RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/9/26

Here are today’s tender decisions:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

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.

Vikings, CB James Pierre Agree To Deal

James Pierre was recently mentioned as one of the cornerbacks drawing notable attention ahead of free agency. He has indeed landed a new agreement in short order.

Josina Anderson of The Exhibit reports Pierre has reached a deal with the Vikings. This will be a two-year pact with a maximum value of $8.5MM, she adds. Pierre will secure $3.7MM guaranteed, including a $2.5MM signing bonus.

Anderson mentioned Sunday that Pierre was on nearly 10 teams’ radars after a solid sixth season in Pittsburgh. The career-long Steeler, though, will turn 30 this year. That effectively provided a market cap. Still, Pierre secured a raise after playing for low-level (NFL-wise, at least) money throughout his career.

Pro Football Focus viewed Pierre — a 2025 Steelers injury sub — as the NFL’s second-best corner (among qualified options) last season. Granted, he played 408 snaps, but the season represented a massive breakthrough. While NFL teams likely did not view him that highly, this contract reflects the six-year vet’s improvement.

The Steelers spoke with Pierre’s camp about a likely low-cost deal, but the team moved on by signing Jamel Dean. The longtime Buccaneers defender joins Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey, depending on where the aging All-Pro is stationed, as the Steelers’ top corners for 2026. As for the Vikings, they will pair Pierre with Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers. Pierre overlapped with Vikings DC Brian Flores during a 2022 season spent as Pittsburgh’s linebackers coach.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Vikings To Re-Sign LB Eric Wilson

Eric Wilson made his way back to Minnesota after nearly five years away, becoming a starter once again. The veteran linebacker will see that second stint continue.

The Vikings are re-signing Wilson just before free agency, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Wilson agreed to a three-year, $22.5MM deal that includes $12.5MM fully guaranteed. The 10th-year NFL veteran had previously returned to the Twin Cities on a one-year, $2.6MM deal. After years on similar contracts, Wilson will see the best contract of his career at 31.

This represents a borderline remarkable resurgence for Wilson, who has never previously played for anything more than $3.26MM in a season. That was via a second-round Vikings RFA tender in 2020. Wilson signed a host of one-year contracts in the time since, being cut by the Eagles and claimed by the Texans before enjoying a Packers stint. The Vikings brought him back in 2025 and turned to the Mike Zimmer-era acquisition as a near-full-time starter.

Wilson’s 965 defensive snaps last season were by far his most since that 2020 RFA slate. Minnesota used the former UDFA alongside Minneapolis-area native Blake Cashman as its primary linebacking duo last season. Wilson replaced an injured Cashman after Week 1 but kept the job when the regular starter returned, reducing Ivan Pace‘s role. Pro Football Focus slotted Wilson 44th among 88 qualified off-ball ‘backers.mike

Asked to start 12 games for the 2024 Packers, Wilson was used as a role player (51% snap rate). As a 90% defender in 2025, Wilson made 115 tackles and offered the Vikings a strong blitzing option in registering a career-best 6.5 sacks. More impressively, Wilson came through with 17 tackles for loss. That not only led all off-ball LBs in 2025, it ranked sixth among all players last season. That performance secured the Cincinnati alum a sizable raise, as he joins Cashman on veteran deals at linebacker for the Vikes.

The Zimmer-Rick Spielman duo added Wilson as a 2017 UDFA, and he logged 10 starts during the Anthony BarrEric Kendricks years from 2017-19. In 2020, however, Minnesota gave Wilson the aforementioned RFA tender and used him as a full-timer. In 15 starts that year, Wilson racked up 122 tackles. But it led to modest free agency interest. The Eagles cut Wilson months after giving him a one-year deal worth less ($2.75MM) than his 2020 tender price. Wilson’s three Packers contracts did not eclipse $1.5MM for a season, making this early-30s comeback all the more impressive. With Brian Flores returning — on a top-market coordinator salary — he appears set to count on Wilson once again.

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. Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2026:

February 26

March 2

Texans chose USC S Kamari Ramsey at No. 141

Lions packaged No. 128 to move up for EDGE Derrick Moore in second round

March 4

Chiefs chose Clemson DT Peter Woods at No. 29, used Nos. 169, 210 to trade up to No. 161 for Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson

March 5

Bears traded down from No. 60 to No. 69; Bills traded No. 165 to Titans in first-round trade-down move

March 6

Ravens nixed trade March 10, failing Crosby on a physical

March 7

March 8

Bills packaged No. 182 to trade up for CB Davison Igbinosun

March 9

Dolphins drafted Iowa EDGE Max Llewellyn at No. 238

Colts chose Ohio State EDGE Caden Curry at No. 214; Steelers selected Navy RB Eli Heidenreich at No. 230

March 10

Jets drafted Kansas State S VJ Payne at No. 228

March 11

Cowboys chose East Carolina WR Anthony Smith at No. 218; Titans took Oklahoma TE Jaren Kanak at No. 225

