March 9, 2026
Free-agent tight end
Austin Hooper is signing a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Hooper was originally drafted by Atlanta in the third round in 2016 out of Stanford. The 31-year-old veteran spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Falcons and was a Pro Bowler with them in 2018 and 2019. He then bounced around with the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and New England Patriots. Hooper hasn't been as productive as he was in his final two seasons in Atlanta, and in his return, he'll be a backup to TE
Kyle Pitts Sr. In 16 regular-season games (six starts) for the Patriots last year, Hooper had just 21 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Unless Pitts is traded or injured in 2026, Hooper won't be on the fantasy radar in redraft leagues this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell is signing a two-year, $14 million deal that includes $10 million guaranteed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Gainwell was the Steelers' MVP last year, totaling 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns as a dual-threat RB. The 26-year-old was a perfect fit for the Steelers' checkdown offense last year, as he ran for 537 yards and a career-high five touchdowns on 114 carries, adding a career-best 73 receptions for 486 yards and three more TDs on 85 targets in 17 regular-season games. In Tampa, the former fifth-rounder in 2021 out of Memphis will serve as a change-of-pace option behind starter
Bucky Irving, effectively replacing
Rachaad White in the team's backfield. Gainwell's fantasy needle is pointing up, although his 73-catch season in 2025 will probably end up being an outlier.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
March 9, 2026
The New York Giants are signing former Baltimore Ravens tight end
Isaiah Likely to a three-year, $40 million deal on Monday with a maximum value of $47.5 million, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The deal makes Likely the third-highest paid tight end in the NFL and will pair him with young quarterback
Jaxson Dart and receiver
Malik Nabers. The 25-year-old will finally get out of the shadow of veteran
Mark Andrews in Baltimore. The move to the Big Apple will make Likely a popular sleeper pick in 2026 fantasy football drafts with clear TE1 upside, although the Giants still have a very capable pass-catching TE in
Theo Johnson. The money the Giants are giving Likely suggests he'll be the primary TE1 in New York next year, giving him the most fantasy upside he's had yet in his career. A foot injury caused Likely to get a late start in 2025, and he never recovered, finishing with a career-low 307 yards and only one touchdown on 27 catches through 14 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
March 9, 2026
The Miami Dolphins are signing former Green Bay Packers quarterback
Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal with $45 million fully guaranteed on Monday, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Miami was always the obvious landing spot for Willis, who will reunite with head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from their time in Green Bay. The Dolphins are releasing
Tua Tagovailoa, paving the way for Willis to take over starting QB duties for the Dolphins in 2026. The 26-year-old former third-rounder of the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of Liberty appeared in 11 games (three starts) for Green Bay the last two years and was impressive, completing 78.7% of his pass attempts for 976 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. He added 262 rushing yards and three rushing TDs. Willis' dual-threat abilities will make him an intriguing QB2 dart throw with plenty of upside, although the Dolphins will need to add some playmakers at receiver to help him out.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are re-signing tight end
Cade Otton to an undisclosed deal on Monday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Otton will return to Tampa for a fifth season after catching 207 of his 300 targets for 2,018 yards and 11 touchdowns in 63 games (58 starts) in his first four years in the NFL. The 26-year-old former fourth-round selection in 2022 out of Washington tied his career-high with 59 receptions in 2025 for 572 yards, but he found the end zone just once in 16 starts. He hasn't been much more than a matchup-based TE2 streamer for fantasy football purposes, although Otton could see a boost in targets from quarterback
Baker Mayfield if veteran receiver
Mike Evans leaves in free agency this offseason. Still, Otton's TE25 finish in half-PPR scoring last year doesn't exactly give much hope for the future when the Bucs were decimated by injuries at WR in 2025.
UPDATE: Otton is receiving a three-year deal from Tampa.--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers are acquiring wide receiver
Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts on Monday in exchange for a late-round pick, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The Colts deemed Pittman expendable after re-signing
Alec Pierce to a four-year deal on Monday. The 28-year-old former second-round pick in 2020 out of USC took another step back in 2025 in his sixth year in the NFL with an 80-784-7 line on 111 targets over 17 games played. Pittman does have two 1,000-yard seasons in his career, but expecting a third in 2026 in Pittsburgh probably isn't wise for fantasy managers, especially when considering the unknown quarterback situation in the Steel City. It's the second straight year Pittsburgh has traded for a wideout -- last year, they landed
DK Metcalf from Seattle. In his new digs, Pittman will most likely operate as the WR2 behind Metcalf.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
Free-agent veteran wide receiver
Olamide Zaccheaus is signing an undisclosed deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Zaccheaus went undrafted out of Virginia before latching on with the Falcons in 2019. The 28-year-old spent the first four years of his NFL career in Atlanta, catching 94 passes for 1,328 yards and eight touchdowns on 151 targets in 55 games (23 starts). Zaccheaus will now return to the Falcons after catching 39 of his 65 targets for 313 yards and two touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (five starts) in 2025 in his lone season with the Chicago Bears. With
Darnell Mooney not expected to return, Zaccheaus could have the opportunity to serve as the team's No. 2 wideout behind
Drake London, depending on what other additions the team makes at the position in free agency and the draft. At best, though, Zaccheaus will most likely be a low-upside WR4/flex in deeper fantasy football leagues in his return to Atlanta.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
Former Seattle Seahawks running back
Kenneth Walker III is signing a three-year, $45 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. It's about the best possible landing spot for Walker, who was named Super Bowl LX MVP last month. The Chiefs were in desperate need of backfield help with both
Isiah Pacheco and
Kareem Hunt hitting free agency this week. The 25-year-old Walker will help stabilize KC's backfield as they look to get back to the postseason in 2026. Walker had 1,027 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 221 carries in 17 regular-season starts last year, adding 31 receptions for 282 yards through the air. Seattle paired Walker with
