The NFL’s “legal tampering” window has only been open for a few hours, and the league’s financial landscape has already been set on fire. While these deals won’t become official until the new league year technically begins this Wednesday, the handshake agreements flying across the country are nothing short of historic.

We’ve already seen the Miami Dolphins swallow a record-breaking $99.2 million dead-cap hit just to move on from Tua Tagovailoa, only to immediately pivot by handing Malik Willis a three-year, $67.5 million contract to take the reins. The shockwaves didn’t stop in South Beach.

The defending champion Seattle Seahawks made the stunning decision to let Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III walk, allowing him to jump ship to the Kansas City Chiefs on a three-year, $45 million deal. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears bolstered their secondary by poaching champion safety Coby Bryant on a $40 million contract. If the first day of negotiations is any indication, the 2026 season is going to look vastly different from the one we just finished.

Biggest Contracts in NFL Free Agency

Before we get to the massive youth-led contracts, several league icons have decided to chase rings or fresh starts elsewhere. Perhaps the most heartbreaking departure for fans is Mike Evans, arguably the greatest Tampa Bay Buccaneer in history, who is heading to the San Francisco 49ers on a three-year deal worth north of $60 million.

In a similar veteran shakeup, Demario Davis is leaving the Big Easy after 14 seasons to join the New York Jets, a move that provided the New Orleans Saints with the cap relief needed to snag Travis Etienne Jr. after his career year in Jacksonville. As the dust settles on these early moves, here are the players who have secured the biggest bags in the opening hours of free agency:

1. EDGE Jaelan Phillips (Carolina Panthers): 4 years, $120M ($30M AAV) The Panthers are betting big on the pass rusher’s prime. Phillips remains one of the most efficient edge threats in the game; he averaged a pressure on 16.4% of his snaps last season, a top-five mark in the NFL.
2. WR Alec Pierce (Indianapolis Colts): 4 years, $116M ($28.5M AAV) The Colts made sure their deep threat didn’t go anywhere. Pierce’s value skyrocketed after he finished the 2025 season leading the league in yards per reception (18.2) among receivers with at least 50 catches.
3. C Tyler Linderbaum (Las Vegas Raiders): 3 years, $81M ($27M AAV) The Raiders are protecting their investment. Linderbaum is now the highest-paid center in history, brought in specifically to anchor the line for the projected No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza.
4. WR Wan’Dale Robinson (Tennessee Titans): 4 years, $78.8M ($19.5M AAV) Tennessee is surrounding Cam Ward with weapons. Robinson’s ability to win in the slot is elite, having recorded the lowest drop rate (1.2%) among starting receivers last year.
5. QB Malik Willis (Miami Dolphins): 3 years, $67.5M ($22.5M AAV) The biggest gamble of the cycle. Willis has never started more than three games in a season, but his dual-threat upside is what the Dolphins are banking on. Will he be the Day 1 starter, or will Quinn Ewers steal the spotlight in camp?
6. DL John Franklin-Myers (Tennessee Titans): 3 years, $64M ($21M AAV) New coach Robert Saleh is bringing in a familiar face to fix a defense that has struggled during Tennessee’s 6-28 stretch over the last two years. “JFM” remains a versatile monster who can disrupt from the edge or the interior.
7. T/G David Edwards (New Orleans Saints): 4 years, $61M ($15.25M AAV) The Saints are prioritizing the run game. Edwards is a mauler whose presence creates a terrifying interior for an Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne Jr. backfield tandem.
8. WR Mike Evans (San Francisco 49ers): 3 years, $60.4M ($20.13M AAV) San Francisco is officially a “super-team.” Brock Purdy now has a target list that includes Evans, McCaffrey, Kittle, and Pearsall. The only question left is whether Brandon Aiyuk remains in the building or becomes the next big trade chip.

While the $100M+ deals grab the headlines, the value found in the “second tier” of signings will likely decide the playoff race. The Giants landed a major mismatch in TE Isaiah Likely ($13.3M AAV), who should provide a massive red-zone target for their young offense.

Meanwhile, the Rams addressed their secondary woes by securing CB Jaylen Watson on a $17M AAV deal, a move that gives them a proven winner in the defensive backfield.

The most fascinating subplot remains Kenneth Walker III in Kansas City. At just $14.35M per year, the Chiefs might have landed the steal of the century, pairing a Super Bowl MVP with Patrick Mahomes. With the draft still weeks away, these teams are essentially building their 2026 identities in real-time.