The NFL’s offseason schedule begins this week with three-day minicamps starting Tuesday for 10 teams. The remaining 22 teams will continue with organized team activities before holding mini-camps next week.
Prior to minicamp, offseason meetings and on-site meetings are voluntary. But now is the mandatory work period, which means teams can fine players who choose not to participate.
These practice sessions help coaches and players further prepare for training camp, which begins in late July, paving the way for the preseason and regular season.
Here are some of the hottest storylines around the league as minicamp gets underway.
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Can contract disputes lead to chargebacks?
The Vikings gave Justin Jefferson a massive new contract on Monday and the Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle got a nearly $85 million extension last week, but other talented wideouts remain Waiting for their big payday. The 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk, the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and the Broncos’ Courtland Sutton may insist on participating in minicamp as a result. They may not be alone, as Bengals wide receivers Jamaal Chase and Ty Higgins both voluntarily sat out OTA meetings due to contract disputes. The Bengals exercised the fifth-year option on Chase’s contract, but he wants a multi-year extension similar to Waddle. Higgins has requested a trade entering the final year of his rookie contract, but the Bengals have so far refused.
Meanwhile, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also hopes to re-sign, but he has participated in some voluntary workouts. Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward also wanted an extension, but he skipped the OTA.
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Is it a big deal that Micah Parsons isn’t participating in OTAs?
new coaching system
Seven teams hired new head coaches this offseason, with an eighth team (the Raiders) promoting their interim head coach Antonio Pierce to full-time head coach. So, Pierce, Jim Harbaugh (Chargers), Raheem Morris (Falcons), Jerod Mayo (Patriots), Dave Canales (Panthers), Mike McDonald (Hawaiian) Eagles), Dan Quinn (Commanders) and Brian Callahan (Titans) will participate in minicamp for the first time) to fully meet with their new team. So are 15 new offensive coordinators and 16 new defensive coordinators. These mini-camp practices provide valuable opportunities for coaches and assistants to better familiarize themselves with their rosters and teach their players their systems before camp position battles.
Early QB Game
At least five teams — and maybe six — are planning to hold quarterback competitions this summer. The Commanders haven’t named Jaden Daniels the starter to replace Marcus Mariota, so in theory, Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could be in evaluation mode. Meanwhile, the Raiders, Patriots, Broncos, Vikings and Giants all must determine starters. The position battle probably won’t really begin until training camp, but don’t think Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew (Raiders), Jacoby Brissett and Derek Meyer (Patriots), JJ McCarthy and Sam Darnold (Vikings), Daniel Jones and Drew Lock (Giants) will wait until July to try to get through reps in each minicamp and Throw to separate yourself from your opponent.
The Bears have named 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams as their starting quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers returns to action with the Jets after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in Week 1 of last year’s season. (Sarah Steele/Getty Images)
A number of high-profile players had their 2023 seasons cut short due to serious injuries. Now, some of those players find themselves at the tail end of the recovery process. Others are back on site and using OTAs and small camp practices to knock the rust off. Coaches and training staff use these sessions about a month before training camp to assess the condition of their star players.
Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers (torn Achilles), Kirk Cousins (torn Achilles), Joe Burrow (wrist surgery), Deshaun Watson (shoulder surgery) and Daniel Jones (knee surgery) will both be involved in some work in varying capacities during minicamp. Browns running back Nick Chubb and Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, who both suffered ACL tears, are among the high-profile non-quarterbacks still working their way back to full strength.
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Familiar faces in a new place
Some of the biggest names have changed addresses this offseason. Pass rusher Danielle Hunter signed with the Texans. Running back Saquon Barkley jumped from the Giants to the Eagles. Linebacker Josh Jacobs left the Raiders to join the Packers. Derrick Henry left the Titans to join the Ravens. Linebacker Leonard Floyd signed with the 49ers, wide receiver Calvin Ridley signed with the Titans, and the Steelers acquired Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Now, with some OTA sessions, they should have a good understanding of their role on the new team and can continue to show off their abilities in mini-camp.
Rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison will begin work next week when the Cardinals hold minicamp. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today)
How do rookies persist?
Williams, Daniels, Meyer, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., offensive tackle Joe Alt and other recent draft picks have experienced NFL training through rookie minicamp and voluntary workouts. But for some, June’s minicamp will be their first full-squad practice and, in some cases, their first real test of veteran competition. Rookies should start familiarizing themselves with their playbook, but the education process continues. Learning will take place through training camps, but the goal is to get a good foundation in the mini-camp so they are ready for games in July.
special teams experiment
NFL owners agreed to make significant changes to the kickoff format this offseason. The modification requires all players on the kicking team to line up on the receiving team’s 40-yard line, while the receiving team lines up nine players on its own 35-yard line. The kicker will still kick off the ball from their own 35 yards. If the ball is hit farther from the landing zone, the ball will be moved to the receiving team’s 40-yard line, just like a kickoff out of bounds. The touchback will require the ball to be moved to the receiving team’s 30.
While some teams begin experimenting during OTAs, minicamps will provide NFL players with their first extended opportunity to learn from coordinators how to line up and execute modified plays.
(Photo: Sean Riley/ Competitor; Photos of Kirk Cousins and JJ McCarthy: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images and Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
