Free Agency Rules

Free agency refers to the period in professional sports when players whose contracts have expired can negotiate and sign with any team. Rules vary by sport but generally include restrictions on movement and contract terms to maintain competitive balance. For example, in the NFL, players can become unrestricted free agents after four years, allowing them to sign without compensation to their previous team. There are also designated "franchise" and "transition" tags that teams can use to retain key players. Overall, free agency allows athletes greater flexibility while helping teams build their rosters.