NFL free agency is pretty much here. The start of the legal tampering period is set for Monday at 12 p.m. ET. And the news cycle is already churning.
On Friday, there were plenty of big-time moves, headlined by the Las Vegas Raiders reportedly trading star defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens. In exchange, they’ll receive Baltimore’s 2026 and 2027 first-round picks.
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It was also reported Friday that the Raiders, barring a trade, will release quarterback Geno Smith after one season. Smith’s departure will free up $8 million in salary cap space, while the Raiders will assume $18.5 million in dead money.
The Houston Texans have also released veteran running back Joe Mixon at his request. Mixon missed the entire 2025 season with a foot injury. The move will save Houston a reported $8 million against the salary cap.
Other players who will reportedly be released ahead of the league year are Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, Vikings veterans Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave, as well as Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
Earlier this week, the Houston Texans made some moves, having reportedly acquired veteran running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions in exchange for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and a fourth- and sixth-round pick. The team also reportedly agreed to trade starting right tackle Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns, who subsequently agreed to terms on a three-year, $63 million extension.
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The Chiefs made a splash play on Wednesday, reportedly trading All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the 29th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as a fifth and sixth and 2027 third-round pick.
Another big-time trade dropped Thursday, with the news that the Bears are reportedly trading star wide receiver DJ Moore to the Bills. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Buffalo is sending a 2026 second-round draft pick to the Bears, while the Bills will also acquire a 2026 fifth-rounder along with Moore. In Ben Johnson’s first year as head coach of the franchise, Moore had career lows in catches and receiving yards despite playing in all 17 games.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL news, reports and rumors in the week leading up to the start of free agency.
Live coverage is over127 updatesMon, March 9, 2026 at 5:21 AM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Miami Dolphins’ reset has evolved into a full-blown rebuild. They announced Monday that will release veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after the start of the new league year.
During the 2025 season, his split with the Miami Dolphins became inevitable when Mike McDaniel — who committed to Tagovailoa as the Dolphins’ quarterback of the future throughout most of his four-season head-coaching stay — benched the 2020 No. 5 overall pick.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 5:11 AM PDT
Andy Backstrom
The Chicago Bears are re-signing linebacker D’Marco Jackson to a two-year, $7.5 million deal worth up to $10.5 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The New Orleans Saints selected Jackson in the fifth round of the 2022 draft out of App State.
Last season was his first with the Bears, and he wound up starting four of the 16 games he played in.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 4:31 AM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed on a one-year, $4 million contract, NFL Network reported.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 3:53 AM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Houston Texans have reached agreement on a three-year, $37.5 million contract with guard Ed Ingram, according to NFL Network.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 9:13 PM PDT
Ryan Young
Eric Wilson has a new deal with the Vikings. The linebacker struck a new two-year deal with the franchise on Sunday night after one season back with the team that gave him his NFL start back in 2017. Wilson had 115 total tackles and a career-high 6.5 sacks with the Vikings last season.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 7:14 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Las Vegas Raiders are adding a veteran defender to their rebuilding roster. Per NFL Network, the Raiders have traded to acquire cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills.
Johnson, 29, has played his entire eight-season career with the Bills. He’s started 87 of the 113 NFL games he’s played. The Raiders didn’t have to give up much in return for Johnson, whom the Bills intended to release without a trade partner. Per the report, they’re sending a sixth-round pick to the Bills and receiving a seventh-round pick in return in addition to Johnson.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 6:12 PM PDT
Ryan Young
Trent McDuffie got his deal.
After landing in Los Angeles in a massive trade with the Kansas City Chiefs last week, the Rams reached a four-year, $124 million extension with McDuffie on Sunday afternoon, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal will make McDuffie the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at $31 million a season, slightly more than the $30.1 million Sauce Gardner receives from the Indianapolis Colts. McDuffie will receive $100 million guaranteed, too.
For more, read here.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 6:06 PM PDT
Jason Owens
The Los Angeles Chargers have agreed to a two-year, $7.5 million contract with former Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, NFL Network reports.
The deal reunites Ingold with former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who’s now the offensive coordinator for the Chargers.
The Dolphins released Ingold on Friday, making him eligible to immediately negotiate and sign with another team ahead of the NFL’s legal free-agent tampering period period that starts at noon ET on Monday. Free agency officially starts on Wednesday, but many deals will have already been agreed upon by then from the legal tampering period.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 4:15 PM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Hardy has spent the last two seasons with the Bears. The 27-year-old defensive end was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh-round in 2022 out Montana State.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 4:10 PM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Fresh off signing Jordan Davis to a market-setting contract extension, the Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly received calls for Jalen Carter, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Carter and Davis have lined up next to each other since their days at Georgia.
Carter missed time last season with a hip injury. With Carter getting drafted in 2023, he could be under contract at least two more seasons if the Eagles pick up his fifth-year option before deciding if they want to extend him.
The Eagles have also reportedly been receiving calls on wide receiver AJ Brown and wants a a first- and second-round pick. The New England Patriots could be in the mix. The Eagles are also reportedly interested in re-signing outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips to a deal that would pay him above $20 million per year.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 3:28 PM PDT
Tarohn Finley
The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly making progress on cornerback Trent McDuffie’s contract extension, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
McDuffie is expected to be made the highest-paid cornerback at over $30M a year. The Rams acquired McDuffie in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 3:16 PM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 2:07 PM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 1:53 PM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 11:37 AM PDT
Tarohn Finley
The Green Bay Packers reportedly will restructure offensive guard Aaron Banks, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The team will reportedly reduce his $24.8M cap hit. He is due $7.7M in base salary and $9.5M in a roster bonus, which the team can prorate.
Banks signed a four-year contract with the Packers last offseason after being drafted in the second round by the 49ers back in 2021. Banks started 14 of 15 games he played in last season.
The Packers also re-signed center Sean Rhyan on Sunday and traded for linebacker Zaire Franklin on Saturday.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 11:32 AM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Joe Flacco will keep his options open next season. Flacco reportedly will consider returning to play for the Cincinnati Bengals despite preferring the opportunity to compete for a starting job, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The Bengals acquired Flacco from the Browns in October, with Joe Burrow being sidelined. In his time with the Bengals, the 41-year-old quarterback threw for 1,664 yards, 13 touchdowns, 4 interceptions and was named to his first Pro Bowl. Flacco was 1-5 as a starter with the Bengals last season.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 10:27 AM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Linebacker Justin Strnad is returning to the Denver Broncos on a three-year, $18 million contract, according to NFL reporter James Palmer. The deal includes a $5.1 million signing bonus and $10 million in guaranteed money.
Strnad, 29, appeared in 16 games for Denver last season, starting eight of them. The five-year veteran compiled 58 tackles with 5 tackles for loss, 3 passes defended and one interception.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 9:57 AM PDT
Yahoo Sports Staff
Running back James Conner will stay with the Arizona Cardinals next season after agreeing to a restructured contract, NFL Network reported.
There had been some thought the Cardinals would waive Conner after they parted ways with quarterback Kyler Murray last week. The new deal will bring him back for the 2026 season.
Conner was limited to three games last season because of an ankle injury. He totaled 1,518 yards from scrimmage while playing 16 games in 2024.
Sun, March 8, 2026 at 9:04 AM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Wide receiver Mike Evans might not be a lock to re-sign with the Tampa Buccaneers in free agency, according to the Athletic’s Diana Russini. This is the first time that Evans will hit free agency in his 12-year career.