NFL Free Agency 2026: Key Dates, Rules, and Potential Moves

The NFL’s free agency period opens on Monday, March 8, 2026, with a 52-hour legal tampering period preceding the official start of the latest league year on Wednesday, March 10, 2026. Several high-profile players are poised to seek new contracts, including edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, and quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Kyler Murray, who are expected to be released by their current teams.

Understanding the Free Agency Process

Here’s a breakdown of the key rules and terms governing NFL free agency:

What is Legal Tampering?

Beginning at noon EDT on Monday, March 8, teams can begin negotiating with certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents when their contracts expire at 4 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 10. Direct communication between teams and players is prohibited during this period; players cannot sign new contracts until the league year officially begins.

Unrestricted vs. Restricted Free Agents

Players with four or more accrued seasons (defined as six or more regular-season games on a club’s active/inactive, reserve/injured, or reserve/physically unable to perform lists) whose contracts have expired become unrestricted free agents, allowing them to negotiate and sign with any team. Restricted free agents have three accrued seasons and have received a qualifying offer from their current team.

Franchise and Transition Tags

Teams can designate one potential free agent as a franchise player. The franchise tag guarantees the player a one-year contract at a predetermined salary. There are two types of franchise tags:

• Exclusive Franchise Player: Not free to sign with other clubs and receives the greater of the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position or the required tender for a nonexclusive player.
• Nonexclusive Franchise Player: Can sign with another team, but the original team will receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

The transition tag is a one-year offer for the average of the top 10 salaries at the position, giving the original club the right of first refusal to match any offer from another team.

Salary Cap and Rollover

The 2026 salary cap is set at $301.2 million per club, an increase from $279.2 million in 2025 ESPN. Teams must be under the salary cap by 4 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 10. Teams can carry over unused cap space from one year to the next.

Potential Free Agent Moves

Several players are expected to be key targets during free agency. Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Kyler Murray are anticipated to be available after being released by their respective teams. Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is also expected to draw significant interest from multiple teams ESPN.

Key Dates to Remember

• Monday, March 8, 2026 (Noon EDT): Legal tampering period begins.
• Wednesday, March 10, 2026 (4 p.m. EDT): New league year begins; free agency officially opens.
• April 17, 2026: Restricted free agent signing period ends.