The NFL is a professional American football league with 32 teams split between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The season includes a three-week preseason, an 18-week regular season, and playoffs, where 14 teams compete in a single-elimination tournament, ending with the Super Bowl in February.
The 2025 NFL season will mark the 106th year of the NFL and the season will start on September 4, 2025, with the Philadelphia Eagles as the Super Bowl champions. The NFL Draft will be held from April 24–26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at Lambeau Field. The Tennessee Titans have the first overall pick after finishing last in 2024.
NFL Free Agency
NFL free agency begins at the start of the new league year, allowing teams to officially sign players whose contracts have expired. In 2025, this period starts on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.
Free agency in the NFL has two categories which include restricted and unrestricted free agents. Restricted free agents have three accrued seasons and an expired contract, while unrestricted free agents have four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract. An accrued season means a player was on a team's active, inactive, injured reserve, or physically unable to perform list for at least six regular-season games.
A restricted free agent may receive a qualifying offer, allowing their former team to match any contract. On the other hand, unrestricted free agents can sign with any team without compensation to their former team. Both restricted and unrestricted free agents can be designated as franchise or transition players by their previous team, which affects their ability to negotiate with other teams.
Top 10 NFL Free Agents
According to ESPN's Matt Bowen, the top 10 NFL free agents for 2025 are:
- D.J. Reed, Cornerback
- Chris Godwin, Wide Receiver
- Sam Darnold, Quarterback
- Josh Sweat, Edge Rusher
- Milton Williams, Defensive Tackle
- Khalil Mack, Linebacker
- Charvarius Ward, Cornerback
- Jevon Holland, Safety
- Joey Bosa, Edge Rusher
- Tre'von Moehrig, Safety
FAQs
A. The 2025 NFL regular season is scheduled to begin on September 4, 2025.
A. Super Bowl LX is scheduled to take place on February 8, 2026.
A. Super Bowl LX will be held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
A. The Tennessee Titans have the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
