NFL Football 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 12, 2026, 1:44 PM ET
NFL Free Agency & Offseason Moves: A Three-Day Overview
The NFL's free agency period entered its most active phase with a wave of transactions reshaping team rosters across the league. The offensive line market saw particularly volatile activity, highlighted by the Cincinnati Bengals locking down left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. espn.com on a two-year extension, securing a key protector for quarterback Joe Burrow. This move contrasted sharply with the Cleveland Browns' decision to release veteran tackle Jack Conklin espn.com, ending a six-year tenure marred by injuries as part of a broader offensive line reset. The Browns immediately bolstered their interior by signing guard Zion Johnson espn.com to a three-year, $49.5 million deal with $32.4 million guaranteed and later re-signed guard Teven Jenkins espn.com. Meanwhile, the New York Giants made a surprising move to re-sign former first-round pick Evan Neal espn.com despite four disappointing seasons, including being a healthy scratch for most of 2025, while also adding former Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard espn.com to their offensive mix. The Los Angeles Chargers retained versatile lineman Trey Pipkins III espn.com on a two-year, $10 million deal, and the Houston Texans signed tackle Braden Smith espn.com to a two-year, $25 million contract with $13.5 million fully guaranteed.
Quarterback movements generated significant headlines, none more so than the Indianapolis Colts agreeing to a two-year, $88 million contract with Daniel Jones espn.com, a deal that can reach $100 million, officially ending his tenure with the New York Giants. In a separate transaction, the New York Jets acquired Geno Smith via trade espn.com, reuniting with the quarterback they originally drafted in 2013 before he hit free agency. Smith's return was framed by former Raiders coach Pete Carroll, who took blame for Smith's struggles in Las Vegas espn.com in his first interview since being fired. The Miami Dolphins are moving on from Tua Tagovailoa espn.com, releasing him to make way for Malik Willis, while the Atlanta Falcons, after drafting Michael Penix Jr., signed Tagovailoa espn.com as a potential bridge starter. The Washington Commanders re-signed backup Marcus Mariota espn.com on a one-year, $7 million deal, providing veteran depth.
The edge rusher and pass rush market exploded, led by the Commanders' four-year, $100 million agreement with defensive end Odafe Oweh espn.com, who has recorded 17.5 sacks since 2024. The Buffalo Bills addressed their pass rush by signing Bradley Chubb espn.com to a three-year, $43.5 million deal worth up to $52.5 million with $29 million guaranteed. The Carolina Panthers added linebacker Devin Lloyd espn.com on a three-year, $45 million pact and landed edge rusher Jaelan Phillips espn.com on a four-year deal. The Jets overhauled their defense espn.com, adding linebacker Demario Davis and edge rushers Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare. The Tennessee Titans, meanwhile, added wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson espn.com to reunite with former Giants offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and signed defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand.
Running back contracts were notable, particularly the Kansas City Chiefs signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III espn.com, a move that raises fantasy football implications for his 2026 workload. The Denver Broncos brought back J.K. Dobbins espn.com on a two-year, $20 million deal with $8 million guaranteed. The Detroit Lions signed Isiah Pacheco espn.com to pair with Jahmyr Gibbs, while the Pittsburgh Steelers added Rico Dowdle espn.com on a two-year, $12.25 million contract. The Minnesota Vikings kept Aaron Jones espn.com by restructuring his deal to a $5.6 million salary, avoiding his release.
The tight end position saw several key moves, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers losing all-time leader Mike Evans espn.com in free agency, a franchise icon who exits as the team's statistical leader in most categories. The Bucs did re-sign tight end Cade Otton espn.com to a three-year deal. The Houston Texans added Foster Moreau espn.com and the Washington Commanders signed Chig Okonkwo espn.com to three-year contracts. The Buffalo Bills creatively restructured Dawson Knox's contract espn.com to keep him on the 2026 roster amid cap constraints.
