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The NFL’s offseason calendar gets a bit quieter after the draft, but the league never truly sleeps. Even in the midst of summer doldrums, the NFL offers occasional action ahead of training camp.Organized team activities (OTAs) are among the first notable post-draft activities. These workouts are conducted over 10 weeks in small bursts and provide NFL fans with a window into the performance of each team’s new players, rookies and some key veterans.OTAs also signal the start of holdout season acro s the NFL. Many top players who haven’t yet signed extensions begin fighting for leverage in contract negotiations.Sometimes, that includes avoiding team practices until a new deal is reached. In recent seasons, players have “held in” a fancy way of saying they have attended practice but haven’t actually participated. But if disgruntled players are going to mi s any part of the offseason, OTAs are the best option.Why? It’s all about the rules surrounding OTAs and what NFL teams can and cannot require of their top players during the dog days George Hill Jersey of the league calendar.IYER: No, OTAs are not mandatory in the NFL. The NFLPA negotiated as part of its CBA with the league that the nine-week offseason workouts and team activities would not be mandatory, save for one minicamp held during the final four weeks of the program (known as “Phase 3”).That’s one of the reasons it’s common to see holdouts during OTAs. Players aren’t obligated to attend, so those negotiating long-term contract extensions often use OTA attendance as a leverage point in discu sions. They can hold out without risking any actual salary.For example, Justin Jefferson isn’t expected to attend Minnesota’s OTAs beyond his 2024 option. That said, Jefferson is expected to attend the team’s mandatory minicamp from June 4 to 6 to avoid being fined, per .Tee Higgins’ situation is a bit different, as he can’t attend workouts until he signs his franchise Eric Bledsoe Jersey tender with the Bengals. He’s refusing to sign the tender because he wants a long-term deal, so expect Cincinnati to mi s its No. 2 wide-out for the voluntary part of offseason workouts.Holdouts aren’t the only reason players might skip OTAs. Some established veterans simply choose to get more rest in May to freshen up. Those nursing injuries might stay home and attempt to recover from those on their own, without the ruckus that comes with working out and examining 90 football players.Could that mean a player like Travis Kelce will skip OTAs ? He might not, but it at least remains po sible so long as the concert isn’t during the brief, mandatory minicamp in June.To recap: OTAs are not mandatory. But as the name suggests, mandatory minicamp an event ranging from one to three days in length must be attended.MORE: There are three phases to the NFL’s rules for OTAs. They are as follows, :Phase OneThe beginning of OTAs, this phase includes the first two weeks of the program. Activities are limited to meetings, strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation.There aren’t any on-field drills during this phase, so players won’t be making contact with one another or absorbing hits.Phase TwoThis three-week segment Rawle Alkins Jersey marks the beginning of on-field workouts. Players can participate in individual and group drills, but no live contact nor team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.On-field workouts are conducted at a walk-through pace. So this portion of the offseason, while more rigorous than the first, still isn’t the same as being a full go.Phase ThreeIn the final four weeks of the program, teams are allowed to practice 10 total days during that span. No live contact is permitted as part of the drills, but teams can run 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills.That makes things look as close to a real game as they can get during OTAs. But the purpose of the workouts is largely to make sure players are staying in shape and immersing themselves in the play-calling on both sides of the ball.MORE:Here’s a look a the full OTA schedule for this year, from after the NFL Draft through the start of training camp in July:TeamRookie MinicampOTA Offseason WorkoutsMandatory MinicampArizona CardinalsMay Solomon Hill Jersey 10-12May 20-22,28-30, June 3-6June 11-13Atlanta FalconsMay 10-12May 13-14,16,20-21, June 3-6June 10-12Baltimore RavensMay 3-5May 20,22-23,28,30-31, June 3-4,6-7June 11-13Buffalo BillsMay 10-11May 20-21, 23, 28-30, June 3-4, 6June 11-13Carolina PanthersMay 10-12May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6June 11-13Chicago BearsMay 10-11May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31June 4-6Cincinnati BengalsMay 10May 28-30, June 3-6June 11-13Cleveland BrownsMay 10-12May 21-23, 28-30, June 3-6June 11-13Dallas CowboysMay 10-11May 21-23, 29-31June 4-6Denver BroncosMay 10-12May 21-23, 28-30, June 3-6June 11-13Detroit LionsMay 10-12May 21-23, 29-31, June 10-12June 4-6Green Bay PackersMay 3-4May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6June 11-13Houston TexansMay 10-11May 20-21, 23, 29-31June 4-6Indianapolis ColtsMay 10-12May 21-23, 29-31June 4-6Jacksonville JaguarsMay 10-11May 20-21, 23,28-29, 31, June 3-6June 10-12Kansas City ChiefsMay 4-6May 20-22, 28-30, June 4-7June 11-13Las Vegas RaidersMay 10-11May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-6June 11-13Los Angeles ChargersMay 10-12May 20-21, 23, 29-31, June 4-7June 11-13Los Angeles RamsMay 10-11May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-6June 10-12Miami DolphinsMay 10-12May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31June 4-6Minnesota VikingsMay 10-12May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 10-13June 4-6New England PatriotsMay 10-12May 20-21, 23, Willy Hernangomez Jersey 29-31, June 3-6June 11-13New Orleans SaintsMay 10-12May 21-23, 28-30, June 3-6June 11-13New York GiantsMay 9-11May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6-7June 11-13New York JetsMay 3-5May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6-7June 11-13Philadelphia EaglesMay 3-4May 20, 22-23, 28, 30-31June 4-6Pittsburgh SteelersMay 10-12May 21-23, 28-30, June 3-6June 11-13San Francisco 49ersMay 10-11May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31June 4-6Seattle SeahawksMay 3-5May 20, 22-23, 28, 30-31, June 3-4, 6-7June 11-13Tampa Bay BuccaneersMay 10-12May 21-23, 28-30, June 4-6June 11-13Tenne see TitansMay 10-12May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 10-13June 4-6Washington CommandersMay 10-12May 14-15, 17, 21-22, 24, June 4-5, 7June 11-13
