Texans: Key dates

March 1: Deadline to designate franchise or transition players.

March 7-9: Teams are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents.

March 9: Free agency and trading period begins.

March 26-29: Annual league meeting at Phoenix.

April 17: Offseason workouts can begin.

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.