The NFL's new league year has begun and the 2015 offseason is well underway.
Here are some important dates to be aware of:
Feb. 16
Clubs may designate franchise or transition players until March 2.
Feb. 17-23
NFL Scouting Combine (Indianapolis)
March 7-10
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 2014 contracts at 1 p.m. PT on March 10. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 1 p.m. PT on March 10.
March 10
Prior to 1 p.m. PT, clubs must exercise options for 2015 on all players who have option clauses in their 2014 contracts.
Prior to 1 p.m. PT, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.
Prior to 1 p.m. PT, clubs must submit a minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2014 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
All clubs must be under the 2015 salary cap prior to 1 p.m. PT.
Trading period begins at 1 p.m. PT.
March 22-25
NFL Annual Meeting (Phoenix)
April 6
Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2014 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 20
Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 24
Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 29
Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.
April 30-May 2
NFL Draft (Chicago).
May 8-11
Clubs may elect to hold their three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
May 15-18
Clubs may elect to hold their three- day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
May 18-20
NFL Spring League Meeting (San Francisco)
June 21-27
Rookie Symposium (Aurora, Ohio)
July 15
At 1 p.m. PT, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multi-year contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior club for the 2015 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.
Mid-July
Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies and first-year players beginning seven days prior to the club’s earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players.
San Francisco 49ers media services
