The NFL offseason is a whirlwind of activity, and one of its most pivotal phases is the free agency period. This is when teams reshape their rosters by signing players whose contracts have expired, aiming to bolster their lineups for the upcoming season. For 2025, the process follows a well-defined timeline with specific rules, including the intriguing “legal tampering” period. Below, we’ll break down the entire NFL free agent process for 2025, explain what legal tampering entails, and highlight the key dates when players can officially sign with new teams.
Understanding NFL Free Agency
NFL free agency allows players whose contracts are expiring to negotiate and sign with any of the league’s 32 teams, provided they meet certain criteria. The process is governed by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and revolves around the start of the new league year, which marks the official beginning of free agency. However, the lead-up to this moment includes several critical stages, such as the franchise tag window and the legal tampering period, which set the stage for the flurry of signings that follow.
Free agents are categorized into three main types:
- Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs): Players with four or more accrued seasons (defined as being on a team’s active/inactive roster, injured reserve, or physically unable to perform list for at least six regular-season games in a year) whose contracts have expired. UFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team without restrictions.
- Restricted Free Agents (RFAs): Players with exactly three accrued seasons and an expired contract. RFAs can negotiate with other teams, but their original team can offer a qualifying tender, giving them the right of first refusal and potential draft-pick compensation if they lose the player.
- Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFAs): Players with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. Their original team has exclusive negotiating rights, meaning they cannot talk to other teams unless their current team declines to offer a minimum salary tender.
Key Dates in the 2025 NFL Free Agency Process
The 2025 NFL offseason follows a structured calendar, with specific deadlines and windows that dictate when teams and players can take action. Here are the critical dates for the free agency process:
February 18 – March 4, 2025: Franchise and Transition Tag Window
- What Happens: Starting on Tuesday, February 18, and running through Tuesday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. ET, teams can designate one pending unrestricted free agent with either a franchise tag or a transition tag. This prevents the player from hitting the open market.
- Franchise Tag Details:
- Exclusive Franchise Tag: The player cannot negotiate with other teams and is offered a one-year contract worth either the average of the top five salaries at their position or 120% of their previous salary, whichever is greater.
- Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag: The player can negotiate with other teams, but the original team can match any offer or receive two first-round draft picks if they decline to match.
- Transition Tag Details: Similar to the non-exclusive franchise tag, but the salary is based on the average of the top 10 salaries at the position, and there’s no draft-pick compensation if the team doesn’t match an offer.
- Impact: By March 4, teams must decide whether to lock up key players, such as a star quarterback or wide receiver, or let them test free agency. For example, in past years, players like Tee Higgins (2025 franchise tag by the Cincinnati Bengals) have been retained via this mechanism.
March 10 – March 12, 2025: Legal Tampering Period
- Start Time: Monday, March 10 at 12:00 p.m. ET (noon).
- End Time: Wednesday, March 12 at 3:59:59 p.m. ET.
- What Happens: This 52-hour window, officially called the “negotiating period” by the NFL but colloquially known as the “legal tampering period,” allows teams to contact and negotiate with the agents of prospective unrestricted free agents whose contracts expire at the start of the new league year. While agreements can be reached, no contracts can be officially signed until free agency begins.
- Details Below: See the dedicated section on legal tampering for a deeper explanation.
March 12, 2025: Official Start of Free Agency and New League Year
- Start Time: Wednesday, March 12 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
- What Happens: This marks the beginning of the 2025 NFL league year. All contracts in their final year expire, pending free agents officially become free agents, and teams can finalize deals negotiated during the legal tampering period. Players are now free to sign with any team, and trades agreed upon earlier can be processed.
- Ongoing Process: Free agency doesn’t end on March 12; it continues throughout the season, allowing unsigned players to join teams at any time, though the bulk of high-profile signings occur in the first few days or weeks.
The Legal Tampering Period Explained
The legal tampering period is one of the most fascinating and misunderstood aspects of the NFL free agency process. Introduced in 2012, it was designed to curb the rampant under-the-table negotiations that historically occurred before free agency officially began. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
What It Is
- During the legal tampering period (March 10 at noon ET to March 12 at 3:59:59 p.m. ET in 2025), teams are permitted to contact and negotiate with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents when the new league year starts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12. This applies only to UFAs, not RFAs or ERFAs, unless specific exceptions (like a player being released) apply.
