All NFL teams are now officially staring down the offseason now that the Super Bowl has concluded. The Cincinnati Bengals will need to tackle this offseason way more securely than their defense at all during the season.
While many fans and analysts are firing up mock draft simulators, we will actually be diving into free agency far before that. We’ll also know whether the team will actually hit edge rusher Trey Hendrickson with the franchise tag, as that deadline starts before free agency.
We also have my favorite time of the offseason, the Legal Tampering Period, which takes place right before free agency. A time that was created because so many teams were illegally tampering that they couldn’t keep punishing every team.
2026 NFL offseason dates to know
- Feb. 17th: Teams may start franchise tagging players
- Feb. 23 – Mar. 2nd: NFL Scouting combine
- March: Pro Days begin for draft-eligible players
- Mar. 3rd: Deadline for teams to franchise tag players
- Mar. 9th-11th: Legal Tampering period
This is when teams are allowed to start talking to free agents from other teams in order to get a head start on free agency. Contracts may be discussed, but no deals are to be finalized during this time period (wink).
- Mar. 11th 4 PM: Start of the new league year and NFL Free agency
- Apr. 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
- Apr. 20th: The Bengals may begin offseason workouts
- Apr. 22nd: Deadline for teams to use right of refusal on restricted free agents who signed offer sheets with another team.
- Apr. 23rd-25th: NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, PA
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