No matter the month, there's always a "tentpole" event in the NFL.
When the season comes to an end Feb. 5 in Houston at Super Bowl 51, the NFL news cycle will keep on churning. Whether it's the Senior Bowl, Combine or various owners meetings, there's always something happening.
Here's a glance of what to expect over the next few months.
Jan. 16 - Deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2017 Draft. An official list of these players is released four days later.
Jan. 21 - East-West Shrine Game (St. Petersburg, Florida) and NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (Carson, California)
Jan. 24-28 - Senior Bowl practices begin in Mobile, Alabama, with the game happening at the end of the week. Cleveland's coaches will lead the South team and Chicago's will coach the North.
Jan. 29 - NFL Pro Bowl (Orlando)
Feb. 5 - Super Bowl LI (Houston)
Feb. 15 - First day for teams to designate Franchise or Transition players
Feb. 28-March 6 - NFL Scouting Combine (Indianapolis)
March 1 - Deadline for teams to designate Franchise or Transition players
March 7-9 - Teams are permitted to contact and negotiate contracts with agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents at the start of the new league year. The contract can't be finalized until the start of the league year.
March 9 - The 2017 league year begins at 4 p.m. EST, thus opening free agency.
March 26-29 - Annual league meeting (Phoenix)
April 3 - Teams that hired a new head coach are permitted to begin offseason workouts.
April 17 - Teams with returning head coaches are permitted to begin offseason workouts.
April 27-29 - 2017 NFL Draft (Philadelphia)
May 5-8 or 12-15 - Teams are permitted to hold one, three-day minicamp with drafted, signed or tryout rookies.
July 15 - Deadline for players who received Franchise Player designation to sign a multi-year contract or extension.
