Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
glenn erby

NFL free agency 2024: Details on the legal tampering window, key dates to know

March 5 marked the deadline for NFL teams to designate franchise and transition tags, and Justin Madubuike landed a $22.1 million designation.

Baltimore still needs to make moves to become salary cap compliant, and they’ll need to restructure a few contracts if they want to re-sign Patrick Queen.

With free agency set to start in less than a week, we’re reviewing details on the legal tampering period and other key dates.

March 11: Legal tampering period begins

Mar 2, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL’s legal tampering period is the start of free agency, with teams being allowed to enter contract negotiations with unrestricted free agents (UFAs) starting at 4:00 p.m. ET. Contracts can be agreed to during this period, but they can’t be signed until the start of the new league year.

March 13: Start of the 2024 NFL league year

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 01: General Manager Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

The NFL’s new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET. After the new league year begins, contracts from the previous season expire, free-agent contracts can become official, and the 2024 trading period begins.

March 16: Deadline for exclusive rights free agent tenders

Sep 17, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) completes a catch as Baltimore Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington (29) defends in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens have one exclusive rights free agent: defensive back Ar’Darius Washington.

April 25-27: 2024 NFL Draft

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit, Michigan.

The Baltimore Ravens have eight picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including:

No. 30 Overall.
No. 62 Overall.
No. 93 Overall.
No. 131 Overall.
No. 134 Overall.
No. 164 Overall.
No. 226 Overall.
No. 248 Overall.

May 2: Fifth-year option deadline for 2021 first-rounders

Jan 20, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (12) runs the ball against Baltimore Ravens safety Geno Stone (26) and linebacker Odafe Oweh (99) during the first quarter of a 2024 AFC divisional round game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens will have to decide whether to exercise fifth-year options on wide receiver Rashod Bateman and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, both first-round picks in 2021. According to Over The Cap, Bateman’s is projected at $13.8 million and Oweh’s $12.2 million.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.