March 16

March 17

Dolphins traded No. 30 to 49ers in package for No. 27 (San Diego State CB Chris Johnson); Miami added Louisville WR Chris Bell at No. 94, Texas EDGE Trey Moore at No. 130; Broncos drafted Boise State OL Kage Casey at 111

March 18

March 20

Eagles used No. 114 in first-round trade-up for USC WR Makai Lemon. Falcons, Eagles traded down from Nos. 114, 122; Atlanta drafted LSU EDGE Harold Perkins at 215

April 7

April 10

Packers picked Kentucky C Jager Burton at No. 153

April 17

April 18

Giants selected Miami OL Francis Mauigoa at No. 10

April 24

49ers used No. 152 in Day 2 trade-down move with Browns

Vikings added Miami S Jakobe Thomas at No. 98; Eagles picked Texas Tech S Cole Wisniewski at 244

April 25

Raiders added Arizona S Dalton Johnson at No. 150; Saints selected Iowa CB TJ Hall at 219

Kyler Murray Eyeing Vikings; Jets Showing Interest

The Cardinals are moving on from Kyler Murray. A last-ditch trade effort is still taking place, but absent that, Arizona is prepared to release its longtime starter. Two usual suspects are on the radar here.

Vikings interest in Murray has come out at multiple points this offseason, but Sportsboom.com’s Jason La Canfora indicates the soon-to-be unattached quarterback would prefer a Minnesota deal. Though, the Jets will present a clearer path to a starting job.

New York has been connected to some lower-profile names, from Tanner McKee to Jarrett Stidham to Tyson Bagent; a recent report has now tied the team to a Frank ReichCarson Wentz reunion. That would certainly be an uninspired path for the Jets, who would seemingly be prepared to chase a 2027 first-round QB if Wentz truly became the stopgap option. But La Canfora indicates the Jets appear to be the team “most desperate” for Murray.

Murray, 28, will be looking for a place to bounce back, and ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini views the quarterback as unlikely to share the Jets’ level of interest here. The Vikings have elevated a few veteran quarterbacks’ stocks — from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold to Daniel Jones — under Kevin O’Connell, but they are still developing J.J. McCarthy.

Adam La Rose’s most recent PFR mailbag addressed the line the Vikings are attempting to walk in trying to upgrade at QB while still having hopes for McCarthy, and Murray throwing himself into that mix would be interesting. Jones passed on this last year, choosing a Colts starter path despite the Vikings offering more money. Murray, however, is a different type of free agent. The Cardinals are on the hook for his 2026 salary, making fit the priority as opposed to an offer. This is similar to Russell Wilson‘s 2024 market, when he signed with the Steelers for the veteran minimum (as the Broncos paid the bulk of his tab).

New Jets OC Frank Reich is also believed to be high on Jacoby Brissett from their time together in Indianapolis, Cimini adds, and La Canfora notes the Cardinals have received trade offers on Brissett — whom last year’s staff appeared to prefer guiding the offense compared to Murray.

The Jets have been previously connected to Brissett, who is tied to a two-year, $12.5MM Cardinals deal. Reich coached Brissett from 2018-20 in Indy. Brissett looms as a Cardinals stopgap option, and GM Monti Ossenfort signed him last year. But with Malik Willis and Jimmy Garoppolo connections forming, will Arizona be too attached to its primary 2025 starter? La Canfora also ties Garoppolo to the Cards, which will make a Brissett trade — as several teams are looking for starters ahead of a thin QB draft — something to monitor.

With Murray needing to show he remains capable of above-average play, his upcoming choice will be critical. At 5-foot-10, the former No. 1 overall pick will not be a fit for every offense. He certainly ran into obstacles during the back half of his Cardinals career. If he is not traded, enough Minnesota smoke has emerged to indicate there will be some mutual interest here.

As for the Jets, they have also been doing some homework on Tua Tagovailoa. The longtime Dolphins starter also has his 2026 salary guaranteed; both he and Murray are likely to be vet-minimum options in bounce-back scenarios. As of now, though, Murray is believed to be driving more interest than Tagovailoa.

Offseason Outlook: Minnesota Vikings

One year ago, the Vikings found themselves at a crossroads. J.J. McCarthy was coming off a rookie season spent entirely in recovery, while Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones approached free agency.

Both Darnold and Jones wound up landing starting positions elsewhere on the open market. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was not entirely averse to keeping one of the two veterans in place, but he and the Vikings were ultimately prepared to hand the reins over to McCarthy. On every front – the play by Jones on an impressive Colts team prior to his Achilles tear, Darnold’s contribution to the Super Bowl champion Seahawks and McCarthy’s struggles – that decision backfired.

Adofo-Mensah is now out of the picture, while Minnesota faces the unenviable task of finding a starting-caliber passer amidst a challenging cap situation. The team’s offense will have a high floor if the right one can be acquired, and another year of strong defensive play should be expected in 2026. But the central question in the Vikings’ case remains unanswered on the eve of the new league year.

Coaching/front office:

Hired during the 2022 offseason, Adofo-Mensah joined the Vikings at the same time as head coach Kevin O’Connell. The latter’s reputation has steadily gained steam over time, but that was not the case regarding Minnesota’s front office leader.

