Titans To Sign CB Alontae Taylor
The Titans’ spending spree continues. Alontae Taylor is the latest free agent to line up a deal with Tennessee as the team’s overhaul is in full force.
The parties have agreed to a deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This pact will be worth $60MM over three years, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds. Taylor will cash in following his rookie contract stint in New Orleans, with Rapoport adding he will collect $42MM in full guarantees.
Experienced as both a slot and perimeter corner, Taylor may command the top CB salary on this year’s market. Ranked 12th overall in PFR’s top 50 (first among corners), Taylor has a skillset that will allow Saleh options in coverage. The former second-round pick has more than 1,500 snaps inside and outside.
Taylor becomes the NFL’s 10th $20MM-per-year cornerback. The Titans still have L’Jarius Sneed tied to a $19.1MM-per-year contract. While other former Chiefs starters have justified their second-contract costs — the Rams are betting big on this having added Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson — Sneed has struggled to stay healthy and was embroiled in a legal situation during his time in Nashville. The Titans are likely to cut the underwhelming trade acquisition, veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky notes.
As Nikhil Mehta’s Titans Offseason Outlook detailed, Sneed will see $7.5MM of his 2026 salary shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2026 league year. That March 16 date will be tied to a physical, per Kuharsky, who notes Sneed being cleared would allow the Titans to cut him without that injury guarantee kicking in. The Titans would save $13.43MM if Sneed’s injury issue is resolved and he is released.
The Saints attempted to extend Taylor, but it became clear this week he would depart in free agency. New Orleans sought a Day 2 pick for Taylor in a trade, and the Bears and Colts pursued. Indianapolis then came in with a two-first-rounder offer for Sauce Gardner. Taylor, 27, finished out his contract year with the Saints — unlike Rashid Shaheed, who was moved at the deadline — and will be positioned as the Titans’ No. 1 corner. Barring a pay cut, Sneed will be out of the picture. Tennessee will still have work to do here.
New Orleans has now lost two homegrown options — Taylor and Paulson Adebo — to big-ticket contracts in back-to-back free agencies. The Giants gave Adebo a three-year, $54MM deal. A few corners landed those terms in 2025, but with the cap rising past $300MM this year, Taylor will outdo that lot and reside between the top tier and the cadre of ’25 market beneficiaries.
Seahawks To Re-Sign CB Josh Jobe
Losing Coby Bryant to the Bears during today’s frenzied transaction spree, the Seahawks also have Riq Woolen unattached from their Super Bowl secondary. Seattle is, however, bringing back one member of its DB cadre.
Josh Jobe is re-signing with the Seahawks on a three-year, $24MM deal, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Jobe became a regular starter for Seattle last season and, unlike Woolen, was acquired during Mike Macdonald‘s HC stay.
In PFR’s Seahawks Offseason Outlook, I mentioned Jobe as the most likely DB to stay due largely to his arrival under Macdonald. The former Eagles draftee landed in Seattle as a practice squad player in August 2024, and the Seahawks developed him into a starter. Jobe started 15 games last season, which turned out to be a breakthrough year for the corner’s value.
PFR’s No. 40-ranked free agent, Jobe logged career-high 818 defensive snaps (and starting more games than Woolen – 15-7). He allowed a measly 49.5% completion rate as the closest defender last season. Among boundary corners with at least eight starts, that ranked ninth leaguewide. Jobe, 27, only has two career INTs but closed last season with 12 passes defensed while making key contributions during Seattle’s Super Bowl run.
Woolen landed in trade rumors before last year’s deadline, potentially pointing to Seahawks confidence they could retain Jobe. While cap space wasn’t an issue for the reining champs entering free agency, big-ticket extensions are likely coming for Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks let Kenneth Walker defect to the Chiefs, who authorized more than $14MM per year for the Super Bowl LX MVP. Jobe represents a midlevel CB investment, but he will be expected to complement Witherspoon and a to-be-determined third corner next season.
Bengals, S Bryan Cook Agree To Deal
The Bengals have lined up a notable defensive addition early in free agency. Bryan Cook is set to join Cincinnati in 2026.
Team and player have agreed to a three-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. Cook is set to receive $40.25MM on this new pact. That includes $18MM this season.
PFR’s top safety in this year’s pool, ranking 21st overall, Cook is headed to the Bengals on a contract that is certainly on-brand for the old-school franchise. The signing bonus represents the only fully guaranteed money, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.
Cook will be due a $4MM 2027 roster bonus and a $6.05MM ’27 base salary. A $1MM roster bonus and a $10MM base salary would await in 2028. While the $18MM 2026 number looks nice, the Bengals could cut bait before the 2027 bonus comes due if the fit proves poor.
