When does free agency begin?
The Raiders have 24 players who will become free agents when the NFL’s new league year begins on March 11 at 1 p.m. PT. Of those 24, 18 are unrestricted free agents, two are restricted free agents and four are exclusive rights free agents.
Unrestricted free agents are players with four or more accrued seasons who are free to sign with any team once their contract expires. An accrued season is when a player spends at least six regular season games on a club’s active/inactive, reserve/injured or reserve/physically unable to perform lists.
Restricted free agents are players with three accrued seasons and are free to negotiate and sign with any team. However, their original team is given right of refusal and can match any offer made by another team in order to retain the player.
Exclusive rights free agents are players with fewer than three accrued seasons. If a player’s original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
For the full list of Raiders’ impending free agents, click here.