The 4 p.m. ET deadline on March 3, 2026, has come and gone, and the NFL landscape for the next year has been fundamentally altered. While many teams chose to keep their powder dry for the massive free-agent class starting next week (March 11), a few “Alpha” playmakers were locked down, and some shocking stars were left to test the open market.
Here is the breakdown of who is staying, who is going, and the massive names now available for the highest bidder.
The Protected: The Class of 2026 Tags
Only three players received the full Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag this year, showing a league-wide trend of teams preferring long-term flexibility over massive one-year hits.
Breece Hall (RB, New York Jets)
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The Price: $14.29 million
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The Logic: After a 1,500-yard scrimmage season, the Jets simply couldn’t let Hall walk. He is the engine of their offense. Reports suggest the tag is a “bridge” to a four-year extension expected to be signed before the July 15 deadline.
George Pickens (WR, Dallas Cowboys)
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The Price: $27.30 million
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The Logic: In his first year in Big D, Pickens exploded for 1,400+ yards. The Cowboys tagged him to prevent a bidding war with the wideout-needy Giants. He’s now the highest-paid weapon in the building for 2026.
Kyle Pitts (TE, Atlanta Falcons)
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The Price: $15.05 million
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The Logic: New Falcons GM Ian Cunningham made it clear: you don’t let a talent of Pitts’ caliber reach the open market. Coming off his best statistical season since his rookie year, Pitts remains the focal point of the Falcons’ “New Era.”
The “Middle Ground”: The Transition Tag
Daniel Jones (QB, Indianapolis Colts)
In the most intriguing move of the day, the Colts placed the Transition Tag ($37.8 million) on Daniel Jones.
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What it means: The Colts have the right of first refusal to match any offer sheet Jones receives. Because it’s a transition tag, they receive zero compensation if they choose not to match.
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The Risk: The Colts are essentially “daring” the league to value Jones higher than $38 million as he recovers from his Achilles injury.
The Unprotected: The “Gold Mine” Free Agents
Perhaps more interesting than who was tagged is who was not. These players are officially entering the “Legal Tampering” window on March 9.
Kenneth Walker III (RB, Seattle Seahawks)
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The Shock: Despite being the Super Bowl LX MVP just last month, the Seahawks declined to tag Walker. He is now the undisputed #1 running back on the market. Expect the Bears or Texans to back up the Brink’s truck for him.
Trey Hendrickson (EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals)
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The Farewell: After a legendary five-year run in Cincy, Hendrickson posted a heartfelt goodbye on Instagram. The Bengals’ refusal to tag him at $24.4 million confirms they are leaning into a youth movement on the defensive line.
Tyler Linderbaum (C, Baltimore Ravens)
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The Market Maker: Many expected Baltimore to protect their All-Pro center. Instead, Linderbaum is free. As one of the best interior blockers in football, he is about to become the highest-paid center in NFL history.
The “QB Room” Fire Sale:
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Aaron Rodgers (Steelers): No tag was applied. Rodgers is currently “evaluating his future,” but he is technically a free agent.
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Kyler Murray (Cardinals): Arizona has officially informed Murray he will be released at the start of the league year. A massive domino for the QB market just fell.
Summary of Key Tags
| Player | Team | Tag Type | 2026 Salary (Est.) |
| Breece Hall | NYJ | Franchise (Non-Ex) | $14.3M |
| George Pickens | DAL | Franchise (Non-Ex) | $27.3M |
| Kyle Pitts | ATL | Franchise (Non-Ex) | $15.1M |
| Daniel Jones | IND | Transition | $37.8M |
What’s Next?
The Legal Tampering Window opens this Monday, March 9. With superstars like Kenneth Walker III and Trey Hendrickson officially hitting the market, expect the first 24 hours of free agency to be the most expensive in NFL history.
