Jets Place Franchise Tag On Breece Hall
Hours before the tag deadline, the Jets have made their call with respect to Breece Hall. The franchise tag will be applied, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The Jets have since announced the news, with the non-exclusive tag being used. 
Conversations on a long-term deal were ongoing, and today’s move will buy time for further negotiations to take place. The transition tag had been floated as a potential route for the Jets to take in this case, but SNY’s Connor Hughes reports multiple teams made it clear at last week’s Combine they would be prepared to move forward with an offer sheet in that event. To prevent such a scenario, the franchise tag will be used instead.
As a result, Hall is now on course to collect $14.29MM in 2026. That figure will be fully guaranteed, and it will match the 24-year-old’s cap charge for next season. Hughes reports the Jets expect Hall to play on the tag, but there are now several months of runway for team and player to work out an extension.
A report from earlier today indicated an agreement on that front was not close, pointing toward the tag being used. GM Darren Mougey had already made it clear New York would be tagging Hall in one fashion or another, and choosing the more common option ensures he will remain in place. Attention will now turn to the progress of extension talks through the spring. July 15 is the deadline for all tagged players to work out a long-term agreement with their respective teams.
This is the first time the Jets have used the franchise tag since 2021 when they did so with safety Marcus Maye. No multiyear accord wound up being agreed to in that case, and Maye departed the following year. Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn have shown a willingness to trade away players they inherited upon arrival in 2024, and more moves in that regard could be coming. Hall did not find himself in position to land an extension last spring, but today’s news confirms he is still at least in New York’s short-term plans.
The Iowa State product set a new career high in rushing yards this past season, topping 1,000 for the first time. Hall has remained a focal point on offense since recovering from an ACL tear in his rookie campaign, handling between 266 and 299 touches each of the past three seasons. Even if the Jets manage to make needed improvements on offense this spring, Hall figures to once again be a major presence for the unit. Another strong showing would boost his market value for 2027 (if applicable).
The Jets entered Tuesday with nearly $88MM in cap space, so absorbing the cap hit of this tag will not be difficult even if no long-term agreement winds up being finalized. Aside from Hall negotiations, New York’s attention will turn to the matter of finding a new starting quarterback. Despite owning the second overall pick in April’s draft (along with another first-rounder), bringing in a rookie capable of handling QB1 duties right away may not be feasible. As such, at least one veteran addition when free agency opens next week will be something to watch for.
Only three running back contracts currently carry an average annual value higher than the price of Hall’s tag. It will be interesting to see if he manages to land security beyond 2026 as negotiations continue or if he will enter next season as a pending free agent.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/3/26
No teams placed tenders on any of their restricted free agents on Tuesday, but three made decisions on exclusive rights free agents:
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Texans: CB Ja’Marcus Ingram
- 49ers: OT Austen Pleasants
Non-tendered:
- Buccaneers: OLB Markees Watts
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/3/26
Today featured several major moves around the NFL, but only one minor one:
Cleveland Browns
- Released: C Justin Osborne
As if letting their entire starting offensive line was not enough, the Browns have now released reserve center Justin Osborne, who missed the entire 2025 season with a back injury.
Browns To Release OT Cornelius Lucas
At the outset of free agency last March, veteran offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas joined the Browns on a two-year deal worth up to $10MM. The Browns are releasing Lucas a year later, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
A spot starter throughout his 12-year career, Lucas will return to the open market off a 10-game season with Cleveland. The 34-year-old started in five games along an injury-ravaged Browns line. The majority of his work came at right tackle, where he racked up 221 snaps. He also played 64 snaps at left tackle in a Week 3 upset over the Packers.
Lucas’ release will be part of a massive O-line overhaul for the Browns this offseason. Pending free agent guard Wyatt Teller has already said his goodbyes to Cleveland on social media. Fellow soon-to-be free agent guard Joel Bitonio is mulling retirement. Reserve guard Teven Jenkins is also unsigned, as are tackles Cam Robinson and Jack Conklin, and center Ethan Pocic.
While the Browns are poised to lose a handful of linemen, they made a significant addition to the unit in acquiring guard/tackle Tytus Howard from the Texans on Monday. Cleveland and Howard quickly agreed to a three-year, $63MM extension. Further notable pickups will be in order over the next couple of months.
The Browns entered the day approximately $17.31MM over the salary cap. Releasing Lucas will free up $2.045MM and leave the club with $1.6MM in dead money. Also a former Lion, Ram, Saint, Bear and Commander, the well-traveled Lucas will head back to free agency with 139 games and 59 starts on his resume.
Steelers Release T Calvin Anderson
Calvin Anderson‘s time in Pittsburgh has come to an end. The veteran offensive lineman has been released, per the transactions wire (h/t KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson). 
