Are NFL OTAs voluntary? Inside the league's rules and regulations

Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are a crucial component in getting ready for the new campaign in the NFL. New players officially begin playing for their new teams during this time.

While out-of-favor players attempt to earn visits to training camp, which might eventually result in roster places, newly drafted players also get the chance to work with their new colleagues.

OTAs are optional practice sessions that precede a minicamp that's mandatory. The goal of this offseason practice is to establish team bonding, integrate new coaches and players, and improve overall performance.

Players can choose not to participate in the activity, although in recent years, key veterans have been quite present on teams throughout the league.

NFL teams usually schedule OTAs such that they are divided into three phases to offer players training and physical conditioning.

Approximately two weeks are dedicated to meetings, strength and conditioning, and rehabilitation exercises during the first phase. The goal of the second phase, which lasts for roughly three weeks, is to get players onto the field for different drills.

For the third phase of drills, live contact is not allowed, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.

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NFL OTAs schedule in 2024

All NFL teams are listed below, along with the dates of each phase of their official OTA off-season exercises in 2024:

Arizona Cardinals - May 20-22, May 28-30, June 3-6

Atlanta Falcons - May 13-14, May 16, May 20-21, May 23, June 3-4, June 6

Baltimore Ravens - May 20, May 22-23, May 28, May 30-31, June 3-4, June 6-7

Buffalo Bills - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-30, June 3-4, June 6

Carolina Panthers - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 3-4, June 6

Chicago Bears - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31

Cincinnati Bengals - May 28-30, June 3-6

Cleveland Browns - May 21-23, May 28-30, June 3-6

Dallas Cowboys - May 21-23, May 29-31

Denver Broncos - May 21-23, May 28-30, June 3-6

Detroit Lions - May 21-23, May 29-31, June 10-12

Green Bay Packers - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 3-4, June 6

Houston Texans - May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31, June 3-4, June 6

Indianapolis Colts - May 21-23, May 29-31

Jacksonville Jaguars - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, June 3-6

Kansas City Chiefs - May 20-22, May 28-30, June 4-7

Las Vegas Raiders - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 3-6

Los Angeles Chargers - May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31, June 4-7

Los Angeles Rams - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 3-6

Miami Dolphins - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31

Minnesota Vikings - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 10-13

New England Patriots - May 20-21, May 23, May 29-31, June 3-4, June 6-7

New Orleans Saints - May 21-23, May 28-30, June 3-6

New York Giants - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 3-4, June 6-7

New York Jets - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 3-4, June 6-7

Philadelphia Eagles - May 20, May 22-23, May 28, May 30-31

Pittsburgh Steelers - May 21-23, May 28-30, June 3-6

San Francisco 49ers - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31

Seattle Seahawks - May 20, May 22-23, May 28, May 30-31, June 3-4, June 6-7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - May 21-23, May 28-30, June 4-6

Tennessee Titans - May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 10-13

Washington Commanders - 14-15, May 17, May 21-22, May 24, June 4-5, June 7