Keeping track of all the important offseason free agency dates for the Steelers.
With just the Super Bowl left on this season’s schedule, the offseason is in full swing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Below, you’ll find a list of all the important dates to be aware of while waiting for the NFL Draft.
Jan. 30: East-West Shrine Bowl
This college all-star game, and the practices leading up to it, is a major pre-draft event that will have the Steelers’ interest. The game will be broadcast on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET. You can view the game’s roster here.
Feb. 1: Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl will also be televised on NFL Network, this time at 2:30 p.m. ET. Another key pre-draft event, the Senior Bowl features a few more big names and the week leading up to it will be full of interviews, measurements, and practice highlights (just don’t get too fooled by the one-on-ones). You can view the accepted invitees here.
Feb. 24 – March 3: NFL Scouting Combine
The NFL Combine is when draft season kicks into high gear and 40-yard dash times shuffle draft boards. It’ll also be featured on NFL Network.
- Defensive line, linebackers — Thursday, 3 p.m. ET
- Defensive backs, tight ends — Friday, 3 p.m. ET
- Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs — Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
- Offensive line — Sunday, 1 p.m.
March 4: Franchise/transition tag deadline
From 4 p.m. ET on Feb. 18 to 4 p.m. ET March 4, teams have a window to designate players with the franchise tag or transition tag. There isn’t a strong candidate for either on the Steelers this year, or across the league, for that matter. Still, it’ll be worth monitoring headlines on March 4 as a tagged player would affect the free agent market.
March 10: Legal tampering period begins
The NFL’s legal tampering period is the start of free agency, with teams being allowed to enter contract negotiations with unrestricted free agents (UFAs) starting at noon ET. Contracts can be agreed to during this period, but they can’t be signed until the start of the new league year.
March 12: Start of the 2025 NFL league year
The NFL’s new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET. After the new league year begins, contracts from the previous season expire, free-agent contracts can become official, and the 2025 trading period begins.
March 30 – April 2: Annual league meeting
This yearly meeting between NFL owners is when any changes to the league’s rulebook will be voted on. After yet another year of officiating controversy, some big changes could go down over the four-day stretch.
April 18: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offers
If the Steelers place an RFA tender on running back Jaylen Warren, this will be the deadline for him to sign the offer sheet.
April 21: Offseason workouts can begin (returning head coaches)
For teams with returning head coaches (like the Steelers), offseason workout programs can begin at this date. Teams with new head coaches can begin two weeks earlier.
April 23: Right of first refusal deadline/Draft visit deadline
This date is the deadline for teams to match an offer sheet an RFA signed with another team, therefore retaining the player. It’s also the last day for teams to meet with draft-eligible players.
April 24-26: 2025 NFL Draft
Over this weekend, the 2025 NFL Draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin. As always, Day 1 will feature the first round, Day 2 Rounds 2-3, and Day 3 Rounds 4-7.
Details are still to be announced, but expect the draft to be televised on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Per Yahoo, “Each draft from at least the last decade has started its first round at 8 p.m. ET. Day 2 has usually started at 7 p.m. ET, and the final day of the draft usually begins at noon ET.”
The Steelers’ are 21st in the draft order this year, with one pick each in the first five rounds, no sixth-round pick, and two selections in the seventh round.
Stay tuned to BTSC for offseason coverage, including news and analysis of the 2025 NFL Draft and free agency, ahead of the upcoming season.