The 2026 NFL free agency period kicked off Monday with the opening of the legal tampering period, where prospective free agents are officially able to negotiate with new teams.
Those deals can officially be signed on Wednesday, March 11, at 4 p.m. ET, which marks the official start of the new league year. In addition to those deals, trades that were agreed to prior to the official start of free agency can also become official.
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Monday’s action kicked off with the news that the Dolphins will release Tua Tagovailoa, while Travis Kelce is reportedly set on returning to the Chiefs for 2026. Speaking of Kansas City, Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker is reportedly in agreement on a deal to join Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, while wide receiver Alec Pierce is set to return to Indianapolis.
The Steelers reportedly made a splash trade
It’s already been a buzzy start to the NFL free agency period, with several big-time trades, including the Las Vegas Raiders trading star defensive end and five-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks. The move helps set the stage for the Raiders’ impending rebuild, centered around the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, with which Las Vegas is expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
With 10 NFL teams having hired new coaches for the 2026 season and the shuffle of coordinators that followed, it’s sure to be a busy start to the league year. Check out Yahoo Sports’ full list of top available free agents and our free agency transactions tracker for a look at each team’s most notable free agency departures, new signings and trades.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL free agency news, updates and rumors as the legal tampering period opens up.
Live43 updates
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 11:28 AM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare is signing with the New York Jets. He agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
Enagbare, 26, played his first four NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, registering 11.5 sacks, 25 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles and 146 total tackles. He was the team’s 2022 fifth-round pick.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 11:20 AM PDT
Kate Magdziuk
The Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly come to terms with pending free agent wide receiver Jalen Nailor on a three-year, $35 million contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday.
Nailor has spent the past four seasons with the Vikings, who drafted him in the sixth round back in 2022. He’s amassed 858 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
Keep up to date with the full list of NFL signings and NFL trades here.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 11:20 AM PDT
Jason Owens
The New Orleans Saints have agree to sign former Buffalo Bills offensive guard David Edwards, NFL Network reports.
Terms of the deal weren’t reported. A seven-year NFL veteran with the Raiders and Bills, Edwards was a full-time starter in Buffalo in each of the last two seasons.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 11:19 AM PDT
Ian Casselberry
The Detroit Lions are signing center Cade Mays, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Mays agreed to a three-year deal worth $25 million, reports KPRC’s Aaron Wilson.
In four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Mays appeared in 52 games, starting 27 of them. He was Carolina’s 2022 sixth-round pick out of Tennessee.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 11:17 AM PDT
Jason Owens
The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to sign former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Doton to a two-year, $15 million contract with $10 million guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The contract has escalators that could increase its total value to $17 million.
A former first-round pick by the Washington Commanders (2022), Dotson has played as a part-time starter for the Eagles in each of the last two seasons, totaling 37 catches for 478 yards and 1 touchdown in 2024 and 2025.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 11:15 AM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 11:13 AM PDT
Andy Backstrom
Travis Etienne is coming home to Louisiana, where the running back will join the New Orleans Saints on a four-year, $52 million contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Etienne spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark three times.
After playing with quarterback Trevor Lawrence at Clemson and then with the Jags, Etienne is finally going his separate way.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 11:12 AM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Receiver Wan’Dale Robinson is signing with the Tennessee Titans, according to NFL Network. He agreed to a four-year, $70 million deal, reports Jordan Schultz.
Robinson, 25, reconnects with Brian Daboll, the former New York Giants head coach who is now the Titans’ offensive coordinator. He was the Giants’ 2022 second-round pick. Last season, Robinson caught 92 passes for 1,014 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:55 AM PDT
Kate Magdziuk
The Baltimore Ravens have lost a key centerpiece of their offensive line, as free agent center Tyler Linderbaum reached an agreement on a record-setting three-year, $81 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
The deal reportedly includes $60 million in guarantees.
