Saints fans, lets look ahead instead of looking back at the pain of the NFC Championship Game. Let's examine what we have to look forward to this off-season:

February

• Feb. 12: Teams may sign free agents from the Canadian Football League; the Saints previously added CFL stars such as Delvin Breaux and Adam Bighill
• Feb. 19: Teams may submit the Franchise or Transition tag to their unrestricted free agents
• Feb. 26: NFL Scouting Combine kicks off

March

• March 3: Saints back-up quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s contract voids, allowing him to negotiate with other teams
• March 4: NFL Scouting Combine comes to an end
• March 5: Teams have until 3 p.m. Central to Franchise or Transition tag players
• March 11: Teams may begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents from other teams at 3 p.m. Central; Saints free agents such as Mark Ingram and P.J. Williams can speak with other teams as well
• March 12: Saints veteran defensive end Alex Okafor may choose whether to opt out of his current contract and test free agency, or remain with the team for one more season
• March 13: Teams may begin signing unrestricted free agents at 3 p.m. Central
  • March 13: Teams have to submit contract tenders to qualifying restricted free agents
  • March 13: Teams have to submit minimum-salary contract tenders for qualifying exclusive rights free agents
  • March 13: Teams may begin reporting trades to the NFL league office
  • March 13: Every NFL team must report contract obligations under the team's 2019 salary cap
  • March 13: Saints offensive lineman Andrus Peat’s base salary ($9.625 million) becomes guaranteed on this date
• March 15: Saints veteran offensive lineman Terron Armstead’s base salary ($10.7 million) will become guaranteed, and he is due $1 million in roster bonuses
  • March 15: Saints veteran offensive lineman Larry Warford is due $750,000 in roster bonuses
  • March 15: Saints veteran quarterback Drew Brees is due $11.95 million in roster bonuses
  • March 15: Saints veteran cornerback Patrick Robinson’s base salary ($4 million) becomes guaranteed
  • March 15: Saints veteran fullback Zach Line is due $200,000 in roster bonuses
• March 24: Annual NFL league meetings begin in Phoenix, AZ
• March 27: Saints veteran linebacker A.J. Klein is due $400,000 in roster bonuses

April

• April 15: The Saints may begin off-season workout program
• April 19: Restricted free agents have to sign their contract tenders; the Saints can issue tenders to kicker Wil Lutz or CB Ken Crawley
• April 25: Day one of the 2019 NFL Draft Round 1
• April 26: Day two of the NFL Draft Rounds 2 and 3; the Saints’ first pick is scheduled at 62nd overall as of now
• April 27: Day Three of the NFL Draft Rounds 4, 5, 6, and 7
  • April 27: Teams can negotiate contracts with any undrafted rookies; the Saints signed notable players including Taylor Stallworth, Keith Kirkwood, and J.T. Barrett after the 2018 NFL Draft

May

• May 2: Deadline for the Saints to exercise fifth year options for veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and veteran cornerback Eli Apple
• May 3: Teams have the ability to begin their three-day rookie mini camp practice sessions, or can elect to wait until May 10
• May 10: Teams may begin rookie mini camps if they chose to not do so the previous weekend; the Saints waited until this second three-day period last year
• May 20: Spring league meetings begin in Florida
• Late May: Teams may schedule organized team activities for three consecutive three-day periods; 2018, two of the Saints’ three sessions were held in May, from May 22 to May 24, and May 29 to May 31

June

• Early-June: Teams can schedule organized team activities for three consecutive three-day periods; 2018, the Saints held their third OTA session from June 4 to June 7
• Mid-June: Teams can schedule their only mandatory mini camp session; 2018, the Saints met from June 12 to June 14

July

• July 15: Deadline for teams to sign a contract extension with players issued a franchise tag
• Mid-July: The Saints can open training camp with rookies and first-year players in attendance

August

• Aug. 1: NFL's Hall of Fame game
• Aug. 5: Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport is due $325,000 in roster bonuses
• Aug. 31: Deadline for teams to report roster cuts at 3 p.m. central

September

• Sept. 1: Teams may place waiver claims on players released during roster cuts, and begin forming their practice squads

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