NFL free agency is upon us. As deals roll in, the Sharp Football staff will break them down with analysis for every major move.
This page will be updated throughout the first wave of free agency, so be sure to check back often.
Click here for a full list of available free agents
Statistics from TruMedia, unless noted otherwise. Salary information from Over The Cap.
2026 NFL Free Agency: Every Major Signing (Updated Daily)
Lions trade David Montgomery to Texans
David Montgomery shot down rumors that he had requested out of Detroit, but the Lions moved him anyway, trading him to the Texans.
Montgomery became the clear second option in Detroit last season, touching the ball a career-low 182 times despite appearing in 17 games.
In Houston, he should offer a much better “big back” option than what the Texans got out of Nick Chubb last season, although there have to be some concerns about his ability to produce behind what will likely be a worse offensive line.
Even in something of a down year, the Lions ranked a full 12 spots ahead of the Texans in ESPN’s run block win rate last season.
Detroit running back runs ranked fourth in yards before contact created, while the Texans ranked 25th in that metric.
The quality of running back plays a role in those numbers, but it is fair to expect Montgomery to get less favorable running lanes in Houston.
He is also soon-to-be 29, which raises questions about long-term viability.
Even so, he now faces less competition for carries and should be an upgrade for at least the short term.
As for the other side of the trade, the Lions will almost certainly add some help, but they have set things up to lean on Jahmyr Gibbs as the clear No. 1 back.
That should make fantasy players very happy.
George Pickens and Kyle Pitts earn early franchise tags
The deadline to place the franchise tag on free agents is March 3, but both the Cowboys and Falcons got an early jump on the action.
The Falcons went first, playing their tag on TE Kyle Pitts.
The one-year tender will earn Pitts just over $15 million in 2026 unless the two sides come to a long-term agreement in the next couple of months.
Pitts is coming off arguably his best season in the league, hauling in 88 passes for 928 yards and 5 touchdowns.
His air yards per target have fallen dramatically over the last two seasons, but Pitts’ efficiency numbers looked much better in 2025.
He ranked ninth in yards per route run and target rate per route among qualifying tight ends.
Things could change under the new coaching staff, but it is promising that Kevin Stefanski, who has a history of utilizing tight ends in the passing game, was clearly on board with keeping Pitts around.
The Cowboys also kept an important member of the passing game in-house, putting the franchise tag on WR George Pickens.
Pickens was exceptional in his first season with the Cowboys, setting career-highs with 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and 9 touchdowns.
He provided a legit No. 1 receiver when CeeDee Lamb was out injured, and he remained a dangerous No. 2 option even when Lamb was back healthy.
While the tag will likely keep Pickens in Dallas, he will be free to negotiate with other NFL teams (the Cowboys can match any offer), and there are reports that Pickens will hold out in training camp if the two sides do not come to a long-term agreement by the July 15 deadline.
Despite all of that, this move makes it very likely Pickens will be in Dallas for the foreseeable future.
Notable Players Still Available
Notable players such as Daniel Jones, Kenneth Walker, and Trey Hendrickson remain available in 2026 NFL free agency.
Click here for a full list of available free agents
2026 NFL Free Agency FAQ
When does 2026 NFL free agency start?
The 2026 NFL free agency legal tampering period begins March 9, 2026. Players can officially sign contracts starting March 11, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET.
Who are the top 2026 NFL free agents?
The top 2026 NFL free agents include Kenneth Walker III (RB), Trey Hendrickson (EDGE), Breece Hall (RB), and Daniel Jones (QB).
When is the 2026 franchise tag deadline?
Teams must apply franchise tags by March 3, 2026. Top candidates include Breece Hall and Daniel Jones.
What is the salary cap for 2026 NFL free agency?
The 2026 NFL salary cap is approximately $301 million per team, up from $279.2 million in 2025.
