Now that the season ended exactly two days ago, it’s time to focus on the next season. Only one city is reveling in what happened in the 2019 season and 2020 playoffs. The rest of the United States is ready to move on. Hope springs eternal in the NFL, that’s why these future dates are kind of important.
February 24 – The Start of the NFL Draft Combine
It’s time to watch football players in shorts do exercises and some drills and get excited about numbers! The draft combine has become big business — and expect the NFL to move it around the country in the next few years — and it’s now televised for all the world to see. We’ll find out who is a workout warrior, some insane physical skills from players, and even get some leaks about interviews. It’s the beginning of the draft process so fans who cheer for teams with a bunch of picks will be especially excited to get this thing started.
February 25 – The first draft to franchise or transition tag players
March 10 – The deadline to tag players
There are some interesting franchise and transition tag options this year and since it’s the last year of the collective bargaining agreement teams can use both tags this year. The Titans could tag both Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry. Tags abound. Note: teams don’t have to tag players until March 10.
March 16-18 – Free agency essentially begins
Teams can now talk to players’ agents. We can pretend free agency doesn’t begin until the first day of the 2020 season, but let’s not kid anyone. Free agency begins when teams can officially talk to players. Free agency is probably beginning now, but not like in March.
March 19 – Official end of 2019 season, the beginning of 2020 season
This is the official beginning of the 2019 season. There are a bunch of things that need to happen on this date, and the NFL has a full list here.
March 29 -April 1 – League meeting
The first offseason league meeting will have rule change discussions, owners coming together to talk the CBA — which is kind of important — and all discussions about the business of the NFL that can be heard from the important people running the league. Some news always comes out of these meetings.
April 23-25 NFL Draft
The NFL Draft is now the biggest day for every football fan in the league outside of the Super Bowl. It’s a ratings bonanza for the league and its television partners — so much so that a bunch of channels hold coverage of the draft. This year the draft is in Las Vegas. There should be no problems at all — fine, it could get wild.
May 14-17 NFLPA Rookie Premiere
The NFLPA Rookie Premiere is starting to gain steam as a big event for players and the business of the NFLPA. This year it may be clouded by a lot of CBA talk. The real thing that happens is that the top incoming rookies in the NFL get a crash course of what it’s like to be an NFL player. Rookies take pictures in their new teams’ jerseys, they meet with NFLPA and NFPLI partners, and they all come together for some camaraderie.
July 15 – Deadline to sign franchise-tagged players
July 22 – Deadline to sign transition-tagged players
Tag deadline day. This means that players and teams must come to an agreement or they end up playing the season under the tag. Of course, they could also not sign the tag and sit out the year — like Le’Veon Bell.
August 6-9 – Hall of Fame weekend
It’s a weekend to celebrate the game of football. We start with the Hall Of Fame Game. That means a lot of players who won’t make teams, but it’s football and we will watch it. This is followed by the highlight of the weekend. The Hall of Fame speeches are must watch. It’s a day to respect some of the greatest contributors to the game.
September 5 – 53-man cut day
We are so close to real football. Cut day is always tough for players and fans who get obsessed with players they just watched go through training camp and the preseason. Rosters are ever-changing, but this is the day where everyone knows what the baseline of the roster will be for the rest of the 2020 season.
September 10 – Start of the NFL Season
Football back is back! It’s only seven months away.
