When does NFL free agency begin? What about legal tampering? Dates to know
It's only been a few weeks since the end of the 2024-25 NFL season, and with several big names looking for new contracts (or new teams), one question remains: When does free agency start?
Free agency always officially starts at the beginning of the new league year. However, players and teams can and often do agree to terms on contracts before then.
Here's what you need to know about the NFL's free agency window.
When is the first day of NFL free agency?
NFL free agency officially kicks off at the start of the new league year. The new league year for the 2025-26 season begins Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m. ET.
All contracts in their final year expire, and all deals negotiated during the negotiation period become official. Players who hit free agency are officially allowed to sign new deals with any team.
When is the NFL's legal tampering period in 2025?
Players and their agents can begin negotiating new deals with teams two days before the start of the new league year.
This year's negotiation period begins Monday, March 10, at noon and ends with the start of the new league year (March 12). At that point, all contracts roll over to the next year, pending free agents officially become free agents and tampering is no longer a relevant issue.
Top NFL free agents 2025
According to Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis, these are the 10 best players set to become free agents this year:
- Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (the Bengals placed a second franchise tag on Higgins on Monday).
- Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings.
- Josh Sweat, EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles.
- Byron Murphy Jr., CB, Minnesota Vikings.
- Zack Baun, LB, Philadelphia Eagles.
- Jevon Holland, S, Miami Dolphins.
- Milton Williams, DT, Philadelphia Eagles.
- D.J. Reed, CB, New York Jets.
- Justin Reid, S, Chiefs.
- Drew Dalman, C Atlanta Falcons.
For the complete list of the top 25 players entering free agency, click here.