The secondary was active, with the Philadelphia Eagles adding cornerback Riq Woolen espn.com on a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. The Giants addressed their cornerback need espn.com by agreeing to a one-year, $10 million deal with Greg Newsome II. The Commanders signed Amik Robertson espn.com to a two-year, $16 million contract with $9.3 million guaranteed and later added safety Jeremy Reaves. The Seattle Seahawks re-signed cornerback Josh Jobe espn.com to a three-year, $24 million pact and kept return specialist Rashid Shaheed(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-nfl/seahawks-sign-rashid-shaheed-to-51m-deal-804a5eb3) on a three-year, $51 million deal with $34.7 million guaranteed. The Packers added cornerback Benjamin St-Juste espn.com on a two-year, $10 million contract.
Several teams made strategic cap-clearing moves. The Green Bay Packers released Elgton Jenkins espn.com, opening up over $19.5 million in space, just one day after the Browns signed him espn.com to a two-year deal. The Atlanta Falcons released wide receiver Darnell Mooney espn.com, freeing $7.4 million. The New England Patriots are set to release outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings espn.com, saving $3.8 million against the cap. The Broncos released Dre Greenlaw espn.com one year after his three-year, $31.5 million signing, while re-signing Alex Singleton.
The Patriots were busy espn.com, agreeing to a four-year, $80 million deal with former Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs and a three-year, $39.5 million contract with pass rusher Dre'Mont Jones. They also added versatile but injury-prone offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker espn.com on a three-year deal. The Las Vegas Raiders made a splash espn.com by agreeing to a record contract with center Tyler Linderbaum and added running back Kenneth Walker III. The Dallas Cowboys traded defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa espn.com to the 49ers for a 2026 third-round pick and dealt Solomon Thomas to the Titans in a seventh-round swap. The San Francisco 49ers, having lost out on Oweh, signed Mike Evans espn.com to a three-year contract to bring leadership to their receiver room.
The Kansas City Chiefs signed wide receiver Tyquan Thornton espn.com to a two-year, $11 million deal and safety Alohi Gilman(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-nfl/alohi-gilman-signs-2475m-deal-with-chiefs-5bfd6a81) to a three-year, $24.75 million contract. The Tennessee Titans signed running back Tyler Allgeier espn.com to a two-year, $12.5 million deal. The Chicago Bears added cornerback Nahshon Wright espn.com on a one-year, $5.5 million contract and signed left tackle Jones(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-nfl/braxton-jones-returns-to-bears-on-10m-deal-amid-o-line-shifts-e5235fde) to a one-year, $10 million deal. The Arizona Cardinals signed quarterback Gardner Minshew espn.com to a one-year, $8.25 million contract and center Cade Mays(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-nfl/lions-sign-cade-mays-to-bolster-offensive-line-676adcfe). The Carolina Panthers signed quarterback Kenny Pickett espn.com to a one-year, $7.5 million deal with $4 million guaranteed.
The Buffalo Bills kept tight end Dawson Knox espn.com via restructuring and signed cornerback Dee Alford(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-nfl/bills-sign-dee-alford-to-21m-deal-after-falcons-breakout-0c20dc05) to a three-year, $21 million deal. They also added safety Kevin Byard III(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-nfl/patriots-sign-safety-byard-to-9m-one-year-deal-3547bf3e), the 2025 NFL interceptions leader, on a one-year, $9 million contract and quarterback Kyle Allen(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-nfl/bills-re-sign-kyle-allen-as-qb-backup-d36981ee) as Josh Allen's backup. The New Orleans Saints spent heavily espn.com, agreeing to a four-year, $52 million deal with running back Travis Etienne Jr. and a four-year, $61 million contract with guard David Edwards, while also reuniting with linebacker Kaden Elliss espn.com on a three-year, $33 million pact.
The Washington Commanders continued their aggressive overhaul espn.com, agreeing to a two-year extension with star left tackle Laremy Tunsil featuring $60.2 million guaranteed and a position-best $32.5 million signing bonus. They also signed linebacker Leo Chenal(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-nfl/commanders-lock-in-leo-chenal-on-2475m-deal-edb37ebc) to a three-year, $24.75 million deal and brought back quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Pittsburgh Steelers kept defensive captain Cameron Heyward espn.com on a one-year extension and signed cornerback Jamel Dean(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-nfl/steelers-sign-cb-jamel-dean-to-3675m-deal-8fa132d2) to a three-year, $36.75 million contract. The Baltimore Ravens restructured quarterback Lamar Jackson's contract espn.com to create nearly $40 million in cap space