Vikings offseason schedule: A look ahead to 2020
Let’s take a look at some key offseason dates for the Minnesota Vikings:
January
January 17th: Deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for special Draft eligibility
January 17th: A list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2019 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on Jan. 18
January 18th: East-West Shrine Game (Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida)
January 18th: NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California)
January 19th: AFC and NFC Championship Games
January 25th: Senior Bowl (Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama)
January 26th: NFL Pro Bowl (Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida)
February
February 2rd: Super Bowl LIV (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida)
February 3rd: 2019 waiver system begins
February 11th: NFL teams may begin to sign players whose 2020 CFL contracts have expired
February 25th: First day to designate franchise or transition players
February 24th – March 2nd: Scouting Combine (Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN)
March
March 10th: Deadline to apply franchise or transition tags (3pm CST)
March 16th: Teams may contact and begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents
March 18th: New league year begins
March 18th: Top 51 Rule begins
March 18th: All clubs must be under the 2020 Salary Cap prior to 3pm (CST)
March 18th: Free agency begins (3pm CST)
March 29th – April 1st: Annual league meeting (Palm Beach, Florida)
April
April 6th: Teams with new head coaches may begin offseason workout programs
April 17th: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 20th: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs
April 23rd – April 25th: 2019 NFL Draft (Las Vegas, Nevada)
April 27th: Teams may try out or sign players who were under contract with an XFL team
May
May 1st – May 3rd OR May 8th – May 11th: Optional 3-day Rookie Minicamp
May 11th: Rookie Football Development Programs begin
May 14th – May 17th: NFLPA Rookie Premiere (typically first and/or second-round selections attend with permission from team. OTAs and minicamps also begin during this period)
May 19th – May 20th: Spring League Meeting (Marina Del Ray, California)
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 6th: Hall of Fame Game (Canton, Ohio)
August 6th – August 9th: Hall of Fame Weekend (Canton, Ohio)
August 11th: Deadline for players under contract to report to team
September
September 5th: 53-man roster deadline (3pm CST)
September 6th: Claiming period for players placed in waivers at final roster reduction expires at 11AM CST
September 6th: Practice squad roster set (Noon CST)
September 10th: Top 51 Rule expires at 11AM CST
September 10th: NFL season opener
Offseason information provided by NFL OPS.