‘Legal tampering’ window begins Monday at noon

The wait for NFL free agency is over.

The “legal tampering” window will begin at noon on Monday and last until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, when the new league year officially begins.

Here’s a quick summary of the legal tampering period, also known as the open negotiating period:

From 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 11 until 3:59:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 13, 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 at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 13.

The two-day negotiating period applies only to prospective unrestricted free agents. It does not apply to players who have received, or who may receive, a required tender applicable to the 2024 League Year (e.g., exclusive rights players, restricted free agents, franchise players or transition players).

Let the rumors fly.

The New York Giants have approximately $41 million in available salary cap space this year and are expected to attack the offensive line early in free agency.

Players to keep an eye out for include the New England Patriots’ Mike Onwenu, Jermaine Eluemunor of the Las Vegas Raiders, the Miami Dolphins’ Robert Hunt and Jonah Jackson of the Detroit Lions.

The Giants stand to lose two captains — running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney — as they chose not to use the franchise or transition tags on them last week.