Are OTAs mandatory? What to know about NFL offseason workouts with Justin Jefferson, Tee Higgins absences looming

The NFL's offseason calendar gets a bit quieter after the draft, but the league never truly sleeps. Even in the midst of summer doldrums, the NFL offers occasional action ahead of training camp.

Organized team activities (OTAs) are among the first notable post-draft activities. These workouts are conducted over 10 weeks in small bursts and provide NFL fans with a window into the performance of each team's new players, rookies and some key veterans.

OTAs also signal the start of holdout season across the NFL. Many top players who haven't yet signed extensions begin fighting for leverage in contract negotiations.

Sometimes, that includes avoiding team practices until a new deal is reached. In recent seasons, players have "held in" — a fancy way of saying they have attended practice but haven't actually participated. But if disgruntled players are going to miss any part of the offseason, OTAs are the best option.

Why? It's all about the rules surrounding OTAs and what NFL teams can and cannot require of their top players during the dog days of the league calendar.

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Are OTAs mandatory in the NFL?

No, OTAs are not mandatory in the NFL. The NFLPA negotiated as part of its CBA with the league that the nine-week offseason workouts and team activities would not be mandatory, save for one minicamp held during the final four weeks of the program (known as "Phase 3").

That's one of the reasons it's common to see holdouts during OTAs. Players aren't obligated to attend, so those negotiating long-term contract extensions often use OTA attendance as a leverage point in discussions. They can hold out without risking any actual salary.

For example, Justin Jefferson isn't expected to attend Minnesota's OTAs as he tries to work out a long-term deal with the Vikings beyond his 2024 option. That said, Jefferson is expected to attend the team's mandatory minicamp from June 4 to 6 to avoid being fined, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Tee Higgins' situation is a bit different, as he can't attend workouts until he signs his franchise tender with the Bengals. He's refusing to sign the tender because he wants a long-term deal, so expect Cincinnati to miss its No. 2 wide-out for the voluntary part of offseason workouts.

Holdouts aren't the only reason players might skip OTAs. Some established veterans simply choose to get more rest in May to freshen up. Those nursing injuries might stay home and attempt to recover from those on their own, without the ruckus that comes with working out and examining 90 football players.

Could that mean a player like Travis Kelce will skip OTAs to go see Taylor Swift in concert? He might not, but it at least remains possible — so long as the concert isn't during the brief, mandatory minicamp in June.

To recap: OTAs are not mandatory. But as the name suggests, mandatory minicamp — an event ranging from one to three days in length — must be attended.

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NFL OTAs rules

There are three phases to the NFL's rules for OTAs. They are as follows, per NFL.com:

Phase One

The beginning of OTAs, this phase includes the first two weeks of the program. Activities are limited to meetings, strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation.

There aren't any on-field drills during this phase, so players won't be making contact with one another or absorbing hits.

Phase Two

This three-week segment marks the beginning of on-field workouts. Players can participate in individual and group drills, but no live contact nor team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.

On-field workouts are conducted at a walk-through pace. So this portion of the offseason, while more rigorous than the first, still isn't the same as being a full go.

Phase Three

In the final four weeks of the program, teams are allowed to practice 10 total days during that span. No live contact is permitted as part of the drills, but teams can run 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills.

That makes things look as close to a real game as they can get during OTAs. But the purpose of the workouts is largely to make sure players are staying in shape and immersing themselves in the play-calling on both sides of the ball.

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NFL OTAs schedule 2024

Here's a look a the full OTA schedule for this year, from after the NFL Draft through the start of training camp in July: