The NFL has released information regarding the 2026 free agency period, outlining key dates and procedures for teams and players. The signing period for free agents will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
A two-day negotiating window for potential unrestricted free agents will open at noon ET on Monday, March 9, and close just before the official start of free agency. During this time, clubs may contact and negotiate with certified agents of players whose contracts expire at the end of the 2025 season. This window does not apply to exclusive rights players, restricted free agents, franchise players or transition players.
Players entering free agency are classified as either “restricted” or “unrestricted.” Restricted free agents may receive a qualifying offer from their previous club, while both types can be designated as franchise or transition players.
Restricted free agent signings are permitted from March 11 to April 17. Unrestricted free agents who have received a tender from their prior club by April 27 can sign from March 11 to July 22 or until the first scheduled day of training camp, whichever is later. Franchise player signings are allowed until November 17—the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season—while transition player signings run through July 22.
To qualify as a restricted free agent in the upcoming league year, a player must have three accrued seasons and receive a qualifying offer when his contract expires on March 11. An accrued season is defined as being on an active/inactive list or certain reserve lists for six or more regular season games.
If a restricted free agent signs an offer sheet with another team before April 17, his original club retains the right to match that offer and keep him due to its right of first refusal. If it declines to match, draft-choice compensation may be awarded based on the level of qualifying offer made by the original club.
Unrestricted free agents are those with four or more accrued seasons whose contracts have expired. They can sign with any team without draft-choice compensation owed to their former club up until July 22 (or training camp’s start). After that date—if they were tendered by April 27—their rights revert exclusively to their old team until November 17; otherwise they remain eligible to sign elsewhere throughout the season.
Franchise player status depends on salary offers made by clubs and is categorized as exclusive or non-exclusive. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams; non-exclusive franchise players may do so but require two first-round draft picks in compensation if signed away.
Each team may designate one franchise player or one transition player per season among its prospective restricted or unrestricted free agents. Clubs can withdraw these designations at any time; doing so makes the affected player an unrestricted free agent immediately if after March 11 or upon contract expiration if before then.
The salary cap for each NFL club in the upcoming league year is set at $301,200,000. Teams must comply with this cap starting at the beginning of the new league year on March 11 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Teams under this limit at season’s end can carry over unused cap space into next year by notifying the NFL within one day after their final regular-season game; there is no maximum limit on how much room can be carried over.
The Carolina Panthers continue to operate within these league guidelines while also focusing on building a championship culture and supporting community outreach across North and South Carolina (official website). The Panthers play home games in downtown Charlotte (official website) and provide various ticketing options for fans (official website). Their presence extends throughout both Carolinas (official website), reflecting ongoing engagement beyond football activities (official website).
