The 2016 free agency period gets started with a "soft opening" on Monday with the opening of the "tampering" period. Starting at 9 a.m. PT, teams are allowed to speak with agents for players and work on contracts. Deals cannot be signed until 1 p.m. PT on Wednesday, but some deals will be effectively completed before Wednesday.
Fooch's update 11:11 a.m. PT - Dolphins might push for Adam Jones
Decision to cut Brent Grimes could mean Dolphins are confident they have a shot at landing Adam Jones.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 7, 2016
Fooch's update 9:38 a.m. PT - 49ers interested in Sweezy
For OG J.R. Sweezy, teams who've expressed interest: #Bucs, #Falcons, #Lions, #Dolphins, #Saints, #49ers, #Jags, #Bears, #Jets, others.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 7, 2016
Fooch's update 8:56 a.m. PT - 49ers looking at DAT
Heard the #49ers have had talks with KC about acquiring De'Anthony Thomas in a trade
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) March 7, 2016
Fooch's update 8:47 a.m. PT - Shareece Wright cashes in
#Ravens CB Shareece Wright signs a 3-year deal worth up to $16M with a $4M signing bonus and $5M guaranteed, a source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2016
Fooch's update 8:43 a.m. PT - Potential Dolphins-Eagles trade
The #Dolphins are in talks with the #Eagles on a trade for CB Byron Maxwell, source said. It's in the works,
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2016
Fooch's update 8:27 a.m. PT - RG3 released
The #Redskins have released RGIII, source said. He's a free agent
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2016
The NFL has made some changes this year to remove some of the ridiculous nature of the tampering period. Previously, teams could exchange positions, but there could be no formal offers and no agreements in principle. That obviously was happening anyway, and so the NFL has issued a memo with some adjustments to the rules. Pro Football Talk posted some of the details of the memo.
The most notable aspects are that formal offers can actually happen, and agreements can be reached in principle. Teams cannot formally execute a contract (basically, sign it), but virtually everything else can happen.
"During the two-day negotiating period, all clubs may negotiate all aspects of an NFL Player Contract with the certified agent of any prospective UFA," explains the March 2 memo to all teams, a copy of which PFT has obtained. "However, a new club may not execute an NFL Player Contract with a prospective UFA until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9, when the player's 2015 contract expires."
I don't know if this will change how many deals are actually reached before Wednesday, but it could make it easier to know when deals are done. Teams might be less likely to feel the need to hide what they are doing.