The NFL made it clear earlier this week that they have no intention to postpone the beginning of free agency, but that could be subject to change on Sunday. With free agency set to start on Wednesday, Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints spoke about the NFL potentially delaying free agency:
“Most immediately, the start of our league year, which is due to be this Wednesday, I think, free agency begins, that’s gonna be, I think, pushed back,” Payton said, via Amie Just of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Earlier this week, the NFL chose to cancel the annual owner meetings and pre-draft visits due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the NFL remained adamant that the new league year would begin on Wednesday, as scheduled.
But with the results of the player votes for the new Collective Bargaining Agreement expected on Sunday, the NFL could reconsider postponing free agency. Payton, the head coach of the Saints, believes the NFL will choose to move free agency to a later date.
Also, the legal tampering period — which allows free agents to speak to teams before free agency — is scheduled for Monday. Therefore, if the NFL is going to postpone free agency, the decision would likely come on Sunday.
With the coronavirus limiting travel, some teams are concerned that it could affect their chances of signing a player. On the other hand, teams could conduct meetings with impending free agents in a multitude of ways without needing to meet in person.
Once the votes come in for the new CBA, the NFL will likely begin to decipher what the best plan for free agency is. For what it's worth, Payton is of the belief that the league pushes back the new league year.
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