The Top 99 Free Agents according to NFL.com
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
Danny Trevathan, LB
Mario Williams, DE
Bruce Irvin, LB
Olivier Vernon, DE
Eric Weddle, S
Chris Long, DE
Reggie Nelson, S
Patrick Robinson, CB
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB
Walter Thurmond III, S
Prince Amukamara, CB
Malik Jackson, DT
Chris Ivory, RB
Tamba Hali, pass rusher
Andre Smith, OT
Ian Williams, DT
Kelvin Beachum, OT
Mitchell Schwartz, OT
Robert Ayers, DE
Alex Mack, C
Walter Thurmond III, S
Ladarius Green, TE
Tashaun Gibson, S
Haloti Ngata, DT
Donald Penn, OT
Jaye Howard, DT
Casey Hayward, CB
Aldon Smith, LB
Travis Benhamin, WR
Antonio Gates, TE
Dwayne Allen, TE
B.J. Raji, NT
Lamar Miller, RB
Brock Osweiler, QB
Adam Jones, CB
Greg Hardy, DE
Coby Fleener, TE
Richie Incognito, OG
Mark Barron, LB
Anquan Boldin, WR
Rodney McLeod, S
George Iloka, S
Ramon Foster, OG
Terrance Knighton, NT
Rashad Johnson, S
Alfred Morris, RB
Ricky Jean-Francois, DE
Derrick Shelby, DE
Evan Mathis, OG
Brandon Brooks, OG
Mohamed Sanu, WR
Arian Foster, RB
Cedric Thornton, DE
Rishard Matthews, WR
Nick Fairley, DT
Jermaine Kearse, WR
Jahri Evans, OG
Nigel Bradham, LB
Mike Neal, LB
Percy Harvin, WR
Marvin Jones, WR
William Hayes, DE
Stephen Tulloch, LB
Courtney Upshaw, DE
Dwight Freeney, LB
Damon Harrison, NT
Leon Hall, CB
Nick Perry, pass rusher
LeGarrette Blount, RB
William Gay, CB
Matt Forte, RB
Akiem Hicks, DT
Doug Martin, RB
Joe Barksdale, OT
Tahir Whitehead, LB
Janoris Jenkins, CB
Stefen Wisniewski, C
Nolan Carroll, CB
Kelechi Osemele, OG
Zach Brown, LB
Charles Johnson, DE
Jerraud Powers, CB
Russell Okung, OT
Bilal Powell, RB
Michael Griffin, S
James Laurinaitis, LB
Brian Quick, WR
Zach Miller, TE
Robert Griffin III, QB
Alex Boone, OG
Banjamin Watson, TE
Rolando McClain, LB
Chris Johnson, RB
Derrick Johnson, LB
Chase Daniel, QB
The Waiver system for 2015 began Feb. 8. Players with less than four years of credited service are subject to waivers. Teams have 24 hours to make a claim after waivers are requested for that player. Players with four years or more of credited service are released and become unrestricted free agents able to sign with any team.
February 16 was the first day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players, with March 1as the deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
The following players have been tagged by their clubs:
Muhammed Wilkerson, DE, New York Jets
Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens
Cordy Glenn, T, Buffalo Bills
Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears
Josh Norman, CB, Carolina Panthers
Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami Dolphins (Transition)
Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos (Exclusive)
Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins
Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs
Trumaine Johnson, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Explaining the tag(courtesy NFL.com)
» The exclusive franchise tag is a one-year tender offer to a player for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position, or 120 percent of the player's previous salary, whichever is greater. The player's team has all negotiating rights to the player.
» The non-exclusive franchise tag is a one-year tender offer to a player for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position, or 120 percent of the player's previous salary, whichever is greater. The player can negotiate with other teams. The player's current team has the right to match any offer, or receive two first-round picks as compensation.
» The transition tag is a one-year tender offer to a player for an amount that is the average of the top 10 salaries at the position. It guarantees the original club the right of first refusal to match any offer the player may receive from another team. The transition tag can only be used if the franchise tag is not used by a team in that year. Transition tags can be rescinded, but teams that rescind a transition tag cannot use it again until next season.
March 7-9: Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2015 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9.
March 9:All 2015 player contracts will expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time. The 2016 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time. Trading period for 2016 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2015 contracts. Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit Qualifying Offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
April 22:Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets.
July 15: At 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for any Club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multi-year contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his Prior Club for the 2015 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the Club's last regular season game.
