NFL free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 12.
The start of NFL free agency also marks the beginning of the 2025-26 league year.
When Can NFL Free Agents Be Signed?
NFL free agents aren’t officially allowed to sign until 4 p.m. ET on March 12.
Teams are, however, permitted to contact – and begin contract negotiations with – unrestricted free agents starting at 12 p.m. ET on March 10. This 52-hour window is known as the legal tampering period.
Restricted Free Agents
Teams were required to submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents before the start of the new year.
If a restricted free agent didn’t receive an offer by that time, they become unrestricted free agents. Restricted free agents have until April 18 to sign the offer sheet.
What’s the 2025 NFL Salary Cap?
The 2025 NFL salary cap is $279.2 million, up from $255.4 million in 2024.
If a team is over the salary cap at 4 p.m. ET on March 12 – or at any point during the league year – they are subject to fines.
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