The legal tampering window ahead of NFL free agency begins on Monday, March 9 and this year, there’s an updated rule for teams to work with. In years prior, teams were only able to communicate with player agents ahead of the official start of free agency, but beginning in 2026, teams are allowed one video or phone call (for up to one hour) with up to five free agents.
Via Tom Pelissero:
Clubs were reminded of the change ahead of the negotiating window opening Monday: “A club may conduct one video or
phone call for no longer than one hour with no more than five (5) prospective UFAs. The Player’s certified agent must be a participant of the call. During the one permitted video or phone call, a Represented Player or Unrepresented Player is permitted to communicate with any member of the club.”
This should be a good thing for Howie Roseman who is a pretty good salesman of the Philadelphia organization. It’ll also keep them from potential violations of the rules, which was something they were investigated for back in 2024 when they were courting Saquon Barkley. The running back’s former college coach James Franklin made comments that suggested Barkley spoke with the Eagles directly during negotiations, which opened up a can of worms that eventually subsided.
The new rule is also a benefit for players who now have a little more say in the process, and can gauge vibes on their own instead of through their agents, and can ask questions in order to make the best decision for their future.
Let the games begin!
