Important NFL dates, times for Chiefs in 2021 offseason
The Kansas City Chiefs have shifted to offseason mode and are already hard at work preparing for the 2021 NFL season. The new league year, the start of the NFL’s free agency period and the 2021 NFL draft are just a few of the important events arriving later this spring.
Here’s a quick look at the upcoming NFL calendar and what fans should be aware of:
Feb. 23: Chiefs DE Alex Okafor's contract for 2021 voids
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This is something that the Chiefs fully expect and know is coming. It's significant because it means that Okafor will become a free agent. But it also means the team will incur a charge against the salary cap for the signing bonus proration for the 2021 season. This is the cost of doing business when Kansas City decided to restructure Okafor's contract last season.
February 23 - March 9: Franchise and transition tag window
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The Chiefs don't have any clear use for the franchise tag this year. It's not like in seasons past where they could use it as a negotiation tool or had a key player that they wanted to hang onto. The team is not expected to use either tag, but they could always use the transition tag on a potential free agent with the intent of striking a trade. It's unlikely, but it always remains a possibility.
March 10 - 13: Compensatory draft pick announcement
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Around this time of the year, the NFL typically announces their compensatory draft picks selections. The Chiefs are projected to receive fourth-round and fifth-round compensatory picks for departures of Kendall Fuller and Emmanuel Ogbah last year. The team has not had a compensatory draft pick since 2019, back when they selected RB Darwin Thompson.
March 15-17: NFL's legal tampering period
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This is when teams are "legally" permitted to speak to players from opposing teams who are set to become free agents. Legally, meaning the NFL can't punish teams under their tampering rules during this period. If the Chiefs plan to make a splash in free agency this season, say sign a big-name receiver like Bears wideout Allen Robinson, this is when the groundwork for a contract would be laid out.
March 17: 2021 free agency period and league year begin
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All unsigned unrestricted, restricted and exclusive rights free agents that haven't been re-signed are officially allowed to sign with other teams on this date. The Chiefs have a total of 27 players who currently fall under that umbrella. Any cost-cutting measures that the team takes to keep some of their free agents will have to happen before this date too.
March 19: Chiefs contract guarantees kick in
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If you're looking for answers on the future of Chiefs RT Mitchell Schwartz, this is the day that you'll find out. Schwartz has a contract guarantee mechanism that triggers on the third day of the new league year, guaranteeing nearly $6 million in base salary. If Kansas City doesn't want to keep Schwartz for the 2021 season, they'll cut or trade him before this day. Other key Chiefs players also have guaranteed money kicking in on this day, such as Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones and Tyreek Hill. Jones is another player to keep an eye on here as his contract is one that is considered to be tradeable.
April 23: Deadline for RFAs to sign offer sheets
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The Chiefs have several key players set to become restricted free agents and a number of them will likely be tendered a contract. Guys who made big contributions this season like Charvarius Ward, Darrel Williams, and Andrew Wylie. Then there are some smaller role players like Ben Niemann and Deon Yelder. If the Chiefs tender those players contracts they can also sign offer sheets from other teams. This needs to happen prior to the draft because teams who lose players are awarded draft compensation.
April 29 - May 1: 2021 NFL draft
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Before you know it, it's going to be time for the next wave of rookies to join the Chiefs. You can find out about the draft picks they currently have here. The draft this season will be a challenge, without the normal scouting combine, but several localized scouting combines for teams to attend. Brett Veach and the rest of the NFL won't quite have the same tools they're used to, but Veach has already said that the team has a number of different roadmaps to help them achieve their future goals.
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