The most exciting shopping season in professional football is officially upon us. NFL free agency 2026 is here, and the action has already started to heat up before the ink is even dry on a single contract. From record-breaking extensions to blockbuster trades, the 2026 offseason is shaping up to be one for the history books. Here’s your complete, up-to-the-minute guide to everything happening in NFL free agency — when it starts, who the top players are, the latest news, and which teams are making the boldest moves.
⚡ QUICK ANSWER: When Does NFL Free Agency Start? The NFL’s legal tampering window opened Monday, March 9, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Official free agency — when contracts can actually be signed — begins Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET, marking the start of the new NFL league year.
WHEN DOES NFL FREE AGENCY START? A Complete Timeline
NFL fans asking “when does free agency start” can stop wondering — it’s happening right now. But the process unfolds in stages, and understanding the timeline is key to following all the action.
Legal Tampering Period: Monday, March 9 at 12:00 p.m. ET
The real action kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Monday with the start of the legal tampering period — a two-day window where teams are allowed to contact the agent of any unrestricted free agent and attempt to negotiate a contract. In a historic rule change for 2026, for the first time, teams will be permitted to directly contact up to five free agents during the tampering window rather than being limited to agent-only communications. Players can agree to terms on contracts during this window, though no one can officially sign until Wednesday.
Official Free Agency: Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00 p.m. ET
NFL free agency begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11, when the NFL’s new league year officially starts. That’s when contracts from the 2025 season expire and teams are permitted to officially sign unrestricted free agents. The start of the new league year also opens the 2026 NFL trading period, allowing teams to complete trades that had previously been agreed upon.
2026 NFL Salary Cap: $301.2 Million Per Team
The NFL announced the 2026 salary cap will be $301.2 million, a $22 million increase from 2025. All teams must be under the salary cap by 4 p.m. on March 11. This rise in cap space is already fueling a frenzy of activity league-wide.
BREAKING NFL NEWS: The Biggest Moves Already Made
Even before the official start of free agency, the NFL news cycle has been churning at a breakneck pace. Here are the headline-making moves that have already rocked the league.
🦅 Maxx Crosby Traded to the Baltimore Ravens
The Las Vegas Raiders reportedly traded star defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens Yahoo Sports in a blockbuster deal that signals a full-scale rebuild in Las Vegas. The Ravens add a proven elite pass rusher to what is already one of the NFL’s most formidable defenses.
🏈 Trent McDuffie Signs NFL-Record CB Extension with the Rams
Trent McDuffie, days after he was acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, agreed to terms on a four-year, $124 million extension. The total value of the deal and $31 million average per year are each NFL records for the position.
🐬 Dolphins Release Tua Tagovailoa, Accept Record Dead Cap Hit
The Miami Dolphins will release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after the start of the new league year. Tua has $54 million in guaranteed money owed to him for the 2026 season. By cutting Tua, the Dolphins are now going to be stuck with an NFL-record $99.2 million dead cap charge this year. However, they could knock that number down to $67.4 million if they designate him as a post-June 1 cut — by going that route, the Dolphins will be able to split the $99.2 million hit over two seasons, taking a $67.4 million hit in 2026 and a $31.8 million dead cap hit in 2027.
🏹 Kyler Murray to Be Released by Cardinals; Vikings Emerge as Favorite
With the Arizona Cardinals moving on from quarterback Kyler Murray when the new league year begins on March 11, the Minnesota Vikings have emerged as a favorite to sign the 2019 No. 1 overall pick. A pairing that could immediately reshape the NFC North landscape.
🔴 Franchise Tags: Pickens, Pitts, Hall & Jones
The franchise/transition tag deadline passed with four players receiving one: Cowboys WR George Pickens, Falcons TE Kyle Pitts, Jets RB Breece Hall, and Colts QB Daniel Jones (transition tag). Breece Hall’s franchise tag will pay him $14.293 million for the 2026 season, and the two sides will continue to work on a long-term contract.
TOP FREE AGENTS OF 2026: Who Are the Best Players Available?
