NFL rule changes for 2022: Overtime, player safety at the forefront

As the calendar flips to March, the 2022 NFL offseason is ramping up. We're beginning to hit the first round of key dates on the calendar, from the NFL Combine to free agency, before the month concludes with the annual league meeting.

New rule change proposals for the league are already popping up, and will surely take center stage at the league meeting from Mar. 27-30.

Addressing the current overtime rules will be a top priority, based on comments from competition committee chair Rich McKay at the Combine.

Based on publicly known proposals, the league will explore new ideas to allow both teams a possession in overtime. The Indianapolis Colts already made a submission to implement this for both the regular season and playoffs. It would need 24 votes to pass.

The Buffalo Bills have a proposal of their own. GM Brandon Beane appears to want a timed overtime period with no sudden death.

“I just think let’s play it out, a certain amount of time,” Beane said, via Pro Football Talk. “I don’t know that that’ll be the final result in March at the owners meetings, but I think there’s gonna be some good proposals and hopefully it comes to the point where both teams get an opportunity.”

The league will also address player safety on punts, citing unintended consequences due to recent changes in the way coaches call games.

These rule change ideas and proposals will linger around the combine and headline the discussion board at the league meetings at the end of the month.

It's officially the 2022 off-season in the NFL, but as you already know if you follow league, there almost is no off-season. The calendar remains packed with big events and important dates. It's time for a refresher on what to know about and when the big events are happening.

We don't have actual football games, which count in the standings, for about seven months, and that's always a bummer. But between free agency, trades, the draft, and team training camps, there is almost always something worth fans' attention.

Maybe you have to plan things around these big events, or perhaps you just want to know ahead of time. The NFL calendar is always worth knowing for anyone who's into the sport, and 2022 is no different.

Football season may be over, but there's still plenty to talk about for next year. Here are the key dates on the 2022 NFL calendar to know about as we head into the off-season.

The first big party of the year for prospective players, as well as GMs, coaches, scouts, and agents. And reporters sniffing around for nuggets of information from all of them. The top draft prospects separate themselves in these drills, which figure to be more important and involved than they were in the more COVID-limited 2020 and 2021 seasons.

For draft enthusiasts, it'll be their first chance to pore over the performances of their favorite prospects. For the casual fan, it's a chance to get the first look at the top players to know.

The Combine is also an opportunity for more unheralded draft prospects to rise up the boards. But the event remains invite-only, so you're guaranteed to see the best of the best on the TV broadcasts. (Yes, the Combine is on TV.)

This is the last day of the league year that teams can place the franchise tag on impending unrestricted free agents. Tagged players are typically coming out of their rookie contracts having significantly outperformed them, making the value of a franchise tag lower than that of a long-term deal.

Franchise tags are one-year deals for a set number, which varies by position. Teams still have the option to trade players after tagging them. Over The Cap has a list of projected totals for the franchise tag and transition tag. The latter grants a team the right to match or refuse an offer sheet that a tagged player signs with another team, but is rarely used.

Notable NFL players who should be considered candidates for the franchise tag include Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson, Saints safety Marcus Williams, Chiefs tackle Orlando Brown, and Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki.

This is where it really gets fun. In recent years, players signings had begun to inundate the news right at the official start of free agency, exposing the plain reality that teams, players, and agents had done all kinds of negotiating (read: tampering) before anyone had officially become a fre agent.

Thus, the NFL introduced the three-day "legal tampering" period in 2013, allowing players and teams to "begin" negotiating before the start of free agency. But most recently, in 2021, signings were announced at the outset of that.

This is all to say: mark your calendar for legal tampering, because that is when most of the big free agency news will drop.

All pending unrestricted free agents become official at 4 p.m. ET on March 16. Most of the major free-agent signings across the league will have already been reported by then, but this is when teams can officially announce their moves.

That doesn't mean free agency will be over so soon. The open market will remain deep. It'll just be mostly mid-level free agents and below after this point.

The league meeting is the annual summit of owners, execs, and coaches, particularly those involved with the competition committee. The most newsworthy items from the league meeting are usually league-wide rule changes, which are discussed and sometimes agreed upon for implementation.

In light of controversies emanating from the 2021 season, one can expect overtime rules to be heavily debated during the league meeting, and perhaps changed.

