Commissioner Roger Goodell is supporting widespread change in the NFL offseason calendar, and ongoing discussions with the players association could result in moving next year’s draft to May 15.
That’s the tentative 2014 NFL Draft date around which negotiations with the NFLPA have centered, but it’s far from the only item on the league calendar under consideration. The initial date for the draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City wasn’t available because a Rockettes show, the “Spring Spectacular” was already booked for that weekend. The draft date can be changed by the NFL without bargaining from the players association.
But that could necessitate additional changes to what the NFL refers to as its “league year,” beginning with free agency. Rather than kicking off the signing period for unrestricted free agents in March, the league is proposing starting free agency at the end of that month, with the NFL Scouting Combine and other dates subject to change.
Under consideration by the union are changes to the next three years of the NFL calendar, beginning in 2014. The league year would begin just before the Scouting Combine, which could impact player contracts, bonuses and roster cut dates. The additional paperwork and administrative work on both sides of player contracts would require moving the combine back as much as one month.
NFL Network first reported Goodell’s proposal this past February was to move the combine to March, begin free agency in April and hold the draft in May. Agents and veteran players are opposed to delaying free agency beyond the current mid-March start date.