2018 KEY NFL DATES

Important league dates for the NFL postseason and 2018 offseason:

Jan. 1, 2018 — Earliest possible date for teams to renegotiate or extend a rookie contract for players selected in the 2015 draft. For the Broncos, they can exercise the fifth-year contract option for first-round pick Shane Ray any time between this day and May 3. The one-year extension is fully guaranteed and will be worth close to $9 million for linebackers.

Jan. 21 — AFC and NFC Championship Games

Jan. 27 — Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama

Jan. 28 — Pro Bowl, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida

Feb. 4 — Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis

Feb. 20 — First day for teams to designate franchise or transition players. The deadline to designate players is March 6 at 2 p.m. MT.

Feb. 27 – March 5 — NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

March 12 -14 — Legal tampering period for NFL teams to negotiate new contracts with 2018 free agents. Deals cannot be signed until the start of the new league year, at 2 p.m. MT on March 14.

March 14 — Start of the 2018 league year. At 2 p.m. MT, new contracts can be signed and the trading period begins. March 25-28 — Annual league meeting in Orlando.

April 2 — Teams that hired new head coaches after the end of the 2017 season can begin offseason workout programs.

April 16 — Teams with returning head coaches can begin offseason workout programs.

April 20 — Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 26-28 — NFL draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

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