FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The NFL offseason is in full swing. Despite the name, however, the league's calendar remains plenty busy this time of year.
There's the NFL Combine, the start of free agency, franchise-tag deadlines, the NFL Draft and much more on the horizon. With so much to keep track of, we've compiled a list of important 2026 offseason dates Falcons fans — and all NFL fans — should be aware of.
2026 NFL offseason dates to know
January
Jan. 27: East-West Shrine Bowl (Played at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas)
Jan. 31: Senior Bowl (Played at Whitney Hancock Stadium in Mobile, Ala.)
February
Feb. 17: Beginning on this date, teams may designate players to receive the franchise or transition tag. The deadline to tag a player is 4 p.m. ET on March 3.
Feb. 23 – March 2: NFL Scouting Combine (held in Indianapolis)
March
March 3: Teams have until 4 p.m. ET on this date to use the franchise or transition tag on a player.
March 9–11: An early negotiation period ahead of free agency. The parameters for this stretch are specific, so here is the full language from NFL Football Operations:
"During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, ET, on March 9 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. ET, on March 11, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2025 player contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET, on March 12.
A prospective UFA who is not represented by an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor ("Unrepresented Player") is permitted to communicate directly with a new club's front office officials (excluding the head coach and other members of the club's coaching staff) regarding contract negotiations. The club is responsible for confirming the player's status as an unrepresented player.
No prospective unrestricted free agent is permitted to execute a contract with a new club until 4:00 p.m. ET, on March 11."
March 11: At 4 p.m. ET, the new league year officially begins. When it does, all 2025 contracts officially expire, and teams are allowed to sign free agents as well as engage in trades.
March 29 – April 1: Annual NFL league meeting (held in Phoenix)
April
April 6: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the 2025 regular season — a group that includes the Falcons — may begin offseason workout programs.
April 15: Deadline for an NFL team to host a draft-eligible player at its facility for testing, medical evaluations and interviews.
April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign an offer sheet.
April 20: Clubs with a returning head coach may begin offseason workout programs.
April 22: Deadline for a team to exercise its right of first refusal for a restricted free agent who has signed an offer sheet.
April 22: Deadline for NFL teams to conduct testing, medical evaluations and interviews (including phone and video) with a draft-eligible player at any location.
April 23–25: The 2026 NFL Draft (held in Pittsburgh)
May
May 1: Deadline for teams to exercise the fifth-year option on players selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
May 1–4: The first weekend during which teams can hold a three-day rookie minicamp following the NFL Draft. Teams are allowed to host a camp from Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday on one of the two weekends immediately following the draft.
May 8–11: The second weekend during which teams can hold a three-day rookie minicamp following the NFL Draft. Teams are allowed to host a camp from Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday on one of the two weekends immediately following the draft.
May 19–20: Spring league meeting (held in Orlando)
July
July 15: Deadline for a team to reach a multi-year contract agreement or extension with a player who received its franchise tag. If no agreement is reached, the player can receive only a one-year contract that cannot be extended until after the 2026 regular season.
Mid–July: Teams may begin training camp. Rookies may be required to report as many as seven days prior to the mandatory report date for veterans. A team's training camp will be deemed to have officially opened on the designated reporting date for all rookies. Here is more information on the reporting rules for training camp from NFL Football Operations:
"Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies (defined as a player who has never signed an NFL player contract with a club in a prior league year) beginning seven days prior to the club's mandatory reporting date for veteran players.
Clubs may require first-year players (defined as a player who signed an NFL player contract with any club in a prior league year, but who does not have a pension-credited season) to report on the designated reporting date for all rookies, or at any time thereafter, including, but not limited to, the designated reporting date for veteran quarterbacks and injured players, or the designated reporting date for all other veteran players.
Veteran quarterbacks and "injured players" (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may be required to report to the club's preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies. At 4:00 p.m. ET, signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding tenders. After this date and until 4:00 p.m. ET, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights."
July 22: At 4 p.m. ET on this date — or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later — signing period ends for unrestricted free agents who received a UFA Tender by its 2025 club. After this date and until 4 p.m. ET, on the Tuesday after the 10th weekend of the regular season, the prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
