Chiefs To Sign S Alohi Gilman, Re-Sign WR Tyquan Thornton
Bryan Cook departed for the Bengals today, and the Chiefs have a host of secondary holes to fill. One of them will come from Baltimore. Alohi Gilman is signing with the Chiefs, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
Kansas City is giving the former Charger a three-year, $24.75MM deal that includes $15MM fully guaranteed. Kansas City is also bringing back wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Thornton is coming back on a two-year, $11MM deal, per Schultz.
Among a glut of starter-level safeties hitting the market Monday, Gilman played out a Chargers-designed contract in Baltimore. The Ravens traded Odafe Oweh in a deal that brought Gilman to Maryland. Although Day 3 picks were exchanged in that swap, Oweh fetched a monster Commanders deal today while Gilman will be tied to a midlevel Chiefs pact. That could represent a nice value play for Kansas City, which saw Cook land a three-year, $40.25MM Cincinnati accord.
Gilman will join fellow former Charger defenders Drue Tranquill and Kristian Fulton in Kansas City (though, the latter is a clear-cut release candidate). Entering an age-29 season, Gilman is a seventh-year veteran who has started for the past three seasons. The Chargers turned to the former sixth-round pick in 2023, and a solid contract year led to a two-year, $10.13MM deal as a 2024 free agent. Gilman started all 28 games he played on that contract, jumping into the Ravens’ lineup immediately after the October trade.
Cook started for three seasons in Kansas City, but he follows Justin Reid, Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill as one-contract Chiefs safeties in recent years. The Chiefs also lost three corners — Trent McDuffie (traded), Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams — in recent days. Moves to replace that trio will be needed, though Fulton, Chamarri Conner and Nohl Williams remain on the roster.
Thornton played a bigger role early in the season, with Rashee Rice on the shelf due to a suspension. Xavier Worthy also missed early-season time due to a shoulder injury. A Patriots second-round washout, Thornton made some notable contributions as a deep threat for Patrick Mahomes. Thornton averaged a whopping 23.1 yards per catch last season, catching 19 passes for a career-high 438 yards and three touchdowns.
The Chiefs have Marquise Brown unsigned while Rice’s future is murky due to domestic violence allegations surfacing. Rice is also in a contract year, while Worthy is signed through 2027. JuJu Smith-Schuster joins Brown as a free agent, and 2025 fourth-rounder Jalen Royals did not see much action as a rookie.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/9/26
Here are the minor move from a frenzied free agency first day:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Natrone Brooks, LB Christian Harris, DE Cameron Thomas
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: P Mitch Wishnowsky
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Akayleb Evans, CB Robert Rochell
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Dominique Robinson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: OLB Dennis Gardeck
- Released: TE Johnny Mundt
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to two-year deal: K Matt Gay
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LS Joe Cardona
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: TE Greg Dulcich
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Chris Manhertz
New York Jets
- Signed: FB Andrew Beck
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DL Esezi Otomewo
NFL Announces 2026 Compensatory Picks
The NFL has awarded compensatory draft picks for teams in the 2026 draft. Based on an add/subtract formula that covers the 2025 free agency period, comp picks span from Round 3 to Round 7. The higher picks go to the teams that endured the most significant free agent losses.
This year, the NFL awarded 33 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns picks to franchises who suffered the largest net losses, so teams that signed multiple free agents have a lesser chance of receiving picks.
Sorted by round and by team, here are the league’s 2026 compensatory selections:
By round:
Round 3: Vikings (No. 97), Eagles (98), Steelers (99), Jaguars (100, from Lions*)
Round 4: 49ers (No. 133), Raiders (134), Steelers (135), Saints (136), Eagles (137), 49ers (138), 49ers (139), Jets (140)
Round 5: Ravens (No. 173), Ravens (174), Raiders (175), Chiefs (176), Cowboys (177), Eagles (178), Jets (179), Cowboys (180), Lions (181)
Round 6: Steelers (No. 214), Eagles (215), Steelers (216)
Round 7: Colts (No. 249), Ravens (250), Rams (251), Rams (252), Ravens (253), Colts (254), Packers (255), Bronc0s (256), Broncos (257)
By team:
- Baltimore Ravens: 4
- Philadelphia Eagles: 4
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 4
- San Francisco 49ers: 3
- Dallas Cowboys: 2
- Denver Broncos: 2
- Indianapolis Colts: 2
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2
- Los Angeles Rams: 2
- New York Jets: 2
- Detroit Lions: 1
- Green Bay Packers: 1
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 1
- Kansas City Chiefs: 1
- Minnesota Vikings: 1
- New Orleans Saints: 1
* = awarded for Lions DC Aaron Glenn becoming Jets’ HC
The Bears lost a minority executive to a GM role, with Ian Cunningham taking over in Atlanta. But the NFL will not award Chicago two third-round picks for that hire because the Falcons have Matt Ryan positioned as their president of football. Although Cunningham — Chicago’s assistant GM for four years — holds plenty of organizational say, Ryan is atop its front office hierarchy. The Bears disagree with the NFL’s ruling, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo.
