03/09/26 05:15:00
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03/09 17:13 CDT Kenneth Walker joins Mahomes in KC and Malik Willis starts QB
reset in Miami, AP sources say
Kenneth Walker joins Mahomes in KC and Malik Willis starts QB reset in Miami,
AP sources say
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Pro Football Writer
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is the new running back for Patrick Mahomes
in Kansas City, Miami settled on Malik Willis for a reset at quarterback and
receiver Mike Evans is headed to San Francisco after 12 years in Tampa Bay.
People with knowledge of the agreements told The Associated Press on Monday,
the opening day of NFL free agency, that Walker was leaving Seattle after
winning a championship and the Dolphins reached a deal with Willis after
announcing earlier in the day that they were releasing Tua Tagovailoa.
The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because contracts can't be
signed until Wednesday, the first day of the new league year.
The negotiating window opened with a flurry of significant deals, including the
Indianapolis Colts keeping their top free agent in receiver Alex Pierce.
Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and the Carolina Panthers agreed on a four-year,
$120 million contract with $80 million guaranteed. Philadelphia was hoping to
retain Phillips after sending a third-round pick to Miami for him at the trade
deadline last season. Phillips had five sacks combined for the Dolphins and the
Eagles.
The Dallas Cowboys added edge rusher Rashan Gary in a trade with Green Bay for
a 2027 fourth-round pick. The Packers acquired star Micah Parsons from the
Cowboys a week before the season started last year. Gary was the 12th overall
pick in the draft in 2019, two years before Dallas drafted Parsons in the same
spot.
Tennessee was among the teams with the most to spend going into free agency and
tapped connections to first-year coach Robert Saleh and new offensive
coordinator Brian Daboll on a busy day for the Titans.
Walker and the Chiefs agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $45 million, with
$28.7 million guaranteed. The 25-year-old fills perhaps the biggest need as the
Chiefs try to bounce back from a 6-11 season. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco,
their top two running backs, are both free agents.
The deal came as Kansas City was nearing an agreement to bring back four-time
All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce for his 14th season.
Walker is the fourth Super Bowl MVP to change teams the following season: Larry
Brown went from the Cowboys to the Raiders in 1996, Desmond Howard from the
Packers to the Raiders in 1997 and Dexter Jackson from Tampa Bay to Arizona in
2003.
The Dolphins reached an agreement with Willis a few hours after dumping
Tagovailoa, who later agreed to a one-year deal with Atlanta, and incurring a
record $99 million hit on their salary cap. Willis will reunite with general
manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and first-year coach Jeff Hafley. They were together
in Green Bay, where Willis spent the past two seasons.
Miami made another move by agreeing to trade safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the
New York Jets for a seventh-round pick.
The Jets further revamped their defense by agreeing to deals with former Saints
linebacker Demario Davis, who will return for a third stint in New York, and
former Bengals edge rusher Joseph Ossai.
The 49ers added a proven pass catcher in Evans for quarterback Brock Purdy,
agreeing to a three-year contract with a player who had 1,000 yards receiving
in each of his first 11 seasons before injuries limited Evans to eight games in
2025.
The move for the 32-year-old comes with the Niners planning to release Brandon
Aiyuk; they placed him on the reserve/left squad list last season after he
stopped showing up to rehabilitate a knee injury that had sidelined him for a
year.
The Colts keeping Pierce on a $116 million, four-year deal coincided with them
sending Michael Pittman Jr. to Pittsburgh for a late-round draft pick. Pittman
spent his first six seasons with Indianapolis.
Tennessee's headliners were defensive end John Franklin-Myers and cornerback
Alontae Taylor on deals with annual average values of at least $20 million.
Franklin-Myers played for the Jets when Saleh was head coach.
The Titans filled a need at receiver by adding Wan'Dale Robinson, who was
drafted by the Giants when Daboll was a rookie head coach in 2022. Daboll was
fired by the Giants last season.
Another former Giants player, cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, also is headed to the
Titans, who are rebuilding a battered secondary and have a decision looming on
L'Jarius Sneed's future.
The 25-year-old Robinson was the first player 5-foot-8 or shorter with 1,000
yards receiving since 5-7 Richard Johnson in 1989 and the third since the 1970
AFL-NFL merger. Robinson had 1,014 yards on 92 catches.
Davis was drafted in the third round by the Jets in 2012 and returned in 2017
after a year in Cleveland. The 37-year-old played the last eight seasons for
the Saints --- including five with current Jets coach Aaron Glenn as the
defensive backs coach.
Ossai had five sacks in each of the last two seasons for Cincinnati.
The Vikings kept one of their unrestricted free agents off the market by
agreeing to terms on a new contract with 10th-year veteran linebacker Eric
Wilson, a three-year deal valued at $22.5 million, with $12.5 million
guaranteed, according to NFL Network.
Wilson, who returned to his original team last season, had career highs in
tackles for loss (17), sacks (6 1/2), quarterback hits (10) and forced fumbles
(four).
Cleveland added guard Zion Johnson, a 2022 first-round pick who spent his first
four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Browns are looking at an
overhaul in the offense, with several starters in free agency.
Running back J.K. Dobbins is returning to Denver on a two-year contract. He ran
for 772 yards and four touchdowns over 10 games before a foot injury in
November ended his season. Dobbins returned to practice before the AFC
championship game but didn't dress for the Broncos' 10-7 loss to New England.
Detroit agreed to a contract with Larry Borom, the likely replacement for
Taylor Decker after he asked for his release before the start of free agency.
Borom has 38 starts over five seasons with Miami and Chicago.
Buffalo has a starting need at cornerback and agreed to a $10.1 million,
three-year deal with Dee Alford. He has 23 starts in 64 games over four seasons
with Atlanta. Alford could start opposite Christian Benford.
The Giants brought in two players familiar to new coach John Harbaugh from his
time in Baltimore, adding tight end Isaiah Likely and All-Pro punter Jordan
Stout. They also filled a defensive need with linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Looking to bounce back from a 5-12 season, Washington spent big money in free
agency to sign edge rusher Odafe Oweh, while also bringing back starting left
tackle Laremy Tunsil. Oweh's contract is worth $100 million over four years,
with $68 million guaranteed.
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