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
March 9, 2026
The Cincinnati Bengals are not tendering restricted free agent quarterback
Jake Browning, who will now reach free agency after three seasons with the team. Browning started seven games for the Bengals in 2023, going 4-3 while putting up respectable numbers and making himself a popular fantasy handcuff in dynasty leagues. When pressed into service in 2025, the results were less favorable: Browning went 0-3 across his three starts, throwing eight interceptions, and prompting the team to trade for a 40-year-old
Joe Flacco. With Flacco also slated to hit free agency, Cincinnati is reportedly open to bringing Browning back, though they'll now allow him to test the market.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeremy Fowler
March 9, 2026
Five-time Pro-Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has been traded from the Miami Dolphins to the New York Jets in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick, according to Adam Schefter, who also reports Fitzpatrick will sign a three-year, $40 million deal with the Jets. The 2018 first-round pick will now play for his third team in as many years after being traded from the Steelers to the Dolphins before the 2025 season. The Jets come into the new league year flush with both draft capital and money to spend, and they have made their first splash of the 2026 offseason. While Fitzpatrick is no longer the game-wrecking ballhawk that made him a First-Team All-Pro three times between 2019 and 2022, he should serve as a versatile piece on the back-end of Aaron Glenn's defense.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. has re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year deal that will keep him from hitting the open market, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. Samuel signed with the Steelers midway through the 2025 season, playing in six games and starting three, tallying one interception on the year. Set to play for his fifth defensive coordinator in his sixth professional season, the Steelers will hope to make use of the natural instincts and ball skills that made him a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 but have yet to consistently translate in the NFL.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
Quarterback
Sam Ehlinger has agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Broncos to keep him in Denver for 2026. Ehlinger has made three career starts, all with Indianapolis in 2022, where he went 0-3, throwing three touchdowns to three interceptions. He served as the Broncos' emergency third quarterback in 2025, but according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, there would have been a market for his services had he reached free agency. With recent trade rumors swirling around primary backup Jarett Stidham, the Broncos are able to secure a level of depth behind third-year starter
Bo Nix and retain a coaches' favorite in Ehlinger.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jordan Schultz
March 9, 2026
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa will be released by the Miami Dolphins after the start of the new league year, with first-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan issuing a press release on Monday morning in which he expressed gratitude toward the six-year veteran. Tagovailoa has gone 12-13 across his past two seasons in Miami, and the team has informed him they will be going in a new direction at the position. Quin Ewers, a seventh-round draft pick in 2025, currently tops the depth chart, though a number of veterans are available through free agency or trade, and Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley have ties to top free agent
Malik Willis through their time together in Green Bay. With the move, Miami takes on an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money, split over the next two seasons.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Miami Dolphins
March 9, 2026
The Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Eric Wilson agreed to terms on a three-year, $22.5 million deal with $12.5 million fully guaranteed on Sunday night, a source told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Wilson will more than double his previous average per year. In his return to Minnesota in 2025, the 31-year-old veteran had 115 tackles (his second 100-tackle season), a career-high 6.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, and four forced fumbles in 17 games played. Wilson's big season landed him as the No. 16 fantasy linebacker in IDP formats in 2025. The bad news for Wilson's fantasy value moving forward is that he's expected to be in more of a rotational role for the Vikings next year at inside linebacker. Wilson has 515 tackles (277 solo), 17.5 sacks, 44 tackles for loss, 35 QB hits, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in his nine NFL campaigns.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
March 9, 2026
Josina Anderson reports that Indianapolis Colts impending free-agent wide receiver
Alec Pierce could make around $30 million per year on a long-term deal on the open market, which "may be too much" for the New England Patriots' taste. Meanwhile, a league source said they think the San Francisco 49ers might pay the exorbitant price to land Pierce, who had his first career 1,000-yard season in 2025 as the Colts' leading receiver. In addition to the 25-year-old's breakout season last year, the emerging deep threat has led the league in yards per catch in each of the last two years. The Patriots recently released WR1
Stefon Diggs, and Pierce would fit very nicely with young quarterback
Drake Maye, who was a surgeon deep down the field in 2025. The 49ers don't have much outside of an injury-prone
Ricky Pearsall at wideout, so their interest isn't a bit surprising. Landing in San Fran could give Pierce more fantasy upside than if he were to re-sign in Indy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Josina Anderson
March 9, 2026
Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent tight end
Isaiah Likely is among the players that the New York Giants are targeting in free agency, with the legal tampering period starting on Monday, March 9, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. The obvious connection here is that new Giants head coach John Harbaugh coached Likely in Baltimore. The 25-year-old had 1,568 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns on 135 catches in his four seasons with the Ravens, but he suffered a foot injury in training camp that caused him to miss the start of the 2025 season, and he never really recovered. Likely finished with a 27-307-1 line in 14 games (seven starts). Ultimately, he just hasn't been able to get out of the shadow of
Mark Andrews, which is why it would be smart for him to sign elsewhere this offseason. A move to New York might not be the ideal fit, however, with rising TE
Theo Johnson already on the roster.
