- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,150,340
- Reaction score
- 59
Cue up the contracts. NFL free agency is about to begin.
The start of free agency allows teams to sign players whose contracts have expired.
Before deals can become official, teams first enter the NFL’s “legal tampering” window, a negotiating period that will produce leaked and reported agreements before they can become official.
Here’s what to know about how the 2026 NFL free agency period works.
NFL free agency begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11, when the NFL’s new league year officially starts.
That's when contracts from the 2025 season expire and teams are permitted to officially sign unrestricted free agents. The start of the new league year also opens the 2026 NFL trading period, allowing teams to complete trades that had previously been agreed upon.
The NFL’s legal tampering period begins at noon ET on Monday, March 9 and runs through 3:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11.
During that window, teams are allowed to contact and negotiate with the certified agents of players who are set to become unrestricted free agents. Players who do not have an NFLPA-certified agent can negotiate directly with team front office officials, though not with coaches.
Teams and players can agree to terms during this period, even though contracts cannot be signed until 4 p.m. ET on March 11.
The NFL announced the 2026 salary cap will be $301.2 million, a $22 million increase from 2025.
All teams must be under the salary cap by 4 p.m. on March 11, meaning the contracts of their top 51 players plus any dead money must fall under $301.2 million. The deadline can lead to a wave of roster moves leading up to free agency, with teams releasing players and restructuring contracts to get cap compliant.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NFL free agency 2026: Key dates and what fans should know
Continue reading...
The start of free agency allows teams to sign players whose contracts have expired.
Before deals can become official, teams first enter the NFL’s “legal tampering” window, a negotiating period that will produce leaked and reported agreements before they can become official.
Here’s what to know about how the 2026 NFL free agency period works.
When does NFL free agency start in 2026?
NFL free agency begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11, when the NFL’s new league year officially starts.
- Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Date: Wednesday, March 11
That's when contracts from the 2025 season expire and teams are permitted to officially sign unrestricted free agents. The start of the new league year also opens the 2026 NFL trading period, allowing teams to complete trades that had previously been agreed upon.
When is the NFL legal tampering period?
- Time period: Noon, Monday, March 9 until 3:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday, March 11
The NFL’s legal tampering period begins at noon ET on Monday, March 9 and runs through 3:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11.
During that window, teams are allowed to contact and negotiate with the certified agents of players who are set to become unrestricted free agents. Players who do not have an NFLPA-certified agent can negotiate directly with team front office officials, though not with coaches.
Teams and players can agree to terms during this period, even though contracts cannot be signed until 4 p.m. ET on March 11.
What is the NFL salary cap for 2026?
The NFL announced the 2026 salary cap will be $301.2 million, a $22 million increase from 2025.
All teams must be under the salary cap by 4 p.m. on March 11, meaning the contracts of their top 51 players plus any dead money must fall under $301.2 million. The deadline can lead to a wave of roster moves leading up to free agency, with teams releasing players and restructuring contracts to get cap compliant.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NFL free agency 2026: Key dates and what fans should know
Continue reading...
