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RotoBaller's live tracker for 2026 NFL free agency, with live updates for every NFL free agent signing. Stay up to date with the latest NFL free agent moves.
Free agency frenzy has begun, and it's time for hundreds of players to join new teams, with some getting big-time paydays heading into 2026! It's always an exciting time for NFL fans, as the opportunity to add proven talent is here!
Keep tabs on the latest free agent deal with our 2026 Free Agent Tracker. Where will top offensive and defensive free agents land ahead of the 2026 NFL season? Stay tuned here to find out!
This article will be updated throughout the week and will cover all positions from quarterback to defensive or special teams signings, so be sure to check back. This list includes pending free agents who signed back with their teams.
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Quarterbacks - NFL Free Agent Signings
- Daniel Jones - Indianapolis Colts (Transition Tag)
- Malik Willis - Miami Dolphins: Three Years, $67.5 million
- Sam Ehlinger - Denver Broncos: One Year, $2 million
- Mitchell Trubisky - Tennessee Titans: TBD
Running Backs/Fullbacks - NFL Free Agent Signings
- Travis Etienne Jr. - New Orleans Saints: Four Years, $52 million
- Kenneth Walker - Kansas City Chiefs: Three Years, $45 million
- Breece Hall - New York Jets (Franchise Tag)
- Javonte Williams - Dallas Cowboys: Three Years, $28 million
- Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers: Two Years, $14 million
- Tyler Allgeier - Arizona Cardinals: Two Years, $12 million
- Alec Ingold - Los Angeles Chargers: Two Years, $7.5 million
- Reggie Gilliam - New England Patriots: Two Years, $6 million
Wide Receivers - NFL Free Agent Signings
- George Pickens - Dallas Cowboys (Franchise Tag)
- Alec Pierce - Indianapolis Colts: Four Years, $116 million
- Wan'Dale Robinson - Tennessee Titans: Four Years, $70 million
- Jahan Dotson - Atlanta Falcons: Two Years, $15 million
- Olamide Zaccheaus - Atlanta Falcons, TBD
Tight Ends - NFL Free Agent Signings
- Kyle Pitts - Atlanta Falcons (Franchise Tag)
- Isaiah Likely - New York Giants: Three Years, $40 million
- Daniel Bellinger - New York Giants: Three Years, $24 million
- Dalton Schultz - Houston Texans: One Year, $12.6 million
- Tyler Higbee - Los Angeles Rams: Two Years, $8 million
- Austin Hooper - Atlanta Falcons: One Year, $3.25 million
- Cade Otton - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TBD
Offensive Line - NFL Free Agent Signings
- Tyler Linderbaum - Las Vegas Raiders: Three Years, $81 million
- Connor McGovern - Buffalo Bills: Four Years, $52 million
- Ed Ingram - Houston Texans: Three Years, $37.5 million
- Tyler Biadasz - Los Angeles Chargers: Three Years, $30 million
- John Simpson - Baltimore Ravens: Three Years: $30 million
- Cade Mays - Detroit Lions: Three Years, $25 million
- Alex Palczewski - Denver Broncos: Two Years, $9.5 million
- Trent Brown - Houston Texans: One Year, $7 million
- Dalton Risner - Cincinnati Bengals: One Year, $3.25 million
- Alijah Vera-Tucker - New York Giants, TBD
Defense - NFL Free Agent Signings
- Jaelan Phillips - Carolina Panthers: Four Years, $120 million
- Jaylen Watson - Los Angeles Rams: Three Years, $51 million
- Coby Bryant - Chicago Bears: Three Years, $40 million
- Dre'Mont Jones - New England Patriots: Three Years, $39 million
- Kam Curl - Los Angeles Rams: Three Years, $36 million
- Joseph Ossai - New York Jets: Three Years, $36 million
- Montaric Brown - Jacksonville Jaguars: Three Years, $33 million
- Eric Stokes, Las Vegas Raiders: Three Years: $30 million
- Teair Tart - Los Angeles Chargers: Three Years, $30 million
- Demario Davis - New York Jets: Two Years, $22 million
- Khalil Mack - Los Angeles Chargers: One Year, $18 million
- Amik Robertson - Washington Commanders: Two Years, $16 million
- Alex Anzalone - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Two Years, $12 million
- Sheldon Rankins - Houston Texans: Two Years, $12 million
- David Onyemata - Atlanta Falcons: One Year: $10.5 million
- Kingsley Enagbare - New York Jets: One Year, $10 million
- D'Marco Jackson - Chicago Bears: Two Years, $7.5 million
- John Ridgeway - New Orleans Saints: Two Years, $3.25 million
- Cole Holcomb - Pittsburgh Steelers: Two Years, $5 million
- Dennis Gardeck - Jacksonville Jaguars: TBD
Special Teams - NFL Free Agent Signings
- Eddy Piñero - San Francisco 49ers: Four Years, $17 million
- Ryan Wright - New Orleans Saints: Four Years, $14 million
- Jordan Stout - New York Giants: Three Years, $12.3 million
- Jake Bailey - Atlanta Falcons: Three Years, $9 million
- Nick Folk - Atlanta Falcons: TBD
What is the NFL Franchise Tag?
