RADIO
Super Bowl LIX is over and the Philadelphia Eagles are the world champions for the second time in their existence as they stopped the Kansas City three-peat talk cold. After the ups and downs of another crazy season, it is time to glance ahead to the 2025 offseason and all the transactions and chaos that are sure to come with it. The first major event jolt to the NFL offseason is free agency.
The concept of free agency is rather simple: unsigned players can sign with new teams for more money. Players get paid for their performance, and teams can improve by adding talent to the depleted positions on their roster. However, the process of free agency is very intricate and quite complex (more than just the salary cap), but fear not, I am here to break it all down for you in my NFL Free Agency Primer series.
Throughout this series, we will discuss the franchise and transition tags, restricted and unrestricted free agents, and tenders available to teams to protect themselves from losing a valuable player. We will also examine the legal tampering period. However, before we discuss the ins and outs of NFL free agency, let’s dive into the important dates to know so that you can follow along with the league and know what to expect.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for the 2025 playoffs:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
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Important Dates For 2025 NFL Free Agency
All times indicated are Eastern Standard Time (EST)
February 18, 2025 - 4:00 p.m. - The first day NFL teams can apply the franchise or transition tag.
We are currently in this period of the NFL offseason. Teams are currently deciding which players they are going to use a franchise tag or transition tag on to protect themselves from losing players that they covet if they are unable to come to a long-term agreement.
February 24 - March 3, 2025 - The NFL Scouting Combine
The scouting combine brings the entire NFL universe to Indianapolis, giving them a chance to not only see the top draft prospects up close and in person, including meeting with the players, but it's also where a lot of trades get their roots, as GMs mingle and talk about potential deals.
March 4, 2025 - 4:00 p.m. - The deadline for NFL teams to apply the franchise or transition tag on their players.
If a team has not placed the franchise or transition tag on a player set for free agency by this deadline, that player is officially an unrestricted free agent.
March 10, 2025 - 12:00 p.m. - The start time of the legal tampering/negotiation period.
The legal tampering/negotiation period is a short window where players’ agents are allowed to negotiate with NFL teams before the official start of the NFL season. Typically, we see the most high-profile free agents agree to contracts during this window.
March 12, 2025 - 4:00 p.m. - The official end of the legal tampering period and the official start time of the new league and NFL free agency. Also, by this time, NFL teams MUST:
- Exercise any 2025 options they have on a player’s 2024 contract.
- Assign tenders to restricted free agents to retain the Right of First Refusal (explained more thoroughly in the Restricted vs. Unrestricted Free Agent article in this series).
- Be 2025 salary cap compliant (a record $272.5 M).
This is also the time that trading can resume.
March 30 - April 2, 2025 - Annual League Meeting
All 32 owners gather together in Palm Beach, Fla. to discuss possible rule changes and much more.
April 18, 2025 - Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets with another team (explained more thoroughly in the Restricted vs. Unrestricted Free Agent article in this series).
April 23, 2025 - Deadline for NFL teams to exercise their Right of First Refusal to match offer sheets on restricted free agents to retain their players (explained more thoroughly in the Restricted vs. Unrestricted Free Agent article in this series).
May 1, 2025 - Deadline for teams to utilize their fifth-year option for the 2026 season on their first-round selections from the 2022 NFL Draft.
July 15, 2025 - 4:00 p.m. - The deadline for a franchise-tagged player to sign the tag or negotiate a long-term deal with their team. If this deadline passes without the parties agreeing to a long-term contract, the player must play under the franchise tag or hold out. They cannot discuss a long-term deal with the team until next offseason.
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