Acme Packing Company
Here’s a full list of what’s happening over the next several months before the start of NFL training camps.
There is no offseason in the NFL. This cliché seems to become more and more accurate with each passing year, as free agency and the NFL Draft take up more and more attention. The league has indeed become a year-round source of attention for fans, and with that comes a number of important dates and deadlines between now and the start of training camps in July.
To simplify the calendar a bit, here is a full list of these critical dates that affect the major workings of NFL franchises during the 2025 offseason.
Starting on February 18, NFL teams may begin designating Franchise or Transition players for 2025. Teams have until March 4 to make their Franchise Tag decisions.
The non-exclusive Franchise Tag and Transition Tag give the team the right to match a contract if the player signs an offer sheet with another team. If the team does not match the offer sheet of a Franchise Tagged player, the original team receives two first-round draft picks as compensation. Projected tag amounts can be found at Overthecap.com.
This year’s Scouting Combine is again in Indianapolis, where it will remain through at least 2026.
Players attending the Combine will go through a gauntlet of medical examinations, interviews with NFL teams and the media, and on-field workouts at Lucas Oil Stadium. On-field workouts will take place from Thursday, February 27 through Sunday, March 2.
College programs will hold their Pro Days throughout the month of March. These events give NFL teams the opportunity to interview prospects eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft and players will often go through additional workouts and on-field drills.
Also known as the “legal tampering period,” this two-day span starts at 12:00 Noon Eastern on March 10th and allows for teams to begin negotiating contracts with the agents of players who are set to become unrestricted free agents. The two sides may not sign or formally execute contracts until after 4:00 PM on March 12.
Starting at 4:00 PM, the new league year begins. Unrestricted free agents can begin signing contracts with any team at this time and restricted free agents may begin signing offer sheets with new teams.
Any trades agreed upon prior to this time will be processed.
Additionally, all teams must be below the salary cap as of this time, using the Top 51 rule (only the 51 highest-valued contracts count towards the salary cap during the offseason).
NFL owners, personnel departments, and coaches will attend the league’s main offseason meeting in Palm...
