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Wednesday was yet another notable day as NFL free agency officially opened
While it wasn’t as crazy as the two days that proceeded it, Wednesday was nonetheless a busy day as NFL free agency officially opened.
The big news entering the day was the Ravens backing out of the Maxx Crosby trade with the Raiders. Baltimore made even more headlines on Wednesday when they signed former Bengals Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson to a four-year deal.
Wednesday also saw former Pro Bowl quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Kirk Cousins released by their respective clubs. Murray quickly went to work, as he reportedly touched down in Minnesota on Wednesday night ahead of a Thursday meeting with the Vikings. Fellow quarterback Daniel Jones — who was transition tagged by the Colts last week — signed a two-year, $88 million deal to stay in Indianapolis.
The Cowboys also made news Wednesday after they traded not one but two defensive linemen. Osa Odighizuwa was traded to the 49ers in exchange for a third-round pick. Solomon Thomas was dealt to the Titans in an exchange that also included a swapping of late-round picks.
We’ll be on top of every move with updates and analysis below. Follow along as a different type of “March madness” continues!
For more 2026 NFL free agency coverage:
- Team-by-team signings tracker: Full list of every transaction this offseason
- Team grades: How has your favorite squad fared?
- Top 100 tracker: Updates on Pete Prisco’s top free agents
- Grades for biggest moves: Assessing deals from Day 1 and Day 2
- Winners and losers: Players and teams that defined Day 1 and Day 2
See New Posts
Giants shock everyone and bring Evan Neal back
Offensive lineman Evan Neal was not exactly a fan favorite in New York, but John Harbaugh and company must have thought enough of him to bring him back as they re-signed him.
Packers bolster DT depth by signing Javon Hargrave to a two-year, $23 million deal
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave wasn’t a free agent for long after the Minnesota Vikings released him at the start of the new league year. The Green Bay Packers scooped him up on a two-year, $23 million deal with a $13 million salary in 2026, and the 33-year-old defensive tackle fills a critical need at defensive tackle.
Starting defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt fractured his fibula and suffered torn ligaments in his ankle in the Packers’ 31-24 Thanksgiving victory over the Detroit Lions. Hargrave’s presence will allow Wyatt to not feel like he was to rush his recovery in order to be back for Week 1.
This deal is also a reunion between new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and Hargrave. Gannon was Hargrave’s defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2021 to 2022, the two seasons with Hargrave’s highest sack totals. He produced 7.5 in 2021 and a career-high 11.0 in 2022 when the Eagles won the NFC before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Bears agree to terms with former first-round OT
ESPN reports that the Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wils Jr. on a one-year deal. The former No. 10 overall pick out of Alabama has started 57 of 58 career games played over five seasons, but has played in just 13 games over the last three years due to injury. He didn’t take a single snap in 2025.
Panthers agree to terms with WR John Metchie
The Carolina Panthers are adding one of Bryce Young’s old friends, as they have agreed to terms with wide receiver John Metchie, per ESPN. The Alabama product was teammates with Young during their college days down in Tuscaloosa.
Metchie spent last season with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, and caught 29 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned seven kicks for 120 yards.
Bills land DE Bradley Chubb with three-year deal
The Buffalo Bills are adding a notable name to their defensive line, as they have agreed to a three-year, $43.5 million deal with former Miami Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb, per ESPN. The deal is reportedly worth up to $52.5 million, and includes $29 million guaranteed. Chubb’s new AAV is $14.5 million.
Chubb, who turns 30 in June, was released by the Dolphins last month. He had two more years remaining on his contract with Miami, and carried cap hits north of $31.2 million in both 2026 and 2027. He has recorded two double-digit sack seasons over seven years. As a rookie in 2018, Chubb notched 12 sacks for the Denver Broncos. In his first full season with the Dolphins back in 2023, he recorded 11 sacks.
Jake Tonges agrees to two-year deal prior to RFA tender deadline
NFL Media reports that the 49ers and tight end Jake Tonges have agreed to a new deal just before the RFA tender deadline. It’s a two-year, $8 million deal with $5.5 million guaranteed.
After not being targeted at all in the passing game in 2024, Tonges caught 34 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns in 2025.
Falcons add EDGE Azeez Ojulari
Atlanta is adding some help on the edge, as the Falcons have agreed to a one-year deal with Azeez Ojulari, per NFL Media. The former second-round pick out of Georgia went to school in Marietta, so this is a homecoming.
Ojulari recorded eight sacks as a rookie for the New York Giants in 2021, and has 22 sacks over 49 career games played. He spent last year with the Philadelphia Eagles, but played just three games due to a hamstring injury.
Ravens add former Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins
The Ravens agreed to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson on a four-year deal earlier on Wednesday, and now, they have addressed the secondary. ESPN reports that Baltimore has agreed with former New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins on a two-year, $10 million deal. He recored 71 tackles, four interceptions and 1.5 sacks in 2025 as the Patriots made the Super Bowl, and PFF graded him as the ninth-best safety.
Jeremy Fowler pointed out that the Ravens want to play three safeties under new head coach Jesse Minter.
