NFL Nation reporters pick the free-agent signings (or re-signings) that will have the biggest impact for each team in 2016.
AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
Offensive tackle Cordy Glenn and guard Richie Incognito
This is a tie between the two veteran offensive linemen the Bills re-signed this offseason; Glenn was assigned the franchise tag, while Incognito inked a three-year deal. The Bills' left tackle and left guard made each other better last season, and even though Incognito was the only one to make the Pro Bowl, Glenn had a case to travel to Hawaii, too. The run-first Bills needed both players back this offseason to prevent their offensive line from taking a step back in 2016. -- Mike Rodak
Miami Dolphins
Defensive end Mario Williams
There is a strong chance Williams will have an immediate impact for the Dolphins. Williams is returning to a 4-3 defense, where he recorded back-to-back seasons of double-digit sacks in 2013 and 2014. The Dolphins need that version of Williams to help fill the void left by 2015 sack leader Olivier Vernon, who signed a huge deal with the Giants in free agency. -- James Walker
New England Patriots
Wide receiver Chris Hogan
Signing Hogan, a restricted free agent who spent the past three seasons in Buffalo, to a three-year, $12 million offer sheet with a $5.5 million first-year cap charge indicates how much the Patriots think Hogan will help them as one of their top three receivers. Hogan had some of the biggest games of his career against the Patriots, and now the club hopes he delivers more of those performances for them. -- Mike Reiss
New York Jets
Running back Matt Forte
Forte is 30 years old, the twilight for a running back, but he will make an impact for the Jets. Chances are, he will assume the starter's role. His versatility will help the offense because he can line up anywhere in the formation, opening up the playbook for coordinator Chan Gailey. He will be the Jets' best dual threat since 2010. -- Rich Cimini
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Safety Eric Weddle
He's the most accomplished safety that the Ravens have had since Ed Reed, who left Baltimore four years ago. Weddle's instincts and leadership will make a significant impact on a defense that last season allowed a franchise-worst 30 touchdown passes and made a league-low six interceptions. The signing of Weddle is the most significant step to fixing a secondary that has been a weak spot in recent years. -- Jamison Hensley
Cincinnati Bengals
Cornerback Adam Jones
Each of Cincinnati's major defensive re-signings (Jones, linebacker Vincent Rey and safety George Iloka) will have an immediate impact in 2016, but overall, Jones' impact will be the most tangible. That's because, even as he turns 33 at the start of the season, the veteran cornerback is coming off arguably the best season of his career. Despite a nagging late-season foot injury, Jones still recorded 62 tackles and intercepted three passes in 2015. More importantly: He allowed only one touchdown all year. The lone score came on a circus catch Houston's DeAndre Hopkins hauled in while Jones was draped all over him. Jones also is extremely motivated to prove he's well worth the three-year, $20 million deal he signed. -- Coley Harvey
Cleveland Browns
Linebacker Demario Davis
The Browns have lost much more talent than they have added this offseason -- five starters from 2015 are gone. Cleveland's free-agent signings are all low-impact, lower-paid players. The only one who could make any kind of immediate noteworthy impact is Davis, who figures to step in for Karlos Dansby. Davis spent the past four seasons with the Jets. -- Pat McManamon
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tight end Ladarius Green
Green gives the Steelers a vertical tight end threat at a crucial time. Heath Miller, the franchise' do-everything tight end, has retired. Martavis Bryant, the franchise's best deep threat, is suspended for the year. Green, playing on a four-year, $20-million deal, must maximize his potential to help the Steelers offset those losses. The Steelers targeted Green early in free agency; they believe in his big-play potential. Green was considered an untapped asset while playing behind Antonio Gates in San Diego. Assuming he can stay healthy and grasps Todd Haley's scheme early on, Green should have no problems getting open for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. -- Jeremy Fowler
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Quarterback Brock Osweiler
Osweiler will make the biggest impact on the Texans. Whatever his future is will impact the futures of general manager Rick Smith and coach Bill O'Brien. The Texans invested $72 million over four years with $37 million guaranteed, which isn't an astronomical salary for a quarterback but indicates they expect him to be their starter. -- Tania Ganguli
Indianapolis Colts
Tight end Dwayne Allen
The re-signing of Allen (four years, $29 million) gives the Colts versatility -- blocking and pass-catching --- at tight end. That wouldn't have been the case had they chosen to re-sign Coby Fleener, who signed with New Orleans. The key for Allen, which has been well documented, is staying healthy, as he has missed 21 games the past three seasons. -- Mike Wells
Jacksonville Jaguars
Safety Tashaun Gipson
