Although it hasn’t officially begun yet, NFL free agency is already off to an exciting start.
The opening of the league’s negotiating window on Monday brought a flurry of moves, with the vast majority of the top players on the open market confirming their landing positions. But there are still quite a few big names who have yet to decide on a destination, meaning Tuesday could still be a busy day.
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USA TODAY Sports will be providing updates and analysis on all of the biggest action throughout the day, so check back often for all the latest news:
Patriots hire Aliyah Vera-Tucker to help reshuffle team
The New England Patriots have found a key piece of the puzzle that could help them get ahead of a chaotic outlook.
The team reached agreement with former New York Jets offensive guard Aliyah Vera-Tucker on a three-year, $42 million contract.
Vera-Tucker, who missed all of last season with a torn triceps, will be key in protecting NFL MVP runner-up Derek Meyer. The quarterback has 21 sacks in four postseason games, including six in Super Bowl 60, and New England is in the market for additional assets to bolster its front line.
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Vera-Tucker is expected to start at left guard, where he could serve as a buffer between left tackle Will Campbell and center Jared Wilson as they enter their second seasons. Wilson started at left guard during his rookie season, and lining up with the two created some complications for the Patriots’ defense.
Chiefs address depleted secondary with Alohi Gilman
The majority of the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting backups are headed elsewhere once NFL free agency opens. However, the team did manage to reload a bit towards the end of the first wave of operations.
The Chiefs agreed to a three-year, $24.75 million contract, according to multiple reports.
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Gilman helps replace Brian Cook, who joined the Cincinnati Bengals on a three-year, $40.25 million contract. The Chiefs also lost starting cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Los Angeles Rams, who were sent to the team via trade.
The best players on NFL free agency: What are the best options left?
The first wave of free agency claimed most of the league’s top talent. But there are still several high-profile names who have yet to determine where they will land. Here are the top players as ranked by USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis (original top 100 rankings in parentheses):
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1. Trey Hendrickson, OLB/DE (4)
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2. Rasheed Walker, overtime (9)
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5. Jayan Jennings, WR (19)
When does NFL free agency start?
In fact, these trades are already in the works – although all of them are unofficial until the start of the new league year at 4pm ET on Wednesday. That reflects the league’s negotiating window, which opens at noon ET on Monday to allow unrestricted free agents to sign deals with other clubs.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL free agency tracker 2026: Tuesday’s news, rumors and trade buzz
