20 NFL Teams Kick Off OTA Workouts Today—Which 5 Will Keep Fans Waiting?

It’s that time of year again — the NFL’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are kicking off across the league, and by tomorrow, not a single team will be left on the sidelines. Seven franchises with fresh-faced head coaches have already dived into these early sessions, leveraging the NFL’s allowances to get a jumpstart. Meanwhile, the other 25 teams are joining the fray this week — 20 are hitting the field today, with the remaining five gearing up for tomorrow. These OTAs represent a crucial four-week stretch in the offseason, known as Phase Three, where teams can hold up to 10 sessions filled with non-contact drills, including the near-complete 11-on-11 matchups coaches crave for a real glimpse at their rosters. Although participation is voluntary — and while most players show up ready to work — there’s always a few who opt out. Minicamps, if mandated, leave no room for absence without a penalty. It’s fascinating to watch how each team approaches this effort, balancing preparation and player wellbeing as they inch closer to game day. Curious to see which squads are starting now and which ones are lining up tomorrow? LEARN MORE

Whatever coaches prefer, however, OTAs are voluntary like the rest of the offseason program. The vast majority of players choose to participate, but a handful of players typically skip OTAs. Teams may also hold a mandatory minicamp during Phase Three of the offseason program, and players who don’t attend get fined.By tomorrow, every NFL team will have kicked off its Organized Team Activities.The seven teams with new head coaches started their OTAs early, as they are permitted to do under NFL rules. The remaining 25 teams are starting this week, with 20 going today and the other five going tomorrow.OTAs take place during a four-week period known as Phase Three of the offseason program, and teams can have a total of 10 OTAs. No live contact is allowed, but all non-contact offense vs. defense drills are allowed, including 11-on-11. It’s the closest thing to playing football that the NFL allows in the offseason, and coaches like to have as close to a full roster as they can so they can assess how the team looks.The teams starting OTAs today are the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans.The teams starting tomorrow are the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders.