When does NFL free agency start? What Detroit Lions fans need to know

NFL free agency begins on Wednesday, March 12 at 4 p.m., but thanks to the legal tampering period, teams like the Detroit Lions can begin negotiating with players on Monday.

On Monday at 12 p.m., NFL teams can begin speaking to players set to become free agents and their representatives to begin negotiating potential contracts. Free agents can sign contracts with NFL teams beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The beginning of free agency is also the beginning of the 2025 league year for the NFL. Contracts running through the 2024 season will officially expire, and teams can sign those players in free agency.

When does NFL free agency start?

NFL free agency officially begins on Wednesday, March 12 at 4 p.m. Free agency marks the beginning of a new league year. All contracts in their final year expire, and all deals negotiated during the negotiation period become official. Players who hit free agency can sign new deals with any team.

Teams and representatives on behalf of a player can begin negotiating contracts on Monday, two days before free agency officially opens. The legal tampering period begins at noon.

The legal tampering period began in 2012 to try to curb the amount of under-the-table deals between players and teams before free agency officially started. This period marks the beginning of when teams can contact agents of players who are not on their roster.

Teams can be punished for contacting a player outside of the legal tampering window. For example, the NFL punished the Atlanta Falcons by stripping them of a fifth-round draft pick for contacting Kirk Cousins ahead of the legal tampering window last year.