INDIANAPOLIS – A later NFL Combine and a slightly earlier NFL Draft highlight the 2017 off-season schedule this year.
Here are some important 2017 off-season dates for the NFL and the Colts:
January 16 – Deadline for college players that are underclassmen to apply for special eligibility. A list of players who are accepted into the NFL Draft will be transmitted to clubs on January 20.
January 28 – Senior Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama.January 29 – NFL Pro Bowl (T.Y. Hilton and Pat McAfee), Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida.February 5 – Super Bowl LI, NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas.February 28-March 6 – Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.March 1 – Deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.March 7-9 – From Noon EST on March 7th and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., EST, on March 9th, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2016 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., EST, on March 9. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., EST, on March 9. During the two-day negotiating period, no direct contact is permitted between a prospective unrestricted free agent and any employee or representative of a club, other than the player's current club.March 9 – The 2017 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.March 26-29 – Annual League Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.April 3 – Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2016 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 17 – Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.April 21– Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets.
April 27-29– NFL Draft, Philadelphia
