The Cincinnati Bengals now know a little more about the 2022 offseason calendar.
The NFL and NFLPA recently agreed on some of the key dates for that stretch of time, outlined in a memo sent out by the NFLPA:
- Franchise/Transition Designation Period: February 22 through March 8
- 2021 League Year Ends: March 16 at 3:59:59 p.m. ET
- 2022 League Year Begins: March 16 at 4 p.m. ET
- Start of Offseason workouts (with new head coach): April 4
- Start of Offseason workouts (all other teams): April 18
- Last Day of Restricted Free Agent Signing Period: April 22
- Last Day to match Offer Sheets for Restricted Free Agents: April 27
- 2022 College Draft: April 28 to April 30
Every key date has some importance for the Bengals. The first — the franchise designation period — starts on February 22nd through March 8 and could see the team weighing a tag for someone like Jessie Bates.
The start of offseason workouts could start as early as April 4 if the Bengals have a head-coaching change, which will hinge on whether his two-year roster changes finally show up in the win column. Otherwise, April 18.
Then there’s the draft, currently slated for April 28.
The NFLPA sent this notice to agents with 2022 calendar dates, including the start of the free-agent signing period March 16. pic.twitter.com/3RIhn6Wqnf
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 23, 2021