A.J. Bouye

When does 2017 NFL free agency start?

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:19 p.m. ET

Fansided, Matt Verderame/Fansided

Now that the Super Bowl is in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start looking at the NFL offseason. In other words, get ready for free agency.

The New England Patriots are Super Bowl champions, and the fans in the greater Boston area will enjoy that title for six months. The Atlanta Falcons gagged away a 25-point lead, and will live with that for the rest of their lives.

Still, it’s time to move on. The Super Bowl is done, and now we are only a month away from the start of NFL free agency. While the free agency period doesn’t start until March 9 at 4 p.m. EST, the tampering period begins on March 7. This gives teams a chance to talk with free agents before being allowed to put pen on paper.

Traditionally, the tampering period is when most of the big-name players start to make their declarations. Some of those names could be Kirk Cousins, Le’Veon Bell and Eric Berry, although there is a strong chance they all get the franchise tag by their current teams. Other players, and ones more likely to hit the market, include Alshon Jeffery, A.J. Bouye, Dontari Poe and Dont’a Hightower.

The Cleveland Browns have the most cap space, while the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys actually have to clear space to get under the cap. Come the start of free agency, teams need to be cap compliant.