On Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. CDT, the 2015 NFL league year will officially begin.
For the Kansas City Chiefs and the rest of the NFL, that means a few things—most notably, the start of free agency.
Most fans are keenly aware of free agency as many signings have already been leaked and made public, but that's not the only thing that happens on Tuesday.
Below is a list of all of the important deadlines and dates that come with the start of the new league year:
| Tuesday, March 10 - What it brings |
|---|
| All 2014 player contracts expire at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. The 2015 league year and free agency period begins at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. Trading period for 2015 begins at 3:00 p.m. Central Time, after expiration of all 2014 contracts. Top-51 Begins. All clubs must be under the 2015 salary cap prior to 3:00 p.m. Central Time. Prior to 3:00 p.m. Central Time, clubs must exercise options for 2015 on all players who have option clauses in their 2014 contracts. |
| Prior to 3:00 p.m. Central Time, clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2014 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit. |
| Prior to 3:00 p.m. Central Time, 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. |
| The first day of the 2015 league year will end at 10:59:59 p.m. Central Time on March 10. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 3:00 p.m. Central Time, and 10:59:59 p.m. Central Time, on March 10. |
The Chiefs roster is already shaping up to look a little different heading into 2015 after the release of veterans Donnie Avery, Anthony Fasano, Joe Mays, Vance Walker and AJ Jenkins, who was waived.
With more moves likely to come over the next several months, those who are tasked with the responsibility of developing that roster are confident about the plan set forth.
"I feel very good about where we are," Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said back at the combine. "The personnel staff has been together now for two years. Everybody understands exactly what we are attempting to do here."
Dorsey explained what makes a successful personnel staff, which is crucial right now with so many moving parts and players becoming available across the league.
"It's open communication, check your ego in and let's go to work for one common goal," he said. "There's nothing like having a good group of guys around you all striving for one ultimate goal.
"We have that in Kansas City."
Photos of Clark Hunt, John Dorsey and Andy Reid.
As exciting as this free agency and roster-building time is for fans that follow each and every move their favorite team makes, some of the decisions made aren't easy for those having to make them.
When it comes to releasing players, particularly veterans who have developed relationships with coaches and staff, it's never an easy time.
"That's always difficult," Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard said. "It's always difficult when you've been along this journey together, you've been through a lot of games and you've watched these guys develop. Unfortunately, it's just part of what we do. When they're here, and we talk about this all the time, they're Chiefs and we're going to do our best to get them to their ceiling.
"As part of the National Football League, sometimes you just have to move on."
For the Chiefs, they move on with the rest of the NFL to the 2015 league year at 3:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, and they'll look to build off an impressive first two years in the John Dorsey, Andy Reid-led era.
We'll have you covered through it all at KCChiefs.com.