Rules and Restrictions
- Agent-Only Contact: Teams cannot speak directly with players during this period; all negotiations must go through the player’s agent. If a player lacks representation, they can communicate directly with teams, but this is rare.
- No Facility Visits: Players cannot visit other teams’ facilities or meet with coaches until free agency officially begins.
- No Signings: While deals can be agreed upon (and often are reported by media outlets within minutes of the period opening), they remain unofficial until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12. Players can back out of agreements, though this is uncommon.
- Exceptions: Teams can negotiate and sign their own free agents at any time, even before the legal tampering period. Additionally, players released before their contracts expire (e.g., cap casualties like Justin Simmons in 2024) can sign immediately without waiting for the tampering window.
Why It Exists
- Before 2012, the NFL faced a problem: teams were illegally contacting agents or players before free agency, leading to uneven playing fields and potential penalties. The legal tampering period legitimizes these early negotiations, giving all teams a fair shot at UFAs while maintaining some structure. It’s a compromise between the old chaotic system and a fully regulated process.
Real-World Impact
- The legal tampering period is when the free agency frenzy truly begins. In 2024, for instance, stars like Kirk Cousins reportedly agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons minutes after the window opened, though the deal wasn’t official until March 13. For 2025, expect similar fireworks as teams with significant cap space—like the New England Patriots, projected to have over $117 million—target top talents such as Sam Darnold, Chris Godwin, or Jevon Holland.
When Players Can Sign in 2025
Players can officially sign contracts at different times depending on their status:
Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs)
- Earliest Signing Date: March 12, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
- Details: UFAs whose contracts expire with the new league year can sign with any team once free agency begins. Deals negotiated during the legal tampering period become official at this point. For example, a quarterback like Sam Darnold could agree to terms with a new team on March 10 but won’t sign the contract until 4:00 p.m. on March 12.
Restricted Free Agents (RFAs)
- Earliest Signing Date: March 12, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. ET (unless tendered earlier).
- Details: RFAs can negotiate with other teams starting March 12, but their original team has until mid-April (typically April 19) to match any offer sheet if they’ve tendered a qualifying offer. If no tender is made, they become UFAs and can sign immediately on March 12.
Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFAs)
- Earliest Signing Date: Anytime after the team offers a minimum salary tender, typically before March 12.
- Details: ERFAs are locked to their original team if tendered. If no tender is offered by March 12, they become UFAs and can sign with any team at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Released Players
- Earliest Signing Date: Immediately upon release.
- Details: Players cut before their contracts expire (e.g., to clear cap space) can sign with any team at any time, even before the legal tampering period. This happened with Mitch Trubisky in 2024, who signed with the Buffalo Bills after being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Additional Context for 2025
Salary Cap
- The 2025 salary cap is set at $279.2 million, a nearly $24 million increase from 2024. Teams must be cap-compliant by 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12, which often leads to pre-free agency roster cuts to free up space.
Top Free Agents to Watch
- While some stars may be tagged or re-signed before March 10, players like Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold, Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin, and Miami Dolphins S Jevon Holland are among those projected to hit the open market, per analysts like Sheil Kapadia of The Ringer.
Teams with Cap Space
- The New England Patriots lead with $117.3 million in effective cap space, followed by the Los Angeles Chargers ($83.3 million), Arizona Cardinals ($74.5 million), Washington Commanders ($74.1 million), and Las Vegas Raiders ($74 million), according to Over The Cap. These teams are poised to be aggressive during the tampering period.
Wrap Up
The 2025 NFL free agency process is a carefully orchestrated sequence of events that begins with the franchise tag window (February 18 – March 4), heats up with the legal tampering period (March 10 at noon ET – March 12 at 3:59:59 p.m. ET), and explodes into action when players can officially sign starting March 12 at 4:00 p.m. ET. The legal tampering period, in particular, serves as the unofficial kickoff, allowing teams to lay the groundwork for blockbuster deals that reshape the league. Whether you’re a fan eagerly awaiting your team’s next big signing or a curious observer of the NFL’s inner workings, understanding this process reveals the strategy and excitement behind one of football’s most transformative periods. Mark your calendars—March 10, 2025, is when the chaos begins!
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