NFL Free Agency begins officially on Wednesday, March 13, but the legal tampering period opens up two days prior. Many of the top free agents end up agreeing to deals in the 48 hours leading up to the beginning of free agency. Today, we’re going to provide you with a free agency primer to see who the top free agents are and which teams might be going after them.
For the Denver Broncos, they could be looking at top free agents at the cornerback, safety, inside linebacker, and both offensive and defensive line positions. But first, let’s review what the legal tampering period is and what teams can do during the next two days.
What is the legal tampering period?
Teams can officially negotiate with free agents up tot 48 hours prior to free agency officially opening up. In the past, teams have tried to skirt the rules with multiple top free agents apparently agreeing to deals well before the legal tampering period began. That hasn’t been the case, so far, this year.
Some of the rules to be aware of were broken down nicely by Rams Wire in 2018:
• March 11 to March 13 at 4 p.m. ET
• It applies to unrestricted free agents only. Teams cannot talk to restricted free agents during this two-day period.
• Teams can negotiate “all aspects of an NFL player contract” until March 13, but not directly with the player. This means that teams can only negotiate with agents.
• If a player acts as his own agent, he cannot talk to other teams.
• Players cannot visit teams besides their own during this period.
• Violations of these rules can result in fines or a loss of draft picks.
This video from SB Nation in 2015 was just too good to not share. Four years later, football definitely has more dumb rules and is definitely more popular than ever.