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<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\nWhile the 2025 league year does not technically begin until March 12th, there are many key calendar dates that are part of the NFL offseason process. The following are the key dates on the league calendar between now and week 1 of the NFL season.<\/p>\n
February 10th \u2013 As of the Monday after the Super Bowl, teams are allowed to start releasing players without any repercussion on the 2024 Salary Cap. All veteran players with more than four (4) accrued seasons are immediately free agents and not subject to waivers. All non-vested veterans (i.e. less than four (4) accrued seasons) are subject to waivers. If they clear waivers, they immediately become free agents and are free to sign a contract at any time (even if before March 12th).<\/p>\n
With the new league year set to commence on March 12th, teams generally start making salary cap moves in late February and early March.<\/p>\n
We have extensive Senior Bowl & East-West coverage in the February Newsletter<\/em><\/strong> Early March \u2013 The date that the NFL has announced the list of Compensatory Draft picks has varied over the years from the Friday of the NFL Combine to more recently, just before the new league year (March 10th in 2020 and 2021; March 15th in 2022; March 9th in 2023; March 11th in 2024). Each year 32 additional Compensatory selections are distributed to teams who lose more Free Agents than they sign. Additionally, teams are compensated for losing minority coaches or personnel men the prior season.<\/p>\n February 18th \u2013 March 4th \u2013 As of February 18th, teams can begin designating pending Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs) with the Franchise or Transition Tag. If a team wants to use either Tag, they must do so by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, March 4th.<\/p>\n March 10th \u2013 The \u201clegal tampering\u201d window opens. At Noon on March 10th, teams and pending UFAs can start discussing contract offers and terms with potential free agents, though a contract cannot be agreed upon until March 12th.<\/p>\n Teams must have submitted tender offers to all of their Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) and Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFAs) who they want to retain. The 2025 Salary Cap has yet to be officially announced, but most reports are expecting it to be in the $270-275M range.\u00a0 This number will obviously change between now and March 12th as teams\u00a0 make other moves \u2013 RFA\/ERFA tenders, signing, re-signings, restructures and\/or contract extensions \u2013 aimed at creating additional Cap space.<\/p>\n April 18th \u2013 The deadline for teams to sign RFAs to an offer sheet. If another team signs a RFA to an offer sheet, the player\u2019s present team has five (5) days to match that offer or potentially (depending on the tender given to the player) receive draft pick compensation if they decline to match. With the draft starting on April 24th, the deadline to sign a player to an offer sheet and allow for the required 5-day match period is April 23rd.<\/p>\n May 1st \u2013 May 1st is the CBA-mandated date (Monday after the NFL draft) by which 5th Year Options must be exercised for 4th year players who were drafted in the 1st round.<\/p>\n May 1st \u2013 The \u201cMay 1st Tender\u201d date. This date, which was moved forward from June 1st a couple of years ago, is essentially the last date that the signing or losing of a free agent will count toward the Compensatory Draft pick calculation. The May 1st Tender is also a way a team can potentially obtain exclusive negotiating rights with a player later in the summer (after July 22nd). It also provides extended Comp pick eligibility if the player is tendered a contract of at least 110% of his prior year\u2019s compensation by May 1st. Otherwise, if the player is not given the Tender, he no longer counts toward the Comp pick formula and the team does not gain any special negotiating advantage later in the off season.<\/p>\n
\n#1 February Newsletter \u2013 New Three Round Mock\/ Extensive Review of Senior Bowl & E-W Prospects<\/strong>
\n#2 Prospect Positional Rankings Document \u2013 Top 300 Rankings
\nAvailable Now – Special Deluxe Package $59.95 \u2013 Order Today<\/strong><\/p>\nMarch 12th \u2013 At 4:00 pm on Wednesday, March 12th, the 2025 NFL League year begins:<\/h4>\n
\nTeams must exercise all 2025 contract options tied to the first day of the league year.
\nFree agency begins for Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs) and Restricted Free Agents (RFAs)
\nThe trading period begins. Any trades agreed to before this date can now be officially consummated.
\nAll teams must be under the Salary Cap and the Rule of 51 Cap computation begins.<\/p>\nApril 24th-26th \u2013 The NFL Draft 2025 – Green Bay, Wisconsin<\/h3>\n
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