when can nfl teams start trading
NFL teams can start trading at the very start of the new league year, which in practice is when the official “trading period” opens each offseason.
Key answer for 2026
- For the 2026 NFL offseason, the trading period begins on March 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
- That moment is also the official start of the 2026 league year and the main free agency signing period, because all 2025 player contracts formally expire then.
- From that time on, teams can trade players and picks as long as the moves comply with salary cap rules and all standard trade procedures.
Think of it like a “roster reset” gate: once the new league year clock hits 4:00 p.m. ET, phones start buzzing, and trades that were discussed or agreed to in principle can finally become official and hit the transaction wire.
How this usually looks each year
- Late winter: Teams position themselves with cuts, restructures, and tag decisions leading up to the league year.
- League year opens: Trading period + free agency begin simultaneously at 4:00 p.m. ET on the designated March date.
- In-principle deals: Some trades leak before that time but cannot be processed by the league office until the window opens.
If you’re just looking for the practical fan headline for 2026:
“NFL trades can officially start at 4 p.m. ET on March 11, 2026.”
TL;DR: When can NFL teams start trading? At the start of the new league year—this offseason that’s March 11, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.