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What to know as NFL free agency opens this week

AP photo by Vera Nieuwenhuis / AFC quarterback Russell Wilson of the Pittsburgh Steelers competes in the Pro Bowl Games on Jan. 30 in Orlando, Fla. Wilson is among the high-profile players who are about to become free agents this week as the NFL's new business year begins.
AP photo by Vera Nieuwenhuis / AFC quarterback Russell Wilson of the Pittsburgh Steelers competes in the Pro Bowl Games on Jan. 30 in Orlando, Fla. Wilson is among the high-profile players who are about to become free agents this week as the NFL's new business year begins. AP photo by Vera Nieuwenhuis / AFC quarterback Russell Wilson of the Pittsburgh Steelers competes in the Pro Bowl Games on Jan. 30 in Orlando, Fla. Wilson is among the high-profile players who are about to become free agents this week as the NFL's new business year begins.

By ROB MAADDI / The Associated Press 3 min read

The NFL’s free agency period opens Monday with a 52-hour legal tampering period ahead of the official start of the new league year Wednesday.

Several high-profile players, including quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, will be free to sign a contract with a new team.

Here’s an explanation of rules and terms regarding free agency.

What does legal tampering mean?

At noon Eastern on Monday, teams can start negotiating with players who will become unrestricted free agents when their contracts expire at the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Players can’t sign with new teams until the league year officially begins. The two-day negotiating period applies only to players who will be unrestricted free agents.