Free-Agency System. It is not a violation of the Anti-Tampering Policy for a club to discuss and sign a contract with a player who is free to do so under terms of an operative collective bargaining agreement, provided such discussion or signing takes place within the period during which the player is allowed to negotiate with other clubs. Such players may also try out with other clubs during the negotiating period. Once such players have completed the negotiating period, no club is permitted to have any dealings with them unless and until their rights are relinquished by their respective clubs.
Players on Waivers. Clubs are not permitted to contact a player for whom waivers have been requested, or his representative, until they have been notified of the player’s termination via the Player Personnel Notice (including during the claiming period). If a club is contacted by a player or his representative during this period, the only permissible response by the club is to inform the player or his representative that the club is not allowed under NFL rules to speak to him.
143 UNRESTRICTED free agents signed with a NEW team
| TEAM | PLAYER | FORMER TEAM |
| Arizona Cardinals | DB William Gay | Pittsburgh |
| LB Quentin Groves | Oakland | |
| DB James Sanders | Atlanta | |
| G Adam Snyder | San Francisco | |
| Baltimore Ravens | DB Sean Considine | Arizona |
| DB Corey Graham | Chicago | |
| Buffalo Bills | DE Mark Anderson | New England |
| DE Mario Williams | Houston | |
| QB Vince Young | Philadelphia | |
| Carolina Panthers | DB Haruki Nakamura | Baltimore |
| G Mike Pollak | Indianapolis | |
| DB Reggie Smith | San Francisco | |
| RB Mike Tolbert | San Diego | |
| Chicago Bears | RB Michael Bush | Oakland |
| QB Jason Campbell | Oakland | |
| LB Blake Costanzo | San Francisco | |
| DB Kelvin Hayden | Atlanta | |
| LB Geno Hayes | Tampa Bay | |
| G Chilo Rachal | San Francisco | |
| WR Devin Thomas | New York Giants | |
| WR Eric Weems | Atlanta | |
| DB Jonathan Wilhite | Denver | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | DB Jason Allen | Houston |
| DE Jamaal Anderson | Indianapolis | |
| G Jacob Bell | St. Louis | |
| RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis | New England | |
| DE Derrick Harvey | Denver | |
| Cleveland Browns | DE Frostee Rucker | Cincinnati |
| DE Juqua Parker | Philadelphia | |
| Dallas Cowboys | G Mackenzy Bernadeau | Carolina |
| DB Brandon Carr | Kansas City | |
| T Marc Colombo | Miami | |
| LB Dan Connor | Carolina | |
| G Nate Livings | Cincinnati | |
| QB Kyle Orton | Kansas City | |
| DB Brodney Pool | New York Jets | |
| Denver Broncos | DB Mike Adams | Cleveland |
| WR Andre Caldwell | Cincinnati | |
| TE Joel Dreessen | Houston | |
| QB Caleb Hanie | Chicago | |
| DB Tracy Porter | New Orleans | |
| TE Jacob Tamme | Indianapolis | |
| Green Bay Packers | DE Tony Hargrove | Seattle |
| C Jeff Saturday | Indianapolis | |
| Houston Texans | LB Bradie James | Dallas |
| P Donnie Jones | St. Louis | |
| Indianapolis Colts | WR Donnie Avery | Tennessee |
| NT Brandon McKinney | Baltimore | |
| G Mike McGlynn | Cincinnati | |
| DE Cory Redding | Baltimore | |
| C Samson Satele | Oakland | |
| S Tom Zbikowski | Baltimore | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | QB Chad Henne | Miami |
| WR Laurent Robinson | Dallas | |
| DB Aaron Ross | New York Giants | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | RB Peyton Hillis | Cleveland |
