Keep up to date with all the major moves as the NFL’s legal tampering window opens on Monday before free agency officially opens Wednesday.
Falcons to sign Tagovailoa on Wednesday
The Atlanta Falcons plan to sign former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa when free agency officially opens on Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
The Dolphins announced earlier in the day that they were cutting ties with their former first-round draft pick.
Now Tagovailoa joins Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta to potentially compete for a starting spot while also forming an unusual NFL pairing of two left-handed quarterbacks on the same team.
Miami’s decision to cut Tagovailoa with a post-June 1 designation saddled the team with an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money against the salary cap.
The designation will allow the team to split the dead money over two years.
After an exciting 2023 campaign that saw Tagovailoa lead the NFL in passing yardage (4,624) and throw for 29 touchdowns, Miami locked up their QB on a four-year deal worth $212 million.
Tagovailoa struggled with concussions in the 2024 campaign before the bottom fell out in 2025, where the sixth-year quarterback threw for just 2,660 yards in 14 starts with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
The move allowed new head coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan a chance to start fresh with a new QB for the offence.
“I recently informed Tua and his representation that we are going to move in a new direction at the quarterback position and will be releasing him after the start of the new league year,” Sullivan said.
“As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is. On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons.”
49ers add veteran WR Evans
Mike Evans, the top wide receiver in the free-agent market, is reportedly joining the San Francisco 49ers.
A six-time Pro Bowler and a 2020 Super Bowl champion, Evans leaves the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a storied 12-year career there.
The Buccaneers issued a statement thanking Evans and said the team will honor him in the future.
“Saying goodbye to a legend such as Mike Evans is never easy, but today we are filled with appreciation and gratitude for all that he did during his extraordinary 12-year career as a Buccaneer,” the team’s owners, the Glazer family, said in a statement. “Our goal was always to ensure that Mike would play his entire career as a Buccaneer, but as we got further in the process it became clear he was looking for a new challenge.”
The Niners needed a proven receiver with the team planning to release Brandon Aiyuk on Wednesday after placing him on the reserve/left squad list last season after he stopped showing up to rehabilitate a knee injury that had sidelined him since October 2024. Aiyuk had signed a four-year, $120 million extension before the 2024 season but the $27 million that was guaranteed for the 2026 season had been voided.
Evans joins a receiving group that features 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, veteran Demarcus Robinson and unproven young players Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins. Jauan Jennings, who was the team’s top wideout last season, is set to be a free agent.
Evans became the first player in NFL history to have at least 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first 11 seasons when he hit the mark in the 2024 season finale.
But he has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons, missing three games in 2024 and nine last season because of a hamstring injury and broken collarbone. Evans had only 30 catches for 368 yards and three TDs last season.
Evans has been an Pro Bowler six times and was twice a second-team All-Pro. He has 866 career catches for 13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns. Evans ranks 10th all time in TD catches and his 11 seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving are second most ever to Jerry Rice’s 14.
Dolphins add QB Willis
The Miami Dolphins have agreed to a deal with free-agent quarterback Malik Willis, according to multiple reports.
Willis is signing a three-year deal worth $67.5 million to be the signal caller in Miami.
Willis, 26, was considered a top target at the QB spot in this year’s free-agent class after impressing in limited showings with the Green Bay packers over the past two seasons.
In four games in 2025 (one start), Willis completed 30-of-35 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
Over his four-year career split with the Tennessee Titans and the Packers, Willis has completed 105-of-155 passes for 1,322 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions.
Chiefs make big splash, agree to deal with Super Bowl MVP Walker
Multiple reports indicate that Walker is signing a three-year deal worth $45 million, with $28.7 million guaranteed.
Multiple reports indicate that Walker is signing a three-year deal worth $45 million, with $28.7 million guaranteed.
Walker, 25, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks after they drafted him in the second round (41st overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Walker started all 17 games for Seattle for the first time in his career in 2025, and finished the season with 1,027 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
His play went to another level in the playoffs after backfield mate Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending injury in the Divisional Round.
Walker rushed 65 times for 313 yards and four touchdowns in the postseason - leading all players in all three categories.
On the game’s biggest stage, Walker was a consistent force for Seattle, repeatedly tearing holes through the New England Patriots’ defence as he finished with 135 yards rushing on 27 carries to go with two catches for 26 yards.
Seahawks bring back Shaheed on three-year deal
The Super Bowl champions are bringing back a key in-season acquisition, as the Seattle Seahawks are reportedly signing wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to a three-year deal worth $51 million.
A two-time Pro Bowler and one of the most dangerous deep threats in the league, Shaheed joined Seattle in a trade from the New Orleans Saints at the trade deadline this year.
Shaheed caught 59 passes for 687 yards and two touchdowns split between the Saints and Seahawks in 2025. He caught three passes for 78 yards in three games in the postseason, but electrified the home crowd in the Divisional Round when he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers.
