NFL Teams Waste No Time Striking Early Deals Ahead of Free Agency

As expected, a flurry of activity Monday marked the formal lead-up to NFL free agency as teams and players agreed to a series of historic contracts.

Monday afternoon brought the start of the league’s legal tampering, a 52-hour period in which teams can start negotiating with the agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents. 

First Wave of Deals

Not wasting any time, NFL teams immediately got to work framing out the parameters of deals that will become official with the beginning of the new league year Wednesday.

Among the top initial moves:

• The Rams have agreed to a four-year, $124 million extension with cornerback Trent McDuffie, acquired in a trade with Kansas City for four draft picks. The deal includes $100 million in guaranteed money, and the pact sets a league compensation record for the position.
• The Dolphins are signing quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal, $45 million of which is guaranteed. Willis looks to be Miami’s new starter at the position as the team is releasing Tua Tagovailoa, taking on $99.2 million in dead money against the salary cap.
• The Chiefs have agreed to a three-year, $43.05 million deal with running back Kenneth Walker III, with $28.7 million of that guaranteed. He just won the Most Valuable Player award honors for the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, rushing for 135 yards in the game.
• New Falcons president of football Matt Ryan is bringing back several former teammates, including wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and tight end Austin Hooper. Atlanta is also closing in on a one-year contract with Tagovailoa, who can be signed for a one-year veteran minimum of $1.3 million while the Dolphins pay him $52.7 million in guaranteed money this year. That would give the Falcons two left-handed quarterbacks along with Michael Penix Jr.
• The Panthers are signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120 million deal. Phillips was one of the top available players at his position, and Carolina is looking to build up after reaching the playoffs last season for the first time since 2017.
• The Colts are retaining wide receiver Alec Pierce in a four-year, $116 million agreement, with $60 million of that guaranteed.
• The 49ers are signing wide receiver Mike Evans to a three-year, $60.4 million pact. After a decorated, 12-season run in Tampa, Evans had been one of the more notable available names on the market.
• The Raiders are resetting the compensation market for centers by signing Tyler Linderbaum to a three-year, $81 million contract, with $60 million of that guaranteed. The Chiefs previously held that designation, paying Creed Humphrey an average of $18 million per year. The Las Vegas deal, however, beats that by 50% with a base annual value of $27 million. 

The run of lucrative signings is happening as the NFL set the 2026 salary cap at $301.2 million per team, a record amount and $22 million more than the 2025 level. 

Plenty more player signings are expected through the week as teams look to fill positional holes.