In addition to conversations about tinkering with roster size and getting rid of inactive lists for Thursday games, the NFL’s Competition Committee is considering the acceleration of a key date on the free-agency calendar.
Currently, players who become unrestricted free agents on the first day of the league year and who are not signed by June 1 (and not tendered a one-year contract by their prior teams) aren’t included in the formula for determining compensatory draft picks. As a result, any signing after June 1 won’t make the prior team eligible for greater compensation or the new team eligible for less.
Per a league source, the June 1 line of demarcation could move to May 1. The goal would be to give players who otherwise won’t be employed until June 1 a chance to participate in the bulk of the offseason practices. By signing after June 1, the players get limited opportunities for offseason reps.
Over the years, teams like the Ravens have become experts at finagling this technique, waiting patiently until June 1 comes and goes before going bargain shopping. That’s how they acquired linebacker Daryl Smith, who started 16 games in 2013, re-signed last year, and started 16 games in 2014.