The Los Angeles Rams didn’t accomplish their ultimate goal in 2025, but it was still a successful season by many standards as they were only one win away against the Seattle Seahawks from advancing to Super Bowl LX.
The Rams now have plenty of work to do this offseason as they look to maintain their status as one of the best teams in the league.
The franchise/transition player designation period began last week and runs through March 3 at 1 p.m. PT. The Rams haven’t used either tag since 2018 and aren’t expected to do so this year either.
The NFL Scouting Combine gets underway in Indianapolis, Ind., on Monday and lasts until March 2. The Rams hold two first-round picks in this year’s NFL Draft, but neither general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay are expected to attend the Combine.
The offseason really begins to pick up next month when the legal negotiating period for unrestricted free agents is held from March 9-11. The official start of the new league year and free agency begins on March 11.
The Rams will have around $45 million in cap space this offseason, with Kamren Curl, Cobie Durant, Ahkello Witherspoon, Roger McCreary, Tyler Higbee and Tutu Atwell among their notable free agents.
The annual league meetings will be held from March 29-April 1 in Phoenix, Ariz., which could bring about new rule changes. The Rams are expected to propose one that addresses the Seahawks’ controversial two-point conversation from Week 16.
April is another big month for the NFL offseason. The deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets is April 17, followed by the deadline for prior teams to exercise their right of first refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets on April 22.
That is also the deadline for teams to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls) or conduct physical exams with a draft-eligible player at any location.
On April 20, teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs. That applies to the Rams as McVay is entering his 10th season as head coach.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa. from April 23-25. The Rams are currently projected to have 10 total picks, including two in the first round.
Another important offseason date is May 1, which is the deadline for teams to exercise the fifth-year options for players who were selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Then from either May 1-4 or May 8-11, teams may elect to hold their three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp.
Important 2026 NFL offseason dates
Feb. 17-March 3: Franchise/transition player designation period
Feb. 23-March 2: NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
March 8-April 20: Teams are permitted to host up to 30 non-local, draft-eligible players at their facilities for visits and physical exams. On-field workouts are not allowed.
March 9-11: Pre-free agency legal negotiating window between teams and agents representing players who will become unrestricted free agents, beginning at 9 a.m. PT on March 9 and ending at 12:59:59 p.m. PT on March 11.
March 11: New league year begins at 1 p.m. PT. Teams are permitted to execute contracts with other free agents and conduct trades with other teams.
March 29-April 1: Annual league meeting in Phoenix, Ariz.
April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets from other teams
April 20: Start of offseason workout programs for teams with returning head coaches
April 22: Deadline for teams to exercise the right of first refusal for restricted free agents
April 22: Deadline for teams to time, test and interview draft-eligible prospects
April 22: Teams are permitted to conduct video or telephone interviews with draft-eligible players. There is a maximum of three video or telephone interviews per player, interviews cannot be longer than an hour in length.
April 23-34: 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 1: Deadline for teams to exercise the fifth-year options for players who were selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft
May 1-4 or 8-11: Teams can hold their three-day rookie minicamps
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