NFL franchise tag window: Teams can use tag beginning February 17,
By Josh Sanchez
With the NFL season in the books, it is time to begin looking ahead to the offseason calendar to see when teams can begin making their moves. The first key date is one week from Monday, when the franchise tag window opens and teams can begin slapping the tag on their designated players.
The franchise tag window runs through March 3.
Here is the full list of important dates for the 2014 offseason, via ESPN.com:
Feb. 17: First day for clubs to designate franchise or transition Players.
Feb. 19-25: Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
March 8-11: 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 2013 player contracts at 4 p.m. ET on March 11. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4 p.m. ET on March 11.
March 11: New league year, free agency begins
March 11: Before 4 p.m. ET, clubs must exercise options for 2014 on all players who have option clauses in their 2013 contracts.
March 11: Before 4 p.m. ET, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts.
March 11: Before 4 p.m. ET, clubs must submit a minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2013 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued Seasons of free agency credit.
March 11: All clubs must be under the 2014 salary cap before 4 p.m. ET.
March 23-26: Owners meeting, Orlando, Fla.
April 7: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2013 regular season may begin off-season workout programs.
April 21: Clubs with returning head coaches may begin off-season workout programs.
May 2: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
May 7: Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.
May 8-10: NFL draft, New York, Radio City Music Hall. First round begins at 8 p.m. ET.
May 19-21: Spring meeting, Atlanta