Off Season Schedule

With Superbowl 55 in the books, the road to the 2021 NFL Draft begins. This is the point where all teams are evaluating their off season needs. While we have seen a blockbuster trade occur prior to the Superbowl, the trade won’t take effect until the actual 2021 league start in March. The off season schedule is listed below.

• Feb. 23, 2021 – Franchise tag window opens, expected to close after two weeks
• March 17, 2021 – Free agency begins at 4 p.m. ET
• April 5, 2021 – Offseason workouts for teams with new coaches allowed to begin.
• April 19, 2021 – Offseason workouts for all other teams allowed to begin.
• April 23, 2021 – Last day of restricted free agency signing period.
• April 28, 2021 – Last day for teams to match offer sheets for restricted free agents.
• April 29, 2021 – Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft.

NFL Draft

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The NFL Draft in 2021 is being held in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL Draft in itself is one of the most watched non-sporting sport related events. No other sport draft is watched as heavily as the NFL Draft.

At this stage, the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock. Unless a massive trade deal comes in from another team Trevor Lawrence will be the first selection of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The remainder of the draft I will cover in my mock drafts. And I will explain why certain teams could select certain players at different rounds and positions.

If you are interested in trying a mock draft of your own, visit The Draft Zone’s Mock Draft Simulator: “The Pick Is In” HERE.

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Scouting Combine

There will be no NFL Scouting Combine in 2021, at least as we know it.

The league informed its teams in a memo that the event will be conducted with no in-person workouts. Instead, any workouts will be conducted at individual pro days on college campuses and thus the pandemic strikes again.

The NFL said it will work with colleges to encourage consistency in the testing and drills across the pro days. The NFL ensures there will be video of the workouts available for all teams.

In addition, the league is planning to obtain comprehensive medical information on the invited prospects. This will include a combination of virtual interviews with team doctors and tests done near the prospects’ current residence.

For certain prospects, however, teams will be allowed — via one physician and one athletic trainer — to conduct in-person exams over a two- or three-day period in early April. Prospects’ club interviews and physiological testing and assessment will all be done virtually.

Teams had made it clear to the NFL after the virtual 2020 combine, collecting medical information on the players was vital and hard for them to do independently under the unorthodox format.

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