Important 2025 NFL offseason dates for Bills fans to know
The 2025 NFL offseason is officially in full swing.
For the Buffalo Bills, the moves they make this offseason will ultimately determine the success of the team next year and into the future. They’ve been close to the Super Bowl for the past five years. This offseason they may land some players that can take them there. General manager Brandon Beane is entering his eighth offseason with the Bills and he will have plenty of crucial decisions to make regarding roster construction while remaining salary cap compliant.
Beane will have free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft to improve the roster, but there’s much more than that in an NFL offseason.
Here’s an easy calendar to follow and keep up with all the important dates on the NFL offseason’s calendar:
February 18
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Beginning on February 18 and running through March 4, the Bills will have the option to designate players using the franchise tag or the transition tag.
February 24 – March 3
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The NFL Scouting Combine will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana during this time.
March 10 – March 12
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These couple of days in March represent the negotiating period. The Bills can contact and enter into contract negotiations with the players’ agents who will become unrestricted free agents at the expiration of their 2024 contracts on March 12. Conversely, other teams will be contacting the agents of Bills players whose contracts are set to expire such as Rasul Douglas and Amari Cooper.
March 12
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At 4:00 p.m., the new league year begins. This is when free agency begins but most signings, or at least big ones, have already been known for days. The Bills must be under the 2025 salary cap by this time.
April 18
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Restricted free agents have until this date to sign their offer sheet if offered by another team. Bills RFAs are QB Shane Buechele and TE Quintin Morris.
April 23
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The deadline for the Bills to exercise the right of first refusal on restricted free agents who signed offer sheets.
April 24 – April 26
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The 2025 NFL Draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Bills have eight total draft picks. They have a first round pick, two second round picks, two fourth round picks, and three sixth round picks.
May 1
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Deadline for the Bills to exercise the Fifth-Year Option for players selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft. They had one player drafted in the first round that year, Kaiir Elam.
May 2 – May 5 or May 9 – May 12
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The Bills are permitted to hold one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp between one of the two weekends.