| QB Brady Quinn | Denver | |
| Miami Dolphins | G Artis Hicks | Cleveland |
| LB Gary Guyton | New England | |
| DB Tyrell Johnson | Minnesota | |
| DB Richard Marshall | Arizona | |
| WR Legedu Naanee | Carolina | |
| Minnesota Vikings | DB Zackary Bowman | Chicago |
| TE John Carlson | Seattle | |
| RB Jerome Felton | Indianapolis | |
| LB Marvin Mitchell | Miami | |
| WR Jerome Simpson | Cincinnati | |
| New England Patriots | DB Will Allen | Miami |
| LB Bobby Carpenter | Detroit | |
| DE Jonathan Fanene | Cincinnati | |
| TE Daniel Fells | Denver | |
| WR Anthony Gonzalez | Indianapolis | |
| DB Steve Gregory | San Diego | |
| RB Spencer Larsen | Denver | |
| WR Brandon Lloyd | St. Louis | |
| C Jamey Richard | Indianapolis | |
| DE Trevor Scott | Oakland | |
| WR Donte’Stallworth | Washington | |
| New Orleans Saints | DT Brodrick Bunkley | Denver |
| LB Chris Chamberlain | St. Louis | |
| G Ben Grubbs | Baltimore | |
| LB David Hawthorne | Seattle | |
| LB Curtis Lofton | Atlanta | |
| New York Giants | TE Martellus Bennett | Dallas |
| T Sean Locklear | Washington | |
| DB Antwaun Molden | New England | |
| DT Shaun Rogers | New Orleans | |
| New York Jets | T Stephon Heyer | Oakland |
| DB LaRon Landry | Washington | |
| WR Chaz Schilens | Oakland | |
| QB Drew Stanton | Detroit | |
| Oakland Raiders | G Mike Brisiel | Houston |
| DB Patrick Lee | Green Bay | |
| RB Owen Schmitt | Philadelphia | |
| DE Dave Tollefson | New York Giants | |
| LB Philip Wheeler | Indianapolis | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | T Demetress Bell | Buffalo |
| DB Brian Dawkins | Denver | |
| C Steve Vallos | Cleveland | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | TE Leonard Pope | Kansas City |
| St. Louis Rams | DB Jo-Lonn Dunbar | New Orleans |
| DB Cortland Finnegan | Tennessee | |
| LB Mario Haggan | Denver | |
| DT William Hayes | Tennessee | |
| DE Kendall Langford | Miami | |
| DT Trevor Laws | Philadelphia | |
| G Quinn Ojinnaka | Indianapolis | |
| T Barry Richardson | Kansas City | |
| WR Steve Smith | Philadelphia | |
| C Robert Turner | New York Jets | |
| C Scott Wells | Green Bay | |
| San Diego Chargers | DB Atari Bigby | Seattle |
| LB Jarret Johnson | Baltimore | |
| DB Corey Lynch | Tampa Bay | |
| RB Le’Ron McClain | Kansas City | |
| WR Robert Meachem | New Orleans | |
| WR Roscoe Parrish | Buffalo | |
| TE Dante Rosario | Denver | |
| WR Eddie Royal | Denver | |
| WR Micheal Spurlock | Tampa Bay | |
| QB Charlie Whitehurst | Seattle | |
| San Francisco 49ers | RB Rock Cartwright | Oakland |
| QB Josh Johnson | Tampa Bay | |
| WR Mario Manningham | New York Giants | |
| Seattle Seahawks | QB Matt Flynn | Green Bay |
| DE Jason Jones | Tennessee | |
| G Deuce Lutui | Arizona | |
| LB Barrett Ruud | Tennessee | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DT Gary Gibson | St. Louis |
| WR Vincent Jackson | San Diego | |
| G Carl Nicks | New Orleans | |
| DT Amobi Okoye | Chicago | |
| QB Dan Orlovsky | Indianapolis | |
| DB Eric Wright | Detroit | |
| Washington Redskins | WR Pierre Garcon | Indianapolis |
| LB Jonathan Goff | New York Giants | |
| LB Bryan Kehl | St. Louis | |
| T James Lee | Tampa Bay | |
| DB Brandon Meriweather | Chicago | |
| WR Josh Morgan | San Francisco | |
| K Neil Rackers | Houston | |
| DB Leigh Torrence | New Orleans | |
| DB Madieu Williams | San Francisco |
113 UNRESTRICTED free agents re-signed with their OLD team:
