The offseason is officially in full swing, which means the dominoes will start to fall quickly as the page turns to the 2024 season.
There have already been some free agent signings by the 49ers, and next we’ll start hearing about franchise tags, extensions, trade rumors, free agency and the draft.
Here’s an easy calendar to follow and keep up with the important dates on this offseason’s calendar:
February 20
On this date the window opens for teams to designate a franchise tag or transition tag. The 49ers aren’t likely to use a tag given their lack of high-end free agents.
February 27 - March 4
These are the dates for the NFL combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This is an important place for the 49ers to begin gathering some good in-person intel on players they may be looking to add in the draft, particularly since they’ll be picking in the first round again for the first time since 2021.
March 5
The window to designate franchise or transition tags closes at 1:00pm Pacific Time. Again, the 49ers aren’t likely to be active in the tag window.
March 11
At 9:00am Pacific Time, the legal negotiating window opens for players who are due to officially be free agents once the new league year begins. Players at this point are still technically under contract with their former team, but the players set for free agency at this point can start talking with other teams about a new contract. The 49ers have a slew of contributors who could agree to contracts with other clubs at this point.
March 13
At 1:00pm Pacific Time the new league year officially begins and contracts negotiated during the legal negotiating window can be signed, and trades agreed to over the offseason can become official.
March 24-27
Annual league meetings take place across these four days. Rule changes are one of the key aspects of these meetings. Coaches and GMs are also all in one place which tends to lead to some trade chatter ahead of the draft.
April 15
Offseason workout programs can begin at this point for San Francisco since they did not hire a new head coach during the offseason.
April 17
This is the last day teams can have draft prospects in for in-person interviews and workouts at the team facility.
April 19
Restricted free agents have until this date to sign their offer sheet if offered by another team. This isn’t something the 49ers will have to worry much about. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings is their only restricted free agent.
April 24
Two things happen on the 24th of April.
First, it’s the last day for clubs to have contact with draft prospects either virtually or in person at any location.
Second, it’s the deadline for teams to exercise their right of first refusal on RFAs who signed offer sheets. So if Jennings gets an offer sheet from another team the 49ers would have until April 24 to either match it or let him walk.
April 25-27
It’s the NFL draft! The 49ers have 11 picks, including their own picks in Rounds 1-4. What a time.
May 2
This date doesn’t matter for the 49ers. It’s the deadline for teams to exercise their fifth-year option on 2021 first-round picks. San Francisco’s 2021 first-round pick was quarterback Trey Lance, who is now in Dallas.
