NFL free agent signing grades for every 2026 big move

It is tampering season, friends.

The NFL’s legal tampering period begins on Monday, offering free agents their first official opportunity to negotiate contracts with potential new teams. Of course, many of those discussions have already taken place, often leading to a flurry of new contracts being announced as soon as the window opens, but that does not negate the excited teams, and fans, feel as the tampering period gets underway.

We’ll be grading all the major moves here as they happen. Ahead of the start to tampering — which begins at noon Eastern on Monday, March 9 — you can catch up on some of the latest rumors here, check out a look at one player each team should sign here, and this look at the biggest free agents available this offseason is also worth a look as you get ready.

But once the deals happen, we will have you covered with a tracker of all the big moves, and grade them all here as they are announced.

Enjoy legal tampering responsibly.

Alec Pierce to the Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are bringing wide receiver Alec Pierce back to Indianapolis.

After the Colts used the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones, Pierce’s status with the team was in doubt. But a new four-year deal worth up to $116 million made things easier for one of Jones’ favorite targets to come back to Indianapolis. Pierce grew into a vertical threat for the Colts the past two seasons, catching 37 passes for 824 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, and then breaking the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career last season when paired with Jones.

At an average of $29 million per season, this deal puts him on par with Amon-Ra St. Brown among NFL wide receivers, which is a big price to pay.

But given that he developed into one of Jones’ favorite targets, it is a price the Colts were willing to pay.

Grade: B

Kenneth Walker III to the Chiefs

With Patrick Mahomes working his way back from a knee injury, and the Kansas City running game needing a boost, running back has been a popular position for the Chiefs in mock drafts.

You might want to adjust those mock drafts.

Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is heading to Kansas City on a three-year deal for $43.05 million, which could be worth up to $45 million. Nearly $29 million of that is guaranteed.

This is a very good move for the Chiefs, who were growing concerned that Jeremiyah Love, the top running back in the 2026 NFL Draft, would not even be available when the Chiefs are on the clock with the No. 9 pick. Instead, the Chiefs pivot to a Super Bowl MVP, coming off another 1,000-yard season.

Grade: A-

Jaelan Phillips to the Panthers

There are two ways of looking at this deal.

On the positive side of the coin for Carolina fans, $120 million for a pass rusher is today’s NFL is the price of doing business. And that is reflected in the four-year, $120 million deal that Phillips signed with the Panthers, with $80 million of that guaranteed. Carolina gets some much-needed pass rush help on the edge, and a player who broke out with 8.5 sacks as a rookie, and had five sacks a season ago.

On the other hand …

$80 million guaranteed for a player who has played a full 17-game season just three times over his career, and has an injury history including just three full seasons in the NFL, and missed most of 2024 with a torn ACL. Again, this might just be the price of doing business … but NFL business is very expensive these days.

Grade: B

Malik Willis to the Dolphins

Given what Malik Willis was expected to command in a contract, and the financial position the Miami Dolphins face at the moment, many thought the quarterback would be heading elsewhere. That is even with the strong ties between Willis and both new head coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, both of whom came over from Green Bay.

So to see Willis agree to a three-year deal with Miami worth up to $67.5 million, with $45 million fully guaranteed, feels like a pretty good move for the Dolphins, who were not looking at a ton of great options at quarterback this offseason.

But they still manage to sign the top free agent QB available, despite their financial position.

Grade: A

Isaiah Likely to the Giants

You can call this a Big Apple reunion.

Yes, I know the New York Giants play in New Jersey but work with me here …

Isaiah Likely is headed to the NFC East, to play for John Harbaugh once more. This pairs the young, athletic tight end with Jaxson Dart, giving the rising second-year quarterback another target in the middle of the field. If, as expected, the Giants lose Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency, adding Likely will given the New York passing game a great option over the middle and underneath, and Likely does have the athleticism to stretch defenses a bit from a tight end alignment.

This looks like a great move to help develop Dart, which is a priority this offseason in New York.

Grade: A

We’ll update this post as signings come in.