Official 2026 Free Agency/Offseason/Non-Draft Thread

[Fritz]

Tom Pelissero
@tompelissero.bsky.social

Compensation update: The Texans are sending OL Juice Scruggs, a 4th-rounder and a 7th-rounder to Detroit for David Montgomery.

Detroit took Houston to the cleaners on that one. Sheesh. Montgomery is good but he's getting older.

I see Chicago looking to poach that former Wisconsin center now after Dalton retired.Also I'm reading rumors that they're looking to trade for Maxx Crosby.

[Fosco33]

Why wouldn’t we try and shift Jenkins back to Guard and sign Tyler Biadasz (former badger) to center. Is it just a cap casualty? I thought Jenkins was decent.

What’s the Oline actually look like post cuts, pre-draft? Seems like shambles.

[Joemailman]

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter

Sources: Cardinals have informed QB Kyler Murray that they intend to release him on the first day of the league year next Wednesday, barring a trade between now and then.

Arizona already owes him $36.8M guaranteed in 2026, and another $19.5M would have triggered on March 15 for 2027. He now will be moving on.

Could this be a spot for Willis?

[Joemailman]

Adam Schefter

ESPN sources: Bears Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman has informed the team that he is retiring from the NFL at age 27. Dalman left Stanford in 2021, and after four seasons in Atlanta and one in Chicago, he has made the sudden and surprising decision to retire.

Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet

The #Bears are hosting free agent center Tyler Biadasz on a visit, source said. The former #Commanders starter was recently released and now is available before the frenzy begins.

[Joemailman]

Tom Pelissero
@tompelissero.bsky.social

Compensation update: The Texans are sending OL Juice Scruggs, a 4th-rounder and a 7th-rounder to Detroit for David Montgomery.

[Joemailman]

1 week from today, March 9 is the start of the "legal tampering" period for free agency. Players can be officially signed starting at 3 PM March 11.

[pbmax]

Malik Willis got some pushback news about his new contract. Recently Rap Sheet and someone were guessing a team would cough up $30 mil per season as that is the going rate for a non-top tier QB with questions (Baker Mayfield, etc.).

But Jermey Fowler of ESPN says that not a guarantee with only six starts for Willis, though interest from multiple teams could change that if they start to compete with offers.

The reasoning is Justin Fields deal (2 years/20 mil per) is more likely the comp teams see, though even that number will rise with QB inflation and the new cap rising.

Also Acme Packing points out that neither the Dolphins nor Cardinals can easily afford either deal without finding a way to clean up the previous QB's cap number. Which might limit his options at developing a market and its going to be hard to unload those deals before FA begins.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48045815/2026-nfl-combine-latest-buzz-news-rumors-free-agency-draft-qbs-trades-offseason#willis

[pbmax]

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter

Sources: Vikings have informed running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave that, barring a trade, they will be released at the start of the league year this month.

Jones’ release will save the Vikings $7.75 million against the cap, Hargrave’s $10.9 million.

That FA spree didn't quite work out as planned. I wonder why that sounds familar?

[Joemailman]

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter

Sources: Vikings have informed running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave that, barring a trade, they will be released at the start of the league year this month.

Jones’ release will save the Vikings $7.75 million against the cap, Hargrave’s $10.9 million.

[bobblehead]

The Jets stink out loud. You can do a lot with dead cap money, cap space and terrible performance. Always lots of room to get worse, especially trading away big pieces of your defense mid-season.

Dead money eats your current spending amount. Taysom Hll and Michael Thomas will soon surpass Bobby Bonilla in money owned to them long into the future. If they haven't aleady.

I celebrate Bobby Bonilla day every year. What a savvy dude. God bless him. July 1st. Mark it down.

[texaspackerbacker]

APB's posting makes a lot more sense than those whining about the cap.

The ideal situation cap-wise is to be right where the Packers are - virtually right on the edge of it. "Cooking" it, of course is exactly that - maximizing what you can get without consequence. And most consequence for teams is imaginary in the minds of ignorant fans. I suppose there are exceptions to that, but not many. If I was a damn Vikings fan, I'd be highly pissed that they didn't find a way to keep Darnold.

Regarding the Packers RFAs, I tend to not like Brooks, and I'd be disappointed if they let Wilson go - who I see as a much better player than Brooks. Also, Mosby stood out on kick coverage. Anderson didn't, at least not that I saw. Cox seemed worth keeping. Kinnard and Whyles not so much.

[pbmax]

I like Brooks as a good 3rd down back type. Great pass protector, option to catch a pass, decent runner as backup. Wouldn't like to see him leave but his position isn't exactly high priority for 10 snaps a game barring catastrophe. Wilson same story really. Both can pass protect unlike Jacobs who is a speed bump at best.

Whyle was OK as a backup TE but they are a dime a dozen. Anderson a key figure on special teams and can play safety. Not a developmental guy but useful. Mosby and Cox useful but it they have topped out at edge lets look at someone new.

[Teamcheez1]

These are all the restricted free agents the Packers could tender. It’s expected the only player they may tender is Kinnard.
The minimum RFA tender amount is $3.5M for a one year contract, which they probably don’t feel any of these players are worth that amount.

RB Chris Brooks - RFA
OL Darian Kinnard - RFA
RB Emanuel Wilson - RFA
DE Arron Mosby - RFA
S Zayne Anderson - RFA
TE Josh Whyle - RFA
DE Brenton Cox Jr. - RFA

[Joemailman]

Jeremy Fowler
@JFowlerESPN

The Packers are not placing a tender on running back Emanuel Wilson, per source.

He will be a free agent. Rushed for 496 yards and three touchdowns last year.

[sharpe1027]

Is there a correlation between dead money and cap hell? If not, then, well, cook the cap.

Nobody said dead cap is the sole determination of cap space.