2023 NFL Free Agency Signing Period Begins

The National Football League today announced which players are free agents who now can negotiate with all 32 clubs.  The 2023 NFL Free Agency signing period is now underway. Players are either “restricted” or “unrestricted” free agents. Within the categories are also “franchise” and “transition” players. The time period for free agency signings in 2023:

• Restricted Free Agents – March 15 to April 21.
• Unrestricted Free Agents (who have received the May 1 tender from prior club) – March 15 to July 24 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later).
• Franchise Players – March 15 to the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season.
• Transition Players – March 15 to July 24.

A list of free agents by club in various categories:

Restricted free agents who received qualifying offers from their prior clubs and are subject to the first refusal/draft choice compensation system of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement:

If a player in this category receives an offer from a new club to sign a player contract for the 2023 season or for 2023 and future seasons, which offer the player desires to accept, the offer must be set forth in an offer sheet, signed by both the new club and the player, and must be substantially in the form of Appendix B of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement. The new club and the player must specifically identify in the offer sheet those provisions they believe are principal terms that must be matched by the prior club for purposes of exercising a Right of First Refusal. The new club then must immediately: hand deliver the offer sheet, or send it by overnight mail, or by electronic mail in .pdf form (in each case a confirmation copy shall also be sent by first class mail) to the prior club, to the attention of the club’s president or general manager.

The new club must send copies of the offer sheet to the National Football League Players Association and to the National Football League using the above described delivery procedures. If the offer sheet is hand delivered, the new club should obtain an acknowledgement of receipt. In addition, the new club shall notify the League office via the transaction system of the terms of an offer sheet immediately upon delivery to a prior club.

The prior club has a right of first refusal to all players listed in the category above. Draft choice compensation is as listed in the column on the right. If the prior club has only a right of first refusal and is therefore not entitled to compensation, the designation “ROFR” appears in that column. In order to submit an offer sheet, a new club must have available the required selection choice, defined as its own or better choice in the applicable rounds, in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Offer sheets may be submitted to a prior club until 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on Friday, April 21. An offer sheet shall be deemed given only when received by the prior club. A first refusal exercise notice, which must be substantially in the form of Appendix C to the CBA, shall be deemed given when sent by the prior club.

Players with three or more accrued seasons who have been designated as Non-Exclusive Franchise Players:

The prior club has a right of first refusal to the players listed above and compensation of two No. 1 draft choices. In order to submit an offer sheet, a new club must have available the required choices, defined as its own or better choices in the first round in the 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts. Offer sheets must be submitted to a prior club prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th regular season weekend. Offer sheets to franchise players are subject to the rules governing offer sheets to restricted free agents, as set forth in the category above, except that the prior club will be entitled to two No. 1 draft choices if the club declines to exercise its right of first refusal.

NY Jets Unrestricted free agents with four or more accrued seasons:

Sheldon Rankins, Mike White, Nathan Shepherd have all signed elsewhere already. Greg Zuerlein has reportedly resigned with the Jets.