Shaheed also made his mark in the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams when he caught a 51-yard pass in the first half.
In 51 career games, the 27-year-old Shaheed has 153 catches for 2,243 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Cardinals sign veteran QB Minshew
The Arizona Cardinals have reportedly agreed to sign veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew to a one-year deal worth $8.25 million, per sources.
Minshew, 29, spent the 2025 season with the Chiefs and made one start after Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury before Minshew suffered a season-ending injury of his own.
Minshew will join his sixth teams in his eighth NFL season after also making stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders.
The Cardinals are rumoured to be interested in veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo to be their quarterback in 2026, after the team agreed to cut ties with former first-overall pick Kyler Murray earlier in the off-season.
Minshew can be a serviceable backup and compete for a starting spot, depending on what the Cardinals choose to do moving forward.
In 63 career games, Minshew has a 63.1 completion percentage, 11,987 passing yards and 68 touchdowns against 35 interceptions. He has a 17-30 record as a starter in the NFL.
Colts lock up WR Pierce, send WR Pittman to Steelers
The Indianapolis Colts have made their first major move of the off-season, as they have reportedly agreed to a record-breaking four-year deal with wide receiver Alec Pierce worth $116 million.
It is the largest contract given to a wide receiver in free agency in NFL history.
Pierce, 25, made his desire known to be paid like a top-tier receiver in the NFL headed in to the off-season, and the Colts were confident enough to spend the money to make that happen.
Pierce caught 47 passes four 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games for Indianapolis a season ago, and has led the NFL in average yards per reception in back-to-back campaigns.
After signing Pierce to a record-breaking contract, the Colts have elected to clear some space in the wide receiver room, sending veteran target Michael Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a late-round draft pick, per multiple reports.
Pittman, 28, caught 80 passes for 784 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025 - he led the team in catches and finished one shy of tight end Tyler Warren for the lead in targets (111). He also led the team in touchdown receptions.
The Steelers are also reportedly signing Pittman to a three-year contract extension worth $59 million.
Panthers land big fish in edge rusher Phillips
The Carolina panthers have made a major move to bolster their pass rush, agreeing to a four-year deal worth $120 million with free-agent edge rusher Jaelan Phillips.
Phillips, 26, split last season between the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles after he was acquired by Philadelphia in a deal midway through the year.
In 17 games, Phillips finished with five sacks, seven tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits.
Phillips was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by Miami, and spent the first four seasons of his career there.
In 63 career games, Phillips has 28 sacks, 32 tackles for loss and 68 QB hits.
Cowboys acquire Thompson to boost secondary
The Dallas Cowboys have made another addition to their defense, agreeing to a three-year, $33 million contract with safety Jalen Thompson, sources told ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Thompson, 27, has spent his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals after they took him in the 2019 supplemental draft out of Washington State.
Thompson established himself as a complement to Budda Baker in the secondary in Arizona, making the pair one of the more feared tandems around the NFL.
Last season, Thompson played 15 games and finished with his lowest defensive completion percentage of his career -- 62.3%. He allowed 38 catches on 61 targets and gave up three touchdowns. He had one interception in 2025 and finished with 95 tackles.
He has nine interceptions, 37 passes defended and 578 tackles in his career.
Titans spend big to add Robinson to WR room, also add Trubisky as backup QB
The Tennessee Titans are reportedly signing former New York Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson to a four-year deal worth $78 million.
Robinson stays with former Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who was jettisoned in the middle of the 2025 campaign and has taken over as offensive coordinator in Tennessee for the 2026 campaign.
Robinson, 25, caught 92 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. The elusive 5-foot-8 receiver worked primarily as a slot threat in the Giants offence since he was selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
In 54 career NFL games, Robinson has 268 catches for 2,465 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Titans are also bringing in QB Mitch Trubisky on a two-year deal. Trubisky, 31, spent the last two seasons backing up Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, playing only when games were out of hand, coming in for kneel-downs at the end of wins and playing almost all of both Week 18 games with the team’s playoff fate largely decided in each season.
He also was with the Bills in 2021 as Allen’s backup. Trubisky’s three years in Buffalo are the only seasons of his career without a start as Allen has not missed a start since his rookie season in 2018.
The No. 2 overall pick by the Bears in 2017 spent four years in Chicago, starting 50 games and throwing 64 touchdowns and 37 interceptions, while completing 64% of his passes.
Two top centres find new homes
The two top centres in the free-agent market have both been signed, as former Baltimore Ravens centre Tyler Linderbaum has agreed to a three-year deal worth record-setting $81 million with the Las Vegas Raiders and former Carolina Panthers centre Cade Mays has agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal with the Detroit Lions.
