NFL OFF SEASON WORKOUTS ARE NEAR

By Tony Softli

With twenty days until the 83rd Annual National Football League Player Selection Meeting  in Dallas, TX all 32 clubs are preparing for the voluntary offseason workout programs.  These programs are extremely important prepping NFL players in training and knocking off the off season rust with physical conditioning and weight training and the teaching and instruction of the upcoming season scheme changes.  

Each club is allowed a nine-week offseason program that is conducted in three phases:

Phase One –  First two weeks are limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation only.

Phase Two – Next three weeks allow clubs on-field workouts that include individual player coaching and teaching with drill work and team practice sessions conducted on a “separates” basis. This means NO LIVE contact with offense vs defense drills work is permitted.

Phase Three – Last four weeks of the voluntary off season program permits the clubs a total of 10 days of OTA’s (organized team activities).  In this phase clubs are allowed offense vs defense drill work 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills, these drills again are ALL non-contact. 

As in the past related to NFL/NFLPA CBA (collective bargaining agreement) Article 22 states that clubs may conduct one mandatory minicamp for veteran players and must occur during Phase Three.  

NFL Communications: New head coaches are entitled to conduct an additional voluntary veteran minicamp.  Any voluntary minicamp for veteran players must be conducted prior to the NFL Draft (April 26-28), but no earlier than week three of the club’s offseason workout program and after at least one week of the two weeks of Phase One activities that the clubs may hold pursuant to Article 21. This year, seven clubs will hold voluntary veteran minicamps, as noted below.

Each club may hold a rookie football development program for a period of seven weeks, which in 2018 may begin on May 14. During this period, no activities may be held on weekends, with the exception of one post-NFL Draft rookie minicamp, which may be conducted on either the first or second weekend following the draft. The dates of each club’s post-draft rookie minicamps will be circulated at a later date.

The NFL Offseason Workout Program dates are listed below and are subject to change: 

 

ARIZONA                      First Day:                                  April 3

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 15-17, May 22-24, June 4-5, June 7-8

Voluntary Minicamp:                  April 17-19

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

ATLANTA                     First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 21, May 23-24, May 30-31, June 1, June 4-5, June 7

                                      Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

BALTIMORE                First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 21-22, May 24, May 29, May 31, June 1, June 4-5, June 7-8

                                      Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

 

BUFFALO                    First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-5, June 7-8

                                      Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

CAROLINA                   First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-7

                                      Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

CHICAGO                    First Day:                                  April 3

Voluntary Minicamp:                  April 17-19

OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 15-17, May 22-24, May 29-31, June 1

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 5-7

CINCINNATI                 First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-7

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

CLEVELAND                First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-7

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

DALLAS                       First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-6

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

DENVER                      First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-7

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

DETROIT                      First Day:                                  April 9

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 21-22, May 24, May 30-31, June 11-12, June 14

Voluntary Minicamp:                  April 24-26

Mandatory Minicamp:                June 5-7

GREEN BAY                 First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 21-23, May 30-31, June 1, June 4-7

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

HOUSTON                    First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 21-22, May 24, May 29-31, June 4-5, June 7-8

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

INDIANAPOLIS             First Day:                                  April 9

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22-24, May 30-31, June 1, June 4-7

Voluntary Minicamp:                  April 24-26

Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

JACKSONVILLE          First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22, May 24-25, May 29, May 31, June 1, June 4-5, June 7-8

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

KANSAS CITY             First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22-24, May 29-31, June 5-8

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

LA CHARGERS            First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 22-24, May 29-31, June 4-7

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

LA RAMS                    First Day:                                  April 16

                                    OTA Offseason Workouts:         May 21-22, May 24, May 29-31, June 4-7

                                    Mandatory Minicamp:                June 12-14

 

 

Data provided by NFL Communications; For more information on offseason program rules, see Articles 21 and 22 of the CBA (collective bargaining agreement) available on nflcommunications.com.