When football teams and players are a good match and are winning games, you might not understand why a player would suddenly go free agent. This ability to negotiate for a spot on another team isn't all that old, and it can be surprising when a player who seems to have it all suddenly decides to move. Why would a football player go free agent instead of staying with their current team? Players decide to move for a few reasons, with three sticking out.

They Have More Control Over Where They Play

A leading reason why players go free agent is that they want more control over where they play, and they hope to increase compensation along with gaining a spot in a city that they prefer. The players have to have top abilities so that teams looking for new players will consider them; no team wants to pay good money for a mediocre player. But, when players do know that they are excellent and have a chance of landing a spot on a team they like, going free agent gives them a great chance of getting that contract.

They Don't Have a Choice

If a player's contract expires without renewal, and the player has a minimum number of seasons with the NFL under their belt, the player can become a free agent instead of wondering what to do. Contracts can expire without renewal for any number of reasons, so that doesn't necessarily mean the player is bad. If the player wants to continue playing without missing a season, a free agency can connect them with a team that is a good fit.

They Want to Leave Teams That Aren't a Good Match

Sometimes a team just isn't a good match for a player and vice versa. While the player is required to finish out their contract, they're not required to renew that contract with their team if they don't think it's a good fit. Rather than sitting around and waiting for a team to try to take them on or for a trade to happen, they can (depending on the number of accrued seasons they have) become either a restricted or unrestricted free agent. Those designations depend on how long they've played in the NFL. At that point, they can attempt to connect with different teams. There are strict rules governing the contacts, but they are not difficult to follow.

To learn more about 2023 NFL free agents, contact a professional free agency in your area.

Share