The NFL’s 48th Super Bowl Game is over, and the NFL Pro Bowl was a success, but now it’s crunch-time: the NFL Off-Season. This might be the time that the causal NFL football fan pays the least attention, but for hard-core fans, and for the league itself, this is the time that the foundations are laid for the next Super Bowl Champion.
Here are the NFL’s key off-season dates:
February 17th: First day for NFL clubs to designate Franchise or Transition players
February 19-25: The 2014 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis
March 8th-11th: Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2013 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. ET on March 11. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4 p.m. ET on March 11.
March 11th (Key Day): Prior to 4 p.m. ET, clubs must exercise options for 2014 on all players who have option clauses in their 2013 contracts
Prior to 4 p.m. ET March 11th, NFL clubs must submit Qualifying Offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation
Prior to 4 p.m. ET March 11th, NFL clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2013 contracts and who have fewer than three Accrued Seasons of free agency credit
Top-51 Begins on March 11th. All NFL clubs must be under the 2014 Salary Cap prior to 4 p.m. ET
All 2013 player contracts will expire at 4 p.m. ET, March 11th
March 11th, the 2014 Free agency period, for the League Year begins (4 p.m. ET)
The first day of the 2014 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m. ET, on March 11. Clubs will receive a Personnel Notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4 p.m. ET, and 11:59:59 p.m. ET, on March 11
March 11th at 4 p.m., trading period begins
March 23rd – 26th: NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando
April 7th: NFL Clubs that hired a new Head Coach after the end of the 2013 regular season may begin offseason workout programs
April 21th: Clubs with returning Head Coaches may begin offseason workout programs
May 2nd: Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets
May 7th: Deadline for Prior Club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents
May 8-10th: 2014 NFL Draft, Radio City Music Hall, New York
May 19-21 NFL Spring League Meeting in Atlanta