March 10, 2026
Free-agent linebacker Lavonte David (knee) has expressed a desire to continue playing in Tampa Bay. In fact, he said that he will retire if he does not re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This isn't a very surprising verdict from the veteran defender, who has spent all 14 of his NFL seasons with the Bucs. He continued to play at a high level during his age-35 campaign last year, starting all 17 games with one interception, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 3.5 sacks, and 114 tackles. David, who recently underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean up his knee, indicated that he'll make a decision on his future sooner rather than later. If he does return to the Bucs for another season, he'll presumably compete for a starting linebacker role alongside recent free agent addition Alex Anzalone.
--Andersen PickardSource: Rick Stroud
March 10, 2026
The Washington Commanders have signed linebacker Leo Chenal to a three-year deal, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. The former third-round pick hit free agency for the first time in his career this offseason, following a four-year stint in Kansas City. Across 14 games (12 starts) with the Chiefs last season, he totaled one interception, two passes defended, two sacks, five quarterback hits, and 58 tackles. The University of Wisconsin product played a key role in Kansas City, and he should have similar responsibilities in a Washington defense looking to make key improvements from last season. He should start opposite Frankie Luvu and is presumably the Commanders' preferred choice to replace free agent Bobby Wagner on defense.
--Andersen PickardSource: Nicki Jhabvala
March 10, 2026
The Tennessee Titans have signed free-agent defensive tackle Jordan Elliott to a two-year, $8 million deal that is worth up to $8.5 million in total, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Eliott spent the last two years in San Francisco, and he'll now follow his former 49ers defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh, to Tennessee, where Saleh is the new head coach. Elliott was one of the few 49ers' defensive contributors who stayed healthy for most of last season, as he made 16 starts across 16 games in 2025. He was held without a sack for the second consecutive season, but he did amass a respectable 31 tackles and two quarterback hits. He figures to be a key piece of Tennessee's defense as the unit looks to take a major step forward in 2026 under Saleh's guidance.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
March 10, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward have agreed to a new two-year contract worth $32.25 million, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. The deal guarantees Heyward's 2026 salary and keeps him under contract with the team through 2027. He'll now enter the 2026 season without the stress of marketing himself for a new contract, and given that Heyward is 37 years old, it's possible that this deal will take him through the end of his NFL career. The lifetime Steeler has spent all 15 of his NFL seasons in Pittsburgh. Most recently in 2025, he made 17 starts with one forced fumble, 3.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits, and 78 tackles. He provides the Steelers with defensive line continuity alongside pass-rushing star T.J. Watt.
--Andersen PickardSource: Mike DeFabo
March 10, 2026
The Philadelphia Eagles are signing free-agent cornerback Riq Woolen to a one-year deal worth up to $15 million, according to Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Woolen spent his first four NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie in 2022 and winning a Super Bowl during a contract year in 2025. Across 16 games (seven starts) this past season, he registered 41 tackles, 12 passes defended, and one interception. He has certainly taken a step back since his six-interception campaign in 2022, but the Eagles are hopeful that he can return to his early-career form and make a big impact in their secondary. He should fill a prominent role within a cornerback rotation that also features Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler
March 10, 2026
The New Orleans Saints have signed linebacker Kaden Elliss to a three-year, $33 million deal that includes $23 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The contract has a maximum potential value of nearly $39 million. Rapoport describes Elliss as a new "lynchpin" within New Orleans' defense, as he'll take on a key role in the defensive rotation after a successful stint in Atlanta. He started all 51 games over three years with the Falcons, amassing 3.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 107 tackles, and one interception in 2025. While Elliss is switching teams in the NFC South, this isn't exactly a new home for him. He spent his first four NFL seasons with the Saints, ascending into an 11-game starter during his contract year in 2022.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
The Tennessee Titans have signed free-agent cornerback Alontae Taylor to a three-year, $60 million contract that includes $42 million fully guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Taylor represents another major splash on the first day of the tampering window for the Titans, who also reportedly agreed to terms with wide receiver
Wan'Dale Robinson and defensive lineman
John Franklin-Myers. Across 16 games (15 starts) in 2025, Taylor racked up two interceptions, 11 passes defended, two sacks, and 83 tackles. It's exciting to see defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh go out and invest so much money into the defense this early in March. Titans fans and fantasy managers should be excited about the team's 2026 defense with Franklin-Myers and Taylor already signed, and surely even more moves yet to come.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
The Tennessee Titans have signed defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers to a three-year, $63 million contract, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Franklin-Myers was a fourth-round pick in 2018, and he has enjoyed breakout years with both the New York Jets and Denver Broncos. Most recently, in 2025, he was a Bronco, racking up 7.5 sacks and 25 tackles across 16 games (15 starts). He has a pre-existing connection to current Titans head coach Robert Saleh, who was also his head coach with the Jets. $21 million per year is a hefty payday for someone who has never tallied eight sacks in a single season, but he was reportedly the Titans' top target in free agency, and they had to beat out the San Francisco 49ers in a bidding war to get him.