This year’s safety crop presented a wide array of options, with dozens of starter-level players hitting the market today. A former second-round pick, Cook started every Chiefs game over the past two seasons. While a season-ending ankle injury kept Cook out for the 2023 stretch run, he returned and started in Super Bowl LIX against the Eagles. Cook, 27 in September, succeeded Thornhill in Kansas City’s lineup after the latter’s Cleveland defection.
Pro Football Focus ranked Cook fourth among all safeties last season. The Chiefs primarily used Cook as a free safety, though Cook does not have great ball production (three INTs in four seasons). The Bengals have been hurting at safety since Jessie Bates‘ 2023 defection. The team’s Vonn Bell reunion did not work out, nor did its Geno Stone acquisition. Stone is unsigned.
Cincy, which has seen porous defense do plenty to sink its past two operations, will try its hand with Cook this time around. With Jordan Battle in a contract year, the Bengals will hope Cook can prove a fit and stick around beyond 2026.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Broncos To Re-Sign RB J.K. Dobbins
Linked to both Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne, the Broncos will instead bring back their primary 2025 starting running back. J.K. Dobbins is staying in Denver, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports.
Dobbins confirmed the news. He had expressed interest in re-signing at multiple points, and despite yet another season-sidetracking injury, the productive (when healthy) RB will be in line to team with RJ Harvey for a second season.
Despite one of the modern NFL’s most extensive injury histories, Dobbins created a market for himself during the healthy portion of his Broncos season. Denver is giving the seventh-year RB a two-year, $16MM deal that comes with $8MM guaranteed at signing, insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Due to his injury history, Dobbins has played for $1.61MM (Chargers) and $2.07MM (his first Denver deal). This represents a tremendous commitment by comparison, though the guarantee structure looks to give the Broncos an out after 2026.
Among the NFL’s top five leading rushers when he went down with a Lisfranc injury in November, Dobbins provided a boost to the Broncos’ rushing attack during the season’s first half. His 772 rushing yards still led the team despite the injury-prone vet missing the team’s final seven games. Denver did designate Dobbins for return, and he said following the Broncos’ AFC championship game loss that a Super Bowl return could have been in the cards.
A more instinctive runner than Harvey, Dobbins did better to maximize Denver’s top-tier offensive line. Pro Football Focus ranked the Broncos’ O-line first overall, but the team’s run game took a hit when Dobbins went down. Harvey’s dual-threat production notwithstanding, Dobbins was much better on the ground. While the former Ravens and Chargers starter averaged 5.0 yards per carry, injuries are his NFL legacy to date.
The six regular-season absences for Dobbins last year ran his count to a staggering 54 misses contest since arriving as a 2020 second-round pick. Dobbins has ACL and Achilles tears on his medical sheet, and he suffered an MCL sprain during his 2024 Chargers one-off. Dobbins, 27, has persevered and became a popular player in Denver.
It would stand to reason the Broncos would want a third back as insurance, but Sean Payton‘s team is unlikely to allocate much in the way of money or draft capital to that position thanks to this signing and Harvey’s second-round status. Denver nontendered Jaleel McLaughlin as an RFA but re-signed third-stringer Tyler Badie last week.
Denver was linked to Breece Hall, with a report indicating the Jets franchise-tagged him in part to prevent such a pursuit. Etienne and Walker also came up. It is worth wondering how genuine Broncos interest in the higher-profile backs was, because the team’s approach this week has been continuity-centric.
Titans To Sign DL John Franklin-Myers
Robert Saleh is reforming his Jets band. After Jermaine Johnson arrived via trade, John Franklin-Myers is coming over in free agency. The high-level FA agreed to a three-year, $63MM Titans deal, per insider Jordan Schultz.
A two-year Broncos starter, Franklin-Myers was a key piece under Saleh with the Jets. With D-line coach Aaron Whitecotton coming to Nashville as well, the Titans appeared to be the most logical suitor for Franklin-Myers (as Nikhil Mehta’s Offseason Outlook detailed). Franklin-Myers, 29, will see $42MM guaranteed on this deal — a massive raise from his Denver terms.
Widely expected to leave the Broncos, who had not made an extension offer during a period where several other front-seven cogs were paid, Franklin-Myers hit free agency at an ideal time. Despite heading into an age-30 season, the high-end role player looked to be by far this market’s top interior D-line option. PFR ranked Franklin-Myers sixth in this year’s FA class — largely because of its lack of DT options and a draft not teeming with them, either — and the $21MM-per-year number nearly triples his Broncos AAV.
The Bengals, Colts and 49ers also pursued Franklin-Myers, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Traded to the Broncos as a salary-dump move in the 2024 draft, Franklin-Myers agreed to a two-year, $15MM deal — a better offer than the Jets made as they aimed for a sizable pay cut. Franklin-Myers had been tied to a four-year, $55MM Jets extension, but as Haason Reddick arrived via trade, Joe Douglas sent him to Denver. That became a boon for the Broncos’ defense, and it turned into a mutually beneficial relationship.