Bears GM Ryan Poles confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin) the team spoke with the NFL about the matter, but the league did not rule in the team’s favor. Had this decision gone the Bears’ way, they would have received third-round picks in the 2026 and ’27 drafts.
Teams Eyeing Alvin Kamara In Trades
The Saints agreed to terms with Travis Etienne earlier today, putting Alvin Kamara‘s New Orleans future in jeopardy. Teams around the league are now wondering if Kamara could be traded.
Not interested in leaving New Orleans last year, Kamara may reasonably change his stance after the Etienne news. Teams are looking into this situation and wondering if a trade could happen, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
One season remains on Kamara’s $24.5MM extension. Kamara is due $3MM guaranteed for 2026. Our Rory Parks examined this situation recently, indicating the team’s most recent Kamara restructure was separate from a standard base-to-bonus adjustment and is something to keep an eye on regarding a potential separation. The Etienne news certainly points to Kamara’s Saints stay wrapping after nine seasons.
Kamara is heading into an age-31 season and is far removed from his Pro Bowl years. Teams showed interest in the former Sean Payton chess piece at the deadline, but the veteran running back said he would retire rather than be traded. Kamara then suffered an MCL sprain that shut him down for the season’s final six games.
It does not seem like Kamara would have too much trade value anymore, but teams would certainly be interested if the Saints cut him. A release would cost New Orleans more than $10MM in 2026 dead money. Such moves are not uncommon in New Orleans, the NFL’s epicenter for cap gymnastics. But this will be a situation to follow now that the Saints have added a true starter-caliber back for the first time since Mark Ingram’s initial departure.
Titans To Sign CB Joshua Williams, Re-Sign LS Morgan Cox
The Chiefs’ three-pack of 2022 cornerback draftees has now departed. After the Trent McDuffie trade and Jaylen Watson defection (both are now Rams), Kansas City will lose Joshua Williams.
Williams is on his way to the Titans, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. For the time being, Williams will rejoin former Chiefs teammate L’Jarius Sneed in Tennessee. Sneed is a release candidate, however, as Williams has agreed to a two-year deal. GM Mike Borgonzi was in Kansas City when the Chiefs drafted Williams in the 2024 fourth round.
Additionally, the Titans have another deal in place with long snapper Morgan Cox. A 16-year NFL veteran, Cox is one of the most accomplished long snappers in NFL history. The 39-year-old specialist is a five-time Pro Bowler. Tennessee has also agreed to terms with veteran interior O-lineman Austin Schlottmann, according to Pelissero. The veteran interior swingman, who played for Brian Daboll with the Giants, is joining Robert Saleh‘s team on a one-year deal.
McDuffie and Watson worked in front of Williams over the past two seasons, but the Steve Spagnuolo piece still played regularly — though, not so much last season. After logging at least a 31% snap share on defense from 2022-24, Williams saw only 17 defensive snaps last season. Even with McDuffie landing on IR late in the year, Williams remained a special-teamer.
Pro Football Focus ranked Williams as a top-25 option at corner in 2023, when he helped the Chiefs (with Borgonzi in the front office) win Super Bowl LVIII. Williams, who intercepted a pass during the 2022 playoffs, played behind McDuffie and Sneed primarily from 2022-23. He did start 12 games over his first three seasons, and the Titans will take what probably amounts to a flier here.
Williams is by far the lowest-profile player among the three corners Tennessee agreed to add Monday. The cap-rich Titans agreed to terms with Alontae Taylor and Cordale Flott. The team did not see its previous expenditures at corner — Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie — pan out, but neither Borgonzi nor Saleh was there for those misses. The contracts given to Taylor and Flott point to a Sneed cut, and the Titans — should the former Super Bowl starter pass a physical — will save more than $13MM in cap space.
Steelers To Add RB Rico Dowdle
Although the Steelers were interested in re-signing Kenneth Gainwell, Jaylen Warren will have a new running mate in 2026. Pittsburgh is adding Rico Dowdle, NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweets.
This move will reunite Dowdle with new Steelers HC Mike McCarthy. A 2020 UDFA, Dowdle played in McCarthy’s system for his first five seasons. It’s a two-year, $12.25MM deal, Schultz adds.
