NFL free agency isn’t here quite yet — but the NFL news cycle never sleeps.
Coming out of the 2026 NFL combine, now with less than a week to go before the start of the legal tampering period (set for Monday, March 9 at 12 p.m. ET), the news cycle is heating up.
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The latest bombshell dropped on Thursday, with the news that the Bears are reportedly trading star wide receiver D.J. Moore to the Bills. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Buffalo is sending a mid-round draft pick in return to Chicago. 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.
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.
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.
The week leading up to the official start of free agency on March 12 will also be a busy time for the release of NFL veterans, as each team makes moves to become compliant with the salary cap, which is officially set at $301.2 million per club.
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Among players who will reportedly be released are Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, Vikings veterans Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave, as well as Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
Also having affected the market was Tuesday’s official franchise tag deadline, with three offensive stars having received the tag so far, including Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens. The Jets will reportedly place the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall as the two sides continue to negotiate a long-term contract.
The Indianapolis Colts, meanwhile, will place the lesser-known transition tag on veteran quarterback Daniel Jones. The tag, worth a fully-guaranteed $37.833 million, per Over The Cap, will allow him to negotiate with other NFL teams and provide the Colts the opportunity to match any offer sheet Jones signs.
Teams are able to negotiate a long-term deal with any tagged player until July 15 at 4 p.m. ET. If no long-term deal has been negotiated at that point, the player will play on the tag.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL news, reports and rumors in the week leading up to the start of free agency.
Live53 updates
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 10:44 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 10:43 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 10:42 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 10:38 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 10:35 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Morris had 6 catches for 55 yards with the Jaguars last season.
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 10:30 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Houston Texans reportedly reached a deal to re-sign offensive tackle Trent Brown to a one-year extension worth up to $7 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Brown spent last season with the Texans after stints with the Bengals, Patriots, Raiders, and 49ers. The Texans re-sign Brown after trading offensive linemen Tytus Howard and Juice Scruggs earlier this week.
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 10:21 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Houston Texans will reportedly promote Jerry Schuplinski to quarterbacks coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schuplinski will replace former quarterback coach Jerrod Johnson, who left to join the Eagles staff. Schuplinski joined the Texans last season after spending time with the Rams under Sean McVay.
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 10:03 AM PST
Sean Leahy
The 36-year-old three-time All-Pro has spent all 15 of his NFL seasons with the Saints.
In 243 career games, Jordan has 763 total tackles, 175 tackles for loss, 132 sacks, 67 pass deflections, and 17 forced fumbles.
“If you get a 10-sack season, if I was 26, I’d be asking for top dollar,” Jordan recently told TMZ Sports. “Things I’ve never asked for is top dollar. All I’ve ever asked for is to be valued.”
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 8:49 AM PST
Andy Backstrom
The Chicago Bears are trading wide receiver DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday.
In return, the Bears are getting a 2026 second-round pick, per Schefter.
Moore, 28, has spent the past three seasons in Chicago after beginning his career with the Carolina Panthers, who took him in the first round of the 2018 draft out of Maryland.
The Bills have been on the hunt for a standout receiver to help quarterback Josh Allen.
Enter, Moore, who caught 20 touchdowns during his three-season stay in Chicago and has eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark four times in his career.
Thu, March 5, 2026 at 5:38 AM PST
Sean Leahy
The 28-year-old Mooney spent two years in Atlanta after playing the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Bears.
Last season with the Falcons, Mooney caught 32 passes for 443 yards and one touchdown in 15 games.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 4:16 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
The Pittsburgh Steelers are releasing tight end Jonnu Smith, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who reported that the team will save $7 million against the cap in the process.
Smith, a 2024 Pro Bowler whom the Steelers acquired from the Miami Dolphins as part of the Jalen Ramsey trade last year, will become an unrestricted free agent.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 12:33 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
The New England Patriots are reportedly preparing to move on from veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
The Patriots informed the 32-year-old Diggs that they’ll release him after the start of the new league year, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who also reported that Diggs had an additional $6 million set to become fully guaranteed next week.
Diggs confirmed his impending departure with a goodbye post on Instagram, thanking the Patriots for a memorable 2025 season, in which New England reached the Super Bowl and Diggs led the team with 1,013 receiving yards.
Diggs will now look for his next destination, as he deals with off-the-field trouble. Last month, he pleaded not guilty to strangulation and assault charges.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 11:52 AM PST
Sean Leahy
Appearing on Wednesday’s Pat McAfee Show, Aaron Rodgers said that while he has spoken to Steelers’ leadership in new head coach Mike McCarthy and GM Omar Khan, nothing has been resolved about his future.
“No deadline. No contract offer or anything,” Rodgers said. “Nothing that I’m having to debate between. I’m a free agent.”
Last season with the Steelers, the 42-year-old Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 16 games.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:45 AM PST
Caroline Fenton, Jason Fitz
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:15 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce will become a free agent at the official start of the league year; the team’s decision to use the transition tag on Daniel Jones ensured that.
Talks have reportedly continued between Pierce and the Colts regarding a long-term deal, but Pierce stated that he has “kind of earned the right to explore free agency,” in an interview with Kay Adams.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:14 AM PST
Andy Backstrom
The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly made a forward-thinking business decision to deal standout cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for a haul of picks.
But no matter how reasonable the transaction, there are still emotions involved.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver Xavier Worthy both peeled back their feelings in the aftermath of the blockbuster trade Wednesday.
Mahomes posted on X, “Damn..”
Meanwhile, Worthy chimed in on the social media platform, “noooooooooooooooo.”
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:05 AM PST
Sean Leahy
The 26-year-old Brooks played 17 games last season in Green Bay. He recorded 106 rushing yards on 27 carries, while also catching 13 passes for 91 yards.
Undrafted in 2023 out of BYU, Brooks started his NFL career with the Dolphins before joining the Packers a year later.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 9:02 AM PST
Sean Leahy
NFL preseason is only a few months away and we now know which two teams will play in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on August 6.
The Panthers and Cardinals will play one another as both franchises have players who will be inducted this summer. Luke Kuechly and Larry Fitzgerald will get their busts in Canton as part of a 2026 class that will also feature Drew Brees, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig.
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:56 AM PST
Sean Leahy
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Chiefs will acquire three 2026 NFL draft picks — No. 29, a fifth-rounder and a sixth-rounder — plus a 2027 third-round selection.
The 25-year-old McDuffie was a 2022 first-round draft pick by the Chiefs out of Washington. He was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams and is a two-time All-Pro at cornerback.
Last season, McDuffie played 13 games and registered 1 interception, 1 sack, 7 padd deflections, and 63 total tackles
Wed, March 4, 2026 at 8:30 AM PST
Jori Epstein
First-year Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken sees promise in second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, league sources say. But Sanders will not be handed the starting quarterback job.
And some sources with knowledge of the Browns’ conversations wonder if he’ll even beat out in-house options.
The questions don’t primarily stem from uncertainty about Sanders, whom general manager Andrew Berry said at the combine “grew a lot from start one to start seven.” They instead stem from a growing undercurrent of belief that Deshaun Watson could make a serious push at the Browns’ starting job in 2026.