Now that Super Bowl LX has come and gone and the Seattle Seahawks are world champions, the entire NFL officially turns toward the offseason. For all 32 teams, the next few months are about roster building, cap planning, and the league’s biggest calendar moments — from the scouting combine to franchise tags, free agency and the NFL Draft.
Below is a complete, date-by-date guide to the NFL 2026 offseason calendar. If you’re tracking the next big roster move or the road to the draft, these are the dates to bookmark.
At-a-glance: Key NFL 2026 offseason dates
- Scouting Combine: Feb. 23–March 2 (Indianapolis)
- Tag Deadline: March 3 (4 p.m. ET)
- Legal Tampering: March 9–March 11
- Free Agency Opens: March 11 (4 p.m. ET)
- Annual League Meeting: March 29–April 1 (Phoenix)
- NFL Draft: April 23–25 (Pittsburgh)
- Rookie Minicamps: May 1–4 OR May 8–11
- Schedule Release: Mid-May
- Spring League Meeting: May 19–20 (Orlando)
- OTAs: Late May–mid-June
- June 1 Cut Date: June 1
- Tag Signing Deadline: July 15 (4 p.m. ET)
- Training Camps: Mid- to late July
2026 NFL scouting combine
Feb. 23–March 2 | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft are invited to work out, get measurements and participate in interviews as part of the draft process. For teams and fans, it’s one of the biggest checkpoints before draft season accelerates.
Franchise tag and transition tag deadline
March 3 | 4 p.m. ET
Teams can place either a franchise tag or a transition tag on eligible players in an attempt to work out a long-term deal — or have them play the following season under the tag.
Projected franchise tag positional values (via Over The Cap)
| Position | Projected Tag Value |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | $47.321 million |
| Running back | $14.536 million |
| Wide receiver | $28.824 million |
| Tight end | $16.319 million |
| Offensive line | $27.924 million |
| Defensive end | $27.322 million |
| Defensive tackle | $26.311 million |
| Linebacker | $28.197 million |
| Cornerback | $21.414 million |
| Safety | $20.876 million |
| Punter/kicker | $6.9 million |
One notable expectation in this cycle: Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is expected to receive the franchise tag this offseason.
2026 NFL free agency
Legal tampering period: March 9 (noon ET) through March 11 (4 p.m. ET)
During March 9–11, teams are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with certified agents of players set to be unrestricted free agents. Players not represented by certified agents can communicate directly with a team’s front office, but not the head coach or members of the coaching staff.
Free agency begins: March 11 at 4 p.m. ET. Free agents are officially eligible to sign contracts starting with the new league year at that time.
Annual league meeting
March 29–April 1 | Phoenix
NFL team owners gather to vote on rules and regulations. This year’s agenda is expected to include (likely) another proposed ban on the tush push.
2026 NFL Draft
April 23–25 | Pittsburgh
The NFL’s marquee offseason event takes place near Acrisure Field, home of the Steelers, in downtown Pittsburgh. The first round is on Thursday night, April 23. Rounds 2 and 3 follow on Friday night, April 24, and Rounds 4–7 wrap up on Saturday morning, April 25.
Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick of the Las Vegas Raiders.
NFL rookie minicamps
May 1–4 OR May 8–11
Teams select one set of dates for rookie minicamps, which are essentially extended orientations for new players — a first look at playbooks, facilities, routines and what day-to-day life in the NFL demands.
2026 NFL schedule release
Mid-May
The NFL has turned its schedule release into a major event. Some games leak well in advance — including the Rams-49ers matchup in the first-ever Australia game. Home-and-away opponents are predetermined by division alignments, rotational scheduling and last season’s finish, but the full regular-season slate lands in May.
Spring league meeting
May 19–20 | Orlando
NFL owners convene again in late May for additional proposals and potential votes.
Organized team activities (OTAs)
Late May through mid-June
Teams typically hold OTAs in two sessions — one voluntary and one mandatory — to begin personnel evaluation in practice settings and to start installing playbooks.
June 1 roster deadline
June 1
June 1 is the well-known demarcation line between pre- and post-June 1 cuts. Teams often designate releases as post-June 1 to spread cap consequences across two seasons.
How the June 1 rule works (simple example)
If a player has four years remaining and $5 million in prorated charges in each of those seasons, cutting him before June 1 creates $20 million in dead money immediately. Cutting him after June 1 would instead leave $5 million in dead money in the current year and $15 million the following year — the same total, but spread over two seasons.
In other words, the post-June 1 designation can create breathing room on the cap rather than forcing the full hit into one season.
Franchise tag signing deadline
July 15 | 4 p.m. ET
Any player given the franchise tag must sign a multiyear contract or extension by this deadline. If not, the player may only sign a one-year deal that cannot be extended until after the final regular-season game.
2026 NFL training camps
Teams typically begin training camp in mid- to late July, with Hall of Fame Game participants usually starting earlier and rookies often reporting ahead of the full squad. Exact dates and schedules will be announced later in the offseason.
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