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 newest bombshell dropped on Thursday, with the information 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 2026 second-round draft decide to the Bears, whereas the Bills can even purchase a 2026 fifth-rounder together with Moore. In Ben Johnson’s first 12 months as head coach of the franchise, Moore had profession lows in catches and receiving yards regardless of taking part in in all 17 video games.
On Friday, it was reported that the Las Vegas Raiders, barring a trade, will release quarterback Geno Smith after one season. Smith’s departure will free up $8 million in wage cap house, whereas the Raiders will assume $18.5 million in useless cash.
Smith’s lone season with the Raiders didn’t go properly. He threw for 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns whereas main the NFL with 17 interceptions. The writing was on the wall for Smith after the Raiders completed 3-14 and clinched the highest decide.
Smith isn’t the one participant set to be released, both. The week main up to the official begin of free company on March 12 can even be a busy time for the discharge of NFL veterans, as every workforce makes strikes to turn into compliant with the wage cap, which is officially set at $301.2 million per club.
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Among gamers who will reportedly be released are Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, Vikings veterans Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave, in addition to Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
Earlier this week, the Houston Texans made some strikes, having reportedly acquired veteran running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions in trade for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and a fourth- and sixth-round decide. The workforce 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 Chiefs made a splash play on Wednesday, reportedly trading All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in trade for the twenty ninth decide within the 2026 NFL Draft, in addition to a fifth and sixth and 2027 third-round decide.
Follow together with Yahoo Sports for the most recent NFL information, stories and rumors within the week main up to the beginning of free company.
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Sean Leahy
The 30-year-old Sanders didn’t play final season due to a hip damage. The veteran kicker has spent his total eight-year NFL profession with the Dolphins. He has a 84.6% profession success charge on subject objectives and is 29-for-42 from 50+ yards.
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Sean Leahy
After two seasons with the Giants, DeVito was waived final summer time and claimed by the Patriots. He served as third-string QB behind Drake Maye and Josh Dobbs.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Washington Commanders are reportedly re-signing kicker Jake Moody to a one-year deal, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler stories.
The former third-round decide performed six video games with the Commanders in 2025 after being waived by the 49ers in September and spending time on the Bears apply squad.
He went 10-of-11 on subject objective makes an attempt with Washington, together with an extended of 56 yards, whereas going 10-of-11 on additional level makes an attempt.
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Andy Backstrom
The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly on track to release quarterback Geno Smith.
They’re additionally anticipated to take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the primary decide on this 12 months’s draft.
But if that’s the way in which the Raiders go, they’d choose not to begin him immediately, in accordance to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who reported Friday that Vegas may usher in a veteran QB in free company.
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Andy Backstrom
The Las Vegas Raiders are releasing quarterback Geno Smith, barring a trade earlier than the beginning of the brand new league 12 months, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In doing so, the Raiders will reportedly save $8 million in wage cap house whereas taking over $18.5 million in useless cash.
The Raiders traded for Smith last offseason and signed him to a two-year, $75 million extension. That transfer reunited Smith with then-head coach Pete Carroll, whom Smith resurrected his profession with in Seattle.
But the Carroll period got here to a swift finish in Vegas, and now Smith’s time is up in silver and black as properly.
In his lone season with the Raiders, Smith threw a league-high 17 interceptions. Vegas went 2-13 in his 15 begins and possesses the No. 1 general decide on this 12 months’s draft, during which it’s anticipated to choose reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana.
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Sean Leahy
In an effort to get beneath the wage cap the Browns are restructuring quarterback Deshaun Watson’s contract, reducing the $80.7 million cap hit.
A big quantity of Watson’s wage cap cost will be changed into a restructure bonus. The prices will be added to the void years of his deal, which run from 2027-2029. This will enable GM Andrew Berry to re-sign the workforce’s personal free brokers and likewise be energetic when the market opens subsequent week.
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Sean Leahy
The 26-year-old Curl joined the Rams in 2024 after taking part in the primary 4 seasons of his NFL profession with the Commanders. Last season in LA he recorded 122 whole tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and 5 go deflections in 17 video games. He was impactful in the course of the Rams’ run to the NFC title recreation making 27 tackles and choosing off Caleb Williams within the Divisional Round win over the Bears.
