What happened: The NFL released its official schedule for the 2026-27 league year, including the timing for free agency and Super Bowl LXI. Front offices must trim their active rosters to 53 players by Sunday, August 30. The trade deadline is set for Tuesday, November 10.

Why it matters: Locking in these dates allows organizations to map out their evaluation phases and manage salary cap allocations. The mid-November cutoff for deals provides a runway for contending organizations to acquire final pieces before the playoffs.

What to watch: Personnel departments will assess their depth charts throughout training camp ahead of the August mandatory reductions.