Buccaneers training camp is a little over three weeks away from getting underway, and the NFL calendar for the 2026 season and 2027 offseason is beginning to take shape as Tampa Bay and 31 other teams will be impacted.
On Tuesday, the NFL announced its important dates for the 2026-27 league year, giving teams, players, agents, and fans a roadmap from training camp through free agency and the 2027 NFL draft. The calendar remains subject to change, but it includes several major deadlines that will shape roster construction across the league.
July 15 starts things off, when clubs that designated franchise players face a 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time deadline to sign those players to multi-year contracts or extensions. After that date, franchise players can sign only one-year deals with their prior clubs for the 2026 season. The preseason schedule begins with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio, between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. The first full preseason weekend is scheduled for Aug. 13-15, followed by the second preseason weekend from Aug. 20-23 and the third from Aug. 27-29.
One of the most important roster-building dates arrives Aug. 30, when Tampa must reduce rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. New York time. Waiver claims from final cuts expire Aug. 31 at 1 p.m., and clubs may establish practice squads after receiving the league’s personnel notice.
The NFL regular season begins with Kickoff Weekend games scheduled on Sept. 9-10 and Sept. 13-14. The international schedule includes several notable games, including the Ravens against the Cowboys in Brazil on Sept. 27 and the Eagles against the Jaguars in London on Oct. 4.
The 2026 trade deadline is Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. New York time.
After the regular season, Wild Card Weekend is scheduled for Jan. 16-18, followed by the divisional round Jan. 23-24 and conference championship games Jan. 31. Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The 2027 offseason begins quickly after that. Teams may designate franchise or transition players from Feb. 17 through March 3. The scouting combine is scheduled for March 1-8 in Indianapolis, and the 2027 league year and free agency signing period begin March 11 at 4 p.m. New York time.
The 2027 NFL draft is scheduled for April 29-May 1 in Washington, D.C.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: NFL sets 2026 trade deadline, roster cutdown, and 2027 free agency dates
Reporting by Glenn Erby , Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Glenn Erby , Buccaneers Wire | USA TODAY Network