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Sean Leahy
Hours after internet hosting him for a go to, the Chargers have inked middle Tyler Biadasz to a three-year, $30 million deal.
The 28-year-old middle was a fourth-round draft decide by the Cowboys in 2020. After 4 seasons in Dallas, Biadasz signed with the Commanders in March 2024. The 2022 Pro Bowler has began 80 video games over the previous 5 seasons.
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Jack Baer
The Bears granted Tremaine Edmunds permission to search a trade final week. We now understand how that went.
Chicago is releasing the previous Pro Bowl linebacker in accordance to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, which is able to clear $15 million in cap house.
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Jack Baer
The Texans protection was terrifying final season and Danielle Hunter was a serious purpose why with a team-high 15 sacks. Naturally, Houston has opted to reward him.
Hunter agreed to a one-year, $40.1 million extension with a $30.7 million signing bonus on Thursday, in accordance to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He had beforehand been beneath contract for simply the 2026 season.
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Tarohn Finley
The Las Vegas Raiders will reportedly search as a lot as two first-round picks for star Maxx Crosby, in accordance to multiple sources.
Crosby has spent the final seven seasons with the Raiders.
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Tarohn Finley
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Tarohn Finley
The Los Angeles Rams will reportedly re-sign tight finish Tyler Higbee to a two-year deal price up to $8 million, in accordance to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Higbee had 25 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns. He missed time final season with a hip and an ankle damage
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Ian Casselberry
The Las Vegas Raiders have tendered a contract to defensive finish Charles Snowden, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
With fewer than three accrued NFL seasons and an expired contract, Snowden is an expired rights free agent and the Raiders’ tender implies that he can’t negotiate with different groups. Snowden’s alternative is to both signal the deal or sit out the 2026 season.
The Raiders additionally tendered a contract to middle Will Putnam, Garofolo reports. Putnam, 25, began two video games final season.
Snowden, 27, had three sacks, 5 tackles for loss and 28 whole tackles in 15 video games (9 begins) for the Raiders final season. He additionally swiped an interception and was credited with two passes defended.
An undrafted free agent out of Virginia, Snowden initially signed with the Chicago Bears however solely appeared in two video games. He was waived throughout coaching camp in 2022 and once more in 2023 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Ian Casselberry
Free-agent middle Tyler Biadasz visited the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper reported.
The workforce is in want of a brand new beginning middle after Bradley Bozeman retired. Bozeman was rock-solid for the Chargers in the course of the previous two seasons, beginning 23 of a doable 24 video games.
Biadasz, 28, was released by the Washington Commanders final week after two seasons and 31 begins with the workforce. He missed Week 18’s recreation with knee and ankle accidents. Biadasz performed his earlier 4 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, showing in 61 video games and beginning 53. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022.
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Tarohn Finley
The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly talking to groups about transferring linebacker Zaire Franklin to get beneath the cap, in accordance to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Franklin is coming off his fourth straight 100+ sort out season. The 29-year-old has additionally been sturdy, lacking solely 4 video games in eight seasons.
The Colts look to get beneath the cap after signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a transition tag on Tuesday. The Colts are additionally reportedly in talks to re-sign broad receiver Alec Pierce.
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Andy Backstrom
The Houston Texans reportedly saved $16 million by restructuring the contract of two-time first-team All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
They transformed $20.38 million of Stingley’s $21.59 million wage cap determine right into a signing bonus, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson, who reported that, consequently, Stingley will make the identical cash whereas the workforce has elevated monetary flexibility.
Stingley has acquired first-time All-Pro honors back-to-back seasons.
Last season, the 2022 No. 3 general decide intercepted 4 passes and defended 15 whole.
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Ian Casselberry
Kick returner and receiver Gunner Olszewski has reportedly agreed to a brand new one-year contract with the New York Giants, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Olszewski, 29, gained 682 yards on 26 kickoff returns final season, including 216 yards on 24 punt returns. Additionally, he recorded 10 receptions for 145 yards and one landing.
The six-year veteran appeared in 16 video games for the Giants final season. He missed the 2024 marketing campaign on injured reserve with a groin damage. Olszewski has additionally performed for the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers throughout his NFL profession.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Thomas emerged as a key piece for Seattle’s Super Bowl-winning protection this previous season. He joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
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