NFL offseason schedule 2016: Key dates for free agency, NFL Draft, more
 

Here's a look at the key dates for the upcoming offseason, including the opening of free agency, the NFL Draft, OTAs, minicamps and more for fans to keep handy:

January 4:Earliest date that teams are permitted to renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a player selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Option exercise period begins for fifth-year options for players chosen in the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft. To exercise the option, teams must give written notice to the player on or after January 4, but before May 3.
January 9-10: Wild Card Playoffs
January 10: Assistant coaches for teams that have byes in the wild card round of the playoffs can interview for head coaching vacancies through the conclusion of the wild card games.

January 16-17: Divisional Playoff Round

January 17: Assistant coaches for teams that won their wild card games may be interviewed for head coaching vacancies through the conclusion of the divisional playoffs.
January 18: 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 22.
January 23: East-West Shrine Game

January 24: NFC Championship Game, AFC Championship Game

January 30: Senior Bowl

January 31: NFL Pro Bowl

January 31: An assistant coach, whose team is participating in the Super Bowl, who has previously interviewed for another club's head coaching job may have a second interview with such club no later than the Sunday preceding the Super Bowl.

February 7: Super Bowl 50

February 22: First day teams are permitted to use Franchise or Transition Player Tags
February 23-29: NFL Scouting Combine
March 7: Beginning at 12 noon, New York time, 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 2015 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 15. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 15.
March 15: The 2016 league year and free agency period begin at 4 p.m. ET.
The first day of the 2016 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m. ET, on March 15. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4 p.m. ET and 11:59:59 p.m. ET on March 15.
Trading period for 2016 begins at 4 p.m. ET, after expiration of all 2015 contracts.
March 20-23: Annual League Meeting, Boca Raton, Florida
April 4: Teams that hired new head coaches after the end of the 2015 regular season can begin offseason workouts.
April 18: Teams that are retaining their head coach may begin offseason workouts.
April 22: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign Offer Sheets
April 27: Deadline for prior club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents.

April 28-30: NFL Draft, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, Illinois.

May 6-9: Teams may hold post-draft minicamp one weekend after the conclusion of the NFL Draft.
July 15: At 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior club for the 2016 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club's last regular season game.
Mid July: Teams are permitted to open training camp
NFL offseason schedule 2016: Key dates for free agency, NFL Draft, more | NJ.com

Re: NFL offseason schedule 2016: Key dates for free agency, NFL Draft, more
 

And the business season begins