After the Kansas City Chiefs were finally toppled in the Super Bowl after three years, the next season for the NFL is officially on the horizon: free agency.
Fans are hoping to see big changes made for their respective teams, while franchises would have already begun the process of clearing cap room by informing 2024 starters that they’ll be released.
But for those fans who are eager for NFL free agency to officially begin, how long do they have to wait? Here are the important league dates involving the 2025 free agency period.
2025 NFL Franchise Tag Deadline and Values
The deadline to apply the franchise tag is 4 p.m. ET on March 4. The window opened on Feb. 18 and runs through the next 15 days. NFL teams have reportedly been budgeting for a salary cap between $265 million and $275 million. The official salary cap number will be announced in late February.
Here are the projected franchise tag values for this season:
- QB: $41.3 million non-exclusive; $35.3 million transition
- RB: $12 million non-exclusive; $9.8 million transition
- WR: $25.7 million non-exclusive; $22.5 million transition
- TE: $14.2 million non-exclusive; $12.1 million transition
- OL: $25.2 million non-exclusive; $22.7 million transition
- DE: $24.7 million non-exclusive; $20.8 million transition
- DT: $23.5 million non-exclusive; $18.9 million transition
- LB: $27.1 million non-exclusive; $22.6 million transition
- CB: $20.4 million non-exclusive; $17.2 million transition
- S: $19.6 million non-exclusive; $15.6 million transition
- K/P: $6.5 million non-exclusive; $5.8 million transition
Start Date for 2025 NFL Free Agency
Free agency begins at the start of the new league year, which for the 2025 season is March 12, at 4 p.m. ET. That’s when player contracts from the previous season officially expire, setting them up to become free agents.
The “legal tampering period” begins 52 hours before, however, on March 10 at Noon ET. Because players are still under contract, any agreement they make in principle cannot be legally binding until Wednesday at 4 p.m.
- Legal tampering period: March 10-12
- 2025 NFL free agency start date: Wednesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET
Who Are Some of the Top Free Agents Available in 2025?
This year’s class features high-end talent in numerous positions, with Cincinnati Bengals’ star receiver Tee Higgins occupying the first position in PFSN’s Top 100 Free Agents. The WR’s class also includes Chris Godwin, who was on track for a fourth-straight 1,000-yard season and his fifth in six years before an ankle injury in Week 7.
Here are the top three free agents at each position.
Quarterback
1) Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
2) Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
3) Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Running Back
1) J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers
2) Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers
3) Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
Wide Receiver
1) Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
2) Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3) Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
Tight End
1) Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
2) Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
3) Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
Offensive Tackle
1) Morgan Moses, New York Jets
2) Alaric Jackson, Los Angeles Rams
3) Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens
Interior Offensive Line
1) Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
2) Brandon Scherff, Jacksonville Jaguars
3) Coleman Shelton, Chicago Bears
What Is Disallowed During the Tampering Window?
Before the NFL tampering period was implemented in 2013, the league had a problem. In a league where every conceivable advantage matters, teams were illegally tampering with players and agents.
Allowing teams a 52-hour window to negotiate with players was critical. While no contract discussion during this period is legally binding because all of these players remain under contract until Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m., all of the formalities are taken care of.
Players are not allowed to speak with teams directly until Wednesday, but that only matters if a player decides to represent themselves. Players can visit the team they were previously under contract with.
For example, Javon Hargrave visited with the Philadelphia Eagles during this two-day window in the 2023 season before ultimately signing with the 49ers.