| TEAM | PLAYER | DATE REPORTED |
| Arizona Cardinals | T D’Anthony Batiste | 3/21/2012 |
| WR Early Doucet | 3/28/2012 | |
| K Jay Feely | 3/28/2012 | |
| LS Mike Leach | 3/27/2012 | |
| P Dave Zastudil | 4/9/2012 | |
| Atlanta Falcons | DE John Abraham | 3/17/2012 |
| WR Harry Douglas | 3/14/2012 | |
| C Todd McClure | 3/29/2012 | |
| QB Chris Redman | 3/15/2012 | |
| LS Joe Zelenka | 3/23/2012 | |
| Baltimore Ravens | LB Brendon Ayanbadejo | 3/26/2012 |
| C Birk Matt | 3/19/2012 | |
| LB Jameel McClain | 3/26/2012 | |
| Buffalo Bills | RB Tashard Choice | 3/26/2012 |
| WR Derek Hagan | 3/19/2012 | |
| DB Bryan Scott | 3/22/2012 | |
| Carolina Panthers | QB Derek Anderson | 3/20/2012 |
| LB Antwan Applewhite | 3/29/2012 | |
| LB Jordan Senn | 4/10/2012 | |
| Chicago Bears | TE Kellen Davis | 3/15/2012 |
| DE Israel Idonije | 3/20/2012 | |
| DB Tim Jennings | 3/16/2012 | |
| QB Josh McCown | 3/19/2012 | |
| DB Craig Steltz | 3/21/2012 | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | T Anthony Collins | 3/23/2012 |
| DB Adam Jones | 3/23/2012 | |
| LB Manny Lawson | 3/30/2012 | |
| TE Donald Lee | 4/13/2012 | |
| DB Reggie Nelson | 3/19/2012 | |
| T Dennis Roland | 4/11/2012 | |
| DT Pat Sims | 3/26/2012 | |
| Cleveland Browns | T Oniel Cousins | 3/15/2012 |
| DB Dimitri Patterson | 3/16/2012 | |
| TE Alex Smith | 3/15/2012 | |
| Denver Broncos | DE Jason Hunter | 3/29/2012 |
| LB Joe Mays | 3/20/2012 | |
| C Manuel Ramirez | 3/19/2012 | |
| LB Wesley Woodyard | 3/30/2012 | |
| Detroit Lions | T Jeff Backus | 3/20/2012 |
| DB Erik Coleman | 3/20/2012 | |
| DT Andre Fluellen | 3/20/2012 | |
| P Ben Graham | 3/19/2012 | |
| QB Shaun Hill | 3/22/2012 | |
| LS Don Muhlbach | 3/21/2012 | |
| RB Kevin Smith | 3/30/2012 | |
| LB Stephen Tulloch | 3/22/2012 | |
| Green Bay Packers | DB Jarrett Bush | 3/26/2012 |
| LB Erik Walden | 4/23/2012 | |
| Houston Texans | LB Tim Dobbins | 4/13/2012 |
| C Chris Myers | 3/17/2012 | |
| Indianapolis Colts | WR Reggie Wayne | 3/23/2012 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | DB Dwight Lowery | 3/16/2012 |
| DE Jeremy Mincey | 3/14/2012 | |
| DT C.J.Mosley | 3/15/2012 | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | DB Travis Daniels | 4/4/2012 |
| Miami Dolphins | NT Paul Soliai | 3/16/2012 |
| RB Steve Slaton | 3/21/2012 | |
| Minnesota Vikings | WR Devin Aromashodu | 3/28/2012 |
| NT Fred Evans | 3/21/2012 | |
| DT Letroy Guion | 3/21/2012 | |
| LB Erin Henderson | 3/27/2012 | |
| QB Sage Rosenfels | 3/14/2012 | |
| New England Patriots | WR Deion Branch | 3/28/2012 |
| G Dan Connolly | 3/20/2012 | |
| C Dan Koppen | 4/16/2012 | |
| WR Matt Slater | 3/15/2012 | |
| DE Gerard Warren | 5/3/2012 | |
| LB Tracy White | 3/16/2012 | |
| New Orleans Saints | K John Kasay | 4/23/2012 |
| DE Turk McBride | 3/21/2012 | |
| WR Courtney Roby | 4/16/2012 | |
| New York Giants | LB Chase Blackburn | 4/17/2012 |
| QB David Carr | 3/22/2012 | |
| DB Michael Coe | 3/14/2012 | |
| DB Justin Tryon | 3/14/2012 | |
| New York Jets | K Nick Folk | 3/14/2012 |
| NT Sione Pouha | 3/14/2012 | |
| LB Bryan Thomas | 3/14/2012 | |
| Oakland Raiders | T Khalif Barnes | 3/22/2012 |
| DB Matt Giordano | 4/17/2012 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | T King Dunlap | 4/4/2012 |
| DT Derek Landri | 4/16/2012 | |
| G Evan Mathis | 3/19/2012 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | G Trai Essex | 4/12/2012 |