The 2026 NFL free agent class is headlined by two elite pass rushers and goes deep across nearly every position.
Edge Rushers
Trey Hendrickson is one of the top players in free agency. After returning to the Bengals on a one-year deal, Ossai recorded a career-high 43 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Hendrickson is widely regarded as the top available player in the entire 2026 class and is expected to be one of the first players off the board once the signing period opens.
Quarterbacks
With his dual-threat traits and positive signs of development in Green Bay, Malik Willis is one of the top quarterbacks in free agency. In four appearances (one start) last season, Willis completed 85.7% of his throws, rushed for 123 yards and scored four touchdowns. He’ll be signed to start somewhere this March. Kyler Murray, pending his official release, is another dual-threat option expected to attract strong interest.
Running Backs
Kenneth Walker III is a decisive runner who can press the edges with speed, find cutback lanes in zone schemes and provide big-play ability. His 33 rushes of 10 or more yards were the sixth most in the regular season, and he can be targeted on screens or swing routes out of the backfield. He has had at least 25 receptions in all four of his NFL seasons.
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert is a multi-level target who can also produce on manufactured touches in the low red zone. He set career highs in touchdowns (11, tied for second most in the NFL) and receptions (60) this past season in just 15 games.
Who Has the Most at Stake?
New England Patriots — Building on Super Bowl Success
A year ago, the Patriots spent an NFL record $361 million in free agency to upgrade 2024 third overall pick quarterback Drake Maye’s supporting cast. New England’s historic spending worked out as they ended up winning the AFC before coming up just short in Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks. With Maye still on his rookie deal, the Patriots still have money to spend in 2026.
Philadelphia Eagles — Navigating Additions and Subtractions
The Eagles have to figure out what kind of subtraction (A.J. Brown? Jalen Carter?) is in order while also balancing some additions. Philadelphia’s offseason decisions will have significant ripple effects across the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys — Playing Aggressively on Offense
The Cowboys are coming in from a point of aggressive adding. The franchise tag on George Pickens signals Dallas’s intention to build a formidable offensive arsenal, and the team is expected to be one of the busiest organizations once the window opens.
Seattle Seahawks — Cap Space With a Caveat
The Seattle Seahawks have a lot of cap space this offseason, but their cap figure is a little deceiving. They’ll need to dole out long-term deals to 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Three of Seattle’s best defensive backs — safety Coby Bryant, cornerback Josh Jobe, and cornerback Tariq Woolen — are all free agents. It’s unlikely they’ll be able to bring all three of them back in 2026.
HOW NFL FREE AGENCY WORKS: A Guide for Fans
Unrestricted free agents have completed four or more accrued seasons. Upon expiration of their contract, an unrestricted free agent is free to sign with any club with no draft-choice compensation owed to the old club.
Players with three accrued seasons who have received a qualifying offer become restricted free agents when their contracts expire. If a player has received a qualifying offer from their old club, they can negotiate with any club through April 17.
The salary cap is $301,200,000 per club, and teams must be in compliance at the start of the 2026 League Year, which begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11. A team may carry over unused room from one league year to the following league year.
WHAT TO WATCH: The Days Ahead
With the legal tampering period underway and the signing period just two days away, the next 72 hours will bring a flood of NFL news. Keep your eyes on the Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray sweepstakes, watch for Trey Hendrickson’s landing spot, and monitor whether elite free agents like Kenneth Walker III and Malik Willis find their next homes before the weekend.
The 2026 NFL free agency class is deep, the salary cap is at an all-time high, and franchises across the league are hungry to make transformative moves. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, this is the most exciting time of the NFL calendar — and it’s only just begun.
📅 Key NFL Free Agency Dates at a Glance
- Legal Tampering Window Opens: Monday, March 9, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
- Official Free Agency / New League Year: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET
- Restricted Free Agent Period Ends: April 17, 2026
- 2026 Salary Cap: $301.2 Million Per Club
Stay tuned for continuous updates as NFL free agency 2026 unfolds.
