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 the league will now look towards a monster-free agency period.
Philadelphia is currently salary cap compliant and has freed up salary cap space with the release of Avonte Maddox (CB) and Kevin Byard (S).
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
With the new league year starting, Philadelphia will have an early three-day period of early negotiations ahead of the start of free agency.
March 13: Start of the 2024 NFL league year
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 13
According to Joel Corry, via Over The Cap, the Eagles’ 10-day window to pick up an option on quarterback Jalen Hurts’ dummy 2029 contract year opens up, and the team will make a $38.875 million payment that reduces the star quarterback’s 2024 base salary from a fully guaranteed $40 million to a fully guaranteed $1.125 million with the option being exercised.
Additionally, $16.5 million more of Hurts’ 2025 base salary is fully guaranteed.
His entire $51 million 2025 base salary was guaranteed for injury at signing while $3.696 million of this $51 million was fully guaranteed at signing, meaning he’s here to stay.
March 13
Lane Johnson has a $14,655,000 option due, that with his $1,210,000 base salary, and $250,000 workout bonus will make his cap hit $16,115,000.
March 13
Haason Reddick is due a $1 million roster bonus on this date, and he’ll carry a $21,877,000 cap hit in the final year of a deal in which he’s guaranteed zero dollars.
March 13
Darius Slay has a $9 million option due on this date, and $1,210,000 in guaranteed salary.
March 13
Jason Kelce is pondering retirement and is due an $8,678,000 option bonus. His contract is designed to allow the Eagles to carry the All-Pro center on the roster until June 2024 and place him on the retired list if that’s his choice.
If Kelce wants to return, Philadelphia would be able to sign him to an extension or would need to release him by early June.
March 13
Bradberry has a $9.64 million option bonus due on this day and carries a $4,335,000 cap hit while being due $1,210,000 in guaranteed base salary.
March 16
On March 16, Jordan Mailata will see $7 million of his 2024 salary guaranteed while carrying a $10 million cap hit and no guaranteed money.
Mailata is a viable candidate for restructuring or an extension.
April 25-27: 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit, Michigan.
The Philadelphia Eagles currently are projected to have 9 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Round 1, Pick 22
Round 2, Pick 50 (via NO)
Round 2, Pick 53
Round 3, Pick 97*
Round 5, Pick 160 (via TB)
Round 5, Pick 169*
Round 5, Pick 170*
Round 5, Pick 177*
Round 6, Pick 189 (via ATL)
* denotes projected compensatory pick
May 2: Fifth-year option deadline for 2021 first-rounders
The cost for Smith in 2025 would be $15,591,000, which feels like a bargain, considering he’d be the 20th highest-paid player at his position. Smith had 81 catches for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024 season.