The former Cowboys rusher spent last season with the Panthers. Dowdle has gained 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons. Gainwell agreed to terms with the Buccaneers earlier today. As this 1-B back carousel spins, Dowdle will go from complementing/usurping Chuba Hubbard to working with Warren in 2026.
Dowdle is going into his age-28 season, but as a former third-stringer behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in Dallas, he only has 567 career carries. This is a similar strategy to how Pittsburgh proceeded in 2025, with Gainwell a career Eagles backup. Dowdle has more tread on his tires by comparison, but he is also a much more accomplished back.
Playing on back-to-back one-year contracts, Dowdle has impressed. He replaced Pollard as Dallas’ starter in 2024, rushing for 1,079 yards and then overtook Hubbard — despite Hubbard’s 2024 Panthers extension — and totaled 1,076. Both seasons brought 4.6 yards per carry. Dowdle lost some of his workload back to Hubbard late in the year and was planning to target a team that would give him a regular role. The Steelers have Warren, but Gainwell’s season showed an opening exists for carries.
The Steelers voted Gainwell team MVP after he amassed 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns. Gainwell is a year younger than Dowdle and has only 394 carries, but the Bucs will go with him to complement Bucky Irving. Rachaad White is a free agent.
Pittsburgh used a third-round pick on Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson last year. It would stand to reason Johnson will have a chance at a bigger role, but then again, a new coaching staff has arrived and McCarthy’s most recent RB1 is coming to town. Dowdle will give the Steelers a proven option, representing a late-blooming back after tallying just seven carries over his first three seasons.
Braxton Jones To Re-Sign With Bears
With Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss much of the 2025 season, the Bears are pivoting to their former starter. Braxton Jones is staying in Chicago, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes.
The parties are in agreement on a one-year deal worth up to $10MM. Despite Jones losing his LT job in a contract year, he will give it another go as a Bear.
Involved in a three-man competition with Trapilo and Theo Benedet in training camp last year, Jones held off the younger blockers to keep his job. But he did not make it through the season in the role. The former fifth-round Bears find lost his job to Benedet in early October, and trade rumors followed Jones in the ensuing weeks. An IR placement, due to a knee injury, ended any trade talk.
Chicago used an IR activation on Jones but did not have the four-year vet active for its divisional-round game, further pointing to a 2026 separation. The Bears kicked Joe Thuney to LT, following the Chiefs’ lead, and used Jordan McFadden at guard against the Rams following Trapilo’s wild-card setback. But Jones will have another chance with Ben Johnson‘s coaching staff soon.
From 2022-24, Jones worked as Chicago’s full-time left tackle. The Southern Utah product started 40 games during those three seasons, holding the job throughout Matt Eberflus‘ time at the helm. Pro Football Focus graded the Division I-FCS product as a top-25 tackle in both 2022 and ’24, assigning him a top-35 placement in 2023. As the Bears changed systems in 2025, PFF viewed Jones — who did not qualify as a regular due to limited playing time — outside the top 70.
A 2025 second-round pick, Trapilo suffered a patellar tendon tear and is expected to be out for most of the season. Benedet is still under contract. The Bears may be prepared to hold a two-man competition for the Week 1 gig, though Benedet logged more starts (eight) than Jones under Johnson last season. The Bears have been dealt multiple unexpected blows in 2026, with Drew Dalman‘s retirement at 27 following the Trapilo news. Chicago traded for Garrett Bradbury to replace Dalman.
Browns To Add LB Quincy Williams
Quincy Williams will not land with Robert Saleh or Jeff Ulbrich. Instead, the former Jets All-Pro linebacker is bound for Cleveland.
The veteran is joining the Browns on a two-year deal worth up to $17MM, NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Williams is reuniting with one of Cleveland’s staffers, however, with new Browns DC Mike Rutenberg being the Jets’ linebackers coach from 2021-24.
Although the current Jets regime has largely dismantled that defensive core, the Saleh-Ulbrich-Rutenberg trio powered a top-five unit in back-to-back years. Williams was at his best in those seasons, earning first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2023.
The Jets had re-signed Williams on a three-year, $18MM, but the Aaron Glenn-Darren Mougey regime then inked less accomplished holdover Jamien Sherwood to a three-year, $45MM pact. Williams played out his deal last season, being mentioned in trade rumors. A Cowboys trade along with brother Quinnen nearly went down, but the Jets instead retained the older Williams brother to finish out a dreadful 2025 slate.
Williams saw his playing time decrease under Glenn, and it was not believed to be a cozy partnership. But the speedy linebacker excelled under Rutenberg. Grading Williams 77th overall among off-ball LBs in 2025, Pro Football Focus slotted him ninth during the ’23 season — when the Jets ranked third in total defense. New York ranked fourth in scoring and yardage in 2022, with Williams and C.J. Mosley manning the LB spots under Rutenberg.
