When can NFL free agents sign? NFL ‘legal tampering’ period, explained

For exactly 99.4% of a calendar year, falsification is a huge no-no for NFL teams.

Since 2012, the league has allowed an exception for the peripheral 0.6% of the schedule – two days and a third, to be more exact – in the form of its “legal forgerywindow, also known as the free agent negotiating period.

During this short window, teams are allowed to begin negotiating with pending free agents shortly before the official start of the new championship year. This way, players and their agents can agree on the terms of a new contract with a potential team before officially signing. free agency. Once the new league year begins, all agreed agreements can become finalized and official.

There are some important notes and caveats regarding the legal window for tampering, and the dates are not the same every year.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 free agent negotiation period before the new league year officially begins:

NFL NEWS, INTAKES, FANCY TIPS: USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2. New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech

3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame

5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

6. Cleveland Browns – OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Florida)

7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

9. Kansas City Chiefs – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

10. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Florida)

11. Miami Dolphins – OT Spencer Fano, Utah

12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – WR Denzel Boston, Washington

14. Baltimore Ravens – DL Caleb Banks, Florida

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – WR Makai Lemon, USC

17. Detroit Lions – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

18. Minnesota Vikings – S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

19. Carolina Panthers – DT Peter Woods, Clemson

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – OLB/DE TJ Parker, Clemson

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

22. Los Angeles Chargers – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Florida)

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

25. Chicago Bears – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

26. Buffalo Bills – WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame

27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

28. Houston Texans – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams) – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

30. Denver Broncos – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

31. New England Patriots – DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

32. Seattle Seahawks – RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

What is “legal tampering” in the NFL?

Fourteen years ago, the league implemented a “legal tampering” window to counter the growing number of backroom negotiations before the official start of free agency.

Under normal circumstances (i.e. outside of the legal tampering period), teams are not permitted to negotiate contract details with players not on their roster. However, the NFL’s negotiation period allows any team and player representative to begin the process of reaching an agreement before free agency officially begins.

A few important notes and restrictions apply to the NFL’s legal tampering window.

For one, a team cannot directly contact a player during this period. Any negotiations prior to free agency can only take place between the front office and the player’s representation (read: agent). This also means that players cannot visit other teams’ facilities until they officially hit the free agent market.

When direct contact occurs, teams (and sometimes general managers) are fined and can lose their draft picks. Last year, the The Falcons did not have their fifth round pick in the NFL draft because they made illegal direct contact with the quarterback Kirk Cousins before the new championship year. The NFL also fined the team $250,000 and then-general manager Terry Fontenot an additional $50,000.

That said, a new rule is in place for the first time in 2026. Teams can have a video or phone call (maximum 1 hour) with up to five free agents, with the player’s certified agent also participating in the call. This is a rule change proposed and approved last spring and will be implemented for the first time during the trading window.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) reacts against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.

Additionally, agreements made during the legal tampering period are not official until the start of the new championship year. A player can agree to the terms of a contract and opt out before it becomes official when the league year ends and free agency begins.

In 2022, Randy Gregory agreed (through his agent) to a five-year deal to stay with the Cowboys before ultimately reneging on the signing deal with the Broncos.

When does the NFL “negotiation period” start?

Players and their agents can begin negotiating new deals with teams two days before the start of the new league year.

This year’s trading period begins on Monday, March 9 at noon ET and ends with the start of the new league year. At this point, all contracts are rolled over to the following year, pending free agents officially become free agents, and tampering is no longer a relevant issue.

MOCKED NFL DRAFT: DJ Moore and Trent McDuffie trade first-round prospects

When does NFL free agency start?

NFL free agency officially begins with the start of the new league year. In 2026, the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.

All contracts from their final year expire and all deals negotiated during the negotiation period become official. Players who reach free agency are officially allowed to sign new deals with any team. Exchanges concluded between the end of the season and the start of the new championship year also become official and finalized.

Best NFL Free Agents 2025

According to Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sportshere are the top 10 players expected to become free agents this year:

This article was originally published on USA TODAY: When does NFL free agency start? What is the “negotiating period”?