NFL free agency, explained: Rules for when 2023 free agency starts, how tampering period works

The NCAA basketball tournaments are front of mind the week of March 13, but the NFL will do its part to remain part of the cultural zeitgeist all week long. NFL free agency starts on Wednesday, March 15 at 4:00 p.m. ET, at which point teams will execute trades, free agency signings will begin, and roster construction takes a big step forward ahead of the 2023 regular season.

While official moves happen on the 15th, the negotiation period begins two days prior at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, March 13. Unofficially called the tampering period, free agents can begin meeting and negotiating with teams other than their own. Contracts cannot be signed, but plenty of deals will be effectively completed during this window. This rule applies to unrestricted free agents, which means anybody who has or could receive a required tender (franchise players, transition players, restricted free agents, and exclusive rights free agents) cannot negotiate until 4 p.m. ET on the 15th.

The NFL issued a press release on Monday morning answering many of the most common questions related to free agency. Below is a rundown of all those questions and answers.

NFL free agency rules

A. At 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 15.

A. From 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 13 until 3:59:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon expiration of their 2022 player contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 15. The two-day negotiating period applies only to prospective unrestricted free agents. It does not apply to players who have received, or who may receive, a required tender applicable to the 2023 League Year (e.g., Exclusive Rights Players, Restricted Free Agents, Franchise Players or Transition Players).

A. Players are either “restricted free agents” or “unrestricted free agents.” A restricted free agent may be subject to a “qualifying offer.” A restricted or unrestricted free agent may be designated by his prior club as its franchise player or transition player.

A. For restricted free agents, from March 15 to April 21. For unrestricted free agents who have received a tender from their prior club by the Monday immediately following the final day of the NFL Draft for the 2023 League Year (i.e., May 1), from March 15 to July 24 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). For franchise players, from March 15 until the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season, November 14. For transition players, from March 15 until July 24. After July 24 and until 4 p.m. ET on the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season, November 14, the prior club has exclusive negotiating rights to unrestricted free agents and transition players. If the above-listed players do not sign by November 14, they must sit out the season.

A. In the 2023 league year, players with three accrued seasons who have received a qualifying offer become restricted free agents when their contracts expire at the conclusion of the 2022 league year on March 15. Unrestricted free agents have completed four or more accrued seasons. Upon expiration of his 2022 contract, an unrestricted free agent is free to sign with any club with no draft-choice compensation owed to his old club.

A. Six or more regular season games on a club's active/inactive, reserve/injured or reserve/physically unable to perform lists.

A. If a player with three accrued seasons has received a “qualifying offer” (a salary tender predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club, he can negotiate with any club through April 21. If the restricted free agent signs an offer sheet with a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because the qualifying offer entitles it to a “right of first refusal” on any offer sheet the player signs. If the old club does not match the offer, it may receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer. If an offer sheet is not executed on or before April 21, the player's negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club. In addition, prior to the start of free agency a player who would otherwise be a restricted free agent may be designated by his old club as its franchise player or transition player.

A. For right of first refusal only, a one-year salary of at least $2,627,000. For right of first refusal and compensation at the player's original draft round, a one-year salary of at least $2,743,000 or 110 percent of the 2022 Paragraph 5 salary, whichever is greater. For right of first refusal and compensation of one second-round draft selection, a one-year salary of at least $4,304,000 or 110 percent of the 2022 Paragraph 5 salary, whichever is greater. For right of first refusal and compensation of one first-round draft selection, a one-year salary of at least $6,005,000 or 110 percent of the 2022 Paragraph 5 salary, whichever is greater. For right of first refusal and compensation of only one first-round draft selection, but any provision in the new club's offer sheet waiving or limiting the new club's ability to designate the player as a franchise or transition player is not a principal term and need not be matched by the prior club, a one-year salary of at least $6,505,000 or 110 percent of the 2022 Paragraph 5 salary, whichever is greater.

A. A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no draft-choice compensation owed to his old club, through July 24 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). At that point, his negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club if by May 1 the old club tendered the player a one-year contract for 110 percent of his prior year's salary. His old club then has until the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season (November 14) to sign him. If he does not sign by that date, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by May 1, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.

A. The salary offer by a player's club determines what type of franchise player he is: exclusive or non-exclusive. An “exclusive” franchise player – not free to sign with another club – is offered the greater of (i) the average of the top five salaries at the player's position for the current year as of the end of the restricted free agent signing period on April 21; or (ii) the amount of the required tender for a non-exclusive franchise player, as explained below. Article 10, Section 2(a)(i) of the CBA sets forth the methodology, known as the “Cap Percentage Average,” for calculating the required tender for a non-exclusive franchise player: The Nonexclusive Franchise Tender shall be a one year NFL Player Contract for (A) the average of the five largest Prior Year Salaries for players at the position . . . at which the Franchise Player participated in the most plays during the prior League Year, which average shall be calculated by: (1) summing the amounts of t he Franchise Tags for players at that position for the five preceding League Years; (2) dividing the resulting amount by the sum of the Salary Caps for the five preceding League Years . . . ; and (3) multiplying the resulting percentage by the Salary Cap for the upcoming League Year . . . (the “Cap Percentage Average”) . . . ; or (B) 120% of his Prior Year Salary, whichever is greater . . . . If a club extends a required tender to a “non-exclusive” franchise player pursuant to this section, the player shall be permitted to negotiate a player contract with any club, except that draft-choice compensation of two first-round draft selections shall be made in the event he signs with a new club.

A. A club can designate one franchise player or one transition player among its potential restricted or unrestricted free agents.

A. Yes. A club can withdraw its franchise or transition designation, and the player then automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent, either immediately if the tender is withdrawn after the start of the 2023 league year, or when his 2022 contract expires if the tender is withdrawn before the start of the 2023 league year.

A. The salary cap is $224,800,000 per club.

A. At the start of the 2023 league year, which begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 15.

A. Yes. A team may carry over room from one league year to the following league year by submitting notice to the NFL prior to 4:00 p.m. ET on the day following the team's final regular-season game, indicating the amount of room that the club wishes to carry over.

A. A club can carry over 100 percent of its remaining 2022 room to its adjusted salary cap for 2023.

  
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