NFL Declares Official free agent, franchise and transition players
Dec 4, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) reacts on the sideline in the second quarter after being sacked against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
The National Football League today (March 15) announced which players are free agents who now can negotiate with all 32 clubs.
Players are either “restricted” or “unrestricted” free agents. Within the categories are also “franchise” and “transition” players.
The time period for free agency signings in 2023:
- Restricted Free Agents – March 15 to April 21.
- Unrestricted Free Agents (who have received the May 1 tender from prior club) – March 15 to July 24 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later).
- Franchise Players – March 15 to the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season.
- Transition Players – March 15 to July 24.
A list of free agents by club in various categories:
Restricted free agents who received qualifying offers from their prior clubs and are subject to the first refusal/draft choice compensation system of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement:
|
Player |
Pos. |
College |
First Refusal/ Compensation |
|
|
Baltimore |
Huntley, Tyler |
QB |
Utah |
ROFR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buffalo |
Jackson, Dane |
DB |
Pittsburgh |
7th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Franklin, Sam |
DB |
Temple |
ROFR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dallas |
Steele, Terence |
T |
Texas Tech |
2nd |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Green Bay |
Nijman, Yosuah |
T |
Virginia Tech |
2nd |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kansas City |
Townsend, Tommy |
P |
Florida |
ROFR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New England |
Bryant, Myles |
DB |
Washington |
ROFR |
|
|
Cajuste, Yodny |
T |
West Virginia |
3rd |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York Jets |
Huff, Bryce |
DE |
Memphis |
2nd |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seattle |
Neal, Ryan |
DB |
Southern Illinois |
ROFR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee |
Brewer, Aaron |
G |
Texas State |
2nd |
|
|
Tart, Teair |
DT |
Florida International |
2nd |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Washington |
Reaves, Jeremy |
DB |
South Alabama |
ROFR |
|
|
|
|
|
If a player in this category receives an offer from a new club to sign a player contract for the 2023 season or for 2023 and future seasons, which offer the player desires to accept, the offer must be set forth in an offer sheet, signed by both the new club and the player, and must be substantially in the form of Appendix B of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement. The new club and the player must specifically identify in the offer sheet those provisions they believe are principal terms that must be matched by the prior club for purposes of exercising a Right of First Refusal. The new club then must immediately: hand deliver the offer sheet, or send it by overnight mail, or by electronic mail in .pdf form (in each case a confirmation copy shall also be sent by first class mail) to the prior club, to the attention of the club’s president or general manager.
The new club must send copies of the offer sheet to the National Football League Players Association and to the National Football League using the above described delivery procedures. If the offer sheet is hand delivered, the new club should obtain an acknowledgement of receipt. In addition, the new club shall notify the League office via the transaction system of the terms of an offer sheet immediately upon delivery to a prior club.
The prior club has a right of first refusal to all players listed in the category above. Draft choice compensation is as listed in the column on the right. If the prior club has only a right of first refusal and is therefore not entitled to compensation, the designation "ROFR" appears in that column. In order to submit an offer sheet, a new club must have available the required selection choice, defined as its own or better choice in the applicable rounds, in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Offer sheets may be submitted to a prior club until 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on Friday, April 21. An offer sheet shall be deemed given only when received by the prior club. A first refusal exercise notice, which must be substantially in the form of Appendix C to the CBA, shall be deemed given when sent by the prior club.
Players with three or more accrued seasons who have been designated as Non-Exclusive Franchise Players:
|
Club |
Player |
Pos. |
College |
|
Baltimore |
Jackson, Lamar |
QB |
Louisville |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dallas |
Pollard, Tony |
RB |
Memphis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacksonville |
Engram, Evan |
TE |
Mississippi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Las Vegas |
Jacobs, Josh |
RB |
Alabama |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York Giants |
Barkley, Saquon |
RB |
Penn State |
The prior club has a right of first refusal to the players listed above and compensation of two No. 1 draft choices. In order to submit an offer sheet, a new club must have available the required choices, defined as its own or better choices in the first round in the 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts. Offer sheets must be submitted to a prior club prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th regular season weekend. Offer sheets to franchise players are subject to the rules governing offer sheets to restricted free agents, as set forth in the category above, except that the prior club will be entitled to two No. 1 draft choices if the club declines to exercise its right of first refusal.
