The 2023 NFL season ended one week ago for the Washington Commanders. But the work was just beginning for Washington. Owner Josh Harris fired head coach Ron Rivera on Monday, quickly opening a search for a new head of football operations and head coach.
On Friday, news broke that the Commanders were hiring San Francisco 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters as the franchise’s new general manager. Peters was the most coveted GM candidate available.
Harris and Peters will continue searching for a new head coach this week.
While the Commanders are in the middle of a coaching search, business in the NFL will continue. We’ve compiled a list of some of the critical offseason dates from now through May, courtesy of NFL operations.
January
Jan. 15: Deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2023 NFL draft.
Jan. 20-21: AFC/NFC Divisional playoff games
Jan. 28: AFC & NFC Championship games
February
Feb. 1: East-West Shrine Bowl (Las Vegas)
Feb. 3: Reese’s Senior Bowl (Mobile, Alabama)
Feb. 4: Pro Bowl Games
Feb. 19: HBCU Combine (New Orleans)
Feb. 20: The first day teams can apply the franchise or transition tag to players. Ends on March 5.
Feb. 24: HBCU Legacy Bowl (New Orleans)
Feb. 27 – March 4: NFL combine (Indianapolis)
March
March 5: Deadline to apply franchise or transition tags
March 11-13: The legal tampering period begins, where teams can contact certified agents of players on expiring contracts and negotiate contracts with those players who have expiring contracts on March 13 at 4:00 p.m. ET. No player can sign a contract until the start of the new league year.
March 13: The new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET, and players on expiring contracts can sign with new teams.
March 13: Top 51 Rule begins. All clubs must be under the 2024 Salary Cap prior to 4:00 p.m. ET.
March 24-27: Annual League Meeting (Orlando).
April
April 1: Teams with new coaches can begin offseason workouts.
April 15: Teams with returning head coaches can begin offseason workouts.
April 17: Deadline for teams to time, test, visit, interview, or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at the team’s facilities.
April 19: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 24: Deadline for prior club to exercise Right of First Refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets.
April 25-27: 2024 NFL draft (Detroit)
May
May 2: Deadline for teams to exercise fifth-year options on players selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft (Jamin Davis).
May 3-6 or May 10-13: 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.
May 13: Rookie development programs begin.
May 20-22: Spring League Meeting/Coach Accelerator (Nashville).
