Mike LaFleur is slated to enter his first free agency cycle as a head coach. As he and Monti Ossenfort assemble a roster, how they approach the acquisition process will shape the identity LaFleur hopes to create in Year One. Owner Michael Bidwill said that he wanted a quick turnaround after a disappointing 2025 season. First stop: Free Agency.
Free Agent primer schedule: Outside Linebackers March 1, Wide Receivers March 2, Defensive Line March 3, Inside Linebackers March 4, Inside Linebackers March 4, Secondary March 5, Running Backs March 6, Quarterback March 7.
Other free agent primers: Special Teams, OL
Cap hit of players under contract for 2026 (via OverTheCap.com): Trey McBride ($8,701,000), Tip Reiman ($1,579,067), Elijah Higgins ($1,145,000), Rivaldo Fairweather ($1,005,000)
Analysis: If there is one position room the Cardinals are unlikely to emphasize during free agency, it is tight end. Trey McBride had a record-breaking season in 2025, finding himself one vote shy of a unanimous first-team All-Pro selection. He ended the season with 11 touchdowns and 1,239 receiving yards on 126 receptions. The 126 receptions set an NFL record for most by a tight end in a season.
The Cardinals also like what they have in Elijah Higgins. Although he won't be TE1, Higgins was a consistent presence as a run blocker and hauled in a career-high 30 receptions for 301 yards. New tight ends coach Jake Moreland will have an opportunity to help the duo become an even better one-two punch.
Where Monti Ossenfort's attention at the position might shift towards is the depth, especially for a team that is expected to use 13 personnel. Mike LaFleur was the OC for a Rams team that led the league in three-tight end packages. The health status of Tip Reiman, the 2024 third-rounder who missed majority of the season with a gruesome lower right leg injury, will be a crucial part of the equation. Josiah Deguara, Travis Vokolek (ERFA), and Pharaoh Brown are all slated to be free agents.
Notable past free agent tight end signings: Charles Clay (2019); Maxx Williams (2019); Jermaine Gresham (2015); John Carlson (2014); Jake Ballard (2013); Darren Fells (2013); Todd Heap (2011); Jeff King (2011); Freddie Jones (2002); Chris Gedney (1997).
A look at some of the top tight ends across the NFL who are scheduled to become free agents in mid-March
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrates a first down catch against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) catches a touchdown pass as Tennessee Titans cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. (39) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) catches a pass for a touchdown against Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) runs with eh ball during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 16 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (88) spikes the ball after a touchdown catch during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Jan 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Noah Fant (86) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (86) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper (81) runs a route against the Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman (82) reacts to a call against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
