The National Football League's annual free agency period is set to commence Monday with the opening of the legal tampering window, during which teams can begin negotiations with unrestricted free agents.

During the legal tampering period, NFL franchises are permitted to contact and negotiate contract terms with players whose contracts have expired, though official signings cannot be completed until the start of the new league year. This preliminary phase allows teams and agents to establish framework agreements before contracts become binding.

Several veteran quarterbacks are expected to be available at potentially lower costs than in previous years, including established players who may provide affordable options for teams seeking signal-caller upgrades. The quarterback market is anticipated to feature multiple experienced options for franchises looking to address the position.

Teams across the league are preparing their free agency strategies based on available salary cap space and roster needs. The Washington Commanders are among the franchises entering the period with specific positional requirements and financial flexibility to pursue available talent.

Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, the league has announced that Pittsburgh will host the event in April 2026, continuing the tradition of rotating the draft location among different cities. The draft order and scheduling details for that event have been preliminarily established based on the conclusion of the current season.