The first phase of free agency flew by with reality beating fantasy. And what a strange market it has shown to be.
In a league that thrives on fantasy football, guards got bigger contracts than wide receivers. Few teams have shown interest in the running backs available, and even fewer are interested in signing those backs to multiyear deals. The defensive tackle market has been weak. The Patriots, of all teams, have given out one of the most expensive deals ($40 million in guarantees to cornerback Stephon Gilmore).
But there are still a few teams that are the clear winners of free agency so far. Here are the five teams that have helped themselves the most:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Biggest additions: DE Calais Campbell, CB A.J. Bouye, S Barry Church
The Jaguars went straight for their weakest unit, giving out $68 million in guarantees to defenders Campbell, Bouye and Church. This is after handing out $64 million in guarantees to defensive lineman Malik Jackson, running back Chris Ivory and safety Tashaun Gipson, and drafting cornerback Jalen Ramsey, linebacker Myles Jack and pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue last year. Jacksonville is well on its way to rebuilding its defense, which gave up 25.0 points per game in 2016. I expect that number to improve next season. Bouye and Ramsey make for a great, young cornerback tandem. Campbell turns 31 this year, but he's a solid player. Church gives the defense some veteran leadership that has been needed.
2. Detroit Lions
Biggest additions: OT Rick Wagner, G T.J. Lang, DT Akeem Spence
General manager Bob Quinn, who was hired last offseason, has turned a bad offensive line situation into one of the top units in the league -- on paper -- in signing Wagner ($20.5 million in guarantees) and Lang ($19 million in guarantees). Combined with emerging center Travis Swanson and left tackle Taylor Decker and left guard Graham Glasgow, both 2016 draft picks, Detroit's offense has a chance to take a step up. Now the Lions need tailback Ameer Abdullah to return healthy from his foot injury to help with one of the worst running games in the league. They averaged 81.9 rushing yards last season, which ranked 30th.
3. Tennessee Titans
Biggest additions: CB Logan Ryan, S Johnathan Cyprien, DT Sylvester Williams
Hired in 2016, GM Jon Robinson has been stellar in his first year in Tennessee. The trade for running back DeMarco Murray has worked out, signing center Ben Jones last offseason looks like a shrewd move, and trading down in last year's draft netted the Titans right tackle Jack Conklin, who was named first-team All-Pro as a rookie, and an extra first-round pick in this year's draft. Free-agent signings Ryan and Cyprien will upgrade the Titans' secondary -- Tennessee allowed 269.2 passing yards per game last season, which ranked 30th. Williams will join the defensive line rotation. And the Titans still have two first-round picks -- No. 5 and No. 18 -- to get a receiver and more help in the secondary.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Biggest additions: WR Pierre Garcon, LB Malcolm Smith, FB Kyle Juszczyk, QB Brian Hoyer, DT Earl Mitchell
New coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch didn't add any top-shelf difference-makers in free agency, and they didn't break the bank on any signings. Instead, they signed solid players to rebuild depth and begin the rebuild following a 2-14 season. Hoyer and Matt Barkley will hold down the quarterback position for a year until the 49ers go for Kirk Cousins in free agency next year or draft from a better class of QBs in 2018. You could argue about the value of giving Garcon $17 million guaranteed, but he's much better than any receiver they put on the field last season, and he has experience with Shanahan from their time with the Redskins. There's nowhere to go but up for San Francisco.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Biggest additions: WR DeSean Jackson, DE Chris Baker, S J.J. Wilcox
Jackson was expensive -- $20 million in guarantees, the most of any receiver who signed this offseason -- but he is the perfect, speedy No. 2 receiver on the other side of Mike Evans. Baker, who had 9.5 sacks the past two seasons playing defensive end in Washington's 3-4, should add a little pass rush at tackle for the Bucs. Wilcox is a thumper at safety and on special teams. After a 9-7 season in 2016, GM Jason Licht continues to make advancements in building his team.