Trending Now - NFL Free Agency Kicks Off Monday at Noon ET
WHO:
Maxx Crosby was traded from the Raiders to the Ravens.
The Colts placed the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones.
The Packers traded defensive tackle Colby Wooden to the Colts for linebacker Zaire Franklin.
The Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Texans.
The Rams traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Chiefs.
NFL teams, players, and agents involved in free agency negotiations.
Trey Hendrickson, Mike Evans, Kenneth Walker III, Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray, George Pickens, Kyle Pitts, Breece Hall, Daniel Jones.
WHAT:
The Ravens finalized a trade for Maxx Crosby that included two first-round picks: their first-rounder in 2026 and 2027.
The Lions received a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and IOL Juice Scruggs in exchange for David Montgomery.
The Rams gave up three draft picks in 2026 (first round, fifth round, sixth round) and a third-rounder in 2027 for cornerback Trent McDuffie.
T.J. Hockenson and the Vikings agreed to a restructured contract, saving Minnesota more than $5 million in cap space.
Dalton Schultz signed a 1-year, $12.6 million contract extension with the Texans.
Tyler Higbee signed a 2-year, $8 million contract extension with the Rams.
Jelani Woods signed an extension to stay with the Jets.
Quintin Morris signed a 1-year, $3 million extension with the Jaguars.
DJ Moore was traded to the Bills for a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick from the Bears.
The NFL’s free agency period opens on March 8, 2026, with a 52-hour legal tampering period.
Players such as Trey Hendrickson, Mike Evans, and Kenneth Walker III are high-profile free agents.
The salary cap for 2026 is set at $301.2 million per club, an increase from $279.2 million in 2025.
Teams must be under the salary cap by 4 p.m. EDT on March 11, 2026.
WHERE:
The legal tampering period and free agency negotiations occur within the NFL.
WHEN:
The transition tag for Daniel Jones was placed before the start of the offseason in 2026.
The trade involving Maxx Crosby was finalized before the legal tampering period began on March 8, 2026.
The legal tampering period begins at noon EDT on March 8, 2026, and ends at 4 p.m. EDT on March 11, 2026.
The new league year starts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 11, 2026.
WHY:
The legal tampering period was adopted in 2012 to counteract rampant tampering before free agency officially opened.
HOW:
Teams can negotiate with certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents, but cannot speak directly to the players.
The franchise tag allows teams to designate one potential free agent as a franchise player, with specific compensation rules for nonexclusive players.
The transition tag offers a one-year contract based on the average of the top 10 salaries at the position, giving the original club the right of first refusal.
(UPDATED March 8, 2026 19:03 UTC)
In a flurry of trades just before the legal tampering period began, the Ravens finalized a deal for Maxx Crosby from the Raiders, which included two first-round picks for 2026 and 2027. Meanwhile, the Colts placed the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones, and the Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Texans in exchange for a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick, along with IOL Juice Scruggs. Other notable moves included the Rams trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Chiefs for multiple draft picks and T.J. Hockenson restructuring his contract with the Vikings to save over $5 million in cap space.
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(UPDATED March 8, 2026 16:14 UTC)
Today marks the opening of the NFL's free agency period, which includes a 52-hour legal tampering window that started at noon EDT. High-profile free agents like Trey Hendrickson, Mike Evans, and Kenneth Walker III are now available for negotiation, as teams prepare to comply with the new salary cap of $301.2 million per club by 4 p.m. EDT on March 11. During this time, teams can negotiate with certified agents of unrestricted free agents, but they cannot speak directly to the players themselves.