As we get into the thick of the NFL offseason, here is a reminder of some of the prominent dates on the upcoming calendar.
Wednesday is the first day that teams are allowed to use the franchise tag on a specific player. Each club is only allotted one tag per year, which can be used as either an exclusive or non-exclusive tag. Here are the specifics for how each tag works. In layman's terms, a franchise tag means that a team gets one-year control of the tagged player and will have to pay him among the elite at his position. CBS Sports compiled a list of potential free agents who could be tagged in the coming weeks.
Below is a list of the remainder of important dates still to come this offseason.
February 15:First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
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February 28-March 6: **Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
March 1:Prior to 1:00 p.m. PT, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 7-9:During the period beginning at 12 noon, New York time, on March 7th and ending at 12:59:59 p.m. PT on March 9th, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2016 player contracts at 1:00 p.m. PT on March 9. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 1:00 p.m. PT on March 9.
During the above two-day negotiating period, no direct contact is permitted between a prospective unrestricted free agent and any employee or representative of a club, other than the player's current club.
March 9:The 2017 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 1:00 p.m. PT.
The first day of the 2017 League Year will end at 8:59:59 p.m. PT on March 9. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the League office during the period between 1:00 p.m. PT and 8:59:59 p.m. PT on March 9.
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What are your favorite San Francisco 49ers players up to this summer? View images of their recent adventures.
49ers skill players worked out together on SMU's campus.(Top row from left to right) WR Kendrick Bourne, WR DeAndre Smelter, TE George Kittle, QB Brian Hoyer, QB Matt Barkley, QB Nick Mullens, QB C.J. Beathard, WR Marquise Goodwin and RB Kapri Bibbs.(Bottom row from left to right) TE Cole Hikutini, WR Trent Taylor, WR Aldrick Robinson, WR DeAndre Carter and WR Victor Bolden Jr.Follow @MattBarkley on twitter
Robbie Gould participated in the ProAm in Lake Tahoe. Follow @RobbieGould09 on twitter.
Eric Reid joined the 49ers contigent at the Sports Humanitarian Awards in Los Angeles, Calif.Follow @E_Reid35 on twitter.
Solomon Thomas particiapted in the Von Miller Pass Rush Summit.Follow @sollythomas90 on Instagram.
Kyle Juszczyk visited Santorini, Greece.Follow @juicecheck44 on Instagram.
Dekoda Watson teed off during the StadiumLinks event at Levi's® Stadium.Follow @dekodawatson57 on twitter.
Robbie Gould led the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field.Follow @RobbieGould09 on Instagram.
Marquise Goodwin vistied the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt.Follow @MarquiseGoodwin on Instagram.
Matt Barkley enjoying the 4th of July with his family. Follow @MattBarkley on Twitter.
Eric Reid enjoyed the 4th of July with his daughters.Follow at @e_reid35 on Instagram.
Ronald Blair spent some time in Hawaii.Follow @superblair on Twitter.
Rashard Robinson caught a big fish down in Florida.Follow @mantis.954 on Instagram.
Victor Bolden received his degree from Oregon State University.Follow @vic._ on Instagram.
Eli Harold tied the knot.Follow @eliharold__ on Instagram.
Kyle Juszczyk spent some time in Croatia.Follow @JuiceCheck44 on Instagram.
DeForest Buckner took a trip to Italy.Follow @dbuck_99 on Instagram.
Robbie Gould hosted a Celebrity Golf Tournament. Follow @RobbieGould09 on Instagram.
Bradley Pinion participated in Robbie Gould's Celebrity Golf Tournament. Follow @bpinion05 on Instagram.
Jaquiski Tartt enjoyed a night at Topgolf Sacramento with New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins and Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson. Follow @quaski_29 on Instagram.
Marquise Goodwin swam with pigs and sharks in the Bahamas.Follow @MarquiseGoodwin on Instagram.
Solomon Thomas trained with NFL legend Warren Sapp.Follow @sollythomas90 on Instagram.
