Teams can negotiate with unrestricted free agents’ representatives during the two-day legal window before the start of the new NFL season, but they cannot speak with players directly unless they are representing themselves.
According to Mark Wogenrich of SI.com, Penn State head coach James Franklin may have gotten the Philadelphia Eagles into trouble when he suggested that general manager Howie Roseman had direct conversations with running back Saquon Barkley during the contract window.
“After Saquon Barkley decided to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, Penn State coach James Franklin spoke with Barkley on Monday night,” Wogenrich stated. “..Remarkably, Barkley informed Franklin that Howie Roseman, general manager of the Eagles, including Penn State and homecoming in his speech to the former running back for the New York Giants.
Pro Football Talk claims that the Eagles refuted Roseman’s claim that he had direct connection with Barkley, saying instead that all correspondence went via Barkley’s CAA agent Ed Berry.
At the permissible tampering window, which runs through March 13 at 4:00 p.m. ET, “clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon expiration of their 2023 player contracts,” according to NFL bylaws.
