The NFL’s free agency sweepstakes begins today.
The league’s free agency period officially begins on Wednesday. However, the “unofficial” beginning starts today, setting off what is expected to be a race to sign some of the league’s top free agents.
This unofficial beginning is more popularly known as the “legal tampering” period that begins today at 9 a.m. PT. This period allows unrestricted free agents and their agents to begin negotiating with any team for the next two days. The legal tampering period ends when the league’s free agent period officially begins on Wednesday at 1 p.m. PT.
Many negotiations have quietly started and quite a few deals are already sealed, so expect many deals to be announced soon after the legal tampering period begins.
Normally, most of the free agent attention is focused on quarterbacks, but not this year because many of the top available players at the position have already signed contracts.
Daniel Jones re-signed (four years, $160 million) with the New York Giants, while Derek Carr signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks retained Geno Smith by agreeing to a three-year, $102 million deal.
The Baltimore Ravens used their non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson, allowing him to entertain offers from other teams while giving them the right to either match any offer or decline and receive two first-round picks in compensation. So far, no team has publicly indicated any interest in talking to Jackson, much less offer a contract.
Jimmy Garoppolo is considered the top free agent quarterback this year. He’s coming off another year in which an injury (foot) short-circuited his season. The best available players are on the offensive line (Kansas City’s Orlando Brown, Philadelphia’s Isaac Seumalo, San Francisco’s Mike McGlinchey), defensive line (Philadelphia Javin Hargrave, Minnesota’s Dalvin Tomlinson) and defensive backs (Cincinnati’s Jesse Bates III, Tampa Bay’s Jamel Dean).
Deals don’t become official until 1 p.m. Wednesday, when the 2023 league season begins.
