when does nfl free agency start — The NFL’s two-day negotiating period opened at noon ET on March 9, allowing agents and clubs to talk ahead of the new league year; deals can be signed when the new league year begins at 4 p. m. ET on March 11. The early window set off a flurry of roster moves and trade activity across the league. Teams are positioning quickly as coaching changes and draft strategy reshape priorities.
Immediate moves and blockbuster trades
Action came fast: the Kansas City Chiefs moved to add running back Kenneth Walker III, with the club finalizing a multi-year contract to bring the Super Bowl MVP into an offense already anchored by star veterans. The Indianapolis Colts secured wide receiver Alec Pierce on a multi-year deal to keep a key target in their passing game. The Miami Dolphins announced they will release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. On the trade front, the Las Vegas Raiders traded defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round draft picks, a move that clears the way for Las Vegas to pivot toward a rebuild centered on the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft and its projected quarterback target.
Other notable roster adjustments included a high-profile return expectation for Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and additional signings and trades affecting multiple rosters as clubs respond to the new coaching hires this offseason.
When Does Nfl Free Agency Start — timing and rules that matter
The negotiating window that opened at noon ET on March 9 stretches until the new league year formally opens at 4 p. m. ET on March 11. During this interval, clubs and certified agents can reach verbal agreements and set terms ahead of the official signing period; those contracts become binding only when they are signed after the new league year starts. The NFL also permitted a change this year allowing teams one video or phone call, up to one hour, with a group of up to five free agents — the agent must be on the call — designed to let coaches and players have direct conversations before final commitments.
That timing placed all teams on a fast clock: with 10 franchises having hired new head coaches this offseason, front offices are coordinating signings, trades and late coaching evaluations to align personnel with new schemes.
What’s next: signings, cap moves and draft implications
With the new league year set to open at 4 p. m. ET on March 11, expect initial signed deals to be processed then and trades agreed in advance to be made official. Teams that have cleared cap space or traded premium picks will move quickly to fill roster needs, while franchises on the rebuild track will prepare to use top draft positioning in April. The coming 48 hours will reveal whether the early flurry of moves is a preview of sustained spending or a front-loaded sprint before deeper negotiation and reshuffling.
As clubs convert verbal agreements to signed contracts and finalize trade paperwork, the central timing question — when does nfl free agency start — will be answered definitively at 4 p. m. ET on March 11 when the new league year begins and the first official transactions are recorded.
