We’re just days away from the official start of the NFL free agency period. So, when does NFL free agency start?
NFL free agency officially starts Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET, but that’s not the full story. That’s when the start of the 2026 league year officially kicks off, and teams can sign free agents and do trades.
“NFL free agency is one of the most exciting and impactful periods of the offseason, shaping the league’s competitive landscape for the year ahead,” the league states on their website. They add that it’s a time when “clubs strategize to improve their rosters” and “players move between teams.”
When Does NFL Free Agency Start?
But, the action actually starts before March 11. The NFL’s “legal tampering” period starts Monday, March 9 at 12 p.m. ET. During this time, teams are allowed to talk to agents of unrestricted free agents and contracts can be drawn up. So, by the time March 11 gets here, chances are a slew of teams will already have contracts in place, ready to be signed.
So, so summarize, on Monday, March 9, starting at 12 p.m. ET, the NFL’s “legal tampering” window opens, and expect to hear rumors about players flipping teams. Nothing will be official until March 11, though.
On Wednesday, March 11, staring at 4 p.m. ET, the real NFL free agency period starts. That’s when teams are officially allowed to sign players.
So, who are the top free agents to watch? Gregg Rosenthal from the NFL’s official website has a tally of the top 101 NFL free agents hitting the market. In the piece, he states that the roster is based on who he would want to sign.
“Position scarcity, age and market value are all taken into account, but it’s not a prediction of who is going to get the most money,” he states. “It’s who I believe will be the best players at their respective positions.”
His No. 1 pick is quarterback Malik Willis of the Green Bay Packers. In the piece, Rosenthal states that he sees Willis as “the most dynamic quarterback in football as a runner, and his tape in Green Bay showed incredible growth as a passer over his two years with Matt LaFleur.”
“Despite his limited sample size, Willis jumped to the top spot of this ranking based on the same logic that applies to the NFL draft: If a potential franchise quarterback is good enough to be ranked in the top five of a list like this, then he should be placed first, by virtue of the position,” he adds. “The ceiling is the roof.”
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