Offseason programs begin this month in the NFL and there is a noticeable trend of many teams reducing the on-field work when voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) start at the end of May.
During Phase Three of the program, teams are allowed 10 OTAs and a mandatory, three-day minicamp. Teams with new head coaches are permitted to have a voluntary minicamp that must occur prior to the draft.
With the league announcing the dates for each team Thursday, it’s significant that only eight teams have scheduled 10, while six have nine scheduled. One has eight, while one has only five and 16, including the Arizona Cardinals, have a mere six. The seven teams with new head coaches scheduled at least eight with four of those having 10.
Three teams – the Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers – have only two days scheduled for the mandatory minicamp and the Philadelphia have only one, but many others will likely cut a day.
In the past, teams have cut one or two days, but having only five or six is a sea change in an atmosphere where players have pushed for a reduction in offseason work. Many coaches have apparently listened.
Teams with new head coaches can begin Phase One during the week of April 7, while all others can start two weeks later.
Offseason program rules
Here are the rules for the different phases:
Phase One: Two weeks with activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.
Phase Two: During the next three weeks of the program, on-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills, as well as “perfect play drills,” and drills and plays with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, conducted at a walk-through pace. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.
Phase Three: During the next four weeks, teams may conduct a total of 10 days of OTAs (organized team activities). No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.
OTAs scheduled (*asterisk indicates new head coach)
- 10 practices: Baltimore, *Chicago, Cleveland, *Jacksonville, Kansas City, *Las Vegas, N.Y. Giants, *N.Y. Jets
- 9 practices: *Dallas, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, Minnesota, *New England, Seattle
- 8 practices: *New Orleans
- 6 practices: Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Tennessee
- 5 practices: Washington
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