NFL free agency isn’t here quite yet — but the NFL news cycle never sleeps.
Coming out of the 2026 NFL combine, now with less than a week to go before the start of the legal tampering period (set for Monday, March 9 at 12 p.m. ET), the news cycle is heating up.
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The week opened up with a couple of trades from the Houston Texans, having reportedly acquired veteran running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions in exchange for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and a fourth- and sixth-round pick. The team also reportedly agreed to trade starting right tackle Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns, who subsequently agreed to terms on a three-year, $63 million extension.
The week leading up to the official start of free agency on March 12 will also be a busy time for the release of NFL veterans, as each team makes moves to become compliant with the salary cap, which is officially set at $301.2 million per club. Among players who will reportedly be released are Vikings veterans Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave, as well as Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
Also on the horizon is the official franchise tag deadline, with two offensive stars having received the tag so far, including Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens.
Teams have until Tuesday, March 3, at 4 p.m. ET to place the franchise tag on one pending free agent, essentially preventing them from hitting the open market. That tag ensures the player a fully guaranteed, one-year contract, though teams are able to negotiate a long-term deal with any tagged player until July 15 at 4 p.m. ET. If no long-term deal has been negotiated at that point, the player will play on the tag.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL news, reports and rumors in the week leading up to the start of free agency.
Live12 updates
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 2:22 PM PST
Frank Schwab
The Houston Texans needed a better answer at running back. The Detroit Lions were seemingly on the outs with David Montgomery after a successful three seasons together.
Therefore, Monday’s trade between the Lions and Texans made sense. Montgomery goes to Houston for a fourth-round pick, a seventh-round pick and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, according to NFL Media.
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 1:58 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Miami Dolphins will reportedly release offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Eichenberg missed all of last season due to an undisclosed injury.
Eichenberg was a former second-round pick and started 52 games for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins continue to clear cap space after releasing Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, James Daniels and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in February.
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 1:46 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Glasgow was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2016 draft, spending four seasons in Detroit before a three-year stint in Denver, and then landing back with the Lions for the past three seasons.
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 12:45 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Edge rusher Khalil Mack will reportedly play in 2026, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The 35-year-old pass rusher is coming off a season with 32 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in 12 games this season. He will reportedly explore all options in free agency after spending the last four seasons with the Chargers.
Mack was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2014 and also spent time with the Chicago Bears. He is a 9-time Pro Bowler and 3-time All-Pro.
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 11:55 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 11:44 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
No more Sonic and Knuckles in the Motor City! Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs posted a picture of Sonic and Knuckles crying after David Montgomery was reportedly traded to the Houston Texans on Monday.
Gibbs and Montgomery embraced the “Sonic and Knuckles” comparison as a running back duo. Gibbs was dubbed “Sonic” for his speed and quickness, while Montgomery was called “Knuckles” for his power and physicality.
This will be Gibbs’s first season without Montgomery after the two joined the Lions together in 2023.
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 10:45 AM PST
Chris Cwik
In an effort to get under the NFL salary cap ahead of the new league year, the Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly set to part ways with one of their starting offensive linemen.
Jawaan Taylor was reportedly informed he would be cut if the team couldn’t find a trade partner for Taylor, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Taylor, 28, has proved extremely durable over his career, starting 111 games over seven seasons.
The move is essential for the Chiefs, who are currently estimated to be roughly $8.6 million over the 2026 salary cap. The Chiefs can save roughly $20 on the cap by parting ways with Taylor.
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 10:30 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Detroit Lions are trading veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday.
The Texans will send their 2026 fourth-round pick, offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and a seventh-round pick for Montgomery, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. The deal won’t officially go through until the start of the new league year on March 11.
The news comes just one day after Montgomery denied reports that he “wanted out” of Detroit, refuting a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that he was seeking a fresh start, also noting that the Lions would want “possibly a fifth-rounder” in return for the vet.
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 10:20 AM PST
Kate Magdziuk
Monday’s been a big day for offensive linemen, with guard Dalton Risner in the mix, reportedly signing a one-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals worth up to $5 million, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Risner, a seven-year veteran in the league, started his career with the Denver Broncos as a second-round pick of the 2019 NFL Draft class. After a four-year stint in Denver, Risner played two years with the Vikings before signing with the Bengals as a free agent in 2025.
He started 11 games for Cincinnati, with nine starts at right guard and two starts at left guard, showcasing some of his versatility.
Per PFF, Risner allowed just two total sacks on 475 pass-blocking opportunities in 2025, earning a 71.5 blocking grade that ranked 17th among guards (min. 500 snaps).
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 10:18 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Washington Commanders will reportedly release cornerback Marshon Lattimore, according to CBS Sports Matt Zenitz.
Lattimore, 29, made nine starts for the Commanders last season after being acquired before the trade deadline in 2024. He spent his first seven seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 10:05 AM PST
Chris Cwik
With the Cleveland Browns trying to decide on their quarterback of the future, the team made a move Monday aimed at helping whoever winds up getting the job heading into 2026.
The team reportedly acquired right tackle Tytus Howard in a trade with the Houston Texans and immediately signed Howard to a three-year, $63 million extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Howard, 29, has started 93 games over his seven-year career. In exchange for Howard, the Texans are reportedly receiving a fifth-round pick.
Mon, March 2, 2026 at 9:50 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Speaking at the NFL combine last week, Raiders GM John Spytek said he “expects” star defensive end Maxx Crosby to be with the team in 2026.
But that hasn’t stopped the latest round of trade rumors surrounding the five-time Pro Bowler.
The latest rumor stems from Sports Illustrated reporter Albert Breer, who notes that he’d “lean toward a Maxx Crosby trade happening, and maybe this week.”
Crosby has been at the center of the trade rumor mill for some time now, as he continues to shine despite the Raiders struggling as a franchise over the years. The team has had just one winning season (2021, 10-7, lost in wild-card round) since Crosby was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Crosby totaled 10 sacks over 15 games this past season, nabbing his first career interception with a career-best 28 tackles for loss, which ranked second in the league only behind Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett (33).