Minnesota Vikings key offseason dates: free agency and more
By Adam Carlson
The NFL Combine, free agency, and the 2016 Draft coming are up, and the offseason events calendar is needed for Minnesota Vikings fans to prepare.
While the action of the NFL season coming to a close following Super Bowl 50, there is a long wait until the 2016 season arrives. Meanwhile, Minnesota Vikings fans will still have some great and interesting events to look forward to until the action returns to the field.
Thanks to the CBS Sports website, a calendar of events for the 2016 offseason has been released and the dates of the major events are known. Plus, the dates of the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement as well as the Hall of Fame Game have been given on their official website, but are subject to change.
Here is the calendar of dates for Minnesota Vikings fans to look forward to this offseason:
February 8: 2016’s waiver system begins
February 9: CFL free agents can be signed
February 13: The first Regional Combine
February 16: Franchise or Transition tags can be applied
February 23-29: NFL Scouting Combine
March 1: 4/3c deadline for Franchise or Transition tags.
March 7-9: Teams can contact free agents that will become UFAs for the 2016 season.
March 9: 2016 league year begins and free agency opens with trades allowed. 2015 contracts expire. Player options, restricted free agents, negotiating rights, are exercised. Teams must be under the salary cap.
March 20-23: Annual Owners meeting Meeting
April 18: The Minnesota Vikings may begin offseason workout programs
April 22: Last day for Restricted Free Agents offer sheets to be signed
April 28-30: 2016 NFL Draft
April 30: Undrafted free agents may be signed
May 6-9: Minnesota Vikings Rookie minicamps may begin
May 19-22: NFLPA Rookie Premiere.
May 23-25: NFL Spring League Meeting
June 19-25: Rookie Symposium
July 15: Franchise tagged players must be signed
Mid-July: Minnesota Vikings training camp
July 22: Transition players must be signed
August 6: Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement (subject to change)
August 7: Hall of Fame game (subject to change)
Several of these dates will have a major impact on the future of the Minnesota Vikings. If not for events like the Scouting Combine, NFL Draft, and free agency, the team might not have all the talented players that they currently have on their roster.
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Plus, big dates like the start of the league season, training camp, and the Hall of Fame Game help fans respect the past of the game of football while getting excited about actually seeing some of the pieces of the franchise come together.