Two top-three Broncos defenses deployed Franklin-Myers as a 3-4 defensive end starter. He racked up 14.5 sacks during his two-season Broncos stay. But Denver had agreed to extensions with Zach Allen, Malcom Roach, Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper during Franklin-Myers’ tenure. The team also re-signed DT D.J. Jones just before last year’s free agency. Franklin-Myers did not expect an extension, and he will benefit from hitting the market in a down year for the position.
Initially claimed off waivers from the Rams during Adam Gase’s HC tenure, Franklin-Myers displayed inside-outside versatility under Saleh. He recorded 11 sacks from 2021-22, teaming with Quinnen Williams up front New York. Saleh’s second Jets defense improved from 32nd to fourth, and Franklin-Myers’ 2022 showing was a key reason for that leap. Two years after the draft-weekend trade, Franklin-Myers will join his former coaches on a monster fourth contract.
G Zion Johnson To Join Browns
Cleveland’s offensive line overhaul continues. After trading for Tytus Howard and giving the ex-Texans first-rounder an extension, the Browns are turning to another former first-rounder to continue their makeover up front.
Zion Johnson is joining the Browns on a three-year, $49.5MM contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The four-year Chargers starter will see $32.4MM guaranteed on the deal. Chargers GM Joe Hortiz‘s Combine comments seemed to point Johnson out of Los Angeles, and arguably this market’s top guard is heading to Ohio.
PFR’s No. 8-ranked free agent, Johnson spent four seasons with the Bolts. They declined his fifth-year option in 2025, with the Hortiz-Jim Harbaugh regime turning the Tom Telesco draftee into a contract-year player. Rumblings about a big market ensued, even though Johnson has not been viewed as a high-end guard just yet. But durable guards with high draft pedigrees regularly see big money in free agency. Considering some of the deals thrown around at this position in recent years, the Browns may have a bargain with the Boston College alum.
The longtime Browns guard duo — Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller — hit free agency. New HC Todd Monken, who coached Bitonio in 2019, wants the 12-year Browns blocker to re-sign. But one of Cleveland’s guard posts is now filled. The Browns are also interested in bringing back sixth man-turned-Teller timeshare cog Teven Jenkins. With Howard’s extensive history at guard — even though right tackle is his primary position — gives Cleveland options here. But the Browns also have their primary tackles and center from 2025 unsigned, creating a rare situation in which a team swaps out all five O-linemen from a season.
While Pro Football Focus has never ranked Johnson as a top-35 guard, ESPN’s run block win rate metric regarded his contract year highly, slotting him second among all interior O-linemen. Having logged full seasons at right and left guard, Johnson has made 65 starts and has been one of the position’s most durable players. On a market housing several older blockers, the 26-year-old L.A. piece will be a key part of the Browns’ 2026 O-line overhaul.
Jets To Sign DT David Onyemata
The Jets remain busy in their defensive overhaul. New York is in position to add veteran defensive tackle David Onyemata to the mix for 2026.
The parties have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. This pact has a base value of $10.5MM with $9.65MM guaranteed, Garafolo adds. Onyemata will play outside the NFC South for the first time in his career next season.
A former Saints draftee and Falcons free agency addition, Onyemata will turn 34 this year. While that $10MM-plus pact represents another nice payday, it is not on the level of his 2023 Atlanta deal (three years, $35MM). This is Onyemata’s fourth NFL contract, however. He also played out a three-year, $27MM Saints deal. While not exactly a household name, the Nigerian defensive lineman will surpass $75MM in career earnings via this contract.
As our top 50 free agent list showed, this was not a good year to need a veteran defensive tackle. Only one (John Franklin-Myers) appeared on the list, and his high placement (No. 6) was largely due to the lack of prime-years difference-makers available. The Titans paid up for Franklin-Myers (three years, $63MM).
Onyemata carries a different skillset, excelling more against the run. Last season, Onyemata ranked ninth in run stop win rate. ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric also ranked the 335-pounder 17th among interior D-linemen. The Falcons turbocharged their pass rush in 2025, rocketing back to relevance with 57 sacks — behind only the Broncos’ 68. Onyemata only tallied one of those sacks, but he recorded seven tackles for loss in a 17-game season. He notched 21 TFLs during a three-year Georgia stay.
Aaron Glenn is diving into his past with two of his additions today. Onyemata will join former Saints teammate Demario Davis. By season’s end, these ex-Saints will give the Jets a 37-year-old linebacker and 34-year-old D-lineman. With Glenn’s seat warming after a rough 2025, he will turn to former cogs he trusts to start Year 2 in New York.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Raiders To Add WR Jalen Nailor
The Vikings are losing another of their Justin Jefferson-era No. 3 wideouts. With Jefferson and Jordan Addison in place, Minnesota will see Jalen Nailor leave in free agency.