Even though defensive tackle Malik Jackson was the No. 1 defensive free agent available, it's likely that Gipson will make the most impact because it's the first time in the Gus Bradley regime that he has had a free safety capable of playing single-high coverage. That will allow the Jaguars to keep strong safety Johnathan Cyprien down in the box, which is where he excels. The Jaguars asked Cyprien to do too much the past three seasons, and he struggled. Adding Gipson stabilizes two positions. -- Mike DiRocco
Tennessee Titans
Center Ben Jones
Jones is likely to start at center on a line the Titans are still working on. He should help the team's top offseason newcomer, running back DeMarco Murray, get going as well as upgrade the protection for quarterback Marcus Mariota. -- Paul Kuharsky
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
Offensive tackle Russell Okung
Okung is the unrestricted free agent who could have the biggest impact for the Broncos. If he stays healthy and on the field, Denver has its left tackle after an offensive-line makeover. Quarterback Mark Sanchez could be the new arrival poised to make a big impact, too, but he was not a free agent and arrived in a trade. The Broncos also matched an offer sheet from the Dolphins to retain running back C.J. Anderson, and he has the look of a 1,000-yard rusher. -- Jeff Legwold
Kansas City Chiefs
Offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz
The addition of Schwartz could solve the Chiefs' long-standing problem at right tackle, where over the last three seasons five players have started at least one game. Right tackle has become a key spot in recent years in the AFC West. Top pass-rushers such as Denver's Von Miller, Oakland's Khalil Mack and San Diego's Melvin Ingram often come from the left side of the defense. -- Adam Teicher
Oakland Raiders
Defensive end/outside linebacker Bruce Irvin
Irvin gives the Raiders a bookend pass-rusher to go with All-Pro defender Khalil Mack on the field. Off the field, Irvin has been recruiting other free agents. And though he missed on Weddle, there's still a shot with Aldon Smith. Plus, Irvin brings with him from Seattle a veteran and championship pedigree. -- Paul Gutierrez
San Diego Chargers
Wide receiver Travis Benjamin
The signing of Benjamin secures a playmaker for a Chargers offense that averaged just 16 points a game from Week 9 on in 2015, tied for fifth-worst in the NFL. As a member of the Browns last season, Benjamin finished with four touchdown receptions on passes thrown 30-plus yards. He also adds some juice to San Diego's anemic punt-return game. -- Eric D. Williams
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Defensive tackle Cedric Thornton
The Cowboys' biggest signing from outside the building is Thornton, who has four career sacks. Thornton will likely play nose tackle in Dallas' scheme. The Cowboys are waiting to hear if Oakland will match an offer to restricted free agent defensive end Benson Mayowa, who has two career sacks. Linebacker Rolando McClain has re-signed on a one-year contract for the third straight year. When he has been on the field he has produced. The Cowboys hope that a full workload in the offseason will lead to even more production. They are going to need it. -- Todd Archer
New York Giants
Defensive end Olivier Vernon
Well, given what they're paying him, the answer had better be Vernon. The Giants' pass rush needed an infusion of young talent, and they spent big to lock in the 25-year-old former Dolphin, believing he will build on his big 2015 finish and develop quickly into a franchise cornerstone-caliber player at defensive end. With Jason Pierre-Paul back to man the other end of the line, Vernon should have the opportunity to pile up sacks the way Robert Ayers did when Pierre-Paul returned from his fireworks accident last year. Vernon could develop into a star in Steve Spagnuolo's defense. -- Dan Graziano
Philadelphia Eagles
Guard Brandon Brooks
Sure, resigning quarterback Sam Bradford was a statement about the Eagles' commitment at the most important position. But we learned last year what happens when Bradford plays behind journeyman guards. The Eagles invested $40 million over five years for Brooks, the 6-foot-5, 343-pound former Houston Texan, to plug that hole. -- Phil Sheridan
Washington Redskins
Linebacker Junior Galette
The Redskins' focus was re-signing their own players, and none was more important than Galette. He must overcome an Achilles' tear, a difficult injury for players who need explosiveness. But if he can do so, Galette can help bolster the Redskins' pass rush, an absolute priority this offseason. -- John Keim
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Linebacker Danny Trevathan
Follow the money. Trevathan signed for four-years, $24.4 million with $12 million guaranteed -- the most cash general manager Ryan Pace has handed out to an individual player to date. Trevathan, 25, is expected to anchor the middle of the defense, and most importantly, be a difference-maker at inside linebacker, where Chicago struggled to find consistency last season. Trevathan's arrival should boost a Bears defense that also added free agent inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks and retained veteran cornerback Tracy Porter. -- Jeff Dickerson
Detroit Lions
Securing their defensive interior
