The 2026 NFL League Year begins March 11 at 4 p.m. With free agency on the horizon, here is everything you need to know, from dates to definitions to salary cap information.

2026 NFL Salary Cap

What is the salary cap for 2026?

The NFL salary cap is still being finalized and will be announced before March 11. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Jan. 30 that the league informed clubs it is projecting a salary cap in the range of $301.2 million to $305.7 million.

When must teams be in compliance with the salary cap?

At the start of the 2026 League Year, which begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11.

If a team is under the salary cap at the end of a given season, can the team "carry over" room to the next season?

Yes. A team may carry over room from one league year to the following league year by submitting notice to the NFL prior to 4:00 p.m. ET on the day following the team's final regular-season game, indicating the amount of room that the club wishes to carry over.

What is the maximum amount of room that a club can carry over?

A club can carry over 100 percent of its remaining 2025 room to its adjusted salary cap for 2026.

Free Agency Definitions

What are the categories of free agency?

Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA): Any player with an expired contract who has accrued four or more seasons (an accrued season is a season in which a player is on a club's active/inactive, reserve/injured or reserve/physically unable to perform lists); these players are free to negotiate and sign with any team as of March 11.

Bengals DE Joseph Ossai is an example of an unrestricted free agent.

Restricted Free Agent (RFA): Any player with an expired contract who has accrued three seasons. RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team as of March 11, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers ("tenders") that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation. (More below).

Bengals QB Jake Browning is an example of a restricted free agent

Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA): Any player with an expired contract who has accrued fewer than three seasons. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.

The Bengals do not have any exclusive rights free agents.

What is the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?

In the 2026 league year, players with three accrued seasons who have received a qualifying offer become restricted free agents when their contracts expire at the conclusion of the 2025 league year on March 11. Unrestricted free agents have completed four or more accrued seasons. Upon expiration of his 2025 contract, an unrestricted free agent is free to sign with any club with no draft-choice compensation owed to his old club.

What constitutes an "accrued season"?

Six or more regular season games on a club's active/inactive, reserve/injured or reserve/physically unable to perform lists.

How do the free agency rules apply to restricted free agents?

If a player with three accrued seasons has received a "qualifying offer" (a salary tender predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club, he can negotiate with any club through April 17. If the restricted free agent signs an offer sheet with a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because the qualifying offer entitles it to a "right of first refusal" on any offer sheet the player signs. The deadline for clubs to exercise Right of First Refusal is April 22.

If the old club does not match the offer, it may receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer. If an offer sheet is not executed on or before April 17, the player's negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club. In addition, prior to the start of free agency a player who would otherwise be a restricted free agent may be designated by his old club as its franchise player or transition player.

What determines an unrestricted free agent?

A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no draft-choice compensation owed to his old club, through July 20 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). At that point, his negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club if the club had tendered the player to a one-year contract for 110 percent of his prior year's salary by April 25.

His old club then has until the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season to sign him. If he does not sign by that date, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by April 25, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.

What determines a franchise player?

The salary offer by a player's club determines what type of franchise player he is: exclusive or non-exclusive.

An "exclusive" franchise player – not free to sign with another club – is offered the greater of (i) the average of the top five salaries at the player's position for the current year as of the end of the restricted free agent signing period on April 17; or (ii) the amount of the required tender for a non-exclusive franchise player.

​If a club extends a required tender to a "non-exclusive" franchise player, the player can negotiate a player contract with any club, and draft-choice compensation of two first-round draft selections shall be made in the event he signs with a new club.

How many franchise players and transition players can a team designate each season?

A club can designate one franchise player or one transition player among its potential restricted or unrestricted free agents. ​

Can a club decide to withdraw its franchise or transition designation on a player?

Yes. A club can withdraw its franchise or transition designation, and the player then automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent, either immediately if the tender is withdrawn after the start of the 2026 League Year, or when his 2025 contract expires if the tender is withdrawn before the start of the 2026 League Year.

When can clubs designate a franchise player?

Clubs may begin designating franchise or transition players from Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. until March 3 at 4 p.m.

Free Agency Dates

When does the 2026 free agency signing period begin?

At 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11.​

When is the two-day negotiating (legal tampering) period for potential unrestricted free agents?

From 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 9 until 3:59:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon expiration of their 2025 player contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11.

The two-day negotiating period applies only to prospective unrestricted free agents. It does not apply to players who have received, or who may receive, a required tender applicable to the 2026 League Year (e.g., exclusive rights players, restricted free agents, franchise players or transition players).

Click here to view important dates for the 2026 NFL Offseason.