On Sunday, the NFL confirmed that despite the ever-increasing spread of COVID-19, its new league year will begin as scheduled on Wednesday, with the so-called “legal tampering” period for free agents beginning on Monday.
According to NFL Network, the NFL and the NFL Players Association discussed moving the calendar year back, but eventually decided not to. In these unprecedented times, the NFL has opted to adopt a business-as-usual approach, despite the fact every major sports league across the world has suspended operations indefinitely in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Even without the unprecedented background, 2020 would not have been an ordinary year for free agency. The uncertainty surrounding the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the impact it would have on teams using the franchise and transition tags has dominated the conversation since the end of Super Bowl LIV, rivaled only in terms of column inches by speculations over Tom Brady’s future.
The former issue was put to bed on Sunday, when NFL players voted 1019 to 959 in favor of approving a new CBA, which ensures labor peace for another decade and paves the way for a 17-game regular season as early as 2021. Brady’s future also became a little clearer on Sunday, after the Tennessee Titans signed Ryan Tannehill to a massive four-year deal worth up to $118 million, with $62 million fully guaranteed.
The deal means the Titans are out of the race for Brady, who will become a free agent this week and could leave the New England Patriots after two decades with the franchise.
Here’s all you need to know about the 2020 NFL free agency.
When does NFL free agency begin?
Free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 18, when the new league year gets underway. The actual start of free agency, however, falls on March 16, when the legal tampering period begins and the deadline to franchise tag players, more of which later, expires.
What is the NFL legal tampering period?
As per NFL rules, the legal tampering period is a two-day window during which teams are allowed to enter contract negotiations with players who are due to become free agents. Terms can be discussed and agreed, but any deals can only be made officials at the start of the new league year on March 18.
When is the franchise tag deadline?
The franchise tag deadline remains at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, March 16. However, now that a new CBA has been agreed upon, teams will only be allowed to use either the franchise tag or the transition tag this season, as has been the norm in recent years. Had the league still been operating under the old CBA, the 32 franchises would have been allowed a one-off exception to use both tags in the same offseason.
The switch to the new CBA makes life harder for teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, who have more than one high-profile player they were hoping to tag—such as Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper.
The franchise tag allows teams to restrict a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent movement in exchange for a predetermined one-year salary, giving both parties another 12 months to agree on a contract extension.
The salary for each position is no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position as of a date in April of the current year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater.
Who are the top free agents?
Brady and Prescott are the standout names in this year’s free agency, but the quarterback class also includes Teddy Bridgewater, Philip Rivers, Jameis Winston and Drew Brees. While the latter is all but certain to return to the New Orleans Saints and it would be surprising to see Prescott not in Dallas next season, the future of the other four remains up in the air.
Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones are also going to be highly coveted.
Which teams have the most cap available?
According to figures from overthecap.com, these are the teams with the most salary cap available as of March 16.
Miami Dolphins—$82. 6 millionBuffalo Bills—$77. 1 millionTampa Bay Buccaneers—$74. 4 millionNew York Giants—$72. 7 millionDallas Cowboys—$68. 9 millionIndianapolis Colts—$64. 9 millionCleveland Browns—$62. 3 millionOakland Raiders—$50. 4 millionCincinnati Bengals—$48. 8 millionDetroit Lions—$47. 9 million
