Next step for Cincinnati Bengals is minicamp

Now that the NFL Draft and primary free agency period have come and gone, the next thing on the schedule for the Bengals this offseason are their Organized Team Activities (OTAs), as well as minicamps.

The first minicamp that would normally occur would be for the rookies either drafted this year or signed as undrafted free agents following the draft. There will also be several trout players attending in hopes of showcasing their talents to the coaching staff to the point they're signed to the 90-man offseason roster.

Each club may hold a rookie football development program for a period of seven weeks, which in 2014 may begin on May 12. During this period, no activities may be held on weekends, with the exception of one post-NFL Draft rookie minicamp, which may be conducted on either the first or second weekend following the draft.

The Bengals won't have a rookie camp this year though, the rookies and veterans are in Cincinnati this week working out, and likely spending some time on the practice field, without the direction of coaches though. That would be a violation of the CBA.

Here are the dates for the rest of the OTAs over the course of the offseason.

OTA offseason workouts: May 27-29, June 3-5, June 16-18

Mandatory minicamp: June 10-12

First training-camp practice: July 23