Chiefs: Getting to the “Rights of Passage” – Important Dates

When we get there, we have watched the Chief’s activity Beginning with the Tampering Period and the official first day of the 2022 Season. During the Free Agency period, Brett Veach made a significant trade and also signed Key Free Agents.

I was going to publish this later in the week, but the need came up for tomorrow(now, today). If you didn’t catch it, the Chiefs had their local Pro Day on April 1st. Since then, we need to observe the upcoming dates for the off-season. There is no time like the present. In 2020, local pro days were canceled. This is a time when players from local area schools are invited to participate and get their toes into NFL waters.

The Late phase of Free Agency is ongoing. Phases 1-3 are completed.

Coming up

• First Day: April 18.

Phase One – Chief’s Offseason Program

April 18th – The period Begins on April 18th for the NFL or a date just after. April 18th is the earliest date for NFL Activity.

April 18: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

o Roster players may report “only” for Physical Training purposes. Injury Rehab activity for strength and conditioning purposes.

o April 18th: Virtual Meetings – Also, beginning on April 18th Virtual Meetings with College Players may be scheduled.

o April 20th – Draft Eligible Players are invited for Physical Exams And Interviews.

April 22: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

o April 27th – Deadline: Draft Eligible Player Visits and Exams must be complete.

o April 27th – NFL prior team deadline to exercise the “Right of First Refusal” to restricted free agents.

April 28-30: 2022 NFL Draft, Las Vegas, Nevada

Each season, teams are allowed to invite 30 Players for a visit and medical evaluation. Teams may invite up to thirty collegiate prospects. These visits must be completed by April 27th. It is at this time that teams do “Due Diligence.” Interviews are formatted to have staff get to know players more personally. Background investigations have been done, and Q&A sessions with players, their history, injury status, and queries about existing health issues are investigated. Charles Goldman pointed out recently that this was how they were able to process the status of Trey Smith and draft him in the 6th round out of UTENN.

So this is huge trio of dates as fans, observers, pundits, and players await the NFL Draft!

The Rights of Passage Follow the Draft under the auspices of the NFLPA AND the Teams

o Organized Team Activities Group 1: May 25-26.

o Organized Team Activities Group 2: May 31-June 2.

o Organized Team Activities Group 3: June 7-10.

Mandatory Minicamp: June 14-16

How the Off-Season is Structure: Three Phases

Phase One – consists of the first two weeks of the program with activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only(Above).

Phase Two – a three week schedule of the program in which On-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills, as well as “perfect play drills,” and drills and plays with offensive players lined up against the defensive player component. This occurs as a walk-through pace, no contact is allowed.

Phase Three – OTA Offseason Workouts: May 25-26, May 31-June 2, June 7-10 (10 days Total)

Phase Three is a four week long period where Teams conduct 10 days of OTAs (Organize Team Activities). No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.

Training Camp and pre-season games follow.

David Bell – ArrowheadOne