NFL Free Agency Explained

By Sean Facey | Feb 14 2020

Here's a breakdown of NFL free agency. | Peter Aiken/Getty Images

The NFL has its new champion in the Kansas City Chiefs, and now that the confetti has fallen, teams have turned their eyes toward free agency.

With the entire league preparing to restock for the 2020 campaign, let's review what types of free agents there are in the NFL and how the free agency process works.

When Does NFL Free Agency Begin?

Teams can start contacting players on March 16, and they are allowed to sign them to contracts starting on March 18. That's when the real chaos begins.

Report: Greg Olsen finishes free agent visits, Josh Norman is getting released https://t.co/kVPg0kBVDJ
— ThePanthersWire (@ThePanthersWire) February 14, 2020

This free agent class is shaping up to be one for the ages. The NFL landscape could look much different once the signing period opens up. But there are other restrictions...

Types of NFL free agents:
* Unrestricted: Can sign with any team on the first day of free agency (Ex: Tom Brady)
* Restricted: Incumbent team can tender them & has right to match offers from other teams (Ex: Taysom Hill)
* Street: Eligible to sign right now (Ex: Greg Olsen)
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 14, 2020

Unrestricted Free Agents

These types of players are free to sign with any team with no limitations. When the floodgates open, they can go wherever they choose or wherever they're wanted.

A good example of this type of free agent is Tom Brady. Each team has the opportunity to submit a bid for his services once the signing period starts.

Restricted Free Agents

Unlike their unrestricted counterparts, restricted free agents come with some strings attached. Teams can bid for a player's services, but it's the incumbent team that gets the final say. The team that they played the season prior with can both tender them a qualifying contract and match any offer sheet from another team.

"He's one of the most unique restricted free agents that the NFL has seen since maybe the early 2000s."@BradyPoppinga says that the NFL is keeping their eyes on Taysom Hill this offseason.

Listen: 960 AM / 94.5 FM#BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #ESPN960 @CriddleBenjamin
— ESPN960Sports (@espn960sports) January 10, 2020

Incumbent teams who tender a contract to the player but don't match another team's offer receive draft pick compensation.

Street Free Agents

Street free agents are players whose contracts with teams were cancelled. After the termination of their deals, they're free to sign with any team with no restrictions from the free agent period start date. Josh Norman, who was released by the Washington Redskins, is the latest example of a street free agent.

Get ready for the action starting in about a month!