Free agency in the NFL begins on March 11 at 10 p.m. CET. This marks the official start of the new league year – and is essentially the most important transfer window in the world’s best football league.

NFL: What is free agency?

Free agency marks the start of the new season and is essentially a transfer window.

During this period, players without a contract – known as free agents – are allowed to negotiate new contracts with franchises.

NFL: What categories of free agents are there?

An unrestricted free agent is a player whose contract expired at the end of the previous season and who has at least four credited seasons in the NFL.

A restricted free agent is a player with an expired contract who has only three credited seasons in the NFL. This often applies to undrafted players who have signed an undrafted free agent deal, which typically runs for only three years. An exclusive rights free agent is a player whose contract has expired and who has played a maximum of two seasons in the NFL. If they receive a contract offer from their franchise, they have the option to accept the offer or reject it and sit out the season. An undrafted free agent is a player who registered for the draft but was not selected. These players are free to negotiate with any franchise.

NFL: What counts as a credited season?

A season counts as credited if the player has been on the 53-man roster of an NFL team for at least six games. The player does not have to have been on the game day roster.

A season also counts as credited if the player was on the Injured Reserve List or the Physically Unable to Perform List for the entire season.

NFL: When can franchises start negotiating with free agents?

Starting Monday, March 9, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (6:00 p.m. in Germany), franchises may contact the agents of potential unrestricted free agents.

Starting Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (10:00 p.m. in Germany), franchises may negotiate with all free agents.

NFL: When can free agents sign new contracts?

Starting Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (10:00 p.m. in Germany), previously unsigned players may sign new contracts.

NFL: How long does free agency last?

For restricted free agents, from March 11 to April 17. For unrestricted free agents who have received a tender by April 27, from March 11 to July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later).

For franchise players, from March 11 to November 17. An unrestricted free agent can sign with a team at any time during the season.