With the long regional misery almost mercifully over, there are some important dates coming up.
Who knows, maybe we will luck out with an entire new front office and staff to make these events more meaningful.
Get an overview of the important NFL dates for the 2024 league year.
operations.nfl.com
January 6:
Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2025 season, including players from the CFL.
January 6:
Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the Rookie Contract of a Drafted Rookie who was selected in any round of the 2022 College Draft or any Undrafted Rookie who signed in 2023. Any permissible renegotiated or extended Player Contract will not be considered a Rookie Contract and will not be subject to the rules that limit Rookie Contracts.
January 6:
Clubs may exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft.
Mid-January, TBA:
Deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility.
January 30:
East-West Shrine Bowl
Feb 1:
Senior Bowl
Feb 18:
Beginning this date through at 4:00 p.m., New York time on March 4, clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players
March 4:
Deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 10-12:
Negotiation (legal tampering) Period.
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 2024 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., ET on March 12.
March 12:
The 2025 League Year and Free Agency signing period begin at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Trading period for 2025. Trading begins at 4:00 p.m.
March 31:
Salary Cap Deadline
Deadline for clubs to meet 2025 funding requirements for guaranteed or deferred compensation in NFL Player Contracts and contracts for non-player Club employees.
April 16:
Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview, or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at its club facility.
April 18:
Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets.
April 23:
Deadline for Prior Club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents who signed offer sheets.
April 23:
Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls), or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at any location.
April 24-26:
2025 NFL Draft, Green Bay.
May 1:
Deadline for Clubs to exercise Fifth-Year Option for players selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft.
May 2-5 or 9-12:
Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday on one of the two weekends following the Draft.