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
Texans To Sign S Reed Blankenship
The Eagles are losing yet another defensive free agent. This time it’s safety Reed Blankenship, who is signing with the Texans, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Blakenship is signing a three-year deal with Houston, per Schefter. The contract is worth $24.75MM.
The safety was a key find by the Eagles front office, as Blankenship joined the Eagles as a UDFA out of Middle Tennessee in 2022. He emerged as a starter during his sophomore campaign and proceeded to spend the next three years in Philly’s lineup. He had a standout campaign in 2023, finishing with 113 tackles and three interceptions, and he added another four picks during the team’s Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2024. That year, he was part of a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL (174.2).
He started all 16 of his appearances this past season, finishing with 83 stops and one interception. After grading out as at least a top-30 safety through his first three NFL seasons, Pro Football Focus ranked him 89th among 91 qualifiers this past year. That grade was entirely brought down by his coverage score, although he graded much better as a run stopper.
While Calen Bullock was a mainstay in the lineup in 2025, the Texans shuffled through their other safeties, with all of M.J. Stewart, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jaylen Reed, and K’Von Wallace getting into at least one game where they appeared in 90-plus percent of Houston’s defensive snaps. Blankenship will provide some stability to that unit, where he’ll likely slide next to Bullock in the starting lineup. This move also allows Jalen Pitre, who got in 51 snaps at the position last season, to play as the full-time slot CB.
Meanwhile, the Eagles continue to endure some key subtractions from their defense. Fellow starters Jaelan Phillips (Panthers) and Nakobe Dean (Raiders) have also departed Philly via free agency today.
Texans To Re-Sign DT Sheldon Rankins
As the Texans hoped, Sheldon Rankins will be in the fold next season. The veteran defensive tackle has agreed to a new Houston deal.
Rankins is signing a two-year contract with the Texans, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The pact includes $12MM in guarantees. Rankins will be counted on to remain a key presence on the team’s elite defense moving forward as a result of today’s news. An average annual value of “well over” $6MM is present in this new pact, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Rankins caught on for his second stint with the Texans last offseason, when he inked a one-year, $5.25MM deal. It was a bounceback season following his seven-game showing with the Bengals in 2024. Rankins finished the 2025 campaign with 35 tackles and three sacks while starting every game for the Texans. He also was a standout during Houston’s playoff win over the Steelers, when he returned a fumble for a touchdown. He ultimately finished the year ranked 27th among 127 qualifiers on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.
The former Saints first-round pick has had an up-and-down career, leading to him bouncing around the NFL a bit following his departure from New Orleans. Following a pair of forgettable seasons with the Jets, Rankins had been one of the best showings of his career with the Texans in 2023. He finished that year with 37 tackles and six sacks. That performance earned him a two-year deal with the Bengals, but he missed 10 games while nursing a hamstring and recovering from an illness in 2024. He was cut by Cincy last offseason.
Now, he’s seemingly found a home in Houston. Rankins will retain his starting gig next to Tommy Togiai in 2026. Tim Settle‘s departure could open up a depth role on the defensive line, so Rankins should have a relatively long leash.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Texans To Re-Sign G Ed Ingram
One of the many notable guards on track for free agency will not be testing the market. Ed Ingram will instead remain in place with the Texans.
Team and player have agreed to a three-year, $37.5MM deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. That includes $20MM fully guaranteed, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adding Ingram will receive a $14MM signing bonus. Offensive line additions will remain something to watch for in Houston’s case, but stability at one guard spot will be seen in 2026.
Ingram, whom the Vikings chose in the second round of the 2022 draft, was a full-time starter over his first two years. He fell out of favor in Minnesota in 2024, when he started in just nine of 16 appearances. The Vikings benched Ingram for good heading into Week 10. They shipped the Texas native to Houston for a sixth-round pick a year ago.
Ingram rebounded as a full-time starter in Houston, where he lined up at right guard during a 14-game, 1,072-snap campaign. Pro Football Focus ranked the 27-year-old’s performance 12th among 79 qualifying guards. He was especially effective as a run blocker (seventh overall), which bodes well for newly acquired RB David Montgomery.
Retaining Ingram is the second significant move the Texans have made along their offensive line this month. The club previously traded guard/tackle Tytus Howard to the Browns, leaving a void up front.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/8/26
We have some rare Sunday minor moves as the NFL closes in on the start of the new league year and the free agency frenzy that is sure to follow:
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: TE Nate Adkins
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: DT Naquan Jones
The Broncos continue to be proactive with pending RFA and ERFAs. Adkins was set to become a restricted free agent, but Denver has avoided that conclusion by re-signing him before the start of free agency.
Claimed last year in Houston, Jones is reportedly getting a one-year, $2MM deal to stay with the Texans, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Jones can earn another $500k on the new deal through incentives.
