Key points to know: free-agent signings become official at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11. The legal tampering period runs from noon ET on March 9 through 3:59:59 p.m. ET on March 11, during which negotiations begin and many agreed terms surface. It’s common for reported deals before March 11 to be agreements in principle rather than finalized contracts, with final adjustments sometimes made at the finish line.
The 3-day timeline to watch starts with March 9 at noon ET, when negotiations and proposed terms flood the news cycle. March 11 at 4:00 p.m. ET then marks the official start of free agency, with formal signings and processed trades. In the immediate aftermath, teams reassess rosters, cap space, and depth, and some moves can shift as contracts are signed and new trades become possible within the open league year.
Industry analysis underscores that the legal tampering window shapes expectations: early “agreed to terms” reports are common, but nothing is official until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11. Analysts highlight potential fits for notable free agents as part of the build-up, with teams projecting how signings could impact depth charts and positional needs. For fans, the weeks surrounding the start of free agency are about tracking which teams land key players and how the market reshapes rosters for the 2026 season.
