NFL free company isn’t right here fairly but — however the NFL information cycle by no means sleeps.
Coming out of the 2026 NFL mix, now with lower than every week to go earlier than the beginning of the authorized tampering interval (set for Monday, March 9 at 12 p.m. ET), the information cycle is heating up.
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The week opened up with a few trades from the Houston Texans, having reportedly acquired veteran running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions in alternate for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and a fourth- and sixth-round decide. The group additionally reportedly agreed to trade starting right tackle Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns, who subsequently agreed to phrases on a three-year, $63 million extension.
The week main up to the official begin of free company on March 12 may even be a busy time for the discharge of NFL veterans, as every group makes strikes to turn into compliant with the wage cap, which is officially set at $301.2 million per club. Among gamers who will reportedly be launched are Vikings veterans Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave, in addition to Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
Also on the horizon is Tuesday’s official franchise tag deadline, with three offensive stars having acquired the tag up to now, together with 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 2 sides proceed to negotiate a long-term contract.
The Seahawks reportedly gained’t be tagging Kenneth Walker III, and the Bengals won’t tag Trey Hendrickson, setting him up to turn into a free agent.
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The Indianapolis Colts, in the meantime, will place the lesser-known transition tag on veteran quarterback Daniel Jones. The tag, price a fully-guaranteed $37.833 million, per Over The Cap, will enable him to negotiate with different NFL groups and supply the Colts the chance to match any supply sheet Jones indicators.
Teams have till Tuesday, March 3, at 4 p.m. ET to place the franchise tag on one pending free agent, basically stopping them from hitting the open market. That tag ensures the participant a completely assured, one-year contract, although groups are ready to negotiate a long-term take care of any tagged participant till July 15 at 4 p.m. ET. If no long-term deal has been negotiated at that time, the participant will play on the tag.
Follow together with Yahoo Sports for the most recent NFL information, studies and rumors within the week main up to the beginning of free company.
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Kate Magdziuk
The Indianapolis Colts will reportedly place the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones after the 2 sides failed to come to phrases on a long-term contract, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero studies.
Indianapolis received off to a sizzling 7-1 begin with Jones beneath middle final season; now, he has the chance to negotiate with different groups beneath the transition tag.
Should he signal a suggestion sheet with a brand new group, the Colts can have the chance to match the supply inside 5 days of signing. If he does not signal a suggestion sheet with a brand new group, he’ll play the 2026 season beneath the transition tag, which can pay him a completely assured $37.833 million, per Over The Cap.
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Chris Cwik
Last March, the Chicago Bears made one of many key offseason strikes that may propel their group from worst to first within the NFC North, signing middle Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal. A yr later, and the 27-year-old will reportedly retire after simply 5 seasons within the NFL, in accordance to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The transfer comes as a large shock contemplating Dalman’s age, contract and on-field excellence.
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Kate Magdziuk
One of the highest edge rushers on this upcoming free company class seems seemingly to hit the open market, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Chargers have reportedly “given no indication” that they’ll use both the franchise tag or transition tag on move rusher Odafe Oweh forward of Tuesday’s deadline, that means he’ll hit free company for the primary time in his profession.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Hendrickson will now become an unrestricted free agent.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Greenard simply completed his second season with the Vikings. He performed in 12 video games final season, recording 38 whole tackles, three sacks, three passes defensed and one compelled fumble, a slight dropoff from his 2024 Pro Bowl season.
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Jason Fitz, Caroline Fenton
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Kate Magdziuk
The reigning Super Bowl MVP is reportedly expected to hit free company.
The Seattle Seahawks are not expected to place the franchise or transition tag on working again Kenneth Walker III, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday. That means he’ll formally turn into a free agent.
With the Jets putting the franchise tag on pending free agent Breece Hall on Tuesday, that makes Walker the highest prize on the RB market this offseason, Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab writes.
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Tarohn Finley
The New York Jets will reportedly place the franchise tag on working again Breece Hall ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, in accordance to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
The two sides will proceed to negotiate a “lucrative long-term deal,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
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Chris Cwik
After taking part in in Germany final season, the Atlanta Falcons will continue their European tour in 2026. The NFL introduced Tuesday the Falcons will be one of the teams participating in the Madrid, Spain, recreation throughout the upcoming season.