Zach Charbonnet (knee) to keep him healthy for a full season for the first time in his career. Walker added 313 rushing yards and four TDs in three postseason games to raise his price in free agency even more. Now in KC, Walker will have plenty of upside as a high-end RB2/low-end RB1 in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
Free-agent wide receiver
Alec Pierce is re-signing with the Indianapolis Colts on Monday on a four-year, $116 million deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. There were rumblings that Pierce would get away from the Colts on the open market, but they have locked down one of the top receiving options this offseason after he led the team in receiving in 2025. The 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 out of Cincinnati had a career year last season, catching 47 of his 84 targets for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games played. Pierce has led the NFL the last two years in yards per catch, making him one of the best young deep threats in the game. He has a strong connection with quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles), which is a big reason he ended up returning to Indy. The Colts have plenty of weapons on offense, but Pierce will once again be one of their top playmakers with plenty of fantasy upside as long as Jones has recovered from his Achilles tendon tear in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons are expected to make a "strong push" for former Miami Dolphins quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa in a deal that could come together as soon as Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. There is mutual interest with the Falcons potentially needing a veteran QB with starting experience since
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) might not be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season this fall. The Dolphins owe Tagovailoa $54 million guaranteed despite releasing him, so the Falcons can sign him for the veteran minimum in 2026. At the very least, Tagovailoa would be competing with Penix for the starting job in Atlanta this summer. The former fifth overall pick out of Alabama in 2020 led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and a career-best 29 touchdowns in 2023, but he has dealt with multiple concussions and has regressed over the last two years, leading to his release. Tua would have some interesting weapons on offense if he starts for the Falcons, but in fantasy football, he'd still only be a low-end QB2 looking to bounce back with a change of scenery.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs future Hall of Fame tight end
Travis Kelce is expected to return to the Chiefs for a 14th season in 2026, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 36-year-old made his 11th Pro Bowl in 2025 and will stay loyal and return to KC despite having the opportunity to test the open market this offseason. The four-time All-Pro hasn't reached the 1,000-yard receiving mark since 2022 and is a much bigger injury risk for fantasy football purposes, but he still has enough in the tank to be in the TE1 picture for his 14th NFL season. Kelce caught 76 of his 108 targets last year for 851 yards and five touchdowns, ranking as the TE4 in half-PPR scoring. He's no longer at his peak, obviously, but he will return to a Chiefs offense with quarterback
Patrick Mahomes still at the helm and with future Hall of Fame head coach Andy Reid running the offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
Cornerback Montaric Brown re-signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a three-year, $33 million deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Brown, a former seventh-rounder in 2022, would have had a strong market had he made it to free agency. The 26-year-old from Arkansas has had a bigger role in Jacksonville the last two seasons, combining for 126 tackles (98 solo), six tackles for loss, three interceptions, and 20 pass breakups in 32 total games (22 starts). Last year, Brown had 51 tackles (43 solo), a career-high two interceptions, and a career-high 12 pass breakups in 15 regular-season games (12 starts) for the Jags. He had a strong Pro Football Focus coverage grade in 2025 and will now stay in Jacksonville as an outside cornerback through the 2028 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
Standout offensive guard Ed Ingram agreed to terms with the Houston Texans on Monday on a three-year, $37.5 million deal, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Ingram will make $12.5 million per year. The Texans acquired Ingram from the Minnesota Vikings last offseason in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. The 27-year-old offensive lineman had a career year in his first season in Houston while starting all 14 of the regular-season games he appeared in. The Texans still have a lot of work to do to improve their offensive line, but getting Ingram locked down was a big priority before the official start of free agency on Wednesday. Ingram was initially a second-round pick (59th overall) by the Vikings in 2022 out of LSU. He spent the first three years of his career in Minnesota. Ingram has started 55 of the 62 games he's appeared in over his four seasons in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys acquired pass-rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers on Monday in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Unless the Cowboys rework Gary's contract, he's set to make $18 million in 2026 off a four-year, $96 million deal he signed in 2023. His current deal has him signed through the 2027 season. The move will clear nearly $11 million in salary cap space for the Packers this year. Dallas moved to acquire Gary after they couldn't pry All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby away from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Cowboys' acquisition of Gary doesn't take them out of the pass-rushing market in free agency or the draft, though, as last year's sack leader, Jadeveon Clowney, will be a free agent this week. The team is also expected to be without last year's second-rounder, Donovan Ezeiruaku (hip). Gary has 46.5 career sacks in his career, which ranks sixth in Green Bay history since 1982.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
With
Geno Smith being released by the Las Vegas Raiders, the veteran quarterback will now be in search of his third team in as many seasons, and according to NFL reporter Connor Hughes, his preferred destination this time around is with the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have ties to free agent
Malik Willis through new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, though the market for Willis' services is expected to be robust. The 35-year-old Smith, who grew up in South Florida, is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, going 2-13 with the Raiders, while throwing a league-high 17 interceptions. However, with weak quarterback classes in both free agency and the draft, he could find multiple suitors on the open market.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Connor Hughes
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