Replacing Calvin Johnson is going to be a by-committee task, so I'd go with the re-signings of defensive tackles Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker and the signing of Stefan Charles. The three are likely to be a large part of Detroit's defensive tackle rotation this fall, and if the Lions want to have a competent defense again under Teryl Austin, production from these three will matter. There's a good chance these three end up comprising a good amount of Detroit's interior defensive line snaps. -- Michael Rothstein
Green Bay Packers
Defensive end Mike Daniels
Green Bay has stayed quiet in free agency this month, but their biggest offseason priority was re-signing Daniels, and they did it all the way back in December. There was no way they wanted to let the price get any higher than the four-year, $41 million deal he did before last season even ended. And there certainly was no way they wanted to let him get anywhere near the free-agent market. Daniels has improved every year, and now he's on the verge of becoming a dominant force both against the run and the pass. -- Rob Demovsky
Minnesota Vikings
Guard Alex Boone
The Vikings have made it clear since the end of the season that fixing the offensive line was their biggest offseason priority. Signing Boone to a four-year deal at the start of the league year showed they were serious. Boone should line up at left guard, where he figures to help Matt Kalil, and he'll deliver a much-needed edge to an offensive front that has allowed pressure on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater about one-third of the time the past two years. -- Ben Goessling
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
Center Alex Mack
Mack should have an immediate impact as the guy who will provide stability along the offensive line. Mack has the athleticism to clear holes in the running game in the outside-zone blocking scheme. He's also extremely confident in his ability to pass protect and keep quarterback Matt Ryan from feeling that pressure up the middle. The addition of Mack should help the Falcons have better success in scoring opportunities, and they'll need to score points until the defense catches up. -- Vaughn McClure
Carolina Panthers
Defensive end Charles Johnson
Easy. The re-signing of Johnson was a bargain. They cut Johnson to clear $11 million under the salary cap. Then they re-signed him to a one-year deal worth $3 million. He'll count just over $2.5 million against the cap. He was going to count $15 million before he was cut. Now the team has cap room and a player at 29 who decreases the urgency to find a veteran end. -- David Newton
New Orleans Saints
Tight end Coby Fleener
Though I didn't love the value when the Saints signed Fleener to a five-year, $36 million contract, there's little doubt he should make a big impact in their tight end-friendly offense. Fleener should be a go-to guy in the middle of the field after New Orleans parted ways with Ben Watson and Marques Colston. Watson's numbers from last year (74 catches, 825 yards, 6 touchdowns) should be the baseline expectations for Fleener. -- Mike Triplett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Guard J.R. Sweezy
Running back Doug Martin never hit free agency so he doesn't qualify, but the Bucs' addition of Sweezy will help Martin immensely. Sweezy replaces Logan Mankins, who retired, and solidifies the interior of the offensive line. Martin finished second in the NFL in rushing in 2015, and he's going to be a significant part of the offense in 2016. Sweezy will help make that happen. -- Mike DiRocco
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Guard Evan Mathis
He may be 34 years old but Mathis should have an immediate impact on the right side of the Cardinals' offensive line. His veteran leadership was desperately needed on the other side from left tackle Jared Veldheer and left guard Mike Iupati. As long as Mathis stays healthy, the Cardinals will boast an offensive line that can carry them to the Super Bowl. -- Josh Weinfuss
Los Angeles Rams
Cornerback Trumaine Johnson
Johnson hasn't even been the Rams' No. 1 corner in his four years with the team but now, as the team's franchise player, he's being paid like one. The Rams will expect him to perform at that level in 2016 and beyond, especially if they can negotiate a long-term contract extension. Johnson looked the part of an ascending player capable of handling that job in 2015, but he didn't have the expectations or responsibilities that are sure to come next year. -- Nick Wagoner
San Francisco 49ers
Guard Zane Beadles
Losing Alex Boone may have been addition by subtraction but essentially replacing Boone with a former Pro Bowler in Zane Beadles may be a step up in any form. Beadles has played every snap in 79 of 80 regular-season games the past five seasons, and his inclusion allows the rest of the Niners' offensive line to crystallize. Then again, Beadles is the only outside free agent of note to sign with the Niners through the first 12 days of free agency. -- Paul Gutierrez
Seattle Seahawks
Cornerback Jeremy Lane
As long as Pete Carroll is the coach, defense will shape the Seahawks' identity. Lane is in position to be the team's starting right cornerback, playing opposite Richard Sherman. He'll need to stay healthy, but Lane figures to be a key cog on a defense that will aim to lead the NFL in fewest points allowed for the fifth consecutive season. -- Sheil Kapadia