We're heading into the offseason as fans of a Super Bowl champion for the first time since 1999. It sure does feel good, doesn't it?
John Elway and his front office team has their work cut out for them as the Denver Broncos have quite a list of players heading for free agency. Who do they want to keep and who can they afford are two questions that will vex us all once March 9th comes and goes.
There are other events to keep track of as well, since the 2016 NFL Draft is not far around the corner as well. The first big event will be the NFL Combine in late February.
It will be good to keep these dates in mind:
2016 NFL Offseason Schedule
Feb. 16: First day for clubs to designate franchise or transition players.
Feb. 23-29: NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis.
March 1: Deadline (4 p.m. ET) for clubs to designate franchise or transition players.
March 7-9: Clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4 p.m. ET on March 9.
March 9: 2016 league year begins. Free-agency period begins at 4 p.m. ET.
March 20-23: Annual league meeting, Boca Raton, Florida.
April 4: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2015 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 18: Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 22: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
Mid-to-late April: 2016 schedule release
April 28-30: 2016 NFL Draft, Chicago.
May 6-9 or May 13-16: Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
May 19-22: NFLPA Rookie Premiere. Invited rookies (typically, first- and/or second-round selections) must be permitted by their respective clubs to attend. Such players are unavailable for offseason workouts, OTA days and minicamps during this period.
May 23-25: NFL spring league meeting, Charlotte, North Carolina.
June 19-25: Rookie Symposium, Aurora, Ohio.
July 15: Deadline (4 p.m. ET) 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.