| QB Charlie Batch | 4/16/2012 | |
| WR Jerricho Cotchery | 4/16/2012 | |
| QB Byron Leftwich | 5/1/2012 | |
| WR Mike Wallace | 8/29/2012 | |
| St. Louis Rams | QB Kellen Clemens | 4/17/2012 |
| San Diego Chargers | C Nick Hardwick | 3/14/2012 |
| RB Jacob Hester | 4/17/2012 | |
| DT Antonio Garay | 3/30/2012 | |
| T Jared Gaither | 3/16/2012 | |
| TE Randy McMichael | 3/26/2012 | |
| San Francisco 49ers | WR Ted Ginn | 3/23/2012 |
| LB Tavares Gooden | 3/14/2012 | |
| DB Carlos Rogers | 3/16/2012 | |
| QB Alex Smith | 3/21/2012 | |
| Seattle Seahawks | DE Red Bryant | 3/19/2012 |
| LB Heath Farwell | 3/15/2012 | |
| LB LeRoy Hill | 4/16/2012 | |
| LB Matt McCoy | 4/16/2012 | |
| G Paul McQuistan | 3/19/2012 | |
| RB Michael Robinson | 3/20/2012 | |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DB Ronde Barber | 3/28/2012 |
| Tennessee Titans | DB Jordan Babineaux | 3/16/2012 |
| DE Dave Ball | 4/16/2012 | |
| LB Tim Shaw | 4/2/2012 | |
| Washington Redskins | DE Adam Carriker | 3/20/2012 |
| LB London Fletcher | 4/16/2012 | |
| DE Kedric Golston | 4/10/2012 | |
| QB Rex Grossman | 3/21/2012 | |
| RB Tim Hightower | 5/14/2012 | |
| DB Corey Lynch | Tampa Bay | |
| RB Le’Ron McClain | Kansas City | |
| WR Robert Meachem | New Orleans | |
| WR Roscoe Parrish | Buffalo | |
| TE Dante Rosario | Denver | |
| WR Eddie Royal | Denver | |
| WR Micheal Spurlock | Tampa Bay | |
| QB Charlie Whitehurst | Seattle |
39 RESTRICTED free agents re-signed with their OLD team:
| TEAM | PLAYER | DATE REPORTED |
| Arizona Cardinals | DB Rashad Johnson | 4/16/2012 |
| RB LaRod Stephens-Howling | 4/16/2012 | |
| DB Gregory Toler | 3/27/2012 | |
| Atlanta Falcons | DT Vance Walker | 3/23/2012 |
| Baltimore Ravens | LB Dannell Ellerbe | 4/17/2012 |
| DB Lardarius Webb | 4/6/2012 | |
| DB Cary Williams | 5/7/2012 | |
| Buffalo Bills | G Chad Rinehart | 4/23/2012 |
| G Kraig Urbik | 4/23/2012 | |
| Chicago Bears | RB Kahlil Bell | 4/26/2012 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | LS Clark Harris | 4/16/2012 |
| LB Dan Skuta | 4/13/2012 | |
| Denver Broncos | WR Matt Willis | 4/16/2012 |
| Detroit Lions | DT Sammie Lee Hill | 4/19/2012 |
| T Corey Hilliard | 4/16/2012 | |
| LB DeAndre Levy | 4/16/2012 | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | LB Russell Allen | 3/14/2012 |
| DB Courtney Greene | 4/2/2012 | |
| DB William Middleton | 4/10/2012 | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | LB Jovan Belcher | 3/22/2012 |
| Miami Dolphins | DE Phillip Merling | 4/11/12 |
| T Lydon Murtha | 4/11/2012 | |
| New England Patriots | QB Brian Hoyer | 3/23/2012 |
| New Orleans Saints | LB Jonathan Casillas | 4/24/2012 |
| New York Jets | LB Aaron Maybin | 4/16/2012 |
| Oakland Raiders | DT Desmond Bryant | 6/6/2012 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | DT Antonio Dixon | 3/14/2012 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | G Ramon Foster | 4/5/2012 |
| TE David Johnson | 4/11/2012 | |
| G Doug Legursky | 4/12/2012 | |
| DB Keenan Lewis | 4/16/2012 | |
| DB Ryan Mundy | 4/16/2012 | |
| St. Louis Rams | WR Danny Amendola | 4/26/2012 |
| San Diego Chargers | T Brandyn Dombrowski | 4/13/2012 |
| San Francisco 49ers | LB Larry Grant | 4/17/2012 |
| Seattle Seahawks | K Steven Hauschka | 4/12/2012 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DE Michael Bennett | 3/19/2012 |
| T Demar Dotson | 3/27/2012 | |
| Washington Redskins | G Kory Lichtensteiger | 3/20/2012 |