A franchise tag is essentially a one-year contract. The NFL predetermines the salary for players who play under the franchise tag based on their position. Teams have until 4:00 PM on March 4, 2025, to place a franchise tag or transition tag on one of their players, and the player must either sign the tag and play for that salary or negotiate a long-term deal with his team before July 15, 2025.
The salary for a franchise-tagged player is set in one of two ways: either by averaging the top-5 salaries by position for the previous league year, or if it’s higher, 120% of a player’s salary from the previous season. This means players like quarterbacks and defensive ends will have a significantly higher salary under the franchise tag than positions like tight end or running back.
Teams can franchise tag a player up to three times if a long-term deal cannot be reached; however, subsequent franchise tags result in a significant increase in salary for the player. The second franchise tag on a player requires a 120% increase from the player's salary under the initial franchise tag.
However, if a team wants to franchise tag a player three years in a row, the player’s salary is either an increase of 144% from the second franchise-tag salary or an average of the top five salaries at the highest-paid position, whichever is higher. Take a second and read that again. The average of the top five salaries at the highest‑paid position is not the same position. This means that if a team wanted to franchise tag a tight end for three years straight, his third year under the tag would pay him the one-year salary of a franchise-tagged quarterback. That is why you never see a player tagged three years in a row.
The last thing to note about the franchise tag and transition tag is that a team can only use one each season, not both. If an NFL team franchise tags their quarterback, they cannot use the transition tag on another player, and vice versa.
What is Legal Tampering?
This process is known as the "legal tampering period," or as the NFL calls it, “the negotiating period for prospective unrestricted free agents.” You will also hear it referred to as the "negotiating window" or the "negotiation period," but let's be honest, those names are no fun, and the oxymoronic "legal tampering" rolls right off the tongue.
The name comes from the league violation of illegal tampering, which is when teams discuss contract terms with a player or coach who is currently under contract with another team.
A prime example of tampering is when Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and vice chairman Bruce Beal had many illegal communications with Tom Brady when he was under contract with the New England Patriots and head coach Sean Payton when he was under contract with the New Orleans Saints. The team was fined $1.5 million and had to forfeit their 2023 first-round draft pick and their 2024 third-round draft pick.
Similarly, the Atlanta Falcons were found to have illegally tampered with Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, and Charlie Woerner before they were free agents, and the team was penalized with the loss of a fifth-round draft pick, $250,000 in fines, and an additional $50,000 fine for general manager Terry Fontenot.
Technically, during the legal tampering period, the impending free agent is still under contract for another two days; however, teams are legally allowed to tamper during this window per the NFL rules and regulations, hence, legal tampering. The NFL doesn't like the phrase "legal tampering," but it isn't going anywhere.
When Does Legal Tampering Start?
Starting at noon EDT on March 9, 2026, impending unrestricted free agents are allowed to negotiate and agree to full contractual terms with a new team. The specific provisions of the legal tampering period in the CBA are that all teams have the right to negotiate all aspects of an NFL player contract with the certified agent of an impending unrestricted free agent.
When it comes down to it, player contracts are negotiated in full and accepted verbally, but the player can’t sign the contract and make their new team official until the official start of free agency at 4:00 p.m. EDT on March 11. The fireworks start immediately when the legal tampering period opens, and more often than not, the first few hours are more exciting than the official start of free agency.
At the start of the legal tampering period, teams are allowed to negotiate with the certified agents of players as well as players who represent themselves, though this was prohibited until 2019 when the league finally decided to let unrepresented players negotiate as well.
While it seems small, this change eliminated a significant disadvantage that unrepresented players faced during the legal tampering period and rightfully placed them on the same level as players with agents.
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