Linderbaum’s contract makes him the highest-paid center in the NFL, surpassing Kansas City Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey. Humphrey previously reigned as the league’s highest-paid center, having signed a four-year, $72 million contract last offseason.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:53 AM PDT
Andy Backstrom
A day after news broke that running back James Conner reworked his contract to stay with the Arizona Cardinals, the team reportedly made a backfield addition.
The Cardinals have signed former Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier to a two-year, $12.25 million deal, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Allgeier complemented Bijan Robinson in Atlanta, where the versatile back totaled at least 700 scrimmage yards in three of his four seasons with the team.
This past season, Allgeier scored eight touchdowns, all on the ground.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:49 AM PDT
Jason Owens
The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to sign veteran kicker Nick Folk from the New York Jets, NFL Network and ESPN report.
An 18-year veteran and former Pro Bowler, Folk joins the Falcons as one of the game’s longest-tenured and most reliable kickers. Folk hit 28 of 29 field goal attempts for the Jets in 2025 and has led the NFL in field-goal percentage in each of the last three seasons.
Folk’s exit leaves the Jets in need of a kicker for 2026.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:42 AM PDT
Kate Magdziuk
11-year veteran Austin Hooper is reportedly headed back to the very franchise that drafted him, reportedly coming to terms with the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year deal as the NFL’s legal tampering period opens up, NFL Network insiders report.
Hooper has been a bit of a journeyman since his first four years in the league with Atlanta. Coming off his rookie contract, Hooper spent two years with the Cleveland Browns, one year with the Tennessee Titans, one with the Las Vegas Raiders and the last two with the New England Patriots.
His best NFL season came back in 2019, when the former third-round pick posted a career-high 787 receiving yards and six touchdowns over 13 games.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:38 AM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Cornerback Amik Robertson is signing with the Washington Commanders, agreeing to a two-year, $16 million contract, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. The deal includes a guaranteed $9.3 million.
Robertson, 27, played the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions, appearing in all 24 games . He started 10 games last year, making 52 tackles and defending 12 passes with one interception and two forced fumbles. Robertson played his first four NFL seasons for the Las Vegas Raiders after he was the team’s 202 fourth-round draft pick.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:30 AM PDT
Andy Backstrom
The Chicago Bears are signing former Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant, according to multiple reports.
He and the Bears have agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Bryant spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Seahawks, whom he help win a Super Bowl during the 2025 campaign.
Bryant picked off a combined seven passes over the last two seasons in Seattle.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:24 AM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Reggie Gilliam will stay in the AFC East. The New England Patriots have reportedly signed Gilliam to a three-year contract worth up to $12 million, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The 28-year-old fullback has spent his first six seasons with the Bills.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:18 AM PDT
Kate Magdziuk
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reportedly agreed to terms on a two-year, $17 million contract with veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Monday.
Anzalone has spent the last five seasons with the Detroit Lions and was a five-time defensive captain with the squad under head coach Dan Campbell. He tallied 2.5 sacks, 1 interception and 95 total tackles in 2025. He had four tackles for a loss.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:15 AM PDT
Andy Backstrom
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell is signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a two-year, $14 million deal that comes with $10 million guaranteed, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Gainwell totaled a career-high 1,023 scrimmage yards last season with the Steelers.
He previously played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2021-24.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:13 AM PDT
Tarohn Finley
The New York Jets reportedly signed linebacker Demario Davis to a two-year, $22 million contract, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Davis, 37, spent his first four seasons with the Jets after getting drafted by the team in 2012. Davis has spent the last eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
Despite entering year 15, Davis remains productive. Last season, Davis finished with 143 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:12 AM PDT
Tarohn Finley
Mon, March 9, 2026 at 10:11 AM PDT
Ian Casselberry
Cornerback Akayleb Evans is returning to the Carolina Panthers on a one-year contract, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Evans, 26, appeared in 16 games for the Panthers last season, making 12 tackles. He was originally a 2022 fourth-round selection by the Minnesota Vikings and played with them for three seasons before being waived and picked up by Carolina during the 2024-25 season.