The Browns placed an exclusive rights free-agent tender on Bates on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Bates appeared in nine regular-season games with the Texans and Browns last season, logging four catches for 48 yards on five targets. He'll compete for a job at tight end this offseason.

The Panthers placed an exclusive rights free-agent tender on Tremayne on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tremayne will return to Carolina after securing 14 of 18 targets for 160 scoreless yards across 16 regular-season appearances during the 2025 campaign. In addition to his role as a depth wideout, Tremayne was a fixture on special teams for Carolina, logging 230 snaps in kick coverage.

The Steelers released Smith on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Following a career year with the Dolphins in 2024 in which he caught 88 of 111 targets for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, Smith was reunited with OC Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh via trade last offseason. Despite the familiarity, Smith found himself in a three- and four-way committee at tight end with the Steelers and never seemed to gel with Aaron Rodgers. Across 17 regular-season games, Smith caught just 38 of 54 targets for 222 yards and two scores. He'll likely be looking for a team with a less crowded depth chart. The move saves Pittsburgh $7 million against the salary cap.

Morrison totaled 26 tackles (19 solo), four defensed passes and one fumble recovery across 10 regular-season games in 2025.

EDGE Analysis

Morrison's NFL debut was delayed until Week 2 due to a quadriceps injury, while hamstring issues, which also wiped out his entire preseason, cost him another five games. The 2025 second-round pick did get back on the field for the last three games of the regular season after his final set of absences, finishing in solid form with 13 tackles (eight solo), a pass defensed and a fumble recovery in that span. With a healthy offseason and preseason, Morrison could certainly make a push for a much larger role in 2026 after averaging 35.9 defensive snaps per contest as a rookie.

Vea recorded 34 tackles (16 solo), including 4.5 sacks, two defensed passes and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games in 2025.

EDGE Analysis

The mammoth defensive tackle logged a whopping 760 snaps on defense while playing a full season's worth of games for the first time since 2019. Vea still saw a drop in his sack production after recording a career-high 7.0 QB takedowns in 2024, while his tackle tally was also his lowest over the last three seasons. Nevertheless, Vea remained a key cog on the Buccaneers' defensive front, and he remains under contract through the 2026 season at a cap hit of $22.2 million, per Spotrac.

Nelson (knee) recorded 38 tackles (21 solo), including 3.0 sacks, two defensed passes, including a pick-six, and two forced fumbles across 15 regular-season games in 2025.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran extended his streak of seasons with multiple sacks to five while also recording a defensive touchdown for the first time in his career in Week 8 against the Saints. Nelson's 385-snap tally on defense was his lowest since 2021, although that's largely explained by the fact he missed the last two games of the season due to his knee injury. Nelson is committed to the Buccaneers through the 2026 season, and he's projected to continue filling his customary rotational role during his contract year.

The Browns extended Szmyt an exclusive rights free agent tender Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Szmyt will return to Cleveland on a one-year deal for 2026, an unsurprising transaction after his solid 2025 campaign with the team. Across 17 regular-season appearances in 2025, Szmyt converted 24 of 27 field-goal attempts and 25 of 26 on extra-point tries. He projects to reprise his role as the Browns' top placekicker in 2026, though unless the team's offense can take a notable step forward under new head coach Todd Monken, it will be difficult for Szmyt to see the type of scoring opportunities required to be a difference-maker for fantasy purposes.

The Chargers released Dissly with a failed physical designation Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Over his two seasons (playoffs included) with the Chargers, Dissly -- who turns 30 in July -- appeared in 26 games (including 11 starts), combining for 63 receptions for 594 yards and two touchdowns in that span. After catching 50 passes during the 2024 regular season, Dissly, who is evidently dealing with an unspecified injury, logged just 11 catches in nine outings in 2025, a trend that corresponded with rookie Oronde Gadsden establishing himself as Los Angles' top pass-catching tight end.

The Patriots informed Diggs on Wednesday that he will be released after the start of the new league year March 11, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Diggs rebounded well from an ACL tear that cut his 2024 campaign with Houston short, playing all 17 regular-season games for New England and totaling an 85-1,013-4 receiving line (102 targets) as the No. 1 receiver for Drake Maye in 2025. Per Pelissero, the transaction will allow the Patriots to avoid paying Diggs the $6 million option in his contract that would have become fully guaranteed next Friday, March 13. Now entering his age-33 season, Diggs will need to search for a new landing spot, while New England figures to prioritize searching for a new No. 1 wideout in free agency and/or April's draft. Diggs pleaded not guilty in mid-February to criminal charges stemming form an alleged dispute with his personal chef, which include include a charge of felony strangulation, and he has a pretrial hearing scheduled for April 1.

Pierce said Wednesday on the Up & Adams show that he does not expect to re-sign with the Colts before the start of the legal tampering period on March 9, Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

Indianapolis decided to assign the non-exclusive franchise tag to quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) rather than Pierce on Tuesday, positioning the wide receiver to hit free agency fresh off having posted a career-best 47-1,003-6 receiving line (84 targets) across 15 regular-season appearances in 2025. The 2022 second-round pick said he's "loved to play" with the Colts, which he called "a great organization," but stated that he's "earned the right to explore free agency and see what's out there." Previously, Pierce has expressed a desire to continue playing with Jones, but it remains to be seen whether it will be feasible for Indianapolis to extend competitive offers to both players. Jones will be able to negotiate with other teams this offseason, with the Colts retaining the right to match any offer he receives.