NFL offseason calendar: every key date from the Super Bowl to training camp

The confetti barely settles before the next NFL season starts getting built. If you only tune in for September kickoffs, you miss half the story — and half the edges that win pick'em weeks.

Here's the full offseason calendar, what happens in each window, and why it matters.

February: franchise tags, combine, and the salary-cap reset

The league year doesn't flip until March, but February sets the table. Teams can franchise-tag key free agents, the salary cap gets announced, and the scouting combine turns college prospects into draft boards. This is when front offices decide whether they're all-in, retooling, or rebuilding.

March: free agency and the new league year

The first wave of free agency is the headline grabber — quarterbacks, edge rushers, and left tackles reset the market. But the real work is the second and third waves: value signings, one-year prove-it deals, and cap gymnastics that shape roster depth for September.

April: the NFL Draft

Seven rounds, 32 picks per round (plus compensatory selections), and an entire franchise direction can change in one weekend. Draft weekend isn't just about stars — it's about finding Day 3 contributors who win special teams jobs and fill injury gaps in November.

May–June: OTAs and mandatory minicamp

Organized Team Activities are voluntary, but you'd never know it from attendance. Coaches install the playbook, quarterbacks build timing with receivers, and position coaches start sorting the depth chart. Mandatory minicamp is the first time the entire roster is required to be on-site — and the first time fines actually matter.

July: training camp and the preseason

Training camp opens in late July, and the preseason is roster-cut season. Starters play sparingly; bubble players play for their jobs. By Labor Day, every team trims to a 53-man roster and practices the first-week game plan.

Why the calendar matters for fans

Every phase of the offseason produces information you can use:

• Free agency tells you which teams are pushing chips in.
• The draft reveals long-term vision and immediate depth.
• OTAs and camp surface real position battles — not Twitter rumors.

If you're running a pick'em league, understanding the calendar is how you stay ahead of the group chat when lines move in August.

Bird Gang bottom line

The NFL never really stops. The teams that win in December are usually the ones that handled February through August with a plan. Bookmark this calendar — we'll be referencing it all offseason.

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