Members of the 49ers 2017 Rookie class take in a San Francisco Giants game.Follow @ceejaybeathard, @trent5taylor, @nickmullens and @gkittle46 on Instagram.
Joe Williams enjoys his time at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. Follow @jwills_28 on Instagram.
Tim Hightower spends time with 49ers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott.Follow @tim_hightower on Instagram.
Robbie Gould hikes Loveland Pass in Denver, Colo.Follow @robbiegould09 on Instagram.
Adrian Colbert celebrates Memorial Day in Las Vegas, Nev.Follow @adriancolbert25 on Instagram.
Blake Bell drives the ball at the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Course.Follow @b_bell10 on Instgram.
Newely engaged Kyle Juszczyk proposed to his girlfriend Kristin.Follow @juicecheck44 on Instagram.
Earl Mitchell tours his new home.Follow @earlmitchell90 on Instagram.
Joe Staley spends some time with his daughter.Follow @jstaley74 on Instagram.
Matt Barkley enjoying the U2 Joshua Tree Tour at Levi's® Stadium.Follow @mattbarkley on Instagram.
Dekoda Watson participating in a charity golf event.Follow @dekodawatson on Instagram.
Vance McDonald in Laguna Beach, Calif. after a Convoy of Hope Summit.Follow @vancemcdonald89 on Instagram.
Bradley Pinion and his fiancée at Winter Fest in Lake Tahoe, Calif.Follow @bpinion05 on Instagram.
Carlos Hyde in the Dominican Republic.Follow @el_guapo1 on Instagram.
Robbie Gould golfing at TPC Scottsdale.Follow @robbiegould09 on Instagram.
Marquise Goodwin with Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and NFL safety Aaron Williams at a charity event.Follow @marquisegoodwin on Instagram.
NaVorro Bowman in the Dominican Republic.Follow @navorro_bowman on Instagram.
Matt Barkley and his family with USC Head Coach Clay Helton at USC Spring Practice.Follow @mattbarkley on Instagram.
Eric Reid climbing Table Mountain in South Africa.Follow @e_reid35 on Instagram.
Jeremy Kerley at Radio Row during Super Bowl week.Follow @jeremykerley11 on Instagram.
Dontae Johnson spending some time in Barcelona.Follow @3johnson6 on Instagram.
Jaquiski Tartt goes to DeMarcus Cousins' Comedy Slam.Follow @quaski_29 on Instagram.
NaVorro Bowman visits a fan in the hospital.Follow @NBowman53 on Twitter.
Aaron Lynch vacationing with his family.Follow @officiallynchmobb59 on Instagram.
Keith Reaser attends a basketball game with NFL corner D'Joun Smith.Follow @keithreaser27 on Instagram.
Joe Staley takes a photo with an Army veteran.Follow @jstaley74 on Instagram.
Eric Reid at his brother's wedding.Follow @e_reid35 on Instagram.
Eric Reid and his brother go fishing.Follow @e_reid35 on Instagram.
Will Redmond at a community event in Memphis, Tenn.Follow @iwill_makeplays23 on Instagram.
Quinton Dial takes his son to the circus.Follow @quintondial92 on Instagram.
DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead attend a National Signing Day banquet in Portland, Ore.Follow @d_buck99 on Instagram.
DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead attend the Oregon vs. Arizona State basketball game with other notable Oregon alumni.Follow @sacnina91 on Instagram.
Joshua Garnett runs into former NBA star Rashard Lewis in Houston, Texas.Follow @joshuagarnett on Instagram.
Matt Barkley showing his son, his spot on the Mater Dei HS Alumni wall.Follow @MattBarkley on Twitter.
Joshua Garnett attends a friend's wedding.Follow @joshuagarnett on Instagram.
March 9:** Trading period for 2017 begins at 1:00 p.m. PT after expiration of all 2016 contracts.
March 26-29:Annual League Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.
April 3: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2016 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 17:Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 21:Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets.
April 26:Deadline for prior club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents.
April 27-29:NFL Draft (Philadelphia). The NFL draft was last held in Philadelphia in 1961, and the first ever NFL draft was held in Philadelphia in 1936.