Linderbaum, 25, has been a Pro Bowler each of the past three seasons. He has made 66 starts since being drafted in the first round (25th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Ravens.
Mays was drafted as a guard out of Tennessee in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Panthers and has played at centre over the past two years.
He has made 27 starts in his four seasons in the NFL.
Raiders continue roster overhaul
The Raiders have had perhaps the busiest tampering window of any team in the league. After handing out a record-setting contract to Linderbaum, they continued by adding a pair of linebackers in Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.
Walker will sign to a three-year deal worth $40.5 million, while Dean’s contract will pay out $36 million over three years.
Walker spent the past four seasons with the Green Bay Packers, where he amassed 469 tackles and nine sacks in 57 starts.
Dean has spent the past four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, and helped the team win the Super Bowl in 2024. He has 226 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 47 career NFL games (27 starts).
Las Vegas also agreed to multi-year deals with edge rusher Kwity Paye, wide receiver Jalen Nailor and defensive back Eric Stokes.
All of these moves are still leading up to the biggest decision of the off-season for the Raiders in April - when Leas Vegas has the top pick in the NFL Draft and is expected to select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.
Saints land former Jaguars RB Etienne, add G Edwards
Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne will sign with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
A first-round pick (25th overall) in 2021, Etienne spent the past four seasons with the Jaguars. He eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in three of his four professional seasons, and finished the 2025 campaign with 1,107 yards rushing and seven touchdowns to go with 292 yards receiving and six touchdowns through the air.
According to Schefter, Etienne placed high value on being close to his home in Louisiana after spending his first four seasons with college teammate Trevor Lawrence at QB.
Now he gets a chance to take over the backfield in New Orleans with long-time starter Alvin Kamara approaching the end of his career.
The Saints have also reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth $61 million for former Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards.
Edwards, 28, spent the past three seasons in Buffalo, and made 32 starts over the past two seasons after playing in a depth role in 2023.
Edwards has helped anchor a Buffalo rushing attack that ranked ninth in yardage and first in touchdowns in 2024 before leading the NFL in both categories last season.
Allgeier to Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are signing running back Tyler Allgeier to a two-year deal worth $12.25 million, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Allgeier, 25, had 514 rushing yards on 143 carries for the Atlanta Falcons during the 2025 season. The power back was particularly effective in the red zone with a team-high eight touchdowns, one more than star Bijan Robinson.
The Falcons drafted Allgeier in the fifth round of the 2022 draft out of BYU. He immediately made an impact as the team’s lead back with 1,035 yards on 210 carries with three touchdowns on the ground and one receiving.
After the Falcons drafted Robinson in 2023 with the No. 8 overall pick, Allgeier’s usage dropped, but his effectiveness did not. Allgeier had 683 yards with four touchdowns on 186 carries in 2023 and 644 yards and three touchdowns on 137 carries in 2024 as a burly, straight-ahead change of pace.
Allgeier has never fumbled in his career, plays special teams and also has never missed a game. He didn’t sulk when the Falcons drafted Robinson, who has emerged as one of the most potent weapons in the NFL. In fact, it has been just the opposite. Allgeier and Robinson became best friends, even vacationing together in the offseason.
After the 2025 season, Allgeier said he’d love to return to Atlanta, but was also interested in the idea of getting the majority of carries somewhere else.
Patriots sign edge rusher Jones
The New England Patriots are addressing one of their top defensive priorities this offseason, agreeing to a deal with edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones.
It is a three-year, $39.5 million deal, two people told The Associated Press. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract hasn’t been finalized.
The 29-year-old is entering his eighth NFL season. This will be his fifth team. He spent the first nine games of last season with the Tennessee Titans before being traded to the Baltimore Ravens, where he also played in nine games.
He finished the season with a combined seven sacks, a career high.
Jones will now look to add some depth to a New England pass rush that finished in the bottom third with 35 total sacks.
Commanders sign DB Robertson, Oweh; extend OT Tunsil
The Washington Commanders have signed star left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a two-year extension worth $60 million, per multiple reports.
Tunsil, 31, joined the Commanders via trade from the Houston Texans in the off-season a year ago, and now gets an extension to stay in Washington.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Tunsil made 14 starts for the Commanders last season.
Tunsil was originally drafted by the Dolphins with the 13th-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Mississippi.
Former Chargers defensive end Odafe Oweh agreed with the Commanders on a four-year, $100 million deal, his agents told sources on Monday.
When the Chargers traded with the Baltimore Ravens for Oweh in October, he was a struggling edge rusher with zero sacks through five games, looking like a player who had failed to live up to the potential that made him a first-round pick by Baltimore in 2021.
That quickly changed in Los Angeles, as Oweh finished the regular season with 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Chargers and then set a franchise playoff record with three sacks and two forced fumbles in the Chargers’ loss to the New England Patriots in the wild-card round.
