2026 NFL free agency live updates: Rumors, news, trade buzz, Monday tracker

NFL free agency is about to start ... sort of.

In official terms, the league's window for signings won't truly begin until Wednesday. But noon on Monday marks the opening of the league's negotiating window in which other teams are allowed to contact the representation of pending unrestricted free agents and hammer out a deal.

The action is likely to come together quickly, with news breaking on agreements for top players not long after the so-called legal tampering period begins. And the movement likely won't end there, with more trades potentially materializing after the likes of Maxx Crosby, Trent McDuffie, DJ Moore and David Montgomery were shipped off last week.

USA TODAY Sports will have updates on all the latest rumors, news, agreements and trades throughout Monday, so check back often for more:

J.J. McCarthy could be feeling some heat in short order.

With the Arizona Cardinals set to officially release Kyler Murray on Wednesday, NFL Media's Tom Pelissero reported Sunday that the Minnesota Vikings had emerged as the front-runner to sign the veteran quarterback.

Vikings executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski said in February that the team was "exploring all possibilities" to improve quarterback play in 2026. McCarthy struggled in his first year at the helm, sparking questions about whether the team could forge on with the 2024 first-rounder.

Murray, 28, is set to receive $36.8 million in guarantees from Arizona in 2026, so he could be a one-year bargain for a team as he looks to revive his career.

At 31, Eric Wilson found his place in the NFL. Now, the linebacker is set to stick around with the Minnesota Vikings.

Wilson agreed to a three-year, $22.5 million contract with Minnesota that includes $12.5 million guaranteed, NFL Media's Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday night.

Wilson had a breakout season for the Vikings in 2025, recording career highs with 6 sacks and four forced fumbles. He's the only linebacker since 2020 to have 40 or more quarterback pressures and 20 or more run stuffs, according to Next Gen Stats.

The move gives some degree of continuity for a Vikings defense in flux. The team is parting with defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, while edge rusher Jonathan Greenard's name has popped up in trade talks.

The NFL's negotiating window - or legal tampering period - officially opens at noon ET on Monday, March 9. Teams are permitted to contact the agents of pending unrestricted free agents and reach agreements with them, though contracts can not become official until the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11. That is also the first time that trades can officially be processed.

The NFL's legal tampering period precedes the official start of free agency on Wednesday. It also marks the window in which a majority of the deals are completed for big-name players.

From Monday through Wednesday, any news broken will come in the form of agreements rather than signings, as players can not officially reach new contracts until the start of the new league year.

One new wrinkle this year: Per NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, "For the first time, clubs may conduct one video or phone call (maximum 1 hour) with up to five free agents, rather than communicating strictly through their agents as in past years."

Franchise tags, extensions and trades have a way of thinning out the market. But there are still several big names on Nate Davis' top 100 free agent rankings for USA TODAY Sports (we'll exclude Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens, who received the non-exclusive franchise tag):

• 1. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens
• 2. Trey Hendrickson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
• 3. Jaelan Phillips, OLB/DE, Philadelphia Eagles

Take a spin through the entire list here.

In NFL free agency, spending sprees almost inevitably produce some degree of buyer's remorse.

And while dead-cap hits are no longer the source of immense shame they were in previous years, teams can still be weighed down by whiffing on a veteran or two.

Which players could fit the bill this year around? Our rundown of the riskiest free agents had several cornerbacks, a marquee left tackle and some notable second-level defenders.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL free agency: Rumors, news, trades, tracker for Monday