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The NFL free agency two-day negotiating period kicked off on Monday and you can follow every move here
Mar 9, 2026 at 10:58 pm ET • 1 min read
The first day of NFL free agency is officially in the books. Well, free agency doesn't actually start until Wednesday, but the legal tampering period did begin on Monday and things got off to a wild start.
The Raiders went into the day with the most money to spend and they weren't shy about using it. In a span of 10 hours, the Raiders added several key free agents, including Tyler Linderbaum, Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean and Kwity Paye.
Linderbaum was ranked as the best free agent available this year on Prisco's top 100 list. Besides, Linderbaum, we saw several key free agents get snatched up: Overall, 22 of the top 30 players on Prisco's top 100 list have either been signed or tagged as of Monday and if you want the full breakdown of where each player ended up, we've got that here.
We've also got a full team-by-team list of EVERY signing that has happened in free agency so far and you can check that out here.
Free agency will now be heading into Day 2 of the tampering period and one key thing to keep in mind here is that although players are allowed to verbally agree to terms on a contract with a new team right now, no one can actually sign their new deal until the start of free agency at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
If you want to re-live all the action from Monday as it unfolded, be sure to check out all the updates in our live blog below.
Top 10 remaining free agents: Trey Hendrickson and Kyler Murray among players still available
There was plenty of action during the NFL's first unofficial day of free agency, but the fun isn't over yet. There are still quite a few names left on the market to keep an eye for Tuesday.
Here's a look at the best players from Prisco's top 100 who are still available:
1. EDGE Trey Hendrickson 2. QB Kyler Murray 3. S Jaquan Brisker 4. OT Rasheed Walker 5. CB Tariq Woolen 6. S Nick Cross 7. WR Romeo Doubs 8. LB Leo Chenal 9. WR Jauan Jennings 10. DE Joey Bosa
Overall, 22 of the top 30 players on Prisco's top 100 list have either been signed or tagged as of today and if you want the full breakdown on where everyone ended up, we've got that here.
Panthers late night surprise: Carolina lands Devin Lloyd
The Panthers started the day by making a huge move, and now, they're ending the day by making a huge move. The Panthers have agreed to terms with Devin Lloyd on a three-year, $45 million deal that includes $25 million in guaranteed money.
Lloyd was the top linebacker left in free agency and was trying to decide between the Panthers, Saints and Bengals before he finally made the decision to head to Carolina late Monday night.
Lloyd will now join Jaelan Phillips in Carolina after the former Eagles pass-rusher made the decision to sign with the Panthers earlier today. It's been a big day for a Panthers team that has now added two of the top defensive players in free agency this year.
Steelers fill hole at running back by adding Rico Dowdle
The Steelers lost Kenneth Gainwell in free agency, but they've already found his replacement in Rico Dowdle. The Panthers running back has agreed to terms on a two-year, $12.25 million deal with the Steelers.
Dowdle has quietly been one of the most impressive running backs in football and he's gone over 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons while playing for two different teams. In 2024 with the Cowboys, he rushed for 1,079 yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Last year, he put up nearly identical numbers for the Panthers, rushing for 1,076 yards with an average of 4.6 yards per carry. Dowdle also went over 245 yards receiving in both seasons.
Dowdle is a bell cow running back who can handle getting 230+ carries per season.
Free agency note: Why you didn't hear anything about franchise tag players on Monday
Although free agency is unofficially started today with the opening of the two-day tampering period, that does NOT apply to players who got hit with the franchise tag.
So if you're waiting to hear some news involving any of those players, you'll be waiting a couple of days.
Free agency roundup: Signings keep trickling in
The first day of the free agent tampering period has been a crazy one and more and more signings keep trickling in. There have been so many that a few slipped through the cracks, so let's do another round-up of a few signings that happened today that we haven't yet mentioned here.
- LB Quincy Williams to sign with Browns (two years, $17 million)
- WR Kendrick Bourne to sign with Cardinals (two years, $11.47 million)
- OG Isaac Seumalo to sign with Cardinals (three years, $31.5 million)
- DT Roy Lopez to sign with Cardinals (two years, $11.5 millon)
- OL Cordell Volson to sign with Titans (one-year, $2.5 million)
- S Reed Blankenship to sign with Texans (three years, $24.75 million)
- S Jalen Thompson to sign with Cowboys (three years, $36 million)
- LB D'Marco Jackson to sign with Bears (two years, $7.5 million)
- OL Braxton Jones to re-sign with Bears (one-year, $10 million)
- OL Larry Borom to sign with Lions (Terms not disclosed yet)
The addition of Borom is an interesting one for Detriot because he played right tackle for the Dolphins in 2025 with 11 starts. The Lions already have a right tackle in Penei Sewell, but they don't have a left tackle with the recent release of Taylor Decker. That most likely means that either Sewell or Borom will end up playing left tackle and the safer bet would seem to be that the Lions put Sewell there.
Panthers have a new backup QB: Kenny Pickett headed to Carolina
With Andy Dalton set to become a free agent, the Panthers were in the market for a backup quarterback and they added one on Monday in the form of Kenny Pickett. The former Steelers' first-round pick has agreed to terms on a one-year deal that could be worth up to $7.5 million.
Pickett started a total of 24 games during his two years with the Steelers (2022-23), but over the past two seasons, he's mainly served as a backup QB in both Philadelphia (2024) and Las Vegas (2025).
Rashid Shaheed returning to Seahawks: WR gets $51 million deal
The Seahawks have decided not to let Shaheed leave Seattle. The free agent receiver will be re-signing with the Seahawks after agreeing to terms on a three-year, $51 million deal.
The Seahawks acquired Shaheed just before the trade deadline back in November and the deal ended up being a home run for Seattle. Shaheed arguably saved the Seahawks' season when he returned a punt for a touchdown against the Rams that helped spark a Seattle comeback from a 30-14 deficit back in Week 16.
Shaheed also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in both the regular season and playoffs for the Seahawks.
The 27-year-old was also a solid receiver, catching 15 passes for 188 yards in nine games.
Raiders big day continues with additions of Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean
The Raiders had the most money heading into free agency and they are putting it to use. The Raiders have made two huge defensive signings with the addition of Eagles LB Nakobe Dean and Packers LB Quay Walker.
Walker is getting a three-year, $40.5 million deal while Dean is getting a three-year, $36 million deal. With three linebackers set to be free agents, the Raiders needed to make a move and they did that by adding these two.
