The NFL has turned its offseason schedule into an art. From the Super Bowl through until the NFL kickoff game, they tease and entice fans with the next event being just around the corner. It starts with the NFL Combine and free agency before running right through the NFL Draft and into the offseason workout schedule with various other dates mixed in for good measure.
The NFL offseason really got underway with the Combine in Indianapolis. However, it kicked into high gear with the passing of the franchise tag deadline on March 8 and then the process of free agency that began the week commencing March 14. What are the 2022 NFL offseason dates to look ahead to?
Offseason workout programs
The date that teams can commence offseason workouts depends on the status of their head coach. Teams that hired a new head coach after the 2021 NFL season can begin two weeks earlier than those who retained their head coaches this offseason. Here is when each team’s NFL offseason programs start.
April 4
Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, New York Giants
April 11
Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Minnesota Vikings
April 18
New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, andLos Angeles Rams
April 19
Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks
May 02
Cincinnati Bengals
NFL Draft
April 28-30
The 2022 NFL Draft will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, two years after it was originally meant to be held there. With the No. 1 selection still very much up for debate, Thursday night in Vegas promises to be an exciting affair from the first pick to the last.
Rookie Minicamps
May 6-9 and May 13-16
The two weekends immediately following the draft offer teams an opportunity to hold three-day rookie minicamps. Each franchise can select to host their rookies on one of the two weekends, but not both.
NFL schedule release
Thursday, May 12 at 8 PM ET
The NFL schedule release has been confirmed for May 12, 2022. This is the same date that the league released the schedule for the 2021 season. The first Thursday Night Football game (Week 2) will be announced on April 28 during the First Round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The International Series games will be announced Wednesday, May 4, with further select games being announced the week of May 9 leading up to the 12th. At 6 PM ET on May 12, each team can announce their first home game opponent.
OTAs
NFL teams can hold organized team activities (OTAs) for a total of 10 days during May and June. Some teams hold this in two blocks, while others can spread it over as many as five or six different sessions.
Last year, OTAs began on May 24 or 25, depending on the team. Assuming a similar pattern holds true in 2022, it would be May 23 or 24 this season.
NFL Supplemental Draft and franchise tag extension deadline
The NFL has not held a supplemental draft for the past two offseasons. It is not yet known whether the draft will return this year, with COVID restrictions having largely been lifted by the league. The 2019 NFL Supplemental Draft took place in early July, and the 2022 version is expected to be around the same time.
A few days later, on July 15, the franchise tag extension deadline is set to pass. That will be the final opportunity for teams to sign long-term extensions to players they franchise tagged. If they have not agreed to an extension by that date, they will not be able to until the end of the 2022-23 season.
Training Camp and NFL Preseason
The action returns to the field in July. The date that teams can open training camp is tied to when they begin preseason. The first game of the 2022 NFL preseason will be the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 4. That game will see the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars face off in Canton, Ohio. The remaining 30 teams are expected to take to the field in the following week to 10 days.
In terms of training camp, veterans can report no earlier than 15 days prior to their team’s first preseason game. Meanwhile, rookies can report up to a week earlier than the veterans.