Who Is In Free Agency NFL?

The NFL free agency period is always an exciting time for fans, as it’s a chance to see which players their team might be able to pick up. This year, there are a number of big names who are set to hit the open market, so we’ve put together a list of the top free agents and what teams they could potentially sign with.

Introduction

In the National Football League (NFL), free agency is the process by which players are able to sign with any team of their choice, without restriction, after the expiration of their contract.

Free agency began in 1993, when the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with its players expired. An uncapped year in 2010 led to a new CBA that implemented a salary cap starting in 2011. Players were previously only able to become free agents if they had completed four or more accrued seasons (six or more for unrestricted free agents), and their contracts had expired.

However, the new CBA extended free agency to all players who have completed three accrued seasons, regardless of whether their contracts have expired. In addition, it reduced the number of years that a team can use the franchise tag on a player from unlimited to three.

The franchise tag is a tool that allows teams to keep a player from becoming a free agent by offering him a one-year contract worth either the average of the top five salaries at his position, or 120% of his previous salary – whichever is greater.

Unrestricted Free Agents

Unrestricted free agents (UFA) are free to sign with any team. They do not have compensation attached to them if they sign elsewhere. In the NFL, most players become UFAs after four years in the league. But, there is a small group of players that become UFAs after just three years. These players are called “third-year UFAs.” They were drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft and have completed their rookie contracts.

Players can sign with their current team at any time, even during the season. But, if they sign with another team, they cannot play for their old team until the next NFL season begins.

Restricted Free Agents

Restricted free agents are players with three accrued seasons whose contracts have expired. They are free to sign with any team, but their original team can retain them by matching the offer or receiving draft-pick compensation if they decline to match.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents

Exclusive rights free agents are players with two or fewer years of experience who have expired contracts and are not eligible for restricted or unrestricted free agency. Their rights exclusively belong to their team, which can retain them by offering a one-year contract at the league minimum salary.

Summary

The following is a list of notable players who became free agents in NFL free agency, which began on March 13, 2019.

Unrestricted free agents

Unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any club, and no compensation is owed to their former club if they sign with a new club. If they do not receive an offer from another club by the start of the new league year on March 13, 2019, they are free to sign a contract with any club, and no compensation is owed to their former club. Players with expiring contracts were first able to negotiate with other clubs beginning on March 11.

Rajion Neal, running back (Minnesota Vikings)
Travaris Cadet, running back (buffalo bills)
Zac Stacy, running back ( New York Jets)
Akeem Hunt, running back ( Kansas City Chiefs)