All articles tagged with #nfl free agency
The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for both possible outcomes with Travis Kelce, who at 36 will be an unrestricted free agent this year. GM Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid say they’ve kept open dialogue with Kelce and his reps and will move forward with a plan regardless of whether he returns or departs, with a decision likely coming before the March 9 tampering window and a new contract expected if he stays for a 14th season.
Colts GM Chris Ballard says the franchise tag is a tool they’d prefer not to use on pending free agents Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, but it remains an option if a deal isn’t reached before the March 3 deadline. Talks at the scouting combine are ongoing and described as positive, with Jones stabilizing the QB position and Pierce posting strong receiving numbers in 2025.
At the 2026 NFL combine, Malik Willis and Kirk Cousins emerge as the two biggest free-agent names, each with a distinct path: Willis offers youth and upside and could command a $50 million-plus two-year deal with interest from the Browns, Dolphins, Cardinals, Jets and more, while Cousins provides veteran production with potential fits including the Vikings. The market is shaped by a thin draft class and teams’ tight cap spaces (e.g., Cleveland), making two quarterbacks central to the offseason storyline as free agency nears.
The Atlanta Falcons plan to release quarterback Kirk Cousins on the opening day of the new league year, ending a contract they view as a $100 million disaster. The move leaves a $24.6 million cap hit into June, with $22.5 million in dead money for 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027, plus up to $10 million in offsets if he signs elsewhere. At 37, Cousins—who joined the Falcons in 2024 on a four-year, $180 million deal but was supplanted by Michael Penix Jr.—now becomes a high-profile free agent on a quarterback-rich market, with teams including the Steelers, Vikings and Colts noted as potential fits.
The piece argues that with a thin 2026 QB draft class, Malik Willis is a top free-agent option and ranks five potential fits: 5) Cleveland Browns (Monken offense could suit him but cap concerns loom), 4) Pittsburgh Steelers (good cap space and vertical-pass offense potential), 3) New York Jets (large cap room but scheme fit under Reich is unclear), 2) Arizona Cardinals (LaFleur offense and Murray trade possibility), 1) Miami Dolphins (best overall fit given regime ties to Willis—if cap space allows).
Bleacher Report spotlights five under-the-radar 2026 NFL free agents—Kenneth Gainwell (RB), Christian Kirk (WR), Greg Dulcich (TE), Arnold Ebiketie (EDGE), and Greg Newsome II (CB)—who could become valuable, affordable signings: Gainwell posted a 1,023-yard-from-scrimmage season with 8 TDs in 2025 and could land a cheap deal, Kirk is expected to rebound with a market around $5.4M/year, Dulcich has shown efficiency and is projected around $1M/year, Ebiketie carries about a $9M/year valuation, and Newsome II is also pegged near $9M/year with potential to regain elite form; teams could snag starting-caliber players without breaking the bank in 2026.
The Atlanta Falcons will franchise-tag tight end Kyle Pitts for about $16.5 million, counting against the 2026 salary cap, keeping him in Atlanta as talks for a long-term deal continue. Pitts, 25, rose to 1,000+ receiving yards as a rookie but then dealt with injuries, delivering a 928-yard, five-TD season in 2025 before the tag.
With free agency approaching, the Kansas City Chiefs want to bolster their interior defensive line after a disappointing 2025 season. They’re reportedly targeting three unrestricted free agents—Roy Lopez, John Franklin-Myers, and Tim Settle—each offering different fits and price points: Lopez as a plug-and-play one-tech with a projected $6.5M/year, Franklin-Myers as a veteran interior rusher around $8M/year, and Settle as a more affordable option near $4M/year. The move is viewed as filling gaps for 1–2 seasons rather than providing a long-term solution as the team continues to develop younger talent.
Green Bay’s free-agent strategy emphasizes youth and cap efficiency, targeting players under 29 consistent with a three-decade-long roster-building ethos. With cap space and rising contracts making average starters expensive, the article notes Packers’ past four-percent-of-cap signings were all 28 or younger and that top free agents are increasingly older as the market broadens. It provides a position-by-position list of top young-ish players from a consensus board, suggesting any real Packers splash would likely come from this under-29 pool rather than older veterans, though many top names may remain with their current teams or be re-signed.
Running back Javonte Williams agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys, including $16 million guaranteed, returning to Dallas after a one-year stint with the club. Williams posted career highs in rushing attempts (252), yards (1,201) and rushing TDs (11) in 2025, plus 35 receptions for 137 yards, and the move could influence ongoing talks to keep wide receiver George Pickens on the Cowboys long-term.
Denver’s tight end group underperformed last season, with Evan Engram’s contribution limited and other options behind him not rising to the occasion. Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely, a versatile 6‑4, 245-pound TE who can block, line up in multiple spots, and contribute as a receiver, is discussed as a potential affordable upgrade if he hits the open market. If Engram stays, Likely would be a buy‑low addition behind him; if not, Denver could pursue Likely, draft another TE, and continue developing Caleb Lohner while overhauling the position.
Mike Evans, the longtime Buccaneer who will explore free agency after 12 seasons, could be a target for the New York Giants to bolster their receiving corps as Wan’Dale Robinson’s future with the team remains uncertain. Evans, who turns 33 and dealt with injuries in 2025, would bring size and playmaking ability to support quarterback Jaxson Dart. Projections vary—from roughly two years and $51 million to shorter deals—making the decision depend on Evans’ willingness to join a team with playoff aspirations and the Giants’ long-term plans.
Miami released Tyreek Hill and three others, clearing over $56 million in 2026 cap space as new leadership takes over. Hill, who is recovering from a dislocated knee, is drawing interest from five teams — Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs — each viewed as a potential fit to bolster an offense.
The 49ers are expected to announce Raheem Morris as their defensive coordinator, aiming to fix a struggling defense and bolster their pass rush. Arnold Ebiketie of the Falcons is a top free-agent target to strengthen the edge behind Nick Bosa, with Morris’s return as coach potentially facilitating a reunion and a stronger rotation on defense.
Atlanta is reportedly releasing 37-year-old Kirk Cousins in March after his four-year, $180 million deal fizzled, with a restructure designed to ease the exit and room to negotiate a cheaper return. The $67.9 million 2027 guarantee vests March 13 and is unlikely to be paid. After backing Michael Penix Jr. in 2025 (1,721 passing yards, 10 TDs, 5 INTs), Cousins could pursue a starting role with Jets, Dolphins, or Cardinals, or explore a media path if no appealing offers surface.