The 2026 NFL free agency interval kicked off Monday with the opening of the authorized tampering interval, the place potential free brokers are formally ready to negotiate with new groups.
Those offers can formally be signed Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, which marks the official begin of the brand new league 12 months. In addition to these offers, trades that had been agreed to prior to the official begin of free agency may also change into official.
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Monday’s motion kicked off with the information that the Dolphins will release Tua Tagovailoa, who will reportedly signal with the Falcons on a one-year deal. Travis Kelce is reportedly set on returning to the Chiefs for 2026, whereas Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is reportedly in agreement on a deal to be part of Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. Wide receiver Alec Pierce is set to return to Indianapolis, the Steelers are signing running back Rico Dowdle, and Mike Evans is making the move from Tampa Bay to the Bay Area.
On Tuesday evening, the Raiders suddenly announced that their trade that sent Maxx Crosby to Baltimore was off. The Raiders solely mentioned that the Ravens had “backed out” of the deal.
With 10 NFL groups having employed new coaches for the 2026 season and the shuffle of coordinators that adopted, it’s positive to be a busy begin to the league 12 months. Check out Yahoo Sports’ full list of top available free agents and our free agency transactions tracker for a take a look at every workforce’s most notable free agency departures, new signings and trades.
Follow alongside with Yahoo Sports for the most recent NFL free agency information, updates and rumors because the authorized tampering interval opens up.
Ryan Young
Well, the Maxx Crosby trade is seemingly off. The Raiders introduced on Tuesday afternoon that the Ravens had “backed out” of the deal that despatched Crosby to Baltimore. Specifics of why that deal fell aside aren’t but identified.
For extra on the failed deal between the Ravens and Raiders, click here.
Kari Anderson
Veteran defensive sort out Cameron Heyward is sticking round, with the Pittsburgh Steelers agreeing to a one-year contract extension with the longtime defender, per a number of reviews.
The deal, which is able to maintain Heyward in Pittsburgh by way of the 2027 season, is value $32.25 million in whole worth, with $16.25 million totally assured.
Heyward has been pushing for a brand new contract since final season, when he showed up at training camp but was a hold-in. The seven-time Pro Bowler might be coming into his sixteenth season with the Steelers.
Kari Anderson
After enjoying for the Detroit Lions from 2023-2024, Teddy Bridgewater is heading again to the Detroit, per NFL Network. Details on the deal aren’t clear, however Bridgewater will doubtless function a backup quarterback for Jared Goff.
Bridgewater completed the 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, enjoying in 4 video games. He returned to the NFL after a quick stint as a highschool soccer coach at Miami Northwestern, earlier than he was suspended for providing impermissible benefits to his gamers. (The Florida State Senate has since passed the “Teddy Bridgewater Act,” which makes utilizing private funds for these varieties of small transactions authorized.)
Kari Anderson
Fresh off a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, Riq Woolen is heading to one other contender.
The younger cornerback has agreed to a one-year deal to be part of the Philadelphia Eagles, per a number of reviews. The contract is reportedly value up to $15 million. Woolen joins an already robust Eagles protection that is just one season faraway from a Super Bowl win of their very own.
For extra, read here.
Jason Owens
The New Orleans Saints are signing former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Ellis to a three-year, $33 million contract, in accordance to a number of reviews.
Ellis, 30, recorded 100-plus mixed tackles in every of this three seasons in Atlanta. He returns to the Saints workforce that drafted him in 2019 with a seventh-round choose. Ellis performed his first 4 seasons in New Orleans earlier than signing with the Falcons.
Jason Owens
The New York Giants are signing former Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders to a one-year contract, ESPN reviews.
Sanders missed all of final season with a hip harm however is one of the league’s most correct kickers when wholesome. An All-Pro in 2020, Sanders related on 37 of 41 (91.2%) of his subject objective makes an attempt in his final wholesome season in Miami in 2024.
The Dolphins released Sanders last week. He’d beforehand performed his total seven-season NFL profession with Miami.
Jason Owens
The Cleveland Browns are anticipated to signal former Packers Pro Bowl middle Elgton Jenkins, NFL Network reviews.
Per the report, Jenkins will signal a two-year contract value $24 million with $20 million assured. Jenkins may play guard or middle for the Browns, per the report.
The Packers launched Jenkins on Monday in a wage cap-saving transfer, placing him in the marketplace as one of the very best inside linemen in free agency. A two-time Pro Bowler, Jenkins is 30 years outdated.
Kari Anderson
The Pittsburgh Steelers have introduced on veteran punter Cameron Johnston with a one-year contract, the workforce announced Tuesday. Johnston, 34, beforehand performed with the Steelers in 2024, however suffered a season-ending harm and was later launched by the workforce forward of the 2025 season.
