The 2026 NFL free agency period is set to officially open on Wednesday following a flurry of significant trades, including DJ Moore’s move to the Buffalo Bills.
Major roster changes are already underway across the league as teams prepare for the legal tampering window to begin on Monday.
While the official signing period does not commence until 16:00 ET on 11 March, franchises have wasted little time in reshaping their squads following Super Bowl LX.
Several high-profile names remain on the market, with Malik Willis, Tyler Linderbaum, and Mike Evans attracting interest.
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips is also expected to be a key figure in negotiations as teams look to bolster their defensive units.
Trades shake up the landscape
The pre-agency trade market has been unusually active, with the Chicago Bears sending star receiver DJ Moore to Buffalo.
In another significant defensive move, the Kansas City Chiefs have traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.
The running back market has also seen movement, with the Detroit Lions dealing David Montgomery to the Houston Texans.
Bills target defensive reinforcements
Having secured Moore to strengthen their receiving corps, Buffalo’s focus has shifted towards their defensive front.
The franchise is reportedly prioritizing pass rushers and outside linebackers to aid a revamped defensive scheme under coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa have been identified as potential targets to address this deficiency.
However, the Bills are likely to part ways with defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
The 34-year-old veteran has struggled with injuries and previously hinted on social media that his time in New York was coming to an end.
BBC Sport understands the team will look for depth signings on team-friendly contracts rather than further blockbuster acquisitions.
Dolphins face quarterback dilemma
The Miami Dolphins are approaching a critical juncture regarding their quarterback situation.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has remained noncommittal regarding the future of former franchise starter Tua Tagovailoa.
With Quinn Ewers now on the roster, the AFC East team could look to trade or release Tagovailoa this offseason.
Former number two pick Zach Wilson is also expected to depart after falling down the pecking order behind Ewers.
Beyond the quarterback room, Miami have identified the edge rusher position as a primary area of concern.
Coach Jeff Hafley has admitted the squad is light in that department, with Chop Robinson currently the only player possessing notable NFL experience.
With five draft picks in the first three rounds, the Dolphins are widely expected to address this need early in the selection process.
Buffalo Bills trade for receiver DJ Moore to bolster Josh Allen’s attack
The Buffalo Bills have agreed a trade to acquire wide receiver DJ Moore, providing quarterback Josh Allen with a dynamic new offensive weapon ahead of the 2026 season.
This major move signals a clear intent from the franchise to maximise their championship window within the AFC.
Moore joins a Buffalo offence that has been actively seeking a definitive primary target to partner with their superstar signal-caller.
Boosting the Bills offence
The arrival of the experienced pass-catcher adds immediate versatility and explosive playmaking to the Bills’ receiving corps.
Known for his physical style and ability to gain significant yards after the catch, Moore offers a reliable outlet that has been a priority for the front office.
It ensures Allen has a proven veteran presence on the perimeter as the team prepares for another post-season push.
The acquisition addresses a key positional need for Buffalo, who are looking to re-establish offensive dominance in the division.
2026 NFL Free Agency context
The trade has been finalised during a frantic period of activity just days before the new league year officially begins on 11 March.
Franchises across the NFL are aggressively positioning themselves under the salary cap before the market fully opens next Wednesday.
Other high-profile figures, including quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Kyler Murray, have also generated significant headlines during this busy pre-season window.
Former Green Bay Packers president Bob Harlan, credited with revitalising the franchise and overseeing the renovation of Lambeau Field, has died at the age of 89.
Harlan passed away on Thursday, according to an announcement by his family.
The long-serving administrator served as the team’s chief executive from 1989 until his retirement in 2008.
He remains the only person in NFL history to hire two different general managers who won Super Bowls with entirely different rosters.
Restoring the glory years
Harlan took charge when the organisation was more than two decades removed from the success of the Vince Lombardi era.
In one of his first significant moves, the executive hired Ron Wolf as general manager in 1991.
That appointment paved the way for the arrival of head coach Mike Holmgren and the acquisition of legendary quarterback Brett Favre.