Unrestricted free agents with four or more accrued seasons:
In the event that a player in this category has not signed a player contract with a club by Monday, July 24, 2023 or the first scheduled day of the first 2023 NFL training camp, he may negotiate or sign a player contract from July 24 until the Tuesday following the 10th week of the regular season, at 4:00 p.m., New York time, only with his prior club, provided that by May 1 the prior club has extended such player an unrestricted free agent tender under Article 9, Section 1(b)(i) (the unrestricted free agent tender) of the CBA, as amended.
In the event the player has not signed a player contract with a club by Monday, May 1, 2023, and if his prior club has not extended the player unrestricted free agent tender or has withdrawn the tender, the player shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a player contract with any club without any penalty or restriction, including, but not limited to, draft choice compensation between clubs or first refusal rights of any kind, or any signing period.
# - Player is a non-compensable unrestricted free agent.
Players with fewer than four accrued seasons who received no qualifying offer or minimum tender from their prior clubs:
|
Player |
Pos. |
College |
|
|
Arizona |
Blough, David |
QB |
Purdue |
|
|
Wesley, Antoine |
WR |
Texas Tech |
|
|
Whittaker, Jace |
DB |
Arizona |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atlanta |
Anderson, Abdullah |
DE |
Bucknell |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baltimore |
Colon, Trystan |
C |
Missouri |
|
Moore, Nick |
LS |
Georgia |
|
|
Phillips, Del'Shawn |
LB |
Illinois |
|
|
|
Stone, Geno |
DB |
Iowa |
|
|
Welch, Kristian |
LB |
Iowa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carolina |
Hartsfield, Myles |
DB |
Mississippi |
|
|
Walker, Phillip |
QB |
Temple |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chicago |
Borders, Breon |
DB |
Duke |
|
Evans, Darrynton |
RB |
Appalachian State |
|
|
Mustipher, Sam |
C |
Notre Dame |
|
|
White, Javin |
LB |
Nevada-Las Vegas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cincinnati |
Holyfield, Elijah |
RB |
Georgia |
|
|
Johnston, Clay |
LB |
Baylor |
|
Wilcox, Mitchell |
TE |
South Florida |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cleveland |
Dunn, Michael |
G |
Maryland |
|
|
Odom, Chris |
DE |
Arkansas State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dallas |
Dowdle, Rico |
RB |
South Carolina |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denver |
Bassey, Essang |
DB |
Wake Forest |
|
Bobenmoyer, Jacob |
LS |
Northern Colorado |
|
|
|
Kongbo, Jonathan |
DE |
Tennessee |
|
Locke, P.J. |
DB |
Texas |
|
|
Rypien, Brett |
QB |
Boise State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Detroit |
Kraemer, Tommy |
G |
Notre Dame |
|
|
Price, Bobby |
DB |
Norfolk State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Green Bay |
Barnes, Krys |
LB |
UCLA |
|
Davis, Tyler |
TE |
Georgia Tech |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Houston |
Anderson, Darius |
RB |
Texas Christian |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indianapolis |
Kareem, Khalid |
DE |
Notre Dame |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacksonville |
Campbell, Tevaughn |
DB |
Regina, Can. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kansas City |
Harris, Darius |
LB |
Middle Tennessee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Las Vegas |
Bolton, Curtis |
LB |
Oklahoma |
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.A. Chargers |
Bandy, Michael |
WR |
San Diego |
|
|
Fehoko, Breiden |
NT |
Louisiana State |
|
|
Hall, Kemon |
DB |
North Texas |
|
|
Gaziano, Joe |
DE |
Northwestern |
|
|
Guyton, Jalen |
WR |
North Texas |
|
|
Merrill, Forrest |
DT |
Arkansas State |
|
|
Norton, Storm |
T |
Toledo |
|
|
Parham, Donald |
TE |
Stetson University |
|
|
Tuszka, Derrek |
LB |
North Dakota State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.A. Rams |
Brewer, Chandler |
T |
Middle Tennessee |
|
Copeland, Marquise |
DT |
Cincinnati |
|
|
|
Gervase, Jake |
LB |
Iowa |
|
Haley, Grant |
DB |
Penn State |
|
|
|
Harris, Jacob |
WR |
Central Florida |
|
|
Perkins, Bryce |
QB |
Virginia |
|
|
Wolford, John |
QB |
Wake Forest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miami |
Lovett, John |