--Andersen PickardSource: Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
The Washington Commanders have signed free-agent edge rusher Odafe Oweh to a four-year, $100 million contract that includes $68 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Oweh spent his first 4.5 NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before being acquired by the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2025 regular season. He appeared in 17 games last year, amassing 7.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, and 38 tackles. Over the last two seasons combined, he has recorded 17.5 sacks. Oweh will provide a key pass-rushing presence within a Commanders' defense that previously lacked starpower. He'll be tasked with slowing down some of the talented quarterbacks in Washington's division, including
Dak Prescott,
Jalen Hurts, and
Jaxson Dart.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
The Carolina Panthers have signed edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120 million contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Phillips is a former first-round pick who spent 4.5 years in Miami before being dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles at the 2025 trade deadline. He was healthy for all 17 games last season and made a career-high 17 starts while amassing five sacks, 14 quarterback hits, 53 tackles, and two fumble recoveries. Giving Phillips such a lucrative contract reaffirms Carolina's desire to invest in its defense, just a few months after winning the NFC South and being eliminated in the first round of the NFL playoffs. Phillips will immediately fill an impact role on defense as the Panthers look to slow down the likes of
Michael Penix Jr.,
Tyler Shough, and
Baker Mayfield within their own division.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders have made two key upgrades on defense, signing linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Walker spent his first four NFL seasons in Green Bay, amassing 2.5 sacks and 128 total tackles in 2025. His new deal with Vegas pays him $40.5 million over three seasons, and it includes $28 million guaranteed. Meanwhile, Dean heads to the Raiders after four seasons in Philadelphia. Like Walker, he is also a member of the 2022 rookie linebacker class. He tallied 55 tackles and a career-high four sacks across 10 games (eight starts) in 2025. After a solid stint with the Eagles, he'll cash in and get $36 million over three years (with $20 million guaranteed) from the Raiders. It's an admirable effort from Vegas, which is looking to erase the misery of last year's last-place finish and improve both sides of the football under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak.
--Andersen PickardSource: Tom Pelissero
March 7, 2026
The New York Giants are expected to move linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux this offseason, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Thibodeaux comes with a salary of nearly $15 million, and Raanan expects the Giants to move on from the former first-round pick so that they can spend money on "others in their defensive front, whether it be middle linebacker or defensive line." If this is indeed the end of Thibodeaux's time in New York, he finishes his Giants stint with 23.5 sacks, 152 tackles, 55 quarterback hits, and six forced fumbles across four seasons (53 games, 53 starts). Health has been somewhat of a concern with the 25-year-old, who missed 12 games over the last two years. He'll look to get back to his 2022 and 2023 form; he finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2022, and he had 11.5 sacks in 2023. Upon his anticipated departure, Abdul Carter and Brian Burns will continue to make an impact as edge rushers on either end of the defensive line.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jordan Raanan
March 6, 2026
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Baltimore Ravens are acquiring superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick. The five-time Pro Bowler has been in trade discussions for several months and has finally found a suitor. Crosby has spent his entire NFL career with the Raiders since joining them in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Throughout his seven-year NFL career, Crosby has recorded four double-digit sack seasons and averaged 9.9 sacks per season. Since 2022, Crosby has hit the double-digit sack mark in all but one season (2024), where he only played in 12 games. In 2025, Crosby logged 10.0 sacks with 73 tackles, one interception, and six deflections. The 28-year-old will bring high upside to the Baltimore defensive line, which tallied only 30 sacks last season, tying them for the third-fewest in the sport.
--Andy SmithSource: Adam Schefter
March 5, 2026
The San Francisco 49ers hired former Chicago Bears head coach and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as their assistant head coach of defense on Thursday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Eberflus will help fill a key role that was vacated when Gus Bradley left to join the Tennessee Titans' coaching staff. The 55-year-old was the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys last year and was the head coach in Chicago from 2022 to 2024. Eberflus will work closely with 49ers new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who was hired to replace Robert Saleh. San Fran's defense was decimated by injuries last year and finished 13th in points allowed per game (21.8) while allowing 340.2 points per game. With better health, the Niners' D should be able to rebound under Morris and Eberflus.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 3, 2026
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead appears to be ready to be aggressive to maximize quarterback
Matthew Stafford's window, as he said the team is open to "trading a first-rounder for a proven player," according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. Snead also revealed that the secondary is a big focus this offseason, with the Rams potentially looking to add an All-Pro defensive back. Trade talks are ongoing for the Rams as they look to get back to the Super Bowl before Stafford, last year's MVP, decides to retire. The Rams had one of the best all-around teams in the NFL last year, but fell short in the NFC Championship to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks. L.A. holds two first-round picks in this year's NFL draft, so look for them to potentially trade it to acquire an impact player that could help them get over the hump.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nate Atkins
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