More NFL Signings and a Trade: Steelers Add Rico Dowdle, Patriots Sign Romeo Doubs

The first day of NFL free agency was wild, and things have slowed considerably on day two. I still want to go over several pickups, and a trade, so let's get to it.

Here are the first three free agency signing stories I did (first batch, second wave, later deals).

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Dowdle Signs with Steelers

Rico Dowdle found a new home, signing a two-year deal worth $12.25 million with Pittsburgh.

Dowdle is 27 years old and is coming off his best season yet - he produced 1,373 total yards and seven scores over 17 games. He will be joining his third team in the past three years.

He has a chance to be the top back in Pittsburgh, but with Jaylen Warren around, I see it more likely being a 1A/1B situation. The Steelers are under new leadership, so we'll have to wait and see how the team approaches its backfield.

There's also a chance Warren is moved yet, and the Steelers roll with Dowdle and Kaleb Johnson, who mightily struggled in his rookie year.

Anyways, I think Dowdle has a decent fantasy outlook in Pittsburgh, and that's with me expecting him to split the backfield pretty evenly with Warren. If Warren is moved, Dowdle will see a great bump in his fantasy outlook, and maybe be a weekly fantasy starting option in all leagues.

Time will give us a better idea of what to expect from the Pittsburgh backfield, but for the time being, I think the Steelers are a good fit for Dowdle. Pittsburgh should benefit from this deal, and it doesn't really alter anyone else on the team - it's more of the same from past seasons really.

Lions Find New No. 2 Back

After trading away David Montgomery earlier this offseason, Detroit secured a new No. 2 back in Isiah Pacheco. 

Pacheco is 27 years old and played his first four years with the Chiefs. He struggled with injuries over the past three years, playing between 7-14 games in each year.

In 2025, Pacheco played 13 games, amassing just 563 total yards and two touchdowns. He had 1,179 total yards and nine scores in a 14-game campaign in 2023, but after some injuries, he's likely a better No. 2 back.

He will serve that backup role in Detroit, where Jahmyr Gibbs is king. Montgomery was a decent fantasy asset in the No. 2 role the past couple years, so this is an intriguing landing spot for Pacheco.

If he stays healthy, which seems more likely in a reserve role, Pacheco could be a decent deep-league fantasy option, while being a flex-level option in standard leagues.

I expect Gibbs to do most of the heavy lifting, but if the Lions are a high-flying offense again, then Pacheco could also have some fantasy upside to take advantage of.

I like the move for the Lions and Pacheco in real life, and he could have about as much fantasy upside there as any other place in the league.

As for the Chiefs' backfield, that now belongs to Kenneth Walker, after he signed there at the start of free agency. Pacheco had a nice run in KC, but the team's backfield is in a better spot today than it has been in a few years.

Patriots Sign a New Receiver

New England has a new wide receiver, signing Romeo Doubs to a four-year deal worth roughly $70 million. 

The 25-year-old had 21 touchdowns over his four-year career with the Packers, but never more than 724 yards in a season. Doubs has played 17 games just once, getting in 16 games once as well - he played in 13 games the other two years.

Doubs was in a crowded wide receiver room in Green Bay, and now could be the top wideout in New England. He joins Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism (at least for now).

Doubs' fantasy outlook is better in New England than it was with Green Bay, but it's possible the Pats add more talent to that room still, so we'll wait and see if Doubs is truly the team's No. 1 wideout going into 2026.

Green Bay has enough wideouts yet with Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, and could use one of those guys in a trade. It also wouldn't surprise me to see Green Bay add another body to that room before next season.

The move makes Green Bay a bit worse off, but it's nothing too concerning. It definitely makes New England a bit better team, as they look to take the next steps after making the Super Bowl this past season.

Jets Get Smith Back

New York is bringing back an old quarterback, Geno Smith. They traded for him, also getting a seventh-round pick from Las Vegas. The Raiders are getting a sixth-round pick in return.

Smith is 35 years old now. He spent the first four years of his career with the Jets.

Like many other quarterbacks, Smith has found more NFL success outside New York. He gives the team a legit starting quarterback option. If the season started today, Smith would likely be the starter.

We'll see if the Jets add anyone else in free agency or through the draft, but if the quarterback room sticks as it is now, Smith will be the starter. He will have a decent outlook, but just be a deep-league fantasy asset.

The Jets lack a lot of offensive talent, but are sure to add more help before the next season starts. I'd be surprised if Smith was an above-average fantasy quarterback, but he could be a streaming option and decent deep leaguer.

Other Notable Signings

Let's run down some other notable players to sign so far, and what their signing means before we wrap up.

Lineback Devin Lloyd is joining the Panthers on a three-year deal worth $45 million. Jaelan Phillips signed with the team on Monday, so Carolina had revamped its linebacker room with these two signings, and the defense should be better as a result.

The Patriots added Alijah Vera-Tucker on a three-year deal worth $42 million. After a big first season under Mike Vrabel, the Pats plan is now to protect the ascending Drake Maye. This move accomplishes that, and makes the Patriots a better offense overall.

Pass rusher Dre'Mont Jones also signed with New England, landing a three-year deal worth $36.5 million. He will add another piece to a Patriots' defense that was good last season and should only keep improving.

Chicago added safety Coby Bryant on a three-year deal worth $40 million. The Bears needed more help in the secondary, and this addition helps that cause. It's a good move for a Bears' team that seems to have lost more than it has gained so far this offseason.

The Giants added help on their offensive line by signing Jermaine Eluemunor to a three-year deal worth $39 million. The team also got linebacker Tremaine Edmunds on a three-year deal worth $36 million and picked up cornerback Greg Newsome on a one-year pact worth $10 million.

The Giants also signed tight end Isaiah Likely, so the roster has had quite the overhaul so far. It makes sense with new coaches in town, and New York should be better for it.

The Steelers signed Jamel Dean to a three-year deal worth $36.75 million. He helps out the Pittsburgh secondary, and I don't think the Steelers will stop there as they look to reshape their roster under a new staff.