by Kevin Hickey
The Indianapolis Colts are officially into the month of March with the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine wrapping up at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.
We outlined the overarching view of the important dates of the offseason but now we’ll take a focused view on just the month of March.
While the combine is the talk of the town early in the month, free agency is likely to dominate when the new league year arrives. The Colts can’t make too many moves outside of signing their own pending free agents until the middle of the month arrives.
There will also be pro days and top-30 visits taking place for the Colts and the draft prospects throughout the month of March.
Here’s a quick look at the important offseason dates for the Colts during the month of March in 2024:
March 5 – Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players.
March 7 – Draft-eligible facility visits begin (top-30 visits) and run through April 19. Video or telephone interviews with draft-eligible players begin and run through April 26.
March 11-13 – Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2023 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 13 (aka “Legal Tampering Period”)
March 13 –
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must exercise options for 2024 on all players who have option clauses in their 2023 contracts.
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit a minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2023 contracts who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
Top 51 Rule begins. All clubs must be under the 2024 Salary Cap prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time.
All 2023 player contracts will expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time. The 2024 league year and free agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
The first day of the 2024 league year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 13. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time.
Trading period for 2024 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after the expiration of all 2023 contracts. (Trades can be agreed upon before then but aren’t official until this time).
March 24-27
Annual League Meeting (Orlando, FL)
March Pro Days
March 6: Northwestern
March 7: Purdue
March 12: Oregon
March 13: Georgia
March 18: Iowa
March 19: Army
March 20: Alabama, USC
March 21: Notre Dame
March 22: Michigan
March 27: LSU, Ole Miss
March 27-30: Big 12 Pro Day
March 29: Maryland
Originally posted on stampedeblue.com