Andy Backstrom
Former Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright is signing with the New York Jets on a one-year, $5.5 million max deal, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Jets didn’t choose off a single cross final season. Wright alone recorded 5 interceptions through the 2025 marketing campaign. He additionally pressured two fumbles and made the Pro Bowl.
Andy Backstrom
Former Denver Broncos security P.J. Locke is signing with the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal value $5 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Locke spent six seasons with the Broncos, enjoying in 90 video games and making 26 begins alongside the way in which.
This previous season, he noticed his defensive snap depend decline, however he managed to make an affect within the playoffs. He recorded an interception and a pressured fumble throughout Denver’s divisional-round win over the Buffalo Bills.
Andy Backstrom
Former Green Bay Packers vast receiver Romeo Doubs is signing with the New England Patriots, according to multiple reports.
Doubs has agreed to a four-year deal value $80 million, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
Doubs has but to document a 1,000-yard receiving season however logged 21 landing grabs over 4 years with the Packers.
Read extra here.
Kari Anderson
The Las Vegas Raiders are sending quarterback Geno Smith to the New York Jets, per a number of reviews. The Jets additionally get a 2026 seventh-round choose within the transaction, whereas the Raiders get a 2026 sixth-round choose in return.
The Raiders had reportedly planned to release Smith through the offseason, however decide to trade him as an alternative.
Chris Cwik
The Houston Texans are selecting up some extra safety for quarterback C.J. Stroud. The workforce reportedly agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with former Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Braden Smith on Tuesday, per NFL Network.
The deal will be value a most of $25 million. Smith performed guard in school, however has largely performed sort out within the NFL.
The 29-year-old Smith has missed video games right here and there due to harm, however has began in each sport through which he’s performed because the 2019 NFL season.
Chris Cwik
The Houston Texans are rewarding kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn after he turned in a wonderful season in 2025. The workforce reportedly signed the kicker to a two-year, $13 million extension Tuesday, making him the very best paid kicker within the NFL, per NFL Network.
Fairbairn is coming off a season through which he made a league-high 44 subject targets on a league-high 48 makes an attempt.
The 32-year-old has been a constant presence in Houston because the 2017 NFL season. While he’s by no means made the Pro Bowl, Fairbairn has led the NFL in subject targets made in two separate seasons.
Chris Cwik
The Miami Dolphins reportedly discovered their alternative for veteran Jason Sanders on Tuesday. The workforce reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with Zane Gonzalez days after reducing Sanders, per ESPN.
Gonzalez, 30, performed in 9 video games with the Atlanta Falcons in 2025. He went 19-for-22 on field-goal makes an attempt.
Gonzalez has bounced round to 5 totally different franchises over his profession. He’s battled accidents at instances, although turned in a formidable run with the Falcons on the finish of the 2025 season.
Andy Backstrom
Former Kansas City Chiefs working again Isiah Pacheco is signing with the Detroit Lions, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The Lions shipped off David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, opening up a spot in a backfield that may nonetheless characteristic Jahmyr Gibbs. That’s the place Pacheco will come into play.
He’ll say goodbye to a Chiefs squad that’s reportedly signing former Seattle Seahawks back, and reigning Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker III.
Pacheco has dealt with harm points these days however started his Chiefs profession with back-to-back seasons averaging at the least 4.6 yards per carry. In 2023, he piled up 1,179 scrimmage yards and 9 whole touchdowns.
Chris Cwik
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is brining a well-known identify to his new workforce. The Bears reportedly agreed to a deal with wideout and kick returner Kalif Raymond on Tuesday, per NFL Network.
Raymond, 31, is a contributor within the passing sport, however has excelled extra as a return man.
He’s been a second-team All-Pro workforce member twice as a punt returner, and can nearly definitely fill that void with the Bears.
Sean Leahy
The 29-year-old Knox will enter his eighth NFL season in 2026, all with the Bills. The third-round draft choose in 2019 performed all 17 video games final season, catching 36 passes for 417 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Andy Backstrom
Former New York Giants security Dane Belton is signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the New York Jets, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
With incentives, Belton will reportedly have the ability to make up to $6 million.
The Giants chosen Belton within the fourth spherical of the 2022 draft out of Iowa. He scattered 22 begins throughout the previous 4 seasons, together with 9 through the 2025 marketing campaign.
Last season, he performed a career-high 705 defensive snaps, per PFF, and registered 120 whole tackles, the second most on the workforce. He additionally pressured three fumbles and tallied the sixth interception of his profession.
Andy Backstrom
The Green Bay Packers are releasing cornerback Nate Hobbs, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Just a 12 months in the past, the Packers inked Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million contract after he spent the 2021-24 seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Illinois product started his Packers stint as a starter earlier than dropping that job and watching his snap depend decline considerably.
He was focused 25 instances through the 2025 marketing campaign and gave up 17 grabs for 239 yards and a pair of touchdowns, in accordance to PFF.
