What is the NFL tampering window? Everything to know about pre ...

11 Mar 2024

USA TODAY

What is the NFL tampering window Everything to know about pre

NFL free agency begins on Wednesday, but deals will be made ahead of that time. Here's what to know about the legal tampering period and more.

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The Saquon Barkely era is in New York is ending

The NFL crew talks about how they feel about Saquon Barkley in free agency, and what is in store for the Giants organization.

For NFL players, when a window of opportunity closes, another opens – a tampering window, that is.

The NFL's legal tampering window opens on Monday at noon ET, officially signaling the unofficial start of free agency (Wednesday, March 13). For unrestricted free agents testing the waters, this two-day period offers a bit more clarity on their respective markets.

That said, the negotiating window isn't always cut-and-dry. Players have backed out of deals in years past, opting to take their talents – and bank accounts – elsewhere.

For those unfamiliar with the tampering window, what it means and why you should hold off on any excitement of your favorite team signing a big-name free agent, read on:

What is legal tampering in the NFL?

The NFL's legal tampering window is a two-day period prior to the start of the new league year, in which teams can speak directly with other players' representatives and broker deals ahead of the official start of free agency (4 p.m. ET, March 13). The window opens on Monday at noon ET and closes at the start of free agency.

To combat the amount of backdoor deals which were taking place before players would officially hit the open market, the league instituted the legal tampering period allowing players' agents to speak with interested teams in 2012. That means you'll hear a lot of players agreeing to deals with new teams ahead of Wednesday.

That said, the deals that are struck during the legal tampering period aren't official until they are signed, which means players can back out of any deals made in the window. While that's not necessarily a common occurrence, it has happened in years past.

There are some restrictions, however. Players cannot visit other teams' facilities during the tampering window. They cannot speak directly with other organizations' front offices (that's left to the agents).

The NFL describes the negotiating window as the following: "The purpose of the two-day negotiating period is to create a level playing field in the competition for Unrestricted Free Agents by permitting clubs to negotiate with the certified agents of such players concerning all aspects of an NFL Player Contract."

When does NFL free agency start?

NFL free agency begins on Wednesday, March 13 at 4 p.m. ET. Players can officially sign deals with new teams at this time, the start of the new league year.