With teams in the midst of OTAs, the team-building part of the 2023 NFL offseason is well in the rearview. For the league, that means it’s time to start focusing on 2024.

On Thursday, the NFL announced a handful of key dates for next offseason, in the spring of 2024. Here’s a look…

• Franchise tag window: Feb. 20-March 5

  NFL teams will be able to begin applying franchise and transition tags on Feb. 20, 2024. However, most teams tend to wait until the end of that window to do so, preferring to use as much time as possible to try and work out a long-term deal. Most of the franchise tag decisions should come closer too if not on March 5, about a week before free agency.

• New league year begins: March 13

  The 2024 NFL season will ‘officially’ begin on March 13 at 4 p.m. ET. This date is significant because it’s the exact date expiring contracts actually expire, and therefore the official start of free agency. However, the NFL allows a two day ‘legal tampering period,’ which will start on March 11, which is a Monday.

• Offseason workouts begin: April 1 or 15

  Teams can begin Phase 1 of the offseason program – usually just meetings and individual player workouts – in early April. If a team has a returning head coach, the earliest they can start is April 15. Teams with new head coaches get a little extra time, and can begin workout programs on April 1.

• Last day of restricted free agent period: April 19

  Teams will have until April 19 to tender any restricted free agents they have. RFAs not tendered by that point will become unrestricted free agents.

• Last day for RFA offer sheets: April 24

  The second notable RFA deadline comes a week later. Other teams will have until this time to put in offer sheets on those players.

• NFL Draft: April 25-27

  The league memo also included the 2024 NFL Draft, which had been set for April 25-27. Next year’s draft will take place in Detroit.

• Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

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