QB |
Princeton |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ellefson, Ben |
TE |
North Dakota State |
|
|
Willekes, Kenny |
DE |
Michigan State |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Orleans |
Callaway, Marquez |
WR |
Tennessee |
|
Dowell, Andrew |
LB |
Michigan State |
|
|
|
Gillikin, Blake |
P |
Penn State |
|
|
Hansen, Chase |
LB |
Utah |
|
|
Huggins, Albert |
DT |
Clemson |
|
|
Roach, Malcolm |
DT |
Texas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York Giants |
Mondeaux, Henry |
DT |
Oregon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York Jets |
Pankey, Adam |
G |
West Virginia |
|
Robinson, James |
RB |
Illinois State |
|
|
|
Smith, Jeff |
WR |
Boston College |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pittsburgh |
Hassenauer, J.C. |
C |
Alabama |
|
|
McNichols, Jeremy |
RB |
Boise State |
|
Pierre, James |
DB |
Florida Atlantic |
|
|
|
Sims, Steven |
WR |
Kansas |
|
San Francisco |
Flannigan-Fowles, Demetrius |
LB |
Arizona |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seattle |
Hart, Penny |
WR |
Georgia State |
|
|
Igwebuike, Godwin |
RB |
Northwestern |
|
|
Jones, Tony |
RB |
Notre Dame |
|
|
Muse, Tanner |
LB |
Clemson |
|
|
Thompson, Cody |
WR |
Toledo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa Bay |
Gill, Cam |
LB |
Wagner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee |
Westbrook-Ikhine, Nick |
WR |
Indiana |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Washington |
Wolf, Eli |
TE |
Georgia |
The players in this category may sign a player contract with any club without any penalty or restriction, including, but not limited to, draft choice compensation between clubs or first refusal rights of any kind, or any signing period.
Other Recent Stories
2023 Draft: 14 QBs selected but DBs most popular with 56
With the red carpet rolled up, the showpiece Lombardi Trophies back on their shelf and barbecue chewed to the bones, Kansas City returned to its version of normalcy ...
243 High Schools Have Players Selected In 2023 NFL Draft
With the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft, this year’s class of drafted rookies will soon experience life in the NFL. While each drafted rookie enters the NFL from ...
Lott IMPACT Trophy: 42-man watch list announced
NEWPORT BEACH, CA. – The Pacific Club IMPACT® Foundation announced the 42 candidates for the 2023 Lott IMPACT® ...
2023 CFB Transfer Portal: WR Zakhari Franklin tops list of 2,600 prospects
The college football transfer portal, which was closed for new entrants April 30, holds approximately 2,600 players. If anyone wanted to play next season, they had ...
New QB debates loom as 2023 CFB season precedes 2024 NFL Draft
Just when you thought the quarterback draft debates were done, it's time to discuss new ones as the 2023 college football season, with those 2024 draft prospects, ...
Latest Player Notes
Mar 08, 2023: Arkansas coach Sam Pittman announced the signing of former Georgia cornerback Jaheim Singletary during a Tuesday news conference. ...
Mar 09, 2023: Defensive lineman Mitchell Melton has been medically cleared to participate in individual drills for Ohio State during spring ...
Mar 09, 2023: Every position is open for the Texas Longhorns this spring. Every player will earn his starting role. For that reason, Quinn ...
Mar 09, 2023: Backup offensive lineman Cade Briggs, who played in two games last season, was removed from the Texas Tech roster on Tuesday. ...
Mar 09, 2023: Dylan Morris came under heavy criticism as the starting quarterback for the Washington Huskies during their 4-8 season in ...
Mar 09, 2023: Almost three months to the day after his hiring, new USF coach Alex Golesh staged the first spring practice of his tenure ...
Mar 10, 2023: On the first day of his last year of college football, Edefuan Ulofoshio was back in the middle of it all Monday morning ...
Mar 10, 2023: Two months after joining Washington State's football team, Isaiah Paul is heading back to the portal. The senior linebacker, ...
Southern California Eric Gentry
Mar 10, 2023: Linebacker Eric Gentry will miss all of spring practice following ankle surgery last month, Riley said. Gentry suffered a ...
Mar 07, 2023: Where is Jack Sawyer? The former five-star recruit never really took that Year 2 jump some may have anticipated. His raw ...