A recent report from Mike DeFabo of The Athletic indicated this move was coming. Anderson had one year remaining on his contract, but he is now headed to free agency early. This cut will create $2MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of only $415K.
Anderson played in Denver from 2020-22 before a one-year stint with New England. The former UDFA then joined the Steelers on a veteran minimum contract and made four appearances in 2024. Anderson remained on the market well past the start of free agency, but last April he signed a two-year pact to stay in Pittsburgh. Halfway through that contract, though, the Steelers have elected to move on.
This decision comes as little surprise. Anderson missed time early in the 2025 after recovering from an injury suffered in training camp and he landed on IR in mid-December. The Texas product was limited to just 73 combined snaps between offense and special teams as a result. Dylan Cook – who made four starts and five appearances in 2025 – was already ahead of Anderson on the depth chart prior to this move.
Cook is under contract for next year, and he figures to remain in Pittsburgh’s plans up front. The team currently has roughly $40MM in cap space, and some of that figure could be applied to additions along the offensive line. In any case, Anderson will be playing elsewhere in 2026.
Lions To Trade RB David Montgomery To Texans
The Texans are not finished on the trade front. A much-anticipated running back addition is now being lined up, with another member of their offensive line set to play elsewhere. 
David Montgomery is heading from Detroit to Houston, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. In return, the Lions will acquire offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, along with fourth- and seventh-round picks (h/t Pelissero). The seventh-round selection is for the 2027 draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes.
Houston was Montgomery’s preferred destination, Garafolo adds. He will now take on a prominent role in the backfield as the Texans look for improvements on the ground in 2026. Schefter’s colleague Dan Graziano recently named Houston as one of the teams likely to be active in March with respect to running back additions, so today’s news comes as no surprise. Montgomery in particular is a logical target in the Texans’ case given the fact he was seeking a fresh start.
Since the end of the 2025 campaign, a Montgomery trade has been a distinct possibility. Detroit has Jahmyr Gibbs in place, and his fifth-year option is likely to be exercised. That would ensure at least two more years in the Motor City, but a long-term extension at or near the top of the RB market is expected to be pursued. Keeping Gibbs and Montgomery on lucrative deals would not have been feasible given the Lions’ other financial commitments.
Instead, Montgomery will prepare to play for a third career team in anticipation of a heavy workload. The former third-rounder averaged fewer than 12 attempts per game for the first time in his career last season. 2025 was also the first season in which he fell short of 1,000 scrimmage yards. That could soon change with the Texans set to see Nick Chubb reach free agency next week. Fellow veteran Joe Mixon missed all of 2025 through injury and has since undergone surgery. A release in his case should be expected as a result.
Woody Marks has three years remaining on his rookie contract, but bringing in a veteran to split carries with him has long been expected. Montgomery, who turns 29 in June, will be tasked with doing so. He is owed a base salary of $5.49MM in 2026 with a scheduled cap hit of $6MM. Montgomery’s pact runs through 2027, but whether or not he lands a new commitment by that point will of course depend on his performance in Houston.
The Texans’ offensive line will certainly look much different next season. Houston agreed to trade Tytus Howard to the Browns earlier today, creating a vacancy in the starting lineup. Scruggs was not a first-team presence in 2025, but losing him will ensure Houston’s depth along the interior will be altered when next season begins. One year remains on Scruggs’ rookie contract.
The former second-rounder will now look to compete for playing time in Detroit. The Lions were known to be in the market for additions at the left tackle spot but also on the inside. Scruggs, 26, has primarily played at left guard during his career but he saw notable time at center as well in 2024. The future of Graham Glasgow is uncertain at this point, and a release or retirement in his case could open to door to playing time for Scruggs ahead of free agency.
The Lions will look to improve up front in 2026 knowing a stronger O-line will go a long way in helping their offense (a unit which finished fourth in scoring this past year) become even more effective. A running back addition of some kind will be required as well, though, with Gibbs now in need of a new backfield partner.
Browns To Acquire Tytus Howard From Texans; OL Agrees To Cleveland Extension
The Browns are taking the first of what will be many steps aimed at improving their offensive line this offseason. A trade agreement with the Texans has been reached. 
Houston is sending Tytus Howard to Cleveland, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. A fifth-round pick is heading the other way. This is the selection the Browns acquired from the Raiders in the Kenny Pickett trade in August, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds. Howard was set to enter the final year of his contract, but this trade is bringing with it a new deal.
Per Rapoport, a $63MM extension has been agreed to by Howard and the Browns with $45MM in new money being committed. As a result, the seven-year veteran will now be on the books through 2028. It remains to be seen if he will be used as a guard or tackle in Cleveland, but in any case Howard will aim to offer the Browns with stability somewhere up front as they renovate their offensive line.