Under this new leadership, the team won Super Bowl 31, securing their first championship in nearly 30 years.
Tributes to a visionary
Current Packers president and CEO Ed Policy described Harlan as a “visionary leader” whose impact was “transformational”.
“From his inspired hiring of Ron Wolf to turn around the club’s on-field fortunes to his tireless work to redevelop Lambeau Field, Bob restored the Packers to competitive excellence,” said Policy.
“We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Madeline, and the entire Harlan family.”
Wolf, who was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, also paid tribute to his former boss.
“Bob Harlan gave me an opportunity, and I am deeply indebted to him for that,” said Wolf.
“His greatest trait, in my opinion, is that he was an honorable man, a man of his word, a man of character.”
A lasting legacy
Beyond on-field success, Harlan was instrumental in securing the franchise’s financial future through the redevelopment of their stadium.
He played a key role in convincing Brown County voters to approve the initial $295m renovation of Lambeau Field.
The project, completed in 2003, transformed the venue into a year-round destination and paved the way for the modern Titletown district.
Before retiring, Harlan hired Ted Thompson as general manager, a decision that eventually led to victory in Super Bowl 45 with Aaron Rodgers as quarterback.
Harlan was elected to the Packers Hall of Fame in 2004 and has a plaza named in his honour outside the stadium.
The Kansas City Chiefs have traded two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a package of four draft picks, including a first-round selection.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes summarised the mood within the camp with a single-word post on social media: “Damn.”
Fellow defensive stars Charles Omenihu and Jaylen Watson also expressed their disappointment at losing the team’s second-best defender behind Chris Jones.
Kansas City will receive the No. 29 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft as the centrepiece of the return.
The reigning dynasty also secures fifth and sixth-round picks in 2026, alongside a third-round selection in 2027.
Veach repeats history with blockbuster decision
General manager Brett Veach reportedly viewed the move as one of the most difficult decisions of his tenure.
However, the franchise prioritised roster flexibility over signing the 2022 first-round pick to an extension that potentially would have made him the highest-paid player at his position.
It mirrors the strategy deployed four years ago when the AFC West champions sent star receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins.
That decision allowed the organisation to reload its roster, resulting in a period of sustained success.
McDuffie’s departure leaves void in secondary
The Washington alumnus established himself as a cornerstone of Steve Spagnuolo’s defence.
He was instrumental in the team’s recent run of dominance, helping them become the first repeat champions to reach the Super Bowl for a third consecutive time.
Prior to the deal, Kansas City held just six picks and faced significant gaps to fill at running back, receiver and linebacker.
With two first-round picks now available, the Chiefs hope to replicate the success of their 2022 draft class.
Aaron Rodgers says he has not yet decided whether to continue his playing career despite the Pittsburgh Steelers hiring his former head coach Mike McCarthy.
The four-time NFL MVP addressed his status publicly for the first time since the season ended during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
Rodgers, who is set to become a free agent in less than a week, confirmed the franchise has not issued a deadline regarding his intentions for the 2026 campaign.
No rush to decide
The 42-year-old quarterback initially signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh in June 2025 after a lengthy deliberation process.
Despite the arrival of McCarthy, with whom Rodgers won a Super Bowl in Green Bay, the veteran maintains he is currently “laying low”.
“There’s been no deadline that’s been put in front of me,” Rodgers said.
“There’s no contract offer or anything, so there’s nothing that I’m having to debate between. I’m a free agent.”
Front office stance
Steelers general manager Omar Khan has previously indicated a desire to avoid the protracted saga that occurred last offseason.
The signal-caller did not agree terms on his previous deal until just before mandatory minicamp in June, a timeline the club hopes to avoid repeating.
Khan told reporters at the NFL Combine that while he does not have a strict cut-off date, he hopes the process will be swifter.
“I love Mike, and Mike and I have kept some contact over the years,” Rodgers added regarding the coaching change.
However, he insisted that no conversations demanding a decision by the start of free agency have taken place.
