Daily Dawg Tags: Key offseason dates to remember
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns have plenty of work to do in the coming months. Here are some key offseason dates to remember.
Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey is going to be extremely busy in the coming months as he works through his first offseason in charge of cleaning up the 0-16 mess from last season.
The Browns currently hold 12 selections in the 2018 NFL Draft, including two first-round picks, a trio of second-round picks and six total picks in the first 65 selections. They also have somewhere north of an estimated $100 million in available cap space.
That is a large stockpile of assets to help get the team’s latest and (allegedly) greatest rebuilding effort off to a great start.
To help keep track of when the Browns and the rest of the league can make moves in the coming months, here are some key dates to keep handy.
Feb. 20: This is the first day that teams may designate Franchise or Transition players. For the Browns, there is no one worth considering for this designation, unless you happen to be a fan of running back Isaiah Crowell.
Feb. 27-March 5: If the NFL Draft is the Super Bowl for Browns fans, then the annual Scouting Combine in Indianapolis is the Pro Bowl – everyone watches it although they don’t really know why. With the Browns holding the No. 1 overall and No. 4 overall selections in the 2018 NFL Draft – and selecting five times in the first two rounds — expect ratings to be high in Northeast Ohio. Especially when the quarterbacks go through their drills.
March 6: Deadline for teams to designate Franchise or Transition players is at 4 p.m.
Cleveland Browns
March 12-14: Things start to get real in free agency as teams are allowed to enter into contact with agents of players who are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents. (Hello, quarterback Kirk Cousins?) Those talks can include contract negotiations, although the actual deal can’t be finalized until the start of the league year. The Browns will enter free agency with more than $100 million in cap space.
March 14: The 2018 league year, along with free agency, kicks off at 4 p.m. All clubs must be under the salary cap prior to 4 p.m. The first of the big-name free agent signings generally come around 4:01 p.m.
March 25-28: The annual league meeting will be held in Orlando.
April 2: Teams that hired a head coach after the 2017 season are permitted to begin their offseason workouts. Inexplicably, the Browns will not begin their offseason workouts on this day.
April 16: Head coach Hue Jackson and his rebuilt coaching staff are permitted to start offseason workouts.
April 26-28: The Cleveland Browns will open the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as they have the No. 1 overall selection for the second consecutive year. That is unless they trade it.
May 4-7 or May 11-14: The Browns will get their first look at their rookie class as teams are permitted to hold one, three-day minicamp with their rookies.
May 8: The deadline for teams to tender their remaining unrestricted free agents.
July 16: Decision day as players who were tagged as franchise players must decide if they want to sign a multi-year contract or an extension.
Aug. 2: Hall of Fame Game in Canton.
Cleveland Browns news:
Joe Thomas selling Cleveland to Kirk Cousins
Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas took to Twitter on Thursday to make a pitch to quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Browns have another free agent option in A.J. McCarron
The Cleveland Browns have another quarterback to consider in free agency now that A.J. McCarron will officially be an unrestricted free agent.
Does Denver’s rumored interest in A.J. McCarron help the Browns?
With rumors circulating that the Denver Broncos have an interest in A.J. McCarron, the Cleveland Browns could have a better shot at signing Kirk Cousins.
Cleveland-Canton among 5 finalists to host NFL Draft (clevelandbrowns.com)
"Northeast Ohio is one step closer to hosting the NFL Draft. Cleveland-Canton is among the five finalists to host either the 2019 or 2020 NFL Draft, the league announced Thursday."
Fate of the entire NFL is in the hands of the Browns (Bleacher Report)
"Welcome to the start of the offseason, otherwise known as the closest thing to a Super Bowl the Browns experience each year."
NFL news:
5 moves each NFC West team should make (ESPN)
"Let’s address the NFC West (in alphabetical order), where the Rams made one of the most unexpected divisional title runs in recent memory in 2017. With the arrival of Jimmy Garoppolo in San Francisco, this suddenly appears to be one of the toughest divisions in football again, and it will only get more difficult if Arizona finds a quarterback."
Larry Fitzgerald to return to the Cardinals in 2018 (NFL.com)
"Larry Fitzgerald won’t follow Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians riding into the sunset in 2018. The 11-time Pro Bowl receiver told Arizona Cardinals new coach Steve Wilks he will return for the upcoming season."
Will the Jets bid on A.J. McCarron? (nj.com)
"There will be another unrestricted free agent quarterback in the mix for quarterback-needy teams — like the Jets — this offseason. Before we get into the nuts and bolts of A.J. McCarron’s grievance against the Bengals, let’s consider if he would be a legitimate option for the Jets."
Officials to determine final cost of Raiders stadium in Las Vegas (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
"A final cost figure for the Raiders stadium in Las Vegas is going to be determined over the next few days. To arrive at the figure, representatives of the Oakland Raiders will meet with the general contractor of the project to itemize the guaranteed maximum price of the facility."