What Are OTAs in NFL Football? Dates and Schedule for OTA Workouts

Updated: Sep 10, 5:00pm UTC

The 2021 NFL offseason is in full swing as all 32 franchises begin to ramp up towards a summer of workouts and eventually the start of the season in early September. The league and its collective bargaining agreement have defined three separate phases for the initial voluntary workouts, or OTAs.

What are NFL OTAs?

NFL OTAs, or organized team practice activities, are defined by the league as "in-person meetings and classroom instruction designed to help players improve during the offseason." These activities can only take place for 10 days during the course of phase three of the NFL's voluntary workout period.

NFL OTAs Schedule

Phase one took place from April 19-May 14 and included "activities limited to strength and conditioning, virtual meetings, and physical rehabilitation only." Phase two occurred May 17-21 with short on-field instructional activities - many rookie minicamps took place during this phase. Finally, phase three includes in-person meetings and trainings from May 24-June 18.

How Long do OTAs Last?

Every NFL team decides when to hold their OTAs, however, teams are limited to 10 days of these activities. It's not required to hold the 10 days of OTAs consecutively and teams often break into separate sections.

When are OTAs in NFL Football?

Each team schedules their own 10 days of OTAs throughout phase three of the voluntary workout calendar. These activities can start no earlier than May 24 and end no later than June 18.

Are NFL OTAs Voluntary?

Participation in NFL OTAs is strictly voluntary. The league also stipulates that no live contact is permitted. However, several types of drills are allowed including 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 activities.

The 2021 NFL offseason has seen a number of veteran players declining attendance at these voluntary OTAs.

What are OTAs in NFL Football?

The league will conclude the voluntary phase of its offseason programming by mid-June. Following the final phase three, which includes all OTAs, the teams will resume activities by July 27 for official training camp activities. These training camps will be mandatory for all NFL players.

OTA dates for all 32 NFL teams

- Arizona Cardinals: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 7-10
- Atlanta Falcons: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 14-17
- Baltimore Ravens: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 7-8, June 10-11
- Buffalo Bills: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, June 10-11
- Carolina Panthers: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-3, June 7-10
- Chicago Bears: May 25-27. June 1-3, June 7-10
- Cincinnati Bengals: May 24-26, June 1-3, June 7-10
- Cleveland Browns: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
- Dallas Cowboys: May 24-25, May 27, June 1, June 3-4
- Denver Broncos: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, June 10-11
- Detroit Lions: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 14-17
- Green Bay Packers: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, June 10
- Houston Texans: May 24, May 26-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-8, June 10-11
- Indianapolis Colts: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 7-10
- Jacksonville Jaguars: May 24, May 26-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-10
- Kansas City Chiefs: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 8-11
- Las Vegas Raiders: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
- Los Angeles Chargers: May 24-25, May 27, June 2-4, June 7-8, June 10
- Los Angeles Rams: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-3, June 7-10
- Miami Dolphins: May 24-26, June 1-3, June 7-8, June 10
- Minnesota Vikings: May 24-26, June 1-3, June 8-11
- New England Patriots: May 24-25, May 27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-8, June 10-11
- New Orleans Saints: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
- New York Giants: May 24-25, May 27, June 2-4, June 14-15
- New York Jets: May 24, May 26-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-8, June 10-11
- Philadelphia Eagles: May 25-27, June 2-4, June 14-17
- Pittsburgh Steelers: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 7-10
- San Francisco 49ers: May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, June 10
- Seattle Seahawks: May 24, May 26-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-10
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 14-17
- Tennessee Titans: May 24-25, May 27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-10
- Washington Football Team: May 25-27, June 1-3, June 8-10

Adam Taylor McKillop is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Adam Taylor also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username atmckillop. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.