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
March 9, 2026
SNY's Connor Hughes reports that the New York Giants were very in on Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent running back
Kenneth Walker III, "but the price simply got too high." The same can be said for Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum. Despite already having
Cam Skattebo (ankle) and
Tyrone Tracy Jr. in their backfield for 2026, the Giants are invested in the RB market this offseason under new head coach John Harbaugh. After finally playing a full season in his fourth year in the NFL, Walker produced his second 1,000-yard rushing season in 17 regular-season starts. The former second-rounder saved his best for the postseason, though, rushing for a league-high 313 yards and four touchdowns on his way to being named Super Bowl LX MVP. Although Walker is still an injury risk in fantasy, he will be the market-setter at the position in free agency and could command up to $15 million per year on a new contract.
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
March 9, 2026
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says a name to "potentially monitor" as the new backup quarterback for the Carolina Panthers is Las Vegas Raiders QB
Kenny Pickett. The Panthers are expected to move veteran signal-caller
Andy Dalton this offseason, so they'd be in the market for a backup behind starter
Bryce Young going into next season. The 27-year-old Pickett appeared in six games (two starts) for the Raiders last season, going 28-for-45 passing for 188 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The former 20th overall pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of Pittsburgh quickly flamed out as a potential starter in the NFL. With a new coaching staff and future franchise QB coming in this offseason in Indiana's
Fernando Mendoza, a change of scenery is probably best for Pickett at this juncture. He won't be anywhere on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 9, 2026
Carolina Panthers impending free-agent power back
Rico Dowdle "has been linked" to the Washington Commanders by some people around the NFL, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Dowdle should do quite well for himself on the open market this offseason after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Panthers. In 17 regular-season games last year with Carolina, the 27-year-old South Carolina product had a career-high 236 rushing attempts for 1,076 yards (4.6 yards per carry), and six rushing touchdowns, adding 39 receptions for a career-best 297 yards and another score on 50 targets. Dowdle would become Washington's favorite for RB1 duties next season if they were to sign him, giving them a more experienced and established lead back over
Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The Panthers are probably unlikely to re-sign Dowdle since he wants to pursue a lead-back role, which he won't get in Carolina alongside
Chuba Hubbard.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 9, 2026
Impending free-agent wide receiver
Romeo Doubs plans to hit the free-agent market after talks with the Green Bay Packers didn't result in a new deal. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, and Tennessee Titans are "closely watching his market," as are the San Francisco 49ers. Some evaluators consider Doubs to be the "best all-around receiver" in this year's group on the open market. It's basically the same list of interested teams for Indianapolis Colts impending wideout
Alec Pierce. Doubs led the Packers with 724 receiving yards and six touchdown catches on 55 receptions in 16 regular-season games. The production doesn't exactly turn a ton of heads, but the 25-year-old has proven to be reliable and versatile, which will attract plenty of interest in free-agency. Doubs could be one of the most underrated sleeper receivers in fantasy drafts this fall, depending on his landing spot.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 8, 2026
Indianapolis Colts impending free-agent wide receiver
Alec Pierce appears set to hit the open market on Monday, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that he's poised to make at least $27 million per year on a new deal. The New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tennessee Titans are "among teams in the mix." The good news for the Colts is that Pierce is close with quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles), so he could be partial to re-signing in Indy. Fowler adds that Pierce's "upside and penchant for chunk yardage are attractive to teams." The San Francisco 49ers are another receiver-needy team that could make a big splash with the addition of the 25-year-old wideout. Pierce led the Colts in 2025 with 1,003 yards and six touchdowns on 47 receptions, and he's led the NFL each of the last two years in yards per catch. Regardless of where Pierce lands, his fantasy price will go up coming off his career year.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
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