We’re at a point in the NFL offseason in which the term “OTA” gets thrown around a lot.
In the midst of what some consider a “dead zone” in the NFL’s offseason, OTAs are an important part of preparing for the upcoming season. It’s when players join their new teams in an official capacity, rookies work with their new teammates, and fringe players try to secure training camp invitations that could lead to roster spots in the fall.
Although the first day of OTAs was in April, they begin in earnest in May leading into the NFL’s training camps.
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Here’s what to know about the NFL’s OTAs.
What does OTA mean in football?
“OTA” stands for “Organized Team Activities,” or the time in which NFL teams begin to practice in an official capacity. The term has been in use since the late 1990s as a catch-all label for spring workouts.
OTAs fall between voluntary minicamps in late April and mandatory minicamps in June and all are voluntary. While most players attend and participate in them, it’s not unusual for players recovering from injury or in contract disputes to sit them out.
Teams can have a maximum of 10 OTA practices and there are various restrictions on what can be done in them, most notably that contact is not allowed.
NFL OTAs schedule 2024
Here’s a look a the full OTA schedule for this year, from after the NFL Draft through the start of training camp in July:
| Team | Rookie Minicamp | OTA Offseason Workouts | Mandatory Minicamp |
| Arizona Cardinals | May 10-12 | May 20-22, 28-30, June 3-6 | June 11-13 |
| Atlanta Falcons | May 10-12 | May 13-14, 16, 20-21, June 3-6 | June 10-12 |
| Baltimore Ravens | May 3-5 | May 20, 22-23, 28, 30-31, June 3-4, 6-7 | June 11-13 |
| Buffalo Bills | May 10-11 | May 20-21, 23, 28-30, June 3-4, 6 | June 11-13 |
| Carolina Panthers | May 10-12 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6 | June 11-13 |
| Chicago Bears | May 10-11 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31 | June 4-6 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | May 10 | May 28-30, June 3-6 | June 11-13 |
| Cleveland Browns | May 10-12 | May 21-23, 28-30, June 3-6 | June 11-13 |
| Dallas Cowboys | May 10-11 | May 21-23, 29-31 | June 4-6 |
| Denver Broncos | May 10-12 | May 21-23, 28-30, June 3-6 | June 11-13 |
| Detroit Lions | May 10-12 | May 21-23, 29-31, June 10-12 | June 4-6 |
| Green Bay Packers | May 3-4 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6 | June 11-13 |
| Houston Texans | May 10-11 | May 20-21, 23, 29-31 | June 4-6 |
| Indianapolis Colts | May 10-12 | May 21-23, 29-31 | June 4-6 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | May 10-11 | May 20-21, 23,28-29, 31, June 3-6 | June 10-12 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | May 4-6 | May 20-22, 28-30, June 4-7 | June 11-13 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | May 10-11 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-6 | June 11-13 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | May 10-12 | May 20-21, 23, 29-31, June 4-7 | June 11-13 |
| Los Angeles Rams | May 10-11 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-6 | June 10-12 |
| Miami Dolphins | May 10-12 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31 | June 4-6 |
| Minnesota Vikings | May 10-12 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 10-13 | June 4-6 |
| New England Patriots | May 10-12 | May 20-21, 23, 29-31, June 3-6 | June 11-13 |
| New Orleans Saints | May 10-12 | May 21-23, 28-30, June 3-6 | June 11-13 |
| New York Giants | May 9-11 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6-7 | June 11-13 |
| New York Jets | May 3-5 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6-7 | June 11-13 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | May 3-4 | May 20, 22-23, 28, 30-31 | June 4-6 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | May 10-12 | May 21-23, 28-30, June 3-6 | June 11-13 |
| San Francisco 49ers | May 10-11 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31 | June 4-6 |
| Seattle Seahawks | May 3-5 | May 20, 22-23, 28, 30-31, June 3-4, 6-7 | June 11-13 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | May 10-12 | May 21-23, 28-30, June 4-6 | June 11-13 |
| Tennessee Titans | May 10-12 | May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 10-13 | June 4-6 |
| Washington Commanders | May 10-12 | May 14-15, 17, 21-22, 24, June 4-5, 7 | June 11-13 |
NFL key offseason dates 2024
Those are the key dates on the team level, but for the league there are other dates throughout the offseason.
One major milestone remains to pass in the 2024 NFL offseason. At 4 p.m. on July 17, players designated with the franchise tag cannot sign an extension until the end of the regular season.
From there, there is the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 1 between the Texans and Browns, followed by the NFL preseason and regular season.