Commanders going CRAZY on Day 3, land another former Maryland star in Nick Cross
The Washington Commanders are going wild this Wednesday! According to NFL Media, they have now agreed to terms with former Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross on a two-year, $14 million deal. Cross is the second former Maryland Terrapin Washington has agreed to terms with today, as the Commanders also reportedly landed TE Chig Okonkwo.
Cross recorded 120 tackles, 2.5 sacks, five passes defensed and one interception last season. In 2024, he recorded an incredible 146 tackles for Indianapolis.
Vikings, Aaron Jones agree to a revised contract
Aaron Jones is staying put. The Vikings and the veteran running back have agreed to a revised contract to keep him with the team for the 2026 season, according to the NFL Network. Jones’ base salary will be lowered to $5.5 million, down from his expected $9 million base salary. The contract includes $5 million guaranteed.
The 31-year-old is entering his 10th year in the league and his third with the Vikings. Jones signed a one-year contract with the Vikings in March of 2024 and re-signed on a two-year $20 million contract in March of 2025, after a 17-start, 1,138 yard, five rushing touchdown season.
Last year, Jones was played on IR after starting the first two games, missing four games due to the hamstring injury. He finished the year starting all 12 games he appeared in, with 132 rushes for 548 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He also had 28 receptions for 199 yards and one TD in the air.
Jones has three 1,000-plus yard rushing seasons in his career, coming in 2019, 2020, the year he made the Pro Bowl, 2022 and 2024, his first year in Minnesota.
He began his career as a fifth round pick by the Packers, playing there from 2017 to 2023.
Brandon Aiyuk to the Commanders?
CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones reports that when the San Francisco 49ers release wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, he’s expected to sign a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders.
Aiyuk turns 28 in March, and missed all of last season as he recovered from the torn ACL suffered in October 2024. It’s worrisome that the 49ers had to void the remaining guarantees on the four-year, $120 million extension he signed in 2024, but his 2023 season was magical.
Back in 2023, Aiyuk caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns as the 49ers made it to Super Bowl LVIII. He had seven 100-yard games, and averaged 3.1 yards per route run — the third-best rate in the NFL behind Tyreek Hill and Nico Collins (min. 400 routes). Aiyuk caught 14 of 20 passes thrown both outside the numbers and with 15 or more air yards, which was the best rate (70%) of any player over the last four seasons.
Commanders sign former Titans TE Chig Okonkwo
The Maryland man returns home. The Washington Commanders have agreed to terms with former Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo on a three-year deal worth up to $30 million, per NFL Media. Okonkwo was regarded as one of the best free agents available on Day 3, and he led the Titans in receiving this past season with 56 receptions for 560 yards and two touchdowns.
Chig is not a stud in the blocking game, but what he adds as a receiver is special. He’s faster than your typical TE, and can make defenders miss in space.
Kevin Byard reunited with Mike Vrabel in New England
The New England Patriots have landed a veteran safety, as they agreed to terms with former Chicago Bears defensive back Kevin Byard on a one-year, $9 million deal, per NFL Media. Byard, who was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round back in 2019, is reunited with Mike Vrabel.
Last season, Byard recorded 93 tackles, eight passes defensed and led the league with seven interceptions. He was one of two players (along with former teammate Nahshon Wright) to record five picks and three tackles for loss.
Byard was ranked as CBS Sports’ No. 58 free agent this offseason.
More signings trickling in …
The action has quieted a little bit outside the Trey Hendrickson and Daniel Jones deals, but agreements are still coming through:
- EDGE Tyrus Wheat is signing with the Cowboys, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
- RB Zonovan “Bam” Knight is back with the Cardinals on a one-year deal .
- K Joey Slye is returning to the Titans on a one-year deal .
Colts, Daniel Jones agree on two-year $88M deal
The Colts and Daniel Jones have agreed to a two-year deal worth $88 million and up to $100 million, CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones confirmed Wednesday.
Jones had been on the transition tag, but both he and Indianapolis had been interested in getting a deal done. Now they have. Jones, 28, had played very well for the Colts in 2025 before suffering first a fracture tibia (which he played through) and then a torn Achilles. The Colts, who started 8-2, finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs. Still, they now have long-term deals in place with Jones and breakout wide receiver Alec Pierce and will hope those two plus Jonathan Taylor, a strong offensive line and full seasons of a healthy Sauce Gardner-Charvarius Ward duo at cornerback will help them get right back into the playoff picture.
Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen restructure deals to free up cap space
Star quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have agreed to restructure their deals in order to free up cap space for the Ravens and the Bills, respectively, per reports.
CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala was first to report the Jackson restructure, and Adam Schefter says the move frees up $40 million of cap space for Baltimore this year. Jackson was set to count roughly $74 million against the cap this season, which would have been a record.
Allen’s restructured deal, meanwhile, saves the Bills roughly $12 million, per ESPN’s Field Yates.
NFL reportedly exploring playing on Thanksgiving Eve
The NFL is exploring playing a game on Thanksgiving Eve, which this year would be Wednesday, Nov. 25, according to CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones. It would likely be between two teams coming off byes.