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Vikings Work Out Several Restructures

Until recently, the Vikings were on track to be well over the 2026 salary cap. That has produced a number of cost-shedding moves over the course of this week, including several restructures.

[RELATED: Mutual Interest Between Vikings, Kyler Murray]

T.J. Hockenson has agreed to a contract adjustment, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. This move will free up roughly $5MM in cap space. Prior to the restructure, Hockenson was due to carry a cap charge of $21.3MM in 2026, the highest in the league among tight ends.

The two-time Pro Bowler has struggled to regain his previous form since suffering a major knee injury in 2023. As a result, Hockenson’s cap figure would have been a sore spot had it remained intact. Instead, he will look to rebound in 2026. Hockenson was originally under contract through 2027, but Pelissero notes the final year of his deal has been removed through this arrangement. He is now on course for free agency next spring.

Minnesota has also worked out simple restructures in the case of wideout Justin Jefferson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw, per Pelissero. That process consists of converting base salaries into signing bonus to create immediate cap space. Over $27MM in breathing space for 2026 has been generated by those moves. Given their ages and importance to Minnesota’s offense, Jefferson and Darrisaw loomed as obvious candidates for restructures. Their respective deals run through 2028 and ’29, leaving plenty of time for future adjustments if needed.

Cornerback Byron Murphy‘s deal has been restructured as well, as detailed by Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Roughly $11MM in savings have been generated in his case as a result. Murphy remained in place with the Vikings on a three-year, $54MM pact last offseason. His cap charge is now on track to spike in 2027, but there is no danger of a release taking place before then.

A number of veterans will not be in place for the Vikings once the 2026 season begins. Defensive linemen Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen as well as running back Aaron Jones will soon become free agents upon being released, while center Ryan Kelly has retired. The restructures finalized in recent days are enough for Minnesota to attain cap compliance in time for the start of the new league year, per Over the Cap.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/6/26

Friday’s RFA and ERFA tender decisions:

RFAs

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

After a strong campaign backing up an injury-depleted running backs room, Vidal gets the most obvious ERFA tender of all time. Starting 10 of 13 game appearances, Vidal rushed for 643 yards and three touchdowns after injuries to Najee Harris, Omarion Hampton, and others.

Vikings C Ryan Kelly To Retire

Two centers who relocated to the NFC North via free agency in 2025 have now retired. Following Drew Dalman‘s Bears exit, Ryan Kelly is calling it quits.

The Vikings center announced Friday he will wrap his playing career after 10 seasons. Nine of those came in Indianapolis. Kelly signed a two-year, $18MM Minnesota deal last March.

While Dalman’s retirement proved shocking due to his age (27), Kelly is leaving the game at 32. The former first-round pick made four Pro Bowls during his time with the Colts, landing an extension in 2020. Kelly played out that deal before trekking to Minnesota. He loomed as a possible Vikings cap casualty. The Vikes imported both Kelly and guard Will Fries from the Colts; they will need a new center in 2026.

Drafted 18th overall out of Alabama in 2016, Kelly began his career blocking for Andrew Luck. While Luck abruptly retired three seasons into Kelly’s career, the talented center became an Indianapolis cornerstone as the franchise cycled through quarterbacks over the next several years.

Although Ryan Grigson drafted Kelly, GM Chris Ballard made him a priority during his tenure. The Colts gave Kelly a four-year, $49.65MM extension before the 2020 season. The Colts locked up Braden Smith and Quenton Nelson over the next two summers, forming a strong O-line core. Kelly was at the heart of it, helping Jonathan Taylor win the 2021 rushing title by more than 500 yards. As Taylor zoomed to first-team All-Pro acclaim, Kelly earned his third Pro Bowl nod.

Kelly’s lone All-Pro honor — a second-team selection — came in 2020, when the Colts made the playoffs during Philip Rivers‘ first stint with the team. Snapping primarily to Carson Wentz in 2021 and Matt Ryan in 2022, Kelly picked up his final Pro Bowl accolade as Gardner Minshew‘s snapper in 2023.

Injuries intervened for the decorated blocker in 2024. A knee malady led Kelly to IR midway through the 2024 season, after he had missed two games earlier in the year. Kelly missed seven contests in 2024. He had expressed interest in a second Colts extension, but the team did not reciprocate. After testing free agency, he joined Fries in being part of Minnesota’s 2025 interior O-line makeover.

The Vikes added Kelly, Fries and first-round guard Donovan Jackson to revamp their O-line around holdover tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. Kelly, though, missed nine games in 2025. He suffered two concussions in three weeks, the second leading the $9MM-per-year Viking to IR. Shut down after Week 4, Kelly returned in 12 but ended up missing Minnesota’s final two games. Last season included three Kelly concussions in total, with ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert indicating he suffered at least three more over the course of his career.

Minnesota, which used both Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens in place of Kelly last season, had released longtime center Garrett Bradbury in hopes Kelly would play multiple seasons. But the team will instead pick up $8.4MM in cap space. This moves the team near cap compliance, with OverTheCap indicating the Vikings are more than $1MM over as of Friday afternoon.

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