’ rise this year. A top-100 pick in 2021, Wright didn’t find his footing in Dallas in his first three seasons and appeared in just one game last year in Minnesota. This season, he has five interceptions, one forced fumble (on a sore Jalen push, though) and three fumble recoveries. The Bears lead the NFL in turnovers forced.

2. Rams (9-3)

LB Nathan Landman (1 year, $1.1 million)

Landman took over in the middle of the Rams’ excellent defense, and his 106 tackles tied for eight-most in the NFL. He was solid against the run, and while he may never be a top-tier linebacker in coverage, he made great strides in that department as well.

3. Eagles (8-4)

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Aside from the faltering offense, the Eagles losing essentially all of their low-risk signings was one of the biggest reasons the team finds itself where it is today. Philadelphia is 8-4 but isn’t playing inspired football on either side, and everyone seems angry. Adoree’ Jackson struggled at cornerback, and running backs Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari didn’t find success.

4. Buccaneers (7-5)

DeAnthony Nelson (2 years, $10 million)

Nelson goes on to join the Buccaneers, and in his seventh NFL season — all with Tampa Bay — he had three sacks and an interception, which he turned into a pick-six. Nelson remains an effective situational pass rusher and point guard.

5. Seahawks (9-3)

S. D’Antoni Bell (1 year, $1.2 million)

The Seahawks’ success has come mostly from their two top free agents — Darnold and DeMarcus Lawrence — and a strong group of returning and drafted players, but Bell qualifies as a nice addition here. He served as an occasional rotation safety and special teams major.

6. Al Hazm (8-3-1)

LB Isaiah McDuffie (2 years, $8 million)

McDuffie has been outstanding this season and especially recently, when he started alongside the injured Quay Walker. McDuffie had 12 tackles (two for loss) in a decisive Thanksgiving win over the Lions and is ranked as PFF’s No. 8 running back this season. His speed was tremendous for a defense that had plenty of it.

7. 49ers (9-4)

DeClean Ferrell (one year, $1.1 million)

Now in his second outing with the 49ers, Ferrell was only able to catch in San Francisco more than a month into the season due to several injuries to the 49ers pass rush. Since then, he has had four sacks in four games for the 49ers, and Sunday against the Browns, he had a career-high nine tackles in addition to two sacks.

8. Black (7-5)

De Al-Qadin Mohamed (one year, $1.4 million)

Out of the league entirely in 2023, Muhammad was able to join the Lions in 2024 amid a rash of defensive injuries in Detroit, and he impressed and parlayed his performance into another one-year deal. This year, he has six sacks, matching his career-high, despite playing just 42% of Detroit’s defensive snaps.

9. Cowboys (6-5-1)

Edge James Houston (1 year, $1 million)

Houston had eight sacks as a rookie in 2022 but zero in 2023 and just one in 2024. The Cowboys took a chance on him, hoping he could rediscover at least some of his first-year form, and he provided: 4.5 sacks despite playing just 27% of Dallas’ defensive snaps. His 13.6% pressure rate is also solid, and has helped the rushing trio which was much needed following the departure of Micah Parsons.

10. Panthers (7-6)

RB Rico Dowdle (1 year, $2.7 million)

Even after a 1,000-yard season in Dallas, Dowdle only received a one-year deal from Carolina for what appeared to be a backup role for Chuba Hubbard. Instead, Dowdle has been one of the best players in the NFL this year. His 929 yards rushing ranks eighth in the NFL, and he reached that mark with a 4.8 yards per rush average, on pace to be the highest of his career. His physical running style was very on point.