Important dates for Carolina Panthers fans to know this offseason
Panthers coach Matt Rhule is entering a make-or-break offseason after leading Carolina to another losing season during his second year.
The Panthers finished 5-12 after starting 3-0, losing seven-straight games and 12 of their last 14. During their exit interviews Monday, Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer previewed their off-season plans concentrated around rebuilding the offensive line, retaining several key free agents, and finding another quarterback.
If Carolina wants to reopen trade discussions for quarterback Deshaun Watson when can Fitterer deal for him? What about pending free agents Stephon Gilmore and Haason Reddick? When can the Panthers offer them contracts?
Here are important dates to watch as the 2022 offseason unfolds.
January 2022
Jan. 17: Deadline for college underclassmen players to apply for special eligibility. A list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2022 NFL Draft will be sent to clubs on January 21.
February 2022
Feb. 5: Senior Bowl, Hancock Whitney Stadium: Mobile, Alabama.
Feb. 8: 2021 CFL player contracts expire at 12:00 p.m., New York time. Beginning at 12:01 p.m., New York time, NFL clubs may no longer try out, negotiate with, and/or sign CFL players with 2022 contracts.
Feb. 14: Waiver system begins for 2022.
Feb. 22: First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 2022
March 1-7: NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium: Indianapolis, Indiana.
March 8: Prior to 4 p.m., deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 14-16: 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 2021 player contracts at 4 p.m. March 16 (a k a “Legal Tampering Period).
March 16, 4 p.m.: New league year begins.
- Clubs must exercise options for 2022 on all players who have option clauses in their 2021 contracts by 4 p.m..
- Clubs must submit qualifying offers by 4 p.m. to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
- Clubs must submit a minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2021 contracts who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
- Top 51 Rule begins. All clubs must be under the 2022 salary cap.
- All 2021 player contracts will expire. The 2022 league year and free agency period begin.
- Trading period for 2022 begins after the expiration of all 2021 contracts.
March 27-30: Annual League Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.
April 2022
April 4: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2021 season may begin off-season workout programs.
April 18: Clubs with returning head coaches may begin off-season workout programs.
April 22: Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign offer sheets.
April 28-30: 2022 NFL Draft: Las Vegas, Nevada.
May 2022
May 2: Deadline for clubs to exercise fifth-year option for players selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
May 6-9 or May 13-16: Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday on one of the two weekends following the Draft.
June 2022
June 1: Deadline for prior club to send “June 1 Tender” to its unsigned Restricted Free Agents who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only in order for such player to be subject to the CBA’s “June 15 Tender” provision.
June 15: Deadline for club to withdraw qualifying offer to Restricted Free Agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting “June 15 Tender” of one-year contract at 110 percent of the player’s prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged).
