March 9, 2026
The Kansas City Chiefs are re-signing wide receiver
Tyquan Thornton to a two-year, $11 million deal that includes a maximum value of $14 million, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Thornton is a former second-round pick of the New England Patriots, but he joined the Chiefs prior to the 2025 season. Throughout the year, he caught 19 of his 37 targets for 438 yards and three touchdowns. These aren't otherworldly numbers, but he was consistent enough to both establish himself within the Chiefs' depth chart and also earn a new deal to come back for 2026 and beyond. Fantasy managers should temper expectations on Thornton, though, at least for the time being. He peaked at WR81 in PPR leagues (last year) and will have a tough time cracking the top 75 in both dynasty startup and redraft leagues during 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Mike Garafolo
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 9, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders have signed free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million deal that includes $60 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The contract makes Linderbaum the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history. Linderbaum is coming off an impressive stint with the Baltimore Ravens, including a strong 2025 season in which he posted an 80.2 PFF grade (fifth-best among centers) and an 83.7 PFF run blocking grade (fourth-best among centers). His departure is big news for the Ravens, who evidently weren't willing to match Vegas' offer to keep a key protector in the trenches. With the Raiders, Linderbaum will offer key blocking in front of running back
Ashton Jeanty and this year's consensus No. 1 draft pick, quarterback
Fernando Mendoza.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders are signing veteran free-agent kicker
Matt Gay to an undisclosed deal on Monday evening, his agents told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The move to bring Gay in pretty much seals previous placekicker
Daniel Carlson leaving in unrestricted free agency. The 31-year-old Gay was cut by the Washington Commanders last year after going 13-for-19 on his field-goal attempts in 10 games. He was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers and went 4-for-4 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra-point attempts in just two games before
Eddy Pineiro returned from injury. The former fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 out of Utah has made 84.3% of his 216 career field-goal attempts, including going 32-for-54 from 50-plus yards in his seven NFL seasons. The Raiders' offense could be much improved in 2026, even with a rookie signal-caller most likely starting most of the games. Still, Gay shouldn't be drafted in 12-team fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
The San Francisco 49ers are now said to be open to trading Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams if "the situation doesn't get resolved," sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Williams is due $32 million in salary in 2026 and carries a $38 million salary cap number. If the 49ers were to trade the 37-year-old veteran, it would free up around $5 million of cap space this year. General manager John Lynch expressed optimism in late February that the two sides would be able to work something out. He carries three void years on his contract beyond this year with no guaranteed money. The Niners are likely hesitant to give Williams too much on a new extension. He's still one of the top left tackles in the game, but his advanced age suggests a decline is likely coming soon. If Williams is traded, it would be a pretty notable downgrade for quarterback
Brock Purdy and the rest of San Fran's offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 9, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons announced on Monday that veteran tight end
Hayden Hurst is announcing his retirement from professional football. Hurst will hang up his cleats after not being signed with a team during the 2025 season. In his final NFL campaign in 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers, the 32-year-old caught a career-low eight passes for 73 yards and no touchdowns on 13 targets in nine regular-season games. Hurst was originally the 25th overall pick in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 out of South Carolina. He finishes his seven-year NFL career with 203 receptions (294 targets) for 1,975 yards and 15 touchdowns in 88 regular-season games (41 starts). In addition to the Chargers and Ravens, Hurst suited up with the Atlanta Falcons (two years), Cincinnati Bengals (one year), and Carolina Panthers (one year). He was at his best in 202 in Atlanta, posting a 56-571-6 line in 16 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Atlanta Falcons
March 9, 2026
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reports that the Indianapolis Colts' initial offer to quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles) was in the range of
Sam Darnold's three-year, $100.5 million deal he signed with the Seattle Seahawks last offseason. Jones' camp countered and asked for a deal worth $50 million per year. Instead of franchise-tagging Jones, the Colts gave him the transition tag. The 28-year-old was having one of the best years of his career in his first year in Indy before his torn Achilles tendon in Week 14, throwing for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 13 starts. If Jones were to return to Indy in 2026 and play on the transition tender, he'd make $37.833 million. Breer suggests that Jones will likely have to come down on his demands with the Colts if he wants to return to a familiar place without having to learn a new offense. Jones' rehab is expected to cost him most of the offseason, which will make him a pretty risky QB2 in fantasy football drafts. The Colts bringing back wideout
Alec Pierce should help get Jones back in the building.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
March 9, 2026
New Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara could hit the trade market after the team signed running back
Travis Etienne Jr. during free agency. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, "there now are questions around the league about whether Kamara will be moving on from New Orleans and whether the Saints would be willing [to] trade him." Several months ago, Kamara threatened to retire if the Saints traded him, but it's fair to wonder if he might feel differently after New Orleans brought in a clear every-down option in Etienne. Kamara, 30, is presumably in the final stages of his career anyway. He mustered just 471 rushing yards, 186 receiving yards, and one touchdown across 11 games last year, losing ground to players like
Devin Neal and
Kendre Miller. Now, the addition of Etienne massively shakes up New Orleans' backfield. Managers in dynasty leagues have probably missed their window to sell Kamara, but that opportunity could briefly reopen if he gets traded to a different team in the upcoming days or weeks.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
The Baltimore Ravens are not tendering an offer sheet to running back
Keaton Mitchell, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. He will hit free agency and is free to sign anywhere, with Fowler identifying the New York Giants as a potential landing spot. Mitchell was one of the hottest dynasty buys as a rookie in 2023, when he tallied 489 scrimmage yards across eight games. He continues to flash upside, but injuries have limited him from reaching his full potential. He tore his ACL in December 2023, and he dealt with a knee strain in December 2025. The 24-year-old will now bring his talent and speed elsewhere for the 2026 campaign. It's interesting that Fowler singled out the Giants as a potential landing spot, especially since New York has
Cam Skattebo (ankle),
Tyrone Tracy Jr., and
Devin Singletary under contract. Mitchell would remain a hold in most dynasty leagues if he does put pen to paper with the Giants, where his old Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh, is calling most of the shots.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeremy Fowler
March 9, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons have signed kicker
Nick Folk to a two-year contract, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Folk spent 2025 with the New York Jets and is now heading to Atlanta for his 20th season in the NFL. He has played for four teams over five years, making appearances with the Patriots, Titans, Jets, and Falcons. He was a rare bright spot for New York last year, going 28-for-29 on field goals and 22-for-22 on extra points. The 41-year-old should benefit from a move to Atlanta, where he'll spend at least half of his games kicking inside a dome. He'll also offer the Falcons a refreshing upgrade at kicker after they trotted out a combination of
Parker Romo and
Zane Gonzalez in the aftermath of
Younghoe Koo's early-season release.
--Andersen PickardSource: Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
The Buffalo Bills have signed quarterback
Kyle Allen to a two-year, $4.1 million deal that is worth up to $6.1 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Allen most recently backed up
Jared Goff in Detroit, and now he'll join Buffalo to back up his close friend,
Josh Allen. The 29-year-old instantly slots into the No. 2 role on the depth chart after the Bills watched
Mitch Trubisky depart for the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Buffalo will hope that Josh Allen stays healthy for all of 2026, but if he needs to miss any time, they'll feel comfortable about plugging Kyle Allen into the offensive system. The Houston product mostly just handled kneel-down situations for the Lions in 2025, but back in 2019 with the Panthers, he appeared in 13 games with 3,322 passing yards, 19 total touchdowns, and 23 total turnovers.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
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