Here is an overview of important NFL dates for 2023 league year. All times are Eastern and all dates are subject to change.
February 21
Beginning this date through 4:00 p.m., New York time on March 7 clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players.
February 28 - March 6
NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
March 7
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
College Pro Days Begin. Workouts of a school's Pro Day-eligible players with players outside of the scheduled Pro Day activities are prohibited. Private dinners, meetings, interviews are permitted.
March 7 - April 19
Draft-Eligible Facility Visits Begin. Clubs permitted 30 non-local players for physical exams/visits; no on- field workouts.
March 7 - April 26
Video or telephone interviews with draft-eligible players begin. Three video or telephone interviews per player; no longer than one hour in length.
March 13-15
During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 15, 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 2022 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 15.
During the above two-day negotiating period, a prospective UFA who is not represented by an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor 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.
No prospective unrestricted free agent is permitted to execute a contract with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 15.
March 15
The 2023 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
The first day of the 2023 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 15. Clubs will receive a Personnel Notice that will include all transactions submitted to the League office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 15.
Trading period for 2023 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2022 contracts.
March 26-29
Annual League Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.
April 3
Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2022 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 17
Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 19
Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical examination with a draft- eligible player at its club facility.
April 21
Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 26
Deadline for prior club to exercise Right of First Refusal to restricted free agents.
April 27
Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls) or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at any location.
April 27-29
NFL Draft, Kansas City, Missouri.
May 1
Deadline for Clubs to exercise Fifth-Year Option for players selected in the first round of the 2020 Draft.
May 5-8 or May 12-15
Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday on one of the two weekends following the Draft.
May 15
Rookie Football Development Programs begin.
May 22-24
Spring League Meeting, TBA.
June 1
Deadline for prior club to send "June 1 tender" to its unsigned RFAs who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only in order for such player to be subject to the CBA's "June 15 Tender" provision.
June 15
Deadline for clubs to withdraw qualifying offers to RFAs and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting "June 15 Tender" of one-year contract at 110 percent of the player's prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged).
Late June
Rookie Readiness Program to be held at individual clubs.