Nailor has fared much better on the open market than K.J. Osborn did, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting the four-year Viking agreed to a three-year, $35MM deal with the Raiders. Nailor secured $23MM guaranteed on this accord.
Commandeering the final spot on PFR’s top 50 free agents list, Nailor does not have a 500-yard receiving season on his resume. But a view around the league pointed to upside existing for the young slot receiver. Nailor, who turned 27 this month, will team with Tre Tucker on a Raiders roster that had traded its No. 1 wideout (Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers) in consecutive years.
The Raiders also did not see strong early returns from 2025 draftees Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton. Nailor’s contract will send him into Las Vegas’ starting lineup, which is likely to be fronted by No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. While Mendoza will have Brock Bowers in place as a lead target, Nailor represents an interesting option at receiver.
Nailor has differentiated himself from a pure slot skillset with impressive yards-per-catch figures (14.8, 15.3) over the past two seasons. He has undoubtedly benefited from playing with Jefferson, but per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano, coaching staffs are high on the former sixth-round pick. The Raiders, who are set to win the Tyler Linderbaum market, are doing work to give Mendoza a better foundation than Geno Smith enjoyed last season.
The Vikings had not discussed an extension with Nailor as of December, and they have a $35MM-per-year Jefferson deal to go with a high-level T.J. Hockenson TE accord on their payroll. Addison can be kept through 2027 via the fifth-year option, and Minnesota added Tai Felton on Day 2 of last year’s draft.
Falcons To Sign K Nick Folk
Nick Folk‘s NFL career will continue with another new team in 2026. The 41-year-old kicker has agreed to a Falcons contract, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. This will be a two-year deal.
Recently expressing interest in playing a 20th NFL season, Folk clearly knew a market awaited. The Falcons experienced kicking issues last season, bidding farewell to Younghoe Koo early in the year. They are picking up the most accurate kicker over the past three NFL seasons.
The Falcons will be Folk’s sixth NFL team. The 2007 UDFA has played for the Cowboys, Jets, Buccaneers, Patriots and Titans. He displayed elite accuracy during his seasons with the Titans and back with the Jets. Folk made between 95.5% and 96.7% of his field goals. Last season, the second-stint Jet went 28-for-29; this included a 7-for-8 ledger from beyond 50 yards.
After kicking in less-than-ideal conditions in New York, Folk will enjoy an indoor environment for the first time since his Dallas days (and even that was not fully indoors). He has kicked in 258 NFL games. Among players throughout NFL history, that ranks 50th all time. Among kickers, Folk sits 19th in NFL annals. If Folk makes it through two Atlanta seasons with perfect attendance, he can climb into the top 20 for games played in league history.
Koo’s eight-season run halted early last season, when the Falcons released him in September. The Falcons used two more kickers — Zane Gonzalez, Parker Romo — with the latter making fewer than 80% of his tries. With a new staff coming in, the team will aim for kicker consistency like Koo once provided.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Titans To Sign WR Wan’Dale Robinson
In a blow to the drama the legal tampering period can bring, the buzz about the Titans and Wan’Dale Robinson has turned out to be accurate. The former Giants slot receiver will reunite with Brian Daboll in Tennessee, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports.
Robinson agreed to terms on a four-year, $70MM deal, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets. The contract can max out at $78MM. This will reward the 5-foot-8 target after a 1,000-yard contract year while giving Cam Ward a wideout familiar with Daboll’s offense.
It took a bit for Robinson to break through in New York, and his 2024 season brought only a 7.5-yard average per reception. It would have been next to impossible for Robinson to fetch this $17.5MM-per-year agreement off that campaign, but the former second-round pick fortunately paired well with Jaxson Dart and totaled 1,014 yards on 92 catches in 2025. With Malik Nabers out and Darius Slayton also missing time with injuries, Dart leaned on his slot weapon.
Although the Giants wanted to retain Robinson, they gave Slayton a three-year, $36MM deal last March and will let the younger pass catcher walk. The Titans have not yet released Calvin Ridley, but that could be on tap. Robinson’s salary will align with Ward’s rookie contract.
Plenty of smoke emerged connecting Robinson to the Titans. The Combine annually serves as a preview of the tampering period, and the Indianapolis gathering did little to mask Tennessee’s interest in the ex-Daboll Giants charge. By Sunday, a “widespread belief” existed the Titans would land Robinson.
After playing in only six games as a rookie, Robinson became a key target for Daniel Jones (and his backups) before doing his best work with Dart. Robinson provided some longer-range work compared to his earlier years, and the Titans will surely tap into that part of the Kentucky alum’s skillset. Robinson has age on his side as well, as he is entering an age-25 season. That separated him from this year’s top FA wideouts, and the open market will reward a late-blooming talent.