The Falcons confirmed the information, posting a graphic that includes the group’s emblem in entrance of some well-known Spanish landmarks. The group will play the sport at Bernabéu, dwelling to Real Madrid.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
With the 2026 NFL scouting combine within the books, this yr’s NFL Draft class is changing into clearer.
While the quarterbacks and wide receivers got the most attention at the combine, it was a bunch of defensive prospects that stood out this previous week in Indianapolis. Specifically, Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese and linebacker Sonny Styles put collectively a implausible collection of exercises to transfer into the highest three of our newest mock draft.
But there have been loads of different defenders who stood out. This mock draft is plagued by them in a deep general class of defensive linemen and defensive backs.
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Frank Schwab
The Houston Texans wanted a greater reply at working again. The Detroit Lions have been seemingly on the outs with David Montgomery after a profitable three seasons collectively.
Therefore, Monday’s commerce between the Lions and Texans made sense. Montgomery goes to Houston for a fourth-round decide, a seventh-round decide and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, according to NFL Media.
The additions may make sense, however the subtractions go away extra questions as we grade both sides of the commerce.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Kate Magdziuk
The Pittsburgh Steelers have loads of query marks relating to the make up of their offense within the 2026 season, most notably at quarterback as pending free agent Aaron Rodgers contemplates his future. One of the extra underrated storylines price watching surrounds veteran tight finish Pat Freiermuth, nonetheless.
Freiermuth noticed a diminished function in 2025, averaging a career-low 3.2 targets per recreation after averaging just below 5 targets per recreation over the 4 seasons prior.
Despite that decline in utilization, Pittsburgh is reportedly not curious about transferring the veteran, who has three years remaining on his present contract after signing a four-year, $48.4 million extension in 2024.
“At least six teams would be interested in exploring the idea of acquiring tight end Pat Freiermuth, according to a league source. However, at least right now, teams are being told he’s not available,” The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo writes.
Coming into play in that equation is the veteran Jonnu Smith, whom the group acquired through commerce with the Dolphins final offseason. He and Freiermuth every had precisely 54 targets on the season. Smith, 31, has one year remaining on his contract with the Steelers after signing an extension on the time of his commerce.
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Frank Schwab
The Houston Texans wanted a greater reply at working again. The Detroit Lions have been seemingly on the outs with David Montgomery after a profitable three seasons collectively.
Therefore, Monday’s commerce between the Lions and Texans made sense. Montgomery goes to Houston for a fourth-round decide, a seventh-round decide and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, according to NFL Media.
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Tarohn Finley
The Miami Dolphins will reportedly launch offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, in accordance to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Eichenberg missed all of final season due to an undisclosed harm.
Eichenberg was a former second-round decide and began 52 video games for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins proceed to clear cap area after releasing Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, James Daniels and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in February.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Glasgow was drafted by the Lions within the third spherical of the 2016 draft, spending 4 seasons in Detroit earlier than a three-year stint in Denver, after which touchdown again with the Lions for the previous three seasons.
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Tarohn Finley
Edge rusher Khalil Mack will reportedly play in 2026, in accordance to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The 35-year-old move rusher is coming off a season with 32 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 4 compelled fumbles in 12 video games this season. He will reportedly discover all choices in free company after spending the final 4 seasons with the Chargers.
Mack was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2014 and likewise frolicked with the Chicago Bears. He is a 9-time Pro Bowler and 3-time All-Pro.
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Tarohn Finley
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Tarohn Finley
No extra Sonic and Knuckles within the Motor City! Detroit Lions working again Jahmyr Gibbs posted an image of Sonic and Knuckles crying after David Montgomery was reportedly traded to the Houston Texans on Monday.
Gibbs and Montgomery embraced the “Sonic and Knuckles” comparability as a working again duo. Gibbs was dubbed “Sonic” for his velocity and quickness, whereas Montgomery was known as “Knuckles” for his energy and physicality.
This will be Gibbs’s first season with out Montgomery after the 2 joined the Lions collectively in 2023.