Las Vegas Raiders: Important offseason dates to know in 2021
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders are entering one of the more important offseasons in recent memory, as it is Jon Gruden’s fourth since returning as head coach, and the third with him and Mike Mayock at the helm of the franchise. After going 4-12 his first season back, Gruden has brought this Raiders team back to being a .500 club, but there is so much work to do before they are actually going to be a perennial playoff contender.
Sure, they are set at numerous positions, as guys like Derek Carr, Josh Jacobs, and Darren Waller will be keys on offense, and Maxx Crosby, Trayvon Mullen, and Maurice Hurst will lead the defense, but this is an offseason that is going to have plenty of changes within the roster.
Here is a look at the next few weeks in terms of important dates to keep an eye on.
Raiders Important Offseason Dates
March 9: Deadline to utilize franchise or transition tags
March 9 is the first big day of the 2021 offseason because this is when we start to see what free agents will actually be available, and what ones will be franchise tagged. For the Raiders, there is no big-name player they could use the franchise tag on, and most likely, this day will pass without much Raiders news.
March 15: Raiders can start to talk with other teams free agents
This is a two-day window for the Raiders to begin conversations with players on other teams that are heading into free agency.
March 17: New league year and free agency begins
Before 1pm PT, all teams must exercise the options for those who have clauses in their 2020 contracts. Also, the Raiders must submit a minimum salary tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2020 contracts who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit, and all 2020 contracts end one second before the 1pm PT deadline.
April 19: Raiders can begin offseason program
April 29- May 1: 2021 NFL Draft
The time will arrive for the 2021 NFL Draft, one of the more exciting three-day spans of the entire offseason. The Raiders hold the No. 17 overall pick this year, and with issues on both sides of the ball, they could go several different ways.
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The expectation is playoffs or bust this season, especially with fans piling into Allegiant Stadium, and there being enough talent to make some noise in the AFC. We will have a much better idea of what this team will look like over the next two months, and the hope is, Gruden and Mayock can get them over the hump.