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What is the NFL's legal tampering period? How and when can football teams negotiate with free agents? Andersen Pickard explains everything you need to know.
The NFL offseason brings an exciting sequence of events and benchmarks. From free agency to the draft to training camp, football fans can remain enthralled by all of the sport's behind-the-scenes components even when there aren't meaningful games to watch.
One major offseason checkpoint is fast approaching in March: the legal tampering period.
What is the NFL's legal tampering period? When does the legal tampering period start and end? Let's answer these burning questions.
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NFL Legal Tampering Period, Explained
The legal tampering period is a 52-hour window in which all teams and representatives of impending unrestricted free agents may negotiate contracts for the upcoming season and beyond. It was implemented back in 2013 as a tactic to cut down on illegal tampering between teams and agents.
By allowing teams to negotiate with agents in the two-plus days leading up to the new league year, the NFL is essentially creating a legal form of tampering. This way, teams can get an early jump on free agency while still following league rules.
As soon as the tampering window opens, teams may engage in contract negotiations with the representation of players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents when the new league year begins.
According to the NFL's policy, for the duration of the tampering period, teams, free agents, and their representation may only discuss the parameters of a potential contract. Teams may not make a formal offer or host an unrestricted free agent for a visit until the new league year officially begins. With that said, there is an unspoken understanding that teams often violate some of these tampering policies.
In previous years, a few signings are reported within the first hour (or even the first few minutes) of the legal tampering window. By the letter of the law, there is nothing illegal about this. However, given that contract negotiations typically last more than a few minutes, it's hard to imagine that some of these early deals weren't initially discussed before the window opened.
This was the case in 2019 when Trent Brown signed a record-breaking contract with the Raiders just nine minutes into the tampering period. It is nearly impossible to negotiate the full terms of a contract in just nine minutes, especially when that deal sets a new record for offensive lineman salaries. Most likely, Brown's representation and the Raiders began negotiating well before the tampering window opened.
Former Patriots’ OT Trent Brown intends to sign a four-year, $66 million contract that includes $36.75 million guaranteed with the Oakland Raiders, per source, making him highest paid OL in NFL history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2019
It's also fair to wonder whether adding 52 hours for tampering really makes any difference. If a team had been willing to tamper 24 hours before the new league year, one would assume they'd be just as willing to tamper 24 hours before the legal tampering period.
As much as teams can try to take advantage of the system, they can also be wronged by it. Since the tampering period is intended for negotiations only, any agreement that is made during this window is not official. Until a player's deal is signed and made official, they are welcome to change their mind and join a different team.
Key Free Agency Dates & Times
March 11 - Legal Tampering Period Opens at noon EDT
At noon EDT, all NFL teams are permitted to engage in contract negotiations with certified agents of players scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency on March 13. Even though the new league year doesn't begin until March 13, many NFL fans consider March 11 the start of free agency. Dozens and dozens of deals will be agreed upon throughout the first day of the tampering period.
March 13 - New League Year Begins at 4 p.m. EDT
The 2024 league year officially begins at 4 p.m. EDT, at which point the league processes many trades and signings that were finalized during the tampering period (or earlier). This benchmark on the timeline isn't nearly as hectic as March 11, but it still does bring a stream of previously unreported moves (as well as previously reported moves becoming official). Given that many handshake agreements were made in the days, weeks, or even months leading up to March 13, there will certainly be a surge of moves that become official when the clock strikes four.
Breaking: The 2024 NFL salary cap is set for a whopping, record-breaking $255.4 million, sources tell @CBSSports. That's up more than $30 million from last year's cap number and well beyond all the recent estimates. Story to come.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) February 23, 2024
For a full list of key dates throughout the NFL offseason, click here.
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