The 2019 NFL season did not go as planned for the Los Angeles Rams as they finished 9-7 and missed the postseason for the first time in the Sean McVay era.
While they didn’t get a chance to defend their NFC crown, what the Rams did get is a head start on the 2020 NFL offseason. Here are some important dates and deadlines to keep an eye on leading up to training camp:
Jan. 17: Deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft. NFL teams will receive a list of approved players by Jan. 21.
Jan. 18: The East-West Shrine Bowl is the first of a handful of “All-Star” type college games to give players a chance to showcase their skills to NFL teams. Hosted at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Jan. 18: NFLPA Collegiate Bowl that will take place at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.
Jan. 25: Senior Bowl will take place at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
Jan. 26: NFL Pro Bowl will take place at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Feb. 3: The NFL waiver system will begin for the 2020 season.
Feb. 24 – March 2: The NFL Scouting Combine will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Feb. 25: Clubs can begin to designate franchise and transition tags.
March 10: The deadline for teams to designate franchise and transition tags ends at 1 p.m. PT.
March 16-19: NFL teams are permitted to begin “legal tampering period” before free agency begins, meaning they can begin contacting and entering contract negotiations with certified agents of players who will be unrestricted free agents.
March 18: All 2019 contracts expire and the 2020 league year begins with free agency at 1 p.m. PT. Additionally, the deadline for teams to exercise options on all players who have clauses in their contracts, as well as to submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents with expiring contracts is also 1 p.m. PT.
March 29-April 1: The NFL will host annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.
April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 20: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 23-25: 2020 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada.
April 27: NFL clubs may request permission to visit with, try out, or sign any player who was under contract to the XFL.
May 1-4, 8-11: Teams may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday..
May 11: Rookie Football Development Programs begin.
May 19-20: Spring League Meeting in Marina Del Ray, California.
Late June: Rookie Transition Program to be held at individual clubs.
July 15: Deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players to multiyear contracts or extensions is at 1 p.m. PT.
Mid-July: Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies beginning seven days prior to the club’s earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players. Veteran players (defined as a player with at least one pension-credited season) other than quarterbacks or “injured players” (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may report to a club’s preseason training camp no earlier than 15 days prior to the club’s first scheduled preseason game or July 15, whichever is later. Veteran quarterbacks and injured players may be required to report to the club’s preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies and first-year players. A three-day acclimation period will apply to players who are on a team’s roster up to and including the mandatory veteran reporting date. Players who rejoin the roster after that date may practice (including wearing pads) and play immediately after passing a physical.
Aug. 6: Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.
Aug. 6-9: Hall of Fame Weekend, Canton, Ohio.
Aug. 11: Deadline for players under contract to report to their clubs to earn an accrued season for free agency. If a drafted rookie has not signed with his club by this date, he cannot be traded to any other club in 2020 and may sign a player contract only with the drafting club until the day of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Sept. 5: Teams must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the active/inactive list by 1 p.m. PT.
Sept. 10, 13-14: Regular Season Week 1.