2026 NFL Trades
The modern NFL features four clear trade windows. Early March, the draft, the late-August 53-man roster-setting date and the November deadline reside as the primary points trades occur around the league. As the NFL resides in window No. 1 for 2026, it is a good time to check in on what has already transpired on the market.
Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2026:
March 2
- Browns to acquire OL Tytus Howard from Texans for No. 140
- Texans to obtain RB David Montgomery from Lions for OL Juice Scruggs, No. 128, 2027 seventh-round pick
March 4
- Rams to acquire CB Trent McDuffie from Chiefs for Nos. 29, 168, 210, 2027 third-round pick
March 5
- Bills to add WR D.J. Moore, No. 164 from Bears in exchange for No. 60
March 6
- Bears to acquire C Garrett Bradbury from Patriots for 2027 fifth-round pick
- Ravens to land OLB Maxx Crosby from Raiders for No. 14, 2027 first-round pick
March 7
- Packers to add LB Zaire Franklin from Colts for DT Colby Wooden
March 8
- Raiders to obtain CB Taron Johnson, seventh-round pick from Bills for sixth-rounder
Mutual Extension Interest Between Texans, Azeez Al-Shaair; Sheldon Rankins Re-Signing On Radar
Azeez Al-Shaair‘s reunion with DeMeco Ryans has helped the Texans become one of the NFL’s best defenses. Leading the way in EPA per play last season, Houston has a Will Anderson Jr. extension on the radar. The team is also eyeing a second Al-Shaair agreement.
The former Ryans 49ers charge is entering the final season of a three-year, $34MM contract, and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes mutual interest in an extension is believed to exist. The Texans have already been active on the extension front, giving one-year bumps to Danielle Hunter and Dalton Schultz. A re-up would reduce Al-Shaair’s $15.24MM 2026 cap number.
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The hard-hitting linebacker would be likely to sign a multiyear extension, as opposed to the one-year deals Hunter and Schultz did. Al-Shaiir, 28, has anchored Houston’s defensive second level since signing as a free agent in 2024. Missing six games in 2024 (three due to a suspension for a hit on Trevor Lawrence), Al-Shaair tallied 103 tackles and nine passes defensed last season. Pro Football Focus ranked him 17th among linebackers.
An update to the linebacker market is expected early this week, with Devin Lloyd and Quay Walker hitting free agency. Al-Shaair is currently tied to the No. 8 off-ball linebacker AAV. Probably not a candidate to rival where Roquan Smith and ex-49ers teammate Fred Warner reside, Al-Shaair will be able to command a raise. The level Nick Bolton and Jamien Sherwood reached on this day last year ($15MM per) would seemingly be realistic.
Houston is also interested in re-signing defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who fared better last season after struggling in Cincinnati. Part of Ryans’ defense in 2023 and ’25, Rankins scored two touchdowns last season — the second in the Texans’ wild-card rout in Pittsburgh. Rankins will turn 32 next month; he is coming off a three-sack season that featured five tackles for loss. The former first-round pick has proven a fit under Ryans, starting 17 games last season.
Elsewhere on the Texans’ defense, Wilson indicates Denico Autry has not made a retirement call yet. The 12-year veteran will turn 36 in July. Autry played in 12 games last season, recording 3.5 sacks. Autry is unsigned for 2026.
Wilson adds the Texans will likely adjust David Montgomery‘s contract soon. Houston added Montgomery before cutting Joe Mixon. Upon acquiring Mixon via trade in 2024, the Texans gave him a two-year deal worth $19.75MM. Montgomery has two years left on his Lions-designed extension (two years, $18.25MM). While Montgomery’s cap number is only $6MM, no guarantees remain on his contract. The Texans’ extension interest indicates they view this trade as more than a one-year rental.
Montgomery’s arrival points Nick Chubb out the door, and Wilson adds Christian Kirk and Christian Harris are also likely not coming back. Ed Ingram could be priced out of the Texans’ comfort zone. Despite being demoted by the Vikings before they unloaded him for a low-level trade return, Wilson adds Ingram’s price could reach $15MM per year in free agency. The Texans, who traded sporadic guard option Tytus Howard to the Browns, have shown interest in retaining Ingram but perhaps not at that price.
Lastly, the Texans made an addition to their coaching staff recently. They hired Tiquan Underwood as their assistant wide receivers coach, Wilson tweets. Underwood, a former NFL wideout, spent last season as the Cowboys’ assistant WRs coach.
NFL Restructures: Singletary, Stingley, Packers, Banks, Bills, Browns, Jaguars
Teams need to move under the $301.2MM salary ceiling by 3pm CT Wednesday, and many will be completing restructures to create funds ahead of Monday’s legal tampering period. Here are the latest moves clubs have made to clear cap space:
- Devin Singletary loomed as a cut candidate, as the Giants have been linked to a Kenneth Walker pursuit. But the veteran running back is accepting a notable pay cut to stay. Singletary agreed to reduce his salary from $5MM to $1.3MM, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. The former Bills and Texans starter has been a role player in New York, being usurped by both Tyrone Tracy and Cam Skattebo. But it looks like Singletary will be staying on the roster after this change, which Raanan indicates also comes with a $1MM incentive package.
