When does NFL free agency start? Who are Packers' free agents?

[ASFN Admin]

NFL free agency unofficially starts March 9 at 11 a.m. CT, when teams can contact potential free agents and start contract negotiations.

It officially starts March 11 at 3 p.m. CT, when teams can sign players and the new league year begins.

The Green Bay Packers have 21 free agents who fall into one of three categories:

• Unrestricted free agent: A player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract who is free to negotiate and sign with any team.
• Restricted free agent: A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers (tenders) that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation. If the tender is withdrawn by a team, the RFA becomes an unrestricted free agent.
• Exclusive rights free agent: A player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player can't negotiate with other teams.

Here's the list of the Packers' free agents, per overthecap.com. The ages listed are when next season starts:

More: Packers can create salary-cap space to sign free agents, but will they?

Packers unrestricted free agents​

• Malik Willis: The 27-year-old had a strong two seasons as backup quarterback to Jordan Love and but won't be with the Packers in 2026 as he looks to get a shot as a starter. He appeared in 11 games over two seasons. His salary is $1,290,025.
• Rasheed Walker: The 26-year-old left tackle played 94% of the offensive snaps. His salary is $935,219.
• Quay Walker: The 26-year-old linebacker played 80.4% of the defensive snaps and led the team in tackles with 128 total (58 solo). His salary is $3,460,411.
• Kingsley Enagbare: The 26-year-old defensive end played 41.8% of the defensive snaps. His salary is $975,639.
• Romeo Doubs: The 26-year-old receiver played 74.2% of the offensive snaps. He led the team in receiving yards (724) and targets (85), and tied for first in touchdowns (6). His salary is $1,085,979.
• Sean Rhyan: The 28-year-old offensive lineman moved from guard to center to replace the injured Elgton Jenkins and played in 76.9% of the offensive snaps. His salary is $1,280,714.
• Nick Niemann: The 29-year-old linebacker missed time to injuries, but was predominantly used on special teams. His salary is $1,170,000.
• Kristian Welch: The 28-year-old linebacker was used primarily on special teams, playing less than 1% of the defensive snaps. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve in December and missed the final three games. His salary is $1,170,000.
• John FitzPatrick: The 26-year-old tight end played 31.9% of the offensive snaps before tearing his Achilles in Week 16 in Chicago and going on injured reserve. His salary is $1,500,000.

Packers restricted free agents​

Running back Chris Brooks was set to become a restricted free agent but the Packers agreed with him on a new two-year, $4.85 million contract.

Here are other Packers set to become restricted free agents:

• Brenton Cox Jr.: The 26-year-old defensive end spent most of the season on injured reserve. He appeared in five games (7.1% of defensive snaps). His salary is $901,333.
• Jonathan Ford: The 28-year-old defensive tackle was claimed by the Packers on Dec. 30 from the Bears for his second stint with the team after being drafted by Green Bay in 2022. He played 11.6% of the defensive snaps. His salary is $1,030,000.
• Josh Whyle: The 27-year-old tight end played 16.7% of the offensive snaps and contributed after the team lost Tucker Kraft to a season-ending injury. His salary is $1,030,000.
• Emanuel Wilson: The 27-year-old running back played 31% of the offensive snaps, providing backup to Josh Jacobs. His salary is $1,030,000. ESPN has reported that the Packers have decided not to tender him.
• Arron Mosby: The 27-year-old defensive end was a key piece on special teams, playing 1.5% of defensive snaps. His salary is $1,030,000.
• Darian Kinnard: The 27-year-old tackle was traded to the Packers from the Eagles at the end of preseason. His salary is $1,097,500.
• Zayne Anderson: The 29-year-old safety played a limited role on defense (2% of snaps), but was a key piece to special teams. He was placed on injured reserve Dec. 31 after an ankle injury in the Ravens game. His salary is $1,170,000. The Athletic has reported that the Packers have decided not to tender him.

Packers exclusive rights free agents​

• Kamal Hadden: The 25-year-old cornerback played special teams and limited snaps on defense (3.3%). He also suffered a season-ending injury in the Ravens game and was placed on injured reserve Dec. 30. His salary is $840,000.
• Donovan Jennings: The 27-year-old offensive lineman played in less than 1% of snaps. His salary is $840,000.
• Bo Melton: The 27-year-old all-purpose player performed at receiver and cornerback and was a big player on special teams. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve following a knee injury in the regular-season finale in Minnesota. His salary is $1,030,000.
• Lecitus Smith: The 28-year-old offensive lineman played 4.9% of the snaps. His salary is $1,030,000.

When is the 2026 NFL Draft? Key NFL offseason dates​

• March 29-April 1: League meetings in Phoenix.
• April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets. The Packers can tender their RFAs a qualifying offer that comes with the right of first refusal or draft-pick compensation if another team signs them away. Clubs get until April 22 to exercise their right of first refusal.
• April 23-25: NFL draft. After Green Bay hosted last year's showcase, this one will be in Pittsburgh.
• May 1: Rookie minicamps begin. A team can run a three-day camp from either May 1-4 or May 8-11. The rookie football development programs begin May 11.
• Mid-May: NFL schedule release. We don't know when, but the NFL will eventually make a big to-do about its official schedule release. Last year, the date was May 14. While we don't know the dates and times, we do know which teams the Packers will play in 2026.
• May 19-20: The spring league meetings in Orlando, Florida.
• June 1: This is an important day for salary-cap considerations. A player's bonus for the 2026 season still counts against the salary cap if he's released after June 1, but future bonus prorations would count against the following year's ledger. In other words, teams can stay under the cap for the new season by releasing a player on a long-term deal after this date, because a lot of the "dead money" (the guaranteed signing bonus dollars that aren't already figured into his annual salary) that suddenly counts against the cap won't need to count until 2027. So it's just his annual salary and whatever fraction of the bonus apportioned for this year counting against 2026. It's complicated, we get it. To further complicate it, teams can also designate a few players as "post-June 1" releases even before June 1.
• Mid-July: Preseason training camp begins for rookies. Rookies or anyone designated as a first-year player will report for training camp first. Veterans will roll in shortly thereafter and preseason games will get going in the final days of July or early August. That hasn't been scheduled yet.
• Sept. 10: First NFL regular-season game. Let's do this whole thing again, shall we?

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who are Packers' free agents as NFL free agency nears? Latest list

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