If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are interested in any potential free agents on the market in 2025, they can start the shopping process on Monday.

The NFL’s new league year, and with it the 2025 free agency period, begins on Wednesday, March 12, at 4:00 p.m. ET. However, the league has a “Negotiation Period” prior to that start time, and it begins on Monday, March 10, at noon. That gives teams a 52-hour head start on any attempts to attract players set to hit the market.

The Negotiation Period is often referred to as the “legal tampering” period, because speaking to a player under contract with another team in an effort to recruit him to your team is tampering and can lead to disciplinary action. And, in fact, teams may not talk to players during the 52 hours from Monday through Wednesday, but they can speak with a player’s certified agent. Only those potential free agents who do not have a certifed agent can speak directly with teams other than their own.

This Negotiation Period generally leads to a flurry of signings soon after 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, because teams and player agents may go so far as to work out the details of a new contract. However, no deal can officially be executed until the start of free agency.

During this time, teams are free to continue to talks with their own potential free agents. The Buccaneers have 22 players set to hit unrestricted free agency on Wednesday, a list pared by one when all-time Tampa Bay great Lavonte David agreed to terms on a new one-year deal on Friday. Among those pending UFAs are wide receiver Chris Godwin and last year’s starting left guard, Ben Bredeson.