- The Texans created roughly $20MM in cap space by moving the majority of Derek Stingley Jr.‘s $21.59MM 2026 base salary into a bonus, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. This move, which will inflate future cap hits on Stingley’s three-year, $90MM extension, has slid Houston past $33MM in cap room as of Sunday afternoon. Also contributing to that total: a Jalen Pitre restructure, per Wilson. The versatile DB’s base salary is at the veteran minimum, freeing up nearly $9MM.
- Tied to a four-year, $77MM Packers deal, Aaron Banks will see his contract restructured as well. It is not known how much cap space the Packers will save here, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the team is adjusting Banks’ 2026 numbers to create room. This will make a future release a bit more difficult while freeing up funds now.
- Taking on D.J. Moore‘s salary in a trade with the Bears, the Bills are still nearly $13MM over the cap. They continue to move toward the limit, though, with OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald noting Ed Oliver‘s deal has been restructured. That move creates more than $10MM in space.
- The Browns have been known to adjust a contract or two under GM Andrew Berry, who has completed four restructures on the disastrous Deshaun Watson deal. They are restructuring Denzel Ward‘s contract, but it is a limited change. This move will only bring Ward’s cap hit down $2MM, per Fitzgerald. It still sits at $30.89MM — second-highest on the team. Cleveland is using Ward’s $2.5MM roster bonus to make the conversion.
- The Jaguars adjusted three deals to create space recently. Patrick Mekari, Eric Murray and Jourdan Lewis‘ 2026 salaries have been reduced via simple restructures, according to Fitzgerald, Spotrac and the Florida Times-Union’s Ryan O’Halloran. The Mekari and Murray move created $10.72MM in cap space, per Fitzgerald. The Lewis restructure adds $7.7MM to that total. The Jags are barely $100K under the cap, however.
Texans To Re-Sign LB E.J. Speed
The Texans are re-signing linebacker and special teams ace E.J. Speed, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. He will receive a two-year deal worth up to $13MM with $7.5MM in guaranteed money, which includes a $4MM signing bonus.
Speed’s new contract represents a strong raise after a successful debut year in Houston. He signed for $3.5MM last offseason (via OverTheCap) and appeared in 16 games with a 44% snap share on defense and a core role on special teams. The 30-year-old was a key part of the Texans’ league-leading defense, recording a 9.6% run stop rate that ranked fifth among all linebackers with at least 150 run defense snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Originally a Colts fifth-round pick in 2019, Speed earned a roster spot as a special teams ace and began to see more time on defense in 2021. He re-signed with the team on a two-year, $8MM deal in 2023 and stepped into a starting role. The following year, he played nearly every snap in 2024 and ranked second on the team and 12th in the league with 142 tackles.
Despite that, Indianapolis did not re-sign Speed for a second time last offseason. He stayed in the AFC South and landed in Houston, where he served as the No. 3 linebacker behind Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o. Speed will continue in that role in 2026 as the Texans attempt to repeat their incredible defensive performance during the 2025 season.
Speed is the third Texan to sign a new contract this week. The team re-signed offensive tackle Trent Brown and extended edge rusher Danielle Hunter on Thursday, taking care of two of their top offseason priorities. Other key pending free agents include right guard Ed Ingram and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. With more than $30MM in cap space (pending Speed’s exact contract details), Houston has enough money to pursue new contacts with both players (or any others set to hit the market), though they may also want to pursue upgrades in free agency. They also have to budget for long-term deals with Will Anderson and C.J. Stroud, who will both become eligible for an extension this offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/6/26
Here are today’s NFL minor moves as we head into the final weekend before the start of free agency:
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: RB Tyler Badie, DT Jordan Jackson, S Devon Key, OLB Dondrea Tillman
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: S M.J. Stewart
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: RB Jaret Patterson, S Kendall Williamson
New York Giants
- Released: T James Hudson
Washington Commanders
- Re-signed: K Jake Moody
Initially opening the season as a starter on the line in New York in place of Andrew Thomas, Hudson was benched after struggling in a first-string role. He had been signed to serve as a swing tackle for the Giants, but after his early-season struggles, he failed to see much playing time for the remainder of the season.
After getting waived by the team that drafted him in the third round, Moody landed on the Bears’ practice squad before the Commanders signed him to their active roster. Washington made the move after watching Moody connect on eight of nine field goal attempts in two games for Chicago then watched Moody convert 10 of 11 for their team over the final six weeks of the season. Not willing to pay the prices on a restricted free agent tender, the Commanders opted not to tender him but continued on the path to a new deal as an unrestricted free agent.