For years, the NFL schedule has revolved around a few tentpole events, including the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the last week of February. A week or two after that, NFL free agency opens after teams and agents unofficially negotiate with each other in Indy.
The NFL is regularly adjusting its schedule, figuring out the best way to maximize revenues and attention. With all of the offseason dates out of the way, fans turn their attention to training camp and the big dates ahead. The Cleveland Browns start training camp with rookies reporting on July 23rd and veterans following on July 28th.
This year’s rosters must be cut down from 90 men to the initial 53-man roster on August 30th, with the first game of the season on September 13th. This year’s trade deadline falls on November 10th.
The real big change comes next offseason as the NFL has pushed back the Scouting Combine to the first week of March, with free agency starting the day after the event in Indy closes up:
From a coverage perspective, there will likely be less media to attend the last few days of the combine and far fewer free agency rumors. Fans will also have to be glued to their devices a little tighter than normal as news will come quickly and often.
