The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season ended in disappointment, but the work to return to the top of the league is already underway.
Here’s a look at some key dates to keep an eye on in the NFL calendar in the coming months.
- February: From this date until 3:00 pm CT on March 3, teams may designate franchise or transition players.
- February – March 2nd: NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
- March: Deadline at 3:00 pm CT for teams, franchises or transition players to name.
- March – March 11th: Teams are permitted to contact players’ certified agents (or the player himself if he does not have an agent) and enter into contract negotiations. This applies to players who become unrestricted free agents when their 2025 contracts expire at 3:00 p.m. CT on March 11. This period is called the negotiating period.
- March: League Year 2026 begins at 3:00 pm CT. From this point on, unrestricted free agents are allowed to sign contracts with any team. The start of the new League Year also means the following:
Before the 3:00 pm CT deadline, teams must exercise 2026 options on all players who have an option clause in their contracts.
Also before the 3:00 pm CT deadline, teams must make qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts in order to retain a right of first refusal (and possible compensation) if the player signs a contract offer from another team.
The trading period begins at 3:00 pm CT. No trades can be officially completed before this point.
Before 3:00 pm CT, all teams must be under the 2026 salary cap.
Finally, teams must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to players on expiring contracts who have less than three accrued seasons of free agent credit before 3:00 pm CT to retain exclusive negotiating rights.
April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign contract offers.
- April: Teams with returning head coaches are allowed to begin their offseason workout programs.
- April: Deadline for the original team to exercise its Right of First Refusal on restricted free agents who have signed contract offers.
- – 25. April: The NFL Draft takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- May: Deadline for teams to exercise the fifth-year option on players selected in the first round of the 2023 draft.
- – 4. May or 8. – 11. May: Teams are permitted to hold a three-day post-draft rookie minicamp on one of the two specified weekends.
You can find an overview of the complete offseason league calendar here.
