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NFL Sets 2026 Offseason Calendar With Rookie Minicamps Starting This Weekend

The schedule establishes evaluation windows under a three-phase program that limits contact and caps teams at 10 organized practices.

Overview

  • Team-by-team dates were released Wednesday, confirming rookie minicamps, voluntary organized team activities, and June mandatory minicamps across all 32 clubs.
  • Rookie minicamps open for some teams May 1-3, including the Raiders and Ravens, while many others such as the Saints, Panthers, and Jaguars begin May 8-10.
  • The Detroit Lions are the lone team not holding a rookie minicamp, a choice tied to an internal offseason review, with their work instead shifting to OTAs on May 27-29, June 2-4, and June 9-11 and a mandatory minicamp June 16-17.
  • The offseason follows a standard nine-week, three-phase format that starts with meetings and conditioning, moves to walk-through on-field work without contact, and ends with up to 10 non-contact OTAs that allow 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills.
  • Rookie minicamps double as tryout windows for undrafted players and invitees who can earn contracts, with Baltimore also highlighting an early QB3 competition behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley.