The Kansas City Chiefs are champions of the National Football League for the second-straight year after winning Super Bowl LVIII, but the work to make it three in a row – a feat that has never before been accomplished in league history – is already underway.
Here's a look at some important dates to keep in mind on the NFL calendar over the next several months.
February 20: Teams may designate Franchise or Transition players between this date and 3 p.m. CT on March 5.
February 27 – March 4: The NFL Scouting Combine takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana.
March 5: The deadline for teams to designate Franchise or Transition players is at 3 p.m. CT.
March 11 – March 13: Teams are permitted to contact and enter into contract negations with the certified agents of players (or the player himself, if they do not have an agent) who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2023 contracts at 3 p.m. CT on March 13. This is referred to as the negotiating period.
March 13: The 2024 League Year begins at 3 p.m. CT, meaning that unrestricted free agents are permitted to sign contracts with any team. The onset of the new League Year also means the following:
- Prior to the 3 p.m. CT deadline, teams must exercise options for 2024 on all players who have an option clause in their contracts.
- Additionally, prior to the 3 p.m. CT deadline, teams must submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts in order to retain a right of first refusal (and compensation) should the player sign an offer sheet with another team.
- The trading period begins at 3 p.m. CT. No trades can officially take place before this time.
- Prior to 3 p.m. CT, all teams must be under the 2024 salary cap.
- Lastly, prior to 3 p.m. CT, teams must submit a minimum salary tender to players with expiring contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agent credit in order to retain exclusive negotiating rights.
April 15: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 19: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 24: Deadline for teams to exercise their right of refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets elsewhere.
April 25 – 27: The NFL Draft takes place in Detroit.
May 2: Deadline for teams to exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
May 3 – 6 or May 10 – 13: Teams are permitted to hold one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp between one of the two indicated weekends.
For a look at the entire offseason league calendar, click here.