This is only for first-year head coaches. They will be allowed, but not required, to begin off-season workouts with their new teams on this date. Teams with returning head coaches can begin their off-season programs as early as April 18.

This marks the last day that teams can bring draft-eligible prospects to their facilities for a physical. Most draft prep is likely done by this point. The football world will already be filled with speculation and rumors on teams' interest in particular players, and where the top prospects in the first round will land.

The day before the draft, April 27, is the deadline for teams to "time, test, and interview" prospects.

Restricted free agents have until April 22 to sign an offer sheet with a new team, and their respective teams would have until the 27th to match or decline it. Offer sheets are relatively rare, mainly because of the compensation required and the types of players available in restricted free agency.

If it's a good-enough player, his team will extend a qualifying offer for a first-round tender, and thus would receive a first-round pick in return if they decline to match. At the same time, players are only eligible for restricted free agency in the first place if they have accrued three seasons at the time of their expired contract, so they are never players who went high in the draft.

So, offer sheets are typically saved for players who have significantly outperformed their draft status and become worth acquiring for a high pick. There are some notable RFAs in 2022 who could be tendered at a lower round and become candidates for more affordable draft pick compensation, including a trio of wide receivers: Green Bay's Allen Lazard, Miami's Preston Williams, and New Orleans' Deonte Harris.

Just about every NFL fan would say the Super Bowl is the biggest day of the year, and many would put the draft at No. 2. It's the culmination of months of player workouts, team scouting, and media/fan speculation and discussion. Several of the top picks are likely already known by this point, but that doesn't take away from the excitement and odd pageantry that comes with the event.

After the draft is concluded with rounds 4-7 on April 30, the news cycle moves on to undrafted free agent signings in the ensuing days. But off-season workouts have already begun by this point, leaving football commentators with no shortage of things to talk about well into springtime.

May will likely mark the start of mandatory minicamp for all 32 teams. Those dates, as well as training camp, have yet to be announced. But those in the football world will have plenty to chew on from February through April.

If you still haven't found the information you need on the 2022 off-season, there's plenty more to know at the official NFL website.

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As the NFL Scouting Combine commences this week from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, draft hopefuls prepare to put their abilities on full display for pro teams.

The Patriots have the 21st overall pick in the draft and will begin to vet the next group of young talent this week. Workouts will feature potential high draft picks at key positions of need for the Pats, including wide receiver, cornerback, and linebacker.

Here are five projected first-round picks to watch at the 2022 NFL Combine, any of whom would seem like good fits for the Patriots...

The 5-foot-11 receiver steadily progressed in each of his four seasons at State College. He broke out in his senior year, catching 91 balls for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns. As the Patriots look to surround Mac Jones with greater targets on the outside, Dotson is a proven playmaker from a power five school with a solid release off of the line of scrimmage.

Dotson's ability to make dynamic plays in the punt return game also offers intriguing versatility for Bill Belichick.

With Trent Brown and Ted Karras set to become free agents, New England could look to add top-end talent to the offensive line. Penning offers a large frame at 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds, which the Patriots tend to like. His NFL.com draft profile describes him as a tackle who can block with mobility and finish blocks with authority.

Penning would add a strong presence to keep pass rushers off of Jones, and his ability to get up the field on screens fits well for the New England offense.

Davis enters the draft as a centerpiece of an elite Georgia defense that captured the national championship this past season. The senior recorded five tackles for losses and two sacks in his senior season. According to his scouting report at NFL.com, Davis is not a particularly agile defender at 340 pounds, but he would make an immediate presence in the run defense to take away the middle of the line of scrimmage.

The Patriots are in desperate need of playmakers and youth at linebacker, a position that got exposed down the stretch. Lloyd offers remarkable versatility after a monster 2021 season. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, Lloyd can make plays in all facets of the defense, based on his draft profile. He recorded 111 tackles with seven sacks and four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Lloyd is an exceptional athlete that helps build back New England’s weakest position.

Booth Jr. grew into his own under Dabo Swinney with his best season at Clemson coming last season. The junior recorded career highs in tackles, interceptions and passes defended. Booth Jr. is quick and plays the ball well in the air, according to his NFL.com scouting report.

Considering the uncertainty of J.C. Jackson in New England, the Patriots should at least take a look at this capable corner.

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine runs from March 1-7 in Indianapolis, with televised workouts running Thursday-Sunday, March 3-6. Go to NFL.com for the full schedule.

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