The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns have each proposed a watershed rule change that could significantly impact how teams navigate the NFL Draft and free agency
22:20 ET, 18 Mar 2026Updated 22:20 ET, 18 Mar 2026
NFL shield on the field
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The Browns and Steelers have proposed two new revisions to the NFL rule book(Image: Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns have proposed a pair of rule changes that could significantly impact the 2027 NFL offseason and beyond.
On Wednesday, the NFL issued a memo outlining the two suggested revisions to the league’s rulebook, which infamously came under scrutiny last year when multiple teams attempted to ban the ‘Tush Push.’
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In the latest series of submissions, the Steelers floated a minor tweak to the legal tampering window, otherwise known as the NFL's negotiation period that occurs prior to the official start of free agency. It comes after an ESPN show was halted by NFL breaking news that had fans shaking their heads.
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If Pittsburgh’s rule change were passed, teams across the league would be allowed to directly contact up to five pending unrestricted free agents via individual video or phone calls.
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Teams would then be required to report all details of the conversations — during which travel arrangements could be made — to the NFL Player Personnel Department.
Under the NFL’s current rules, franchises are barred from making direct contact with any player who is slated to hit the free agent market once the new league year begins.
Negotiations during the two-day legal tampering window can only be held between the team’s top brass and player representatives.
It appears as though the NFL may already be keen to implement the Steelers’ proposal. During the 2026 negotiation period, teams were granted one phone or video call with as many as five prospective free agents before the new league year kicked off on March 11.
Roger Goodell takes the stage during the NFL Draft
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The Browns proposed a rule change that would allow teams to trade draft picks five years out(Image: Getty Images)
The Browns, meanwhile, suggested a new rule that would allow teams to trade draft picks five years out.
The NFL’s active rulebook states that franchises can only deal capital in a draft that will occur within the next three seasons.
According to Cleveland, the revision would improve "roster-building flexibility” by allowing teams to set themselves up for immediate success while not having to worry about the ramifications down the road.
The rule change would also allegedly "create more creative trade structures that better mirror the valuations of both draft selections and players, ... increase the liquidity of draft capital which supports league-wide parity, ... improve alignment with contract and salary cap cycles, and ... encourage a more active trade market."
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Before the Browns’ and Steelers’ suggestions can be signed into law, they will be analyzed by the NFL’s competition committee.
When weighing the pros and cons of a rule change, the 11-member group considers if the revision improves the game, how it will be officiated and coached, if a player can apply the rule on the field as well as if the change enhances player protection.
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Following the NFL competition committee’s discussion, all 32 team owners in the NFL will be able to vote on whether they’d like to adopt the rule. In order to be passed, it must receive 24 votes or a 75% approval rating.