The Raiders have already been active since they last played. Owner Mark Davis hired new head coach Jon Gruden, who overhauled the entire staff. That group has worked on writing playbooks – that will continue in coming weeks – but player acquisition takes center stage. .
The Raiders will cut some names you know, and add some others who better fits new schemes. They'll continue evaluating college players and eventually draft some this spring.
Let's take a look at some important dates in this Raiders offseason:
Monday: 2018 wavier system begins. Teams can formally start releasing players and claim those on the wire or sign some who clear the process untouched.
Feb. 20: First day for clubs to apply the franchise tag. This won't impact the Raiders much. They have a fifth-year option on Khalil Mack, without a pending free agent worthy of the designation.
Feb.27-March 5:NFL Scouting Combine
March 12-14:Open negotiating period for impending free agents. Teams employing UFAs have exclusive negotiating rights before this time. Contracts can't be formally executed, but terms can be discussed (and often agreed upon).
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March 14: The 2018 league year formally begins. This is a big day, when free agency formally starts and players can sign with other clubs. …Teams must also submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents. …Also, the trading period begins.
March 25-28:NFL League Meetings
April 2: Clubs with new head coaches can start the offseason program. The Raiders will start this day, with Gruden at the helm.
April 26-28:NFL draft
May 4-7 or May 11-14: Rookie minicamp
May-June:Raiders will conduct voluntary OTA sessions and a mandatory minicamp.
Late July:Training camp begins
