Finally: the NFL announced its offseason workout dates for all 32 teams this week, including the New Orleans Saints. Dennis Allen’s team has a few more weeks to enjoy the offseason and prepare for work before they’ll be back on the field at the team headquarters in Metairie.
The first day for Saints players to voluntarily report to the offseason program is April 17, at which point they’ll begin Phase 1: two weeks of position group meetings, strength and conditioning work in the weight room, and physical rehabilitation for players coming off of season-ending injuries.
Phase 2 is made up of organized team activities scheduled for three weeks from May 23-25, May 30-June 1, and June 5-8. This is the first heavy dose of on-field work but even that is limited to individual coaching or small group instruction. The offense and defense cannot go against each other, and both live contact and team drills are prohibited. These are also voluntary.
Participation isn’t mandatory until the minicamp scheduled for June 13-15, at which point the team will break for the summer until training camp begins in late July. That’s Phase 3, at which point teams are allowed to run group drills (7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11), but without any live contact.
This all follows the 2023 NFL draft, though, and the Saints will be busy putting their rookie class through its paces — though exact dates will be announced later. They’ll hold a rookie minicamp the first or second weekend following the draft (either May 5-8 or May 12-15), with a larger rookie developmental program kicking off as soon as May 15.
Things will be getting busier very quickly for the black and gold. Keep an eye on Saints Wire for the latest coverage.
