For the casual fan that just tunes in on Sunday, the offseason is a long getaway from football, spanning from the middle of winter to the waning days of summer.
However, for the diehard fans, the term “offseason” is now nearly a mystery, a figment of the imagination. While there is an extended period of time without the pigskin thrown around in live-game action, the NFL, specifically in Denver, never sleeps.
In fact, the Broncos are technically in the midst of their fourth offseason week, yet there has been just as much news on them, if not more, than during the regular season. But now that the Broncos have taken care of their first order of business, putting together a coaching staff, it’s time to look ahead to what the rest of the “offseason” holds.
January 28: Senior Bowl — The game itself is another scouting opportunity for professional teams to look at NFL-caliber talent. However, the practices leading up to the game are certain to have John Elway & Co. in attendance.
January 29: NFL Pro Bowl — Von Miller, Chris Harris Jr., Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Darian Stewart and Aqib Talib will represent the Broncos in Orlando, yes Orlando, Florida not Hawaii, as the game transitions back to the classic AFC vs. NFC format.
February 5: Super Bowl LI — While the Broncos won’t be in it, it’s still the biggest game on the planet.
February 15: Teams can start using the Franchise Tag or Transition Tag — Elway has not been shy about using this designation in the past, most notably Von Miller last year. Will he do it again? Denver will find out as early as Feb. 15.
February 28-March 6: NFL Combine — Although most of the media attention may be on 40-yard dash times and lifting numbers, potentially the most important aspect of the combine is the interviews, where teams get to meet and ask questions to potential NFL players.
March 1: Deadline for using the Franchise or Transition Tag — Is there one potential free agent that Elway doesn’t want to hit the market? If so, Denver will know by the start of March.
March 7: Teams are allowed to speak with upcoming Unrestricted Free Agents — Even though free agency doesn’t officially open for two more days, free agents and teams are allowed to begin contract talks, but cannot officially sign the dotted line until March 9.
March 9: New league year begins — The start of the NFL’s new year actually brings many exciting things with it. First, free agency begins at 2:00 pm MST, which allows teams and free agents to officially put pen to paper and sign deals. Teams are also allowed to trade players; could the Broncos be in the market for a big time player, specifically a quarterback? It is also the deadline for teams to exercise options on players for the 2017 season and to submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents.
March 26-29: Annual League Meeting —This is where rule changes, and various other things pertaining to the well-being of the league, happen as owners, executives and coaches from every team meet in a warm climate location, this year will be in Phoenix.
April 3: OTAs for teams with new head coaches — Broncos football will be back on the field in just over two months. Since Gary Kubiak retired, and Denver hired Vance Joseph in his place, the Broncos will be able to start OTAs two weeks before the rest of the league, a luxury they had when they won Super Bowl 50.
April 27-29: NFL Draft — The most exciting and entertaining part of the offseason. Denver has the No. 20 overall pick, but will they trade up, trade back or stay idle in the first round? The draft is back in Philadelphia, home to the first ever draft.
May 5-8 OR May 12-15: Teams can hold one three-day rookie minicamp — NFL teams are allowed to bring in their drafted, and undrafted, rookies in for their own private minicamp before joining the veterans.
May 18-21: NFLPA Rookie Premiere — Notable rookies, typically first and second round picks, attend a weekend full of photoshoots, life classes and an introduction into the NFL.
May 22-24: Spring League Meeting — Another meeting between team executives where Super Bowl hosts are announced, and additional rule changes can happen, among other business tasks.
July 15: Deadline for franchise players to sign long-term contracts — If the Broncos decide to franchise tag a player, this deadline has been very interesting in the past few years with Miller and Demaryius Thomas not signing long-term contracts until days, and even hours, before the deadline.
Late July: Training camp begins — The unofficial start of the season begins with a multi-week “camp” a month and a half before the start of the season, and two weeks before the first preseason game.