“I wasn’t surprised,” the former first-rounder said in an interview with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson following the news. “They’re trying to get younger and pay some guys. I ain’t mad. I kind of knew it was going to happen.”
Houston’s financial planning needs to take into account a pending extension for edge rusher Will Anderson. A long-term pact for C.J. Stroud may not be coming this offseason, but his 2027 fifth-year option is set to be exercised. A reset along the offensive line will be a key priority, Wilson notes, after the Texans struggled to protect Stroud once again during the 2025 campaign.
Last offseason, Houston traded away left tackle Laremy Tunsil. This Howard move is another one aimed at bringing about a notable change up front as the team seeks out improved play from its O-line. Howard, 30 in May, spent each of his first seven NFL seasons with the Texans. He started all 93 of his regular-season appearances and each of his four playoff contests over that span.
The Browns will thus be adding plenty of experience with this move. Wyatt Teller has made it clear he will not be retuning, while fellow longtime guard Joel Bitonio is once again a strong candidate to retire. Howard could step into either guard spot, something which would be familiar based on his extensive LG experience in Houston. Alternatively, the right tackle position could be his landing spot in Cleveland depending on how Dawand Jones is used in 2026.
Howard secured an $18.67MM AAV on his first extension, signed in 2023. This two-year Browns top-up is worth $22.5MM per season, and expectations will be high upon arrival. Once the trade is finalized, Cleveland will still have nine selection in April’s draft (including its own fifth-rounder). The Texans, meanwhile, will increase their total to 10 draft picks in 2026. At least some of that capital will no doubt be used on offensive line additions, with the same also being true of the team’s free agent resources.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/2/26
Three clubs made decisions on exclusive rights free agents on Monday. Here’s a look:
Tendered:
- Dolphins: CB Ethan Bonner
- Rams: OL Justin Dedich, K Harrison Mevis, WR Xavier Smith
- Seahawks: RB George Holani, S Ty Okada
As an 11-game starter for last season’s Super Bowl champions, Okada is the headliner on this list. After going undrafted out of Montana State in 2023, Okada combined for just nine appearances in his first two seasons. He barely factored in on defense then, but that changed in 2025. Not only did the 26-year-old play in all of the Seahawks’ games, but he recorded a 66.13% defensive snap share. Okada posted 65 tackles, six passes defensed, 1.5 sacks and an interception along the way.
Mevis, undrafted from Missouri in 2024, couldn’t crack an NFL roster until the Rams added him to their practice squad last fall. He later replaced the struggling Joshua Karty, whom the Rams cut in late November. Mevis converted 12 of 13 field goals and all 39 extra points in nine regular-season games. The 23-year-old was perfect during a three-game playoff run in which he knocked in six field goals and nine PATs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/2/26
Monday’s lone minor move from around the NFL…
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE Ta’Quon Graham
Graham, a 2021 fifth-round pick from Texas, spent his first four-plus seasons in Atlanta. He amassed 51 appearances and 16 starts with the Falcons before they released him last November. During a career year in 2023, Graham started in nine of 11 games, registered a 41.98% defensive snap share, and totaled 34 tackles and eight QB hits. Graham closed out his Falcons tenure with four tackles in two games last year. A couple days after Atlanta parted with Graham, he joined Philadelphia’s practice squad. The 27-year-old did not see any game action with the Eagles, but perhaps that will change in 2026.
Texans To Release S Jimmie Ward
Safety Jimmie Ward has played his last down with the Texans. The team plans to release Ward, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. The 34-year-old will contemplate retirement, Wilson adds.
After spending the first nine seasons of his career in San Francisco, Ward joined Houston on a two-year, $13MM pact in March 2023. The move reunited Ward with Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2021-22.
Ward was a full-time starter in each of his first two years with the Texans, but his long-running injury troubles transferred to Houston. He logged just one full season in San Francisco and missed between one and nine games in the other eight years.
Ward went on to post back-to-back 10-game seasons with the Texans. Hip and hamstring problems limited Ward in 2023, and groin and foot issues shelved him the next season.
As Ward was recovering from two foot surgeries last offseason, he was arrested twice – first in June on an assault family violence impeding breath/circulation charge and again in August for violating his bail by consuming alcohol. The league moved Ward from the reserve/PUP list to the commissioner’s exempt list in late August. Ward’s case went before a grand jury in September, but the prosecution did not proceed with felony domestic violence charges. He then came off the commissioner’s exempt list. There was optimism at the time that Ward would play in 2025, but he stayed on the reserve/PUP list all season.
Ward would have been due a $2.75MM base salary had the Texans gone forward with him next season. In releasing Ward, the Texans will save $750K while taking on $2MM in dead money. Houston is roughly $8.6MM over the cap as of now.