Here are some of the key dates for the upcoming off-season; the remaining dates are still to be determined:
March 17: New league year begins at 4 PM ET; all teams have to be under the 2021 salary cap; teams may start signing free agents; trading period begins
TBD: NFL annual league meetings in Palm Beach
April 17: Deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets
April 29-May 1: 2021 draft in Cleveland
August 5: Tentative revised CFL schedule begins
September 4 (?): All teams must be down to opening day 53-man rosters
September 9-13: First weekend of regular season
TBD: Trade deadline
December 12: CFL’s Grey Cup game in Hamilton
TBD: Deadline for underclassmen to apply for early entry to the 2021 draft
TBD: Deadline for underclassmen who applied for early entry to 2021 draft and have not signed with an agent or otherwise received improper benefits to withdraw their applications
January 10: CFP National Championship game in Indianapolis
January 25-29: Senior Bowl in Mobile
February 6: Pro Bowl in Las Vegas
February 13: Super Bowl in Los Angeles
TBD: Teams may begin to designate franchise and transition players
March 1: Deadline for college seniors wishing to withdraw from the draft and return to school in 2021 to inform the league
TBD: Scouting combine in Indianapolis
TBD: Deadline for teams to designate franchise and transition players
TBD: Window of opportunity for teams to begin negotiations with free agents
April 28-30: 2022 draft in Las Vegas
