Tennessee Titans: Important dates for 2020 NFL offseason
Here’s a look at some of the most important dates for the Tennessee Titans in the 2020 offseason.
While the Super Bowl has yet to be played, there are 30 other teams already looking ahead to the 2020 offseason, with the Tennessee Titans among them.
Tennessee will have 22 free agents to make decisions on this offseason, and both the franchise tag and transition tag will be in play as a result of there being no CBA set beyond the 2020 season.
As we laid out in a separate article, the Titans have a solid amount of cap space to work with from the start, but that money could dwindle quickly should they decide to hand out big-money contracts to some of their most important free agents.
Of course, the Titans can cut some players in order to create more room to work with. Players like tight end Delanie Walker, kicker Ryan Succop, running back Dion Lewis and outside linebacker Cameron Wake could be among them.
We’ve listed some of the most important offseason dates for the Titans below, but you can get a look at the full offseason calendar right here.
January 25th: Senior Bowl
February 24th to March 2nd: NFL Scouting Combine
February 25th: First day to designate Franchise or Transition Tag players
This date could be important for the Titans, as both running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Ryan Tannehill can be tagged. Usually teams can only use one of the two tags, but since there is no CBA set beyond 2020, the loophole allows teams to use both this offseason.
A player with the franchise tag cannot negotiate with other teams, while the transition tag will give the Titans a chance to match any offer sheet a player with this tag signs from another team. Once a transition player signs said offer sheet, the Titans would have five days to match it.
March 16th to 18th: Teams can begin contacting and negotiating with unrestricted free agents
This is when free agency begins, although nothing can be made official until 4 p.m. ET on March 18th when 2019 contracts officially expire.
March 18th: 2019 player contracts expire at 4 p.m. ET
Prior to the 4 p.m. ET deadline, teams must exercise any options that players had in their 2019 contracts.
April 20th: Teams with a returning head coach can begin offseason workout programs
April 23rd to 25th: 2020 NFL Draft
The Titans own the No. 29 overall pick. In all, Tennessee has six picks in the upcoming draft, with the fourth round being the only one in which the Titans don’t own a pick.
May 3rd: Deadline for exercising fifth-year option of rookie contracts
The Titans will have two decisions to make here, as both cornerback Adoree’ Jackson and wide receiver Corey Davis are eligible to have their fifth-year options picked up.
July 15th: Deadline to sign Franchise Tag players to multi-year deal
If, for example, the Titans franchise tag Henry, they have until 4 p.m. ET on this date to ink him to a multi-year deal. If not, the tagged player can only sign a one-year deal and can’t be extended beyond that until after the last regular season game of the 2020 season.
Mid-July: NFL training camps can begin
Teams can have rookies report up to a week before veteran players are required to report.
July 22nd: Signing period ends for Transition Tag players with outstanding tenders
August 6th: Hall of Fame Game
August 11th: Deadline for players under contract to report to team in order to earn an accrued season for free agency.
September 5th: Deadline for teams to cut rosters to 53 players (4 p.m. ET)
September 10th: Week 1 of 2020 NFL season begins