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<\/a>. Among players who will reportedly be released are Vikings veterans Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave<\/a>, as well as Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore<\/a>.<\/p>\n Also on the horizon is the official franchise tag deadline<\/a>, with three offensive stars having received the tag so far, including Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts<\/a> and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens<\/a>. The Jets will reportedly place the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall<\/a> as the two sides continue to negotiate a long-term contract.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL news, reports and rumors in the week leading up to the start of free agency.<\/p>\n Live21 updatesTue, March 3, 2026 at 9:30 AM PST<\/p>\n Jason Fitz, Caroline Fenton<\/p>\n Kate Magdziuk<\/p>\n The reigning Super Bowl MVP is reportedly expected to hit free agency.<\/p>\n The Seattle Seahawks are not expected to place the franchise or transition tag on running back Kenneth Walker III, ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday. That means he will officially become a free agent.<\/p>\n With the Jets placing the franchise tag on pending free agent Breece Hall on Tuesday, that makes Walker the top prize on the RB market this offseason, Yahoo Sports\u2019 Frank Schwab writes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tarohn Finley<\/p>\n The New York Jets will reportedly place the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall ahead of Tuesday’s deadline<\/a>, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.<\/p>\n The two sides will continue to negotiate a “lucrative long-term deal,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Read more.<\/a><\/p>\n Chris Cwik<\/p>\n After playing in Germany last season, the Atlanta Falcons will continue their European tour<\/a> in 2026. The NFL announced Tuesday the Falcons will be one of the teams participating in the Madrid, Spain<\/a>, game during the upcoming season.<\/p>\n The Falcons confirmed the news, posting a graphic featuring the team’s logo in front of some famous Spanish landmarks. The team will play the game at Bernab\u00e9u, home to Real Madrid.<\/p>\n Tue, March 3, 2026 at 6:39 AM PST<\/p>\n Yahoo Sports Staff<\/p>\n Mon, March 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM PST<\/p>\n Yahoo Sports Staff<\/p>\n With the 2026 NFL scouting combine<\/a> in the books, this year\u2019s NFL Draft class is becoming clearer.<\/p>\n While the quarterbacks and wide receivers got the most attention at the combine<\/a>, it was a group of defensive prospects that stood out this past week in Indianapolis. Specifically, Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese and linebacker Sonny Styles<\/a> put together a fantastic series of workouts to move into the top three of our latest mock draft.<\/p>\n But there were plenty of other defenders who stood out. This mock draft is littered with them in a deep overall class of defensive linemen and defensive backs.<\/p>\n Check out Yahoo Sports\u2019 latest NFL mock draft from Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, including write-ups on prospect fits, coming out of the NFL combine.<\/a><\/p>\n Frank Schwab<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Therefore, Monday\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n The additions might make sense, but the subtractions leave more questions as we grade each side of the trade.<\/p>\n Read the full grades here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mon, March 2, 2026 at 3:45 PM PST<\/p>\n Yahoo Sports Staff<\/p>\n Kate Magdziuk<\/p>\n The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of question marks regarding the make up of their offense in the 2026 season, most notably at quarterback as pending free agent Aaron Rodgers contemplates his future. One of the more underrated storylines worth watching surrounds veteran tight end Pat Freiermuth, however.<\/p>\n Freiermuth saw a diminished role in 2025, averaging a career-low 3.2 targets per game after averaging just under five targets per game over the four seasons prior.<\/p>\n Despite that decline in usage, Pittsburgh is reportedly not interested in moving the veteran, who has three years remaining on his current contract after signing a four-year, $48.4 million extension in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least six teams would be interested in exploring the idea of acquiring tight end Pat Freiermuth, according to a league source. However, at least right now, teams are being told he\u2019s not available,\u201d The Athletic\u2019s Mike DeFabo writes.<\/p>\n Coming into play in that equation is the veteran Jonnu Smith, whom the team acquired via trade with the Dolphins last offseason. He and Freiermuth each had exactly 54 targets on the season. Smith, 31, has one year remaining on his contract<\/a> with the Steelers after signing an extension at the time of his trade.<\/p>\n Frank Schwab<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Therefore, Monday\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n With the Lions receiving picks and OL depth and the Texans bolstering their RB room, find out how each team was graded in Monday\u2019s trade.<\/a><\/p>\n Tarohn Finley<\/p>\n The Miami Dolphins will reportedly release offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, according to ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter.<\/p>\n Eichenberg missed all of last season due to an undisclosed injury.<\/p>\n Eichenberg was a former second-round pick and started 52 games for the Dolphins.<\/p>\n The Dolphins continue to clear cap space after releasing Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, James Daniels and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in February.<\/p>\n Mon, March 2, 2026 at 1:46 PM PST<\/p>\n Yahoo Sports Staff<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Tarohn Finley<\/p>\n Edge rusher Khalil Mack will reportedly play in 2026, according to NFL Network\u2019s Ian Rapoport.<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Tarohn Finley<\/p>\n Tarohn Finley<\/p>\n No more Sonic and Knuckles in the Motor City! Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs posted a picture of Sonic and Knuckles crying after\u00a0David Montgomery\u00a0was reportedly traded to the\u00a0Houston Texans<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n Gibbs and Montgomery embraced the \u201cSonic and Knuckles\u201d comparison as a running back duo. Gibbs was dubbed \u201cSonic\u201d for his speed and quickness, while Montgomery was called \u201cKnuckles\u201d for his power and physicality.<\/p>\n This will be Gibbs\u2019s first season without Montgomery after the two joined the Lions together in 2023.<\/p>\n Chris Cwik<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Taylor, 28, has proved extremely durable over his career, starting 111 games over seven seasons.<\/p>\n The move is essential for the Chiefs, who are currently estimated to be roughly $8.6 million over<\/a> the 2026 salary cap. The Chiefs can save roughly $20 on the cap by parting ways with Taylor.<\/p>\n Read more.<\/a><\/p>\n Mon, March 2, 2026 at 10:30 AM PST<\/p>\n Yahoo Sports Staff<\/p>\n The Detroit Lions are trading veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>. The deal won’t officially go through until the start of the new league year on March 11.<\/p>\n The news comes just one day after Montgomery denied reports that he “wanted out”<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n![\"Kate](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772559682_704_dims.jpeg\"\/)
Tue, March 3, 2026 at 9:14 AM PST<\/p>\n![\"Tarohn](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/14e93e10-b8ef-11f0-bffb-eaeb80a41d60.png\"\/)
Tue, March 3, 2026 at 8:40 AM PST<\/p>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772559684_113_dims.jpeg\"\/)
Tue, March 3, 2026 at 7:48 AM PST<\/p>\n![\"Frank](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772559685_889_dims.jpeg\"\/)
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