Vikings Offseason Schedule: A Look Ahead to 2019
Let’s take a look at some key offseason dates for the Minnesota Vikings:
January
January 14th: Deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for special Draft eligibility
January 18th: A list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2019 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on Jan. 18
January 19th: East-West Shrine Game (Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida)
January 19th: NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California)
January 26th: Senior Bowl (Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama)
January 27th: NFL Pro Bowl (Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida)
January 31st: Deadline for NFL clubs to try out and negotiate with CFL players
February
February 3rd: Super Bowl LIII (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)
February 4th: 2019 waiver system begins
February 19th: First day to designate franchise or transition players
February 26th – March 4th: Scouting Combine (Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN)
March
March 5th: Deadline to apply franchise or transition tags (3pm CST)
March 11th: Teams may contact and begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents
March 13th: New league year begins
March 13th: Top 51 Rule begins
March 13th: All clubs must be under the 2019 Salary Cap prior to 3pm (CST)
March 13th: Free agency begins (3pm CST)
April
April 1st: Teams with new head coaches may begin offseason workout programs
April 15th: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs
April 20th: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 25th – April 27th: 2019 NFL Draft (Nashville, Tennessee)
May
May 3rd – May 6th OR May 10th – May 13th: Optional 3-day Rookie Minicamp
May 13th: Rookie Football Development Programs begin
May 16th – May 19th: NFLPA Rookie Premiere (typically first and/or second-round selections attend with permission from team. OTAs and minicamps also begin during this period)
May 20th – May 22nd: Spring League Meeting (Atlanta, GA)
May 22nd – June 6th: OTA offseason workouts (estimated dates)
June
June 11th – June 13th: Mandatory Minicamp (estimated dates)
Late June: Mandatory Rookie Transition Program
July
July 15th: Deadline to re-sign designated franchise player to contract extension
Mid-July: Training Camp (veterans may report no earlier than 15 days prior to first preseason game or July 15, whichever is later; rookies may report up to seven days prior to veterans; QBs and injured players may report up to five days prior to veterans if rookies have reported)
July 22nd: Deadline for team to sign transition player
August
August 1st: Hall of Fame Game (Canton, Ohio)
August 1st – August 4th: Hall of Fame Weekend (Canton, Ohio)
August 6th: Deadline for players under contract to report to team
August 31st: 53-man roster deadline (3pm CST)
September
September 1st: Claiming period for players placed in waivers at final roster reduction expires at 11AM CST
September 1st: Practice squad roster set (Noon CST)
September 5th: Top 51 Rule expires at 11AM CST
September 5th: NFL season opener
Offseason information provided by NFL OPS.