Though logistically challenging — and certainly not the most popular with players — the NFL has pushed more Wednesday games recently. In 2024, there were two Christmas Day games on Wednesday. The only other two Wednesday games somewhat recently were in 2020 (due to COVID issues) and 2012 (due to a speech by then-president Barack Obama scheduled for Thursday).
Prior to that, there hadn’t been a Wednesday professional football game since 1948, when the Los Angeles Dons and the New York Yankees of the AAFC faced off.
Ravens land Trey Hendrickson on four-year, $112M deal after Maxx Crosby deal falls through
One door closes, another one opens. Roughly 13 hours after nixing the Maxx Crosby deal due to medical concerns, the Ravens have signed EDGE Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Hendrickson, 31, had been seeking top-of-the-market money, and while he doesn’t quite get there in terms of per-year numbers, it is a massive total value.
Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024 and also had 17.5 in 2023. The Ravens had a desperate need for a pass rusher after having one of the NFL’s worst units last year. Hendrickson also didn’t have his best year in 2025; he missed much of the offseason and preseason due to contract differences with the Bengals, and he ended up appearing in just seven games before core muscle surgery ended his season.
Still, this is a huge move for both player and team. Hendrickson joins an AFC North rival, while Baltimore hopes it has fixed its pass-rush issues. In an ideal world for the Ravens, Hendrickson joins a fearsome group up front that includes Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones and Mike Green, who flashed at times as a rookie.
Commanders land K’Lavon Chaisson on one-year deal
The Commanders continued their defensive overhaul — and a much-needed one at that — early Wednesday with a one-year, $12 deal for EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
A 2020 first-round pick of the Jaguars, Chaisson never lived up to that billing in Jacksonville, but he collected five sacks in 2024 with the Raiders and a career-high 7.5 last year with the Patriots. He also produced 54 pressures, nearly double his previous career high, while adding 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Washington had now added two EDGEs in Chaisson and Odafe Oweh, reunited with interior defensive lineman Tim Settle, signed top linebacker Leo Chenal and brought in cornerback Amik Robertson as well. Though the Commanders have missed on a few offensive players, they’ve clearly gotten younger and better defensively.
What to watch for Wednesday, plus some early signings
Wednesday brings the start of the new league year. It’s also the third day since free agency technically opened, so we could see a flurry of moves, especially among teams and players who haven’t struck it big yet.
- What happens with Trey Hendrickson? The 2024 sacks leader is yet to sign while other younger EDGEs have found new homes. Is today the day for Hendrickson? Will the Ravens get involved after the Maxx Crosby deal fell through?
- Speaking of the Ravens, they suddenly have a lot to do. They’ve lost almost all of their top free agents, and they have nothing to show for it in return other than adding guard John Simpson. They need offensive line help, pass catcher help, pass rusher help and potentially secondary help, specifically at safety. They’d also love to finish a Lamar Jackson restructure/extension to ease their cap situation.
- Other top free agents according to Pete Prisco who are still available include QB Kyler Murray, S Jaquan Brisker, OT Rasheed Walker, S Nick Cross and WR Jauan Jennings.
- The Crosby situation will be worth monitoring every day until we have a definitive answer one way or another.
Early signings today include DB/special teams standout Tavierre Thomas staying with the Vikings, LB/EDGE/special teams standout Del’Shawn Phillips staying with the Chargers and OL Brett Toth signing with the 49ers. Also, the Patriots released LB Anfernee Jennings.
Lions restructure Jared Goff’s contract
The Lions have restructured Jared Goff’s contract, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. That includes converting $40 million of salary into a signing bonus (which can be spread out over multiple years) and adding a void year to his contract. The move frees up $42 million in cap space this year.
Detroit has been somewhat quiet to start free agency, bringing in a few offensive linemen and former Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco among other smaller moves. We’ll see if Detroit can now pony up some money for a top free agent remaining. A pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson or some other help on the defense would seem to be at the top of the list.
Fallout from the Maxx Crosby trade falling through
In an al-time stunner, the Ravens’ blockbuster trade with the Raiders for Maxx Crosby fell through Tuesday night after Baltimore backed out due to medical concerns. Crosby had his meniscus repaired in January, and the Ravens had both their own medical team as well as independent experts examine the knee.
So, now what happens?
- Crosby is headed back to Las Vegas, and for now he’s focused on getting ready to play for the Raiders, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
- Still, other teams have called the Raiders about their interest in Crosby, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Just don’t expect the Cowboys to be one of them.
- Crosby’s surgeon, the renowned Neil ElAttrache, told ESPN that Crosby is “on track” and “doing an excellent job attacking his rehab.”
- The Raiders will honor all of their agreements with free agents, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
The league, meanwhile, is stunned. As CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones discovered, there’s some wariness around the league regarding Baltimore:
“It doesn’t smell right,” said one team executive.
“How can a team ever trust the Ravens again?,” asked one agent.
“I don’t think many teams will feel comfortable trading with the Ravens,” said one league source.
Inside the NFL’s reaction to Ravens backing out of blockbuster Maxx Crosby trade with Raiders
Jonathan Jones
