Over the last few weeks, Pro Football Rumors has been taking a closer look at the 2017 offseason on a team-by-team basis. Our Top 3 Offseason Needs series focuses on each club’s most glaring roster issues, free agents, potential cap casualties, positions of possible focus, and other issues facing teams this winter.
Just in case you missed our preview for your favorite team, we’re rounding up all of our Offseason Needs pieces in this post. We have several more teams to examine before free agency officially gets underway on March 9, so if your team isn’t linked below, be sure to keep a close eye on PFR — it’ll be coming soon.
Here are the links to our 2017 Top 3 Offseason Needs pieces to date:
AFC East:
AFC North:
AFC South:
AFC West:
NFC East:
NFC North:
NFC South:
NFC West:
I don’t remember so forgive me if this question is stupid. I see from this post that Free Agency starts March 9th, but does the NFL have a period before Free Agency that teams can start negotiating with players? I thought they did and I know for sure other sports have that but just can’t for remember some reason if the NFL does the same. If they do, when does that negotiation period start?
March 7 – March 9: “Legal Tampering Period,” NFL teams may begin contract negotiations with the agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents
March 9
Prior to 4:00 PM ET
NFL teams must exercise options for 2017 on any player with option clauses in their 2016 contracts
NFL teams must submit qualifying offers to players with expiring contracts who will become Restricted Free Agents to ensure team has Compensation or Right of First Refusal
NFL teams must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to players who will become Exclusive-Rights Free Agents (expiring contracts and fewer than 3 accrued seasons)
4:00 PM ET
All 2016 player contracts expire
2017 NFL league year and free agency begin
Top-51 salary cap rule begins – only the 51 highest cap hits for each NFL team apply to the salary cap through the offseason
All teams must be under the salary cap for 2017
Trades are allowed for 2017
Thank you!