Oweh’s 6-foot-5 frame, combined with his 4.36 40-yard dash speed, has helped him evolve into one of the league’s most promising edge rushers. His 17.5 sacks since 2024 rank 19th in the NFL. He has 30.5 sacks in five seasons.
The Commanders also boosted their secondary in the form of a two-year deal worth $16 million with cornerback Amik Robertson.
The 27-year-old Robertson spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions. He made 10 starts last season in Detroit, where he logged 52 tackles, 12 passes defensed and one interception.
Bears bring in S Bryant
The Chicago Bears have made a move to help the secondary, signing Super Bowl champion Coby Bryant to a three-year deal worth $40 million, per reports.
Bryant, 26, made 15 starts for the Seahawks in 2025, where he intercepted four passes and made 66 tackles.
He helped the Seahawks knock off the New England Patriots 29-13 in the Super Bowl, where he made four tackles and made one pass deflection. He played every defensive snap in the Super Bowl.
Jets bring in LB Davis, rushers Enagbare and Ossai
The New York Jets have made a flurry of moves to address the defensive side of the ball, agreeing to deals with linebacker Demario Davis, edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare and defensive end Joseph Ossai.
Davis, 37, returns to the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. After spending the past eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Davis returns to New York on a two-year deal worth $22 million.
Enagbare has played in all 68 games he has been eligible to play in since being drafted in the fifth round (179th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He record two sacks and nine QB hits in 17 games with Green Bay a season ago.
Ossai matched his career high with five sacks in 2025, and also recorded 43 tackles and nine tackles for loss.
The Jets have holes to fill all over the defence after trading away stars in defensive back Sauce Gardner and lineman Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline in 2025. They also parted ways with Michael Carter and Jermaine Johnson.
The Jets have the -overall pick in this year’s draft in April after finishing 3-14 last season.
Giants add former Ravens TE Likely
The New York Giants are adding another pass-catching weapon in the form of tight end Isaiah Likely.
Per reports, Likely is signing a three-year deal worth $40 million to join the Giants’ offence.
Likely, 25, has had some big moments in his four years with the Baltimore Ravens, but struggled to carve out a consistent role in the offence.
In 14 games a season ago, Likely caught 27 passes for 307 yards and a touchdown.
In 63 career NFL games, the Cambridge, Mass. native has 135 catches for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Buccaneers agree to new deal with TE Otton, add LB Anzalone, RB Gainwell
Tight end Cade Otton is staying in Tampa Bay, as multiple reports indicate the two sides have agreed on a new deal ahead of Wednesday’s free agency period.
Otton, 26, has spent the first four seasons of his career with the Buccaneers since being drafted in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-5 tight end caught 59 passes for 572 yards and a touchdown in 2025.
In 63 career NFL games, the Tumwater, Wash. native has 207 catches for 2,018 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Buccaneers have also made a move to acquire a leader on defence, as they plan to sign former Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone to a two-year deal worth $17 million.
Anzalone, 31, spent the past five seasons with the Lions, where he started 73 games. In 16 games in 2025, Anzalone finished with 95 tackles, 2.5 sacks and nine passes defensed.
In a busy day for Tampa Bay, the Bucs also added former Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell on a two-year deal worth $14 million.
Gainwell earned team MVP honors for the Steelers last season after leading the team with 73 receptions on 85 targets. He racked up a career-high 1,023 yards from scrimmage and scored eight touchdowns.
Gainwell, 26, initially joined the Steelers on a one-year, $1.79 million contract after spending the first four years of his career as a backup with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rams agree to sign former Chiefs DB Watson
The Los Angeles Rams are poaching another former Chiefs defensive back, as reports indicate Los Angeles is signing Jaylen Watson on Wednesday.
It’s a three-year deal worth $51 million, with $34 million guaranteed.
Earlier in March, the Rams agreed to acquire Chiefs superstar cornerback Trent McDuffie for multiple draft picks to bolster their secondary.
Watson, 27, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2022 and has started 29 games there in his career.
In 2025, Watson made a career-high 15 starts, and logged new career bests in interceptions (two) and tackles (64). He also logged two sacks, six passes defensed and three tackles for loss.
The Rams struggled in pass defence in 2025, and though they finished 12-5 and made it to the NFC Championship game, the team ranked 19 in passing yards allowed and 19th in passing touchdowns. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold threw four 346 yards and three touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game that the Seahawks won 31-27.
Kelce expected to return to Kansas City
Superstar tight end Travis Kelce intends to return to the Chiefs for his 14th season in September, according to multiple reports.
Kelce informed the Chiefs of his decision on Sunday night. The 36-year-old was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.
Kelce caught 76 passes for 851 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games a season ago. The 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion could have been a very important piece in the free agency market, but will instead return to play with Patrick Mahomes for another season.