The NFL has released its schedule. Its offseason schedule, that is.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, teams must conduct a nine-week voluntary offseason program in three phases. The first phase consists of two weeks of only meetings, strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation.
The second phase is three weeks, focusing on on-field instructional workouts individually or in a group, along with “perfect play drills” designed to improve tactical understanding, and offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players. No offense versus defense drills are permitted and it must be conducted at a walk-through pace.
The third phase is four weeks of practices or organized team activities (OTAs). Teams may conduct up to 10 practices, and while no live contact is permitted, teams can begin to scrimmage.
Teams are allowed one voluntary minicamp, but it must be held during Phase Three. New head coaches can hold an additional voluntary minicamp, but it must be held prior to the NFL draft on April 24 and no earlier than the third week of the offseason workout program.
Additionally, each team is allowed to hold a rookie development camp over seven weeks, beginning May 12. No activities are permitted on weekends, except for a post-draft rookie minicamp. Minicamps can be held the first or second weekend following the draft.
The Buffalo Bills will begin their offseason program April 21. Voluntary OTAs will be held May 27-29, June 2-3 and June 5. Mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 10-12.
Chicago, New England and the New York Jets will begin their offseason programs April 7, while Jacksonville and Las Vegas start April 8. Dallas and New Orleans begin April 14.
Baltimore, Carolina, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami, Minnesota, New York Giants, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay are scheduled to start April 21.
Arizona, Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle, Tennessee and Washington have April 22 start dates.
Rookie minicamp has not been announced.