Formerly a waiver claim after the then-Urban Meyer-led Jaguars cut bait, Williams has four 100-tackle seasons and has been effective as a blitzer (12.5 career sacks). He is heading into an age-30 season. Quite productive in 2025 under Jim Schwartz, Bush joined the Bears on a three-year, $30MM deal earlier today. Williams will play alongside Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger, with Rutenberg giving him a chance to bounce back after a down 2025.
Raiders, LB Nakobe Dean Agree To Deal
The Raiders‘ spending spree continues with a linebacker addition. With Las Vegas needing to retool at this position, Nakobe Dean will be asked to be a core performer.
Dean is joining the Raiders on a three-year deal worth $36MM, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Despite injuries hampering him regularly in Philly, the former third-round pick will score a $12MM AAV. Though, guarantees will be particularly notable on this pact.
Vegas is loading up at linebacker, with Dean being the B-side addition. The team just agreed to terms with Quay Walker as well. This has been a busy day for the AFC West team, which headlined its work with a record-obliterating Tyler Linderbaum contract.
Entering today with more than $120MM in cap space, the Raiders have joined the Titans on a spending spree. The team had no notable holdovers at linebacker, and the Walker-Dean tandem looks set to be the next options under Klint Kubiak. The Cowboys were believed to be eyeing Dean to follow new DC Christian Parker from Philly, but the Raiders had the cap space to outmuscle anyone today. They’re throwing weight around.
Dallas did make a strong push for Dean, according to NFL.com’s Jane Slater. Dean was believed to be on the fence here, with Slater indicating the Cowboys made a good offer. Neither Texas nor Nevada carry a state income tax, but Dean decided to go with the rebuilding Raiders rather than working under Parker — Philly’s DBs coach last season — in Dallas.
Dean essentially redshirted his rookie year, seeing Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards start for the Eagles’ Super Bowl LVII team. Philly gave Dean a starting job in 2023, but foot trouble limited him to five games. A resurgence in 2024 helped the Eagles to the NFC East title and the conference’s No. 2 seed, but a patellar tendon tear in the wild-card round brought another setback. Dean did not debut until Week 6 of this past season, making it a bit surprising the Raiders are signing off on a $12MM-per-year deal.
The Raiders, who lost Robert Spillane in free agency last year, have Devin White, Elandon Roberts and Jamal Adams unsigned. Despite promoting from within at DC (Rob Leonard), Las Vegas is importing some bigger names at LB this offseason.
Broncos To Re-Sign LB Alex Singleton
The Broncos will retain another member of their linebacking group ahead of the new league year. Alex Singleton has agreed to a two-year, $15.5MM pact, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports.
Singleton’s contract includes $11MM guaranteed, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. That figure includes a $3.75MM guarantee for 2027, giving Singleton a bit of security by forcing the Broncos to eat some dead money if a release occurs after 2026.
This represents a per-year raise for Singleton, who played out a three-year deal worth $18MM. After going 14-3, the Broncos are retaining much of their roster. Following the in-season extensions for Wil Lutz, Luke Wattenberg and Malcolm Roach, Denver has agreed to re-sign Singleton, Justin Strnad, J.K. Dobbins, Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins.
As Singleton’s fourth Broncos season wound down, the former CFL import received a testicular cancer diagnosis. That only ended up costing him one game, as the veteran underwent surgery and recovered during Denver’s bye week. Singleton also returned from an ACL tear, an injury that cost him most of 2024 and opened the door for Strnad to begin raising his stock.
Initially signed to a low-cost deal following the Eagles’ decision to non-tender him as an RFA, Singleton teamed with Josey Jewell in Denver. The Broncos let Jewell walk in 2024, having re-signed Singleton in 2023. The former Eagles starter played out that deal and has been a prolific tackler in Denver, helping Sean Payton craft a Broncos resurgence.
A former UDFA out of Montana State, Singleton has started 47 Broncos games. After 177- and 163-tackle seasons in 2022 and ’23, he came back with 135 in 16 games last season. Not an upper-crust option in coverage, Singleton has still been a key factor on back-to-back Vance Joseph top-three defenses. He came through with a key forced fumble in the divisional round, stalling some Bills momentum during a back-and-forth Broncos win.
This signing will change the Broncos’ LB setup, though perhaps not by too much. Denver cut Dre Greenlaw shortly after this deal surfaced. Greenlaw played in only eight games last season, battling multiple injuries after missing almost all of 2024 with the Achilles tear he suffered in Super Bowl LVIII. While the Broncos could add a younger option to develop behind Singleton and Strnad, the longtime team will entrust LB duties to holdovers familiar with DC Vance Joseph‘s system.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.