Key Dates, Times for NFL Free Agency, Legal Tampering Period

Some big names in football will be free agents this offseason.

As free agency approaches, various NFL players continue to contemplate their futures for the 2023 season.

Some big names will be free agents this offseason, and football fans are anxiously waiting to see what their future holds as the official start to free agency nears.

But, when can free agents begin signing with new teams? Here are a few key dates regarding the NFL free agency and legal tampering time periods.

• The legal tampering period begins at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, March 13 and runs up until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 15. During this time, “clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents” when their contracts expire on Wednesday the 15th, per the NFL’s rules.

• NFL’s free agency period then begins on Wednesday, March 15 right at 4 p.m. ET. This is the time in which NFL players’ contracts expire if they have not signed an extension of some sort with their current team, and are free to sign elsewhere.

With the end of the league year and the start of a new one at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, it is a very important time in regards to players’ contracts. Here’s what teams and players must do before that official start of the league’s new year, according to NFL.

• “Clubs must exercise options for 2023 on all players who have option clauses in their 2022 contracts.”
• “Clubs must submit Qualifying Offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.”
• “Clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2022 contracts who have fewer than three Accrued Seasons of free agency credit.”

In addition, all 32 NFL teams must be under the 2023 Salary Cap prior to the start of the new league year.