Season statistics
The former Packers star started 16 games for Pittsburgh last season, throwing 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
He led the team to an AFC North title before they were eliminated by the Houston Texans in the first round of the play-offs.
When asked about his current training regime, Rodgers joked that his workouts were strictly for fitness rather than football preparation.
“I’m trying to stay fit,” he said. “I mean, it’s harder when you get older, so you can’t take the same amount of time off as you used to.”
Lou Holtz, the Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship and revitalised multiple college football programmes, has died at the age of 89.
His family confirmed the news on Wednesday, stating he passed away in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by loved ones.
The university released a statement paying tribute to one of the most significant figures in their sporting history.
A master of rebuilding
Holtz finished his illustrious head coaching career with a remarkable 249-132-7 record.
The disciplinarian earned a reputation for turning struggling teams into contenders across six different universities.
His collegiate tenure included successful stints at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, and South Carolina.
The veteran tactician also briefly coached in the NFL, leading the New York Jets during the 1976 season.
Restoring the Fighting Irish
Holtz’s greatest achievement came after he was hired by Notre Dame in 1986 to restore the faded glory of the programme.
Taking the job fulfilled a childhood ambition for the Ohio native, who grew up listening to the team’s games on the radio in the 1940s.
He famously had a clause written into his contract at Minnesota allowing him to leave for the Irish, provided he first took the Gophers to a bowl game.
Under his stewardship, immediate success followed, including receiver Tim Brown winning the Heisman Trophy in 1987.
The pinnacle of his tenure arrived in 1988, when he guided the team to an undefeated season and a national title.
That historic run included a defining victory over bitter rivals Miami in a match dubbed “Catholics vs Convicts”.
Standard setter and broadcaster
Former players have often cited Holtz’s uncompromising standards as the catalyst for their success.
Quarterback Steve Beuerlein, who played under Holtz, recalled the immediate cultural shift during their first team meeting.
“He got up to the podium and he looked at our team and he said, ‘Get your feet on the floor, sit up straight, take your hats off and get ready to play some football.’ We knew right away that it was a whole new deal.”
Steve Beuerlein, former Notre Dame quarterback
Following his retirement from the sidelines, Holtz enjoyed a second career as a prominent television analyst.
He spent more than a decade with ESPN, becoming known to a new generation of fans for his quick wit and analysis.
The New England Patriots are planning to release wide receiver Stefon Diggs just one year after signing him to a lucrative three-year contract.
The move comes despite the 32-year-old playing a pivotal role in helping the franchise reach the Super Bowl in his debut campaign.
Diggs had agreed to a deal worth $69m (£54.5m) in free agency last March.
Legal proceedings ongoing
The veteran pass catcher is currently facing felony strangulation and other criminal charges.
These allegations stem from a reported dispute with his personal chef.
The former Buffalo Bills star has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him.
He is next scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing on 1 April.
Production on the field
Diggs remained a productive asset for the Patriots’ offence during his short tenure.
He recorded 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns throughout the regular season.
His release marks a rapid end to what was viewed as a major acquisition for the AFC East side.
The Arizona Cardinals have informed quarterback Kyler Murray they intend to release him at the start of the new league year unless a trade is agreed beforehand.
Sources indicate the franchise plans to part ways with the former number one overall pick next Wednesday.
If a trade partner cannot be found in the coming days, the decision will formally end Murray’s tenure in the desert.
Financial implications of the move
Significant salary cap factors appear to be driving the timing of the announcement.
Arizona already owes the 27-year-old $36.8m in guaranteed money for the 2026 season.
Furthermore, an additional $19.5m guarantee for the 2027 campaign was set to trigger on 15 March.
By releasing the two-time Pro Bowler before that date, the organisation avoids locking in that further financial commitment.
A potential trade scenario
While the Cardinals have signalled their intent to cut the dual-threat playmaker, the door remains slightly ajar for a trade.
However, any deal would need to be finalised before the start of the league year next week.
Should he hit the open market, the quarterback is expected to draw interest from several teams seeking a starter.