When does 2020 NFL free agency start?

FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 29: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady shakes hands with Los Angeles Chargers Philip Rivers after they defeated the Chargers 21-13 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Oct. 29, 2017. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

With the NFL season officially over, teams are looking ahead to next year. But when does free agency actually start?

As teams are looking ahead to the 2020-21 NFL season, front offices are assessing their needs and trying to decide the best players to give their team an extra boost. Some of those gaps will be filled with the NFL draft and player trades, but free agency will play a major role in shaking up the league. So, when can teams start signing free agents?

Feb. 25th is the first day that teams can apply the franchise or transition tags to current players. The rules about these tags depend on whether the league is operating under a new CBA, but under the current rules, teams get one franchise tag and one transition tag. Teams have until March 10th to notify the league about these tags.

Teams can start negotiating with free agents on March 16, but the free agency market doesn’t officially open until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 18. This marks the start of the league’s new year and after this date/time, teams can begin signing players to deals. Most of the best available players will have already made their decisions and on this date, those deals will become official.

Many big-name players will be free agents this year, including Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers. Some players will likely stay where they are and negotiate a new deal with their current team, but free agency is also the time for big moves. The biggest name rumored to be on the move: Tom Brady, who was recently linked to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The free agency market is where enemies become friends and friends become enemies. It’s where teams and players alike can redefine themselves.

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