Important dates for the Patriots 2024 offseason

Now that the 2024 NFL offseason is in full swing, we are finally getting to the most exciting part of it all: free agency and the draft. But before and in between those two events, there are plenty of other important aspects of the offseason that Patriots fans will want to pay attention to.

This will be a New England offseason unlike any other over the last 20+ years, making it even more intriguing to keep up with everything the team is doing.

Here is a list of some of the most important dates over the next few months.

Important dates for the Patriots 2024 offseason

Pre-free agency

• February 20: Franchise/transition tag window opens
• March 5: Franchise/transition tag deadline (4 p.m. ET) 

There has been some talk of the Patriots using the franchise tag this year on a couple of players who will be heading to free agency next month.

NFL Combine

The 2024 NFL Combine will take place over the course of eight days: February 26 - March 4.

Here is a breakdown of when specific positions will be present at the Combine events:

• Feb. 29 at 3 p.m. -- Defensive linemen, linebackers
• March 1 at 3 p.m. -- Defensive backs, tight ends
• March 2 at 1 p.m. -- Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs
• March 3 at 1 p.m. -- Offensive linemen

Free agency

• March 11-13: Legal tampering period (Noon ET Monday to 4 p.m. ET Wednesday)
• March 13: 2024 league year opens (4 p.m. ET)

This year's free agency has the potential to be significant for New England, as they have a lot of money to spend on players and a new head coach willing to do just that to bring in the talent the team desperately needs.

Offseason

• March 24-27: Annual league meeting in Orlando, Florida 
• April 1: Teams with a first-year head coach can begin offseason workout programs
• April 8: First day of Patriots' offseason workout program
• April 23 and April 24: Voluntary Minicamp
• May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31, June 3-4, June 6-7: OTA's
• June 11-13: Minicamp

This will be the first time in over two decades the Patriots will begin their offseason workout programs early.

Pre-NFL Draft

• April 17: Deadline for NFL Draft prospects to meet at team facilities
• April 19: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets 
• April 24: Deadline to RFA match offer sheets; Deadline to meet with NFL Draft prospects at any location

*(RFA = restricted free agent)

2024 NFL Draft

• April 25: Round 1
• April 26: Round 2-3
• April 27: Round 4-7

This is a critical draft for Jerod Mayo and the entire new Patriots staff, with their decisions and the class they put together dictating how the upcoming season will fare.

Post-NFL Draft

• May 2: Deadline for teams to pick up fifth-year option for 2021 first-round draft picks 
• May 3-6 or May 10-13: Three-day rookie minicamp 

*The only fifth-year option the Patriots can pick up this year is Mac Jones, which they will likely not do.*

Other important dates

• Early May: NFL schedule release
• May 20-22: Spring league meeting
• Late May to early June: Organized Team Activities (OTAs)
• July 17: Franchise tag deadline (4 p.m. ET)
• Mid-to-late July: Training camps open

NOTE: When official dates are announced, this page will be updated accordingly.

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