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Important NFL calendar dates leading up to 2017 NFL Draft

Here are the dates to know for the NFL in the next three months including the Combine, free agency, NFL Draft and more.

NFL: 2015 NFL Draft Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The 2016 football season is over after the New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, 34-28. The great Tom Brady comeback and first overtime Super Bowl game will go down in history. Brady fittingly won Super Bowl MVP and Matt Ryan continued the streak of NFL MVPs who fail to win the Super Bowl when in the big game.

Now, it’s time to turn our attention to the Draft eligible players, the Scouting Combine, pro days, and free agency. The NFL new league year doesn’t officially begin until March 9 at 4:00 p.m. ET, at which point free agency officially begins.

Here’s a look at the NFL calendar leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

February 15: First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

February 28-March 6: Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.

March 1: Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 7-9: During the period beginning at 12 noon, New York time, on March 7th and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 9th, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2016 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9.

During the above two-day negotiating period, no direct contact is permitted between a prospective unrestricted free agent and any employee or representative of a club, other than the player's current club.

March 9: The 2017 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

The first day of the 2017 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 9. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the League office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 9.

March 9: Trading period for 2017 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2016 contracts.

March 26-29: Annual League Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.

April 3: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2016 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.

April 17: Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

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 – First round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. First 32 picks of the draft will be announced in order.

April 28 – Second and third rounds of the NFL Draft, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Picks 33-96 will be announced.

Saturday, April 29 – Final four rounds of the NFL Draft, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

NFL Draft Order: First two rounds

# Team Record Strength of schedule
# Team Record Strength of schedule
1 Cleveland Browns 1-15 0.5494071146
2 San Francisco 49ers 2-14 0.503968254
3 Chicago Bears 3-13 0.5215686275
4 Jacksonville Jaguars 3-13 0.52734375
5 Tennessee Titans (via Rams) 4-12 (Rams) 0.503968254 (Rams)
6 New York Jets 5-11 0.5177865613
7 Los Angeles Chargers 5-11 0.54296875
8 Carolina Panthers 6-10 0.5177865613
9 Cincinnati Bengals 6-9 -1 0.5215686275
10 Buffalo Bills 7-9 0.4822134387
11 New Orleans Saints 7-9 0.5236220472
12 Cleveland Browns (via Eagles) 7-9 (Eagles) 0.5595238095 (Eagles)
13 Arizona Cardinals 7-8 -1 0.4624505929
T-14 Philadelphia Eagles (via Vikings) 8-8 (Vikings) 0.4921875 (Vikings)
T-14 Indianapolis Colts 8-8 0.4921875
16 Baltimore Ravens 8-8 0.4980237154
17 Washington 8-7 -1 0.5157480315
18 Tennessee Titans 9-7 0.46484375
19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7 0.4921259843
20 Denver Broncos 9-7 0.5490196078
21 Detroit Lions 9-7 0.4745098039
22 Miami Dolphins 10-6 0.4545454545
23 New York Giants 11-5 0.4861660079
24 Oakland Raiders 12-4 0.50390625
25 Houston Texans 9-7 0.5019607843
26 Seattle Seahawks 10-5 -1 0.4409448819
27 Kansas City Chiefs 12-4 0.5078125
28 Dallas Cowboys 13-3 0.4703557312
29 Green Bay Packers 10-6 0.5078740157
30 Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 0.4940711462
31 Atlanta Falcons 11-5 0.4803149606
32 New England Patriots 14-2 0.4387351779
2nd round
# Team Record Strength of schedule
33 Cleveland Browns 1-15 0.5494071146
34 San Francisco 49ers 2-14 0.503968254
35 Jacksonville Jaguars 3-13 0.52734375
36 Chicago Bears 3-13 0.5215686275
37 Los Angeles Rams 4-12 0.503968254
38 Los Angeles Chargers 5-11 0.54296875
39 New York Jets 5-11 0.5177865613
40 Carolina Panthers 6-10 0.5177865613
41 Cincinnati Bengals 6-9 -1 0.5215686275
42 New Orleans Saints 7-9 0.5236220472
43 Philadelphia Eagles 7-9 0.5595238095
44 Buffalo Bills 7-9 0.4822134387
45 Arizona Cardinals 7-8 -1 0.4624505929
46 Vikings or Colts 8-8 0.4921875
47 Baltimore Ravens 8-8 0.4980237154
48 Vikings or Colts 8-8 0.4921875
49 Washington 8-7 -1 0.5157480315
50 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7 0.4921259843
51 Denver Broncos 9-7 0.5490196078
52 Cleveland Browns (via Titans) 9-7 (Titans) 0.46484375 (Titans)
53 Detroit Lions 9-7 0.4745098039
54 Miami Dolphins 10-6 0.4545454545
55 New York Giants 11-5 0.4861660079
56 Oakland Raiders 12-4 0.50390625
57 Houston Texans 9-7 0.5019607843
58 Seattle Seahawks 10-5 -1 0.4409448819
59 Kansas City Chiefs 12-4 0.5078125
60 Dallas Cowboys 13-3 0.4703557312
61 Green Bay Packers 10-6 0.5078740157
62 Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 0.4940711462
63 Atlanta Falcons 11-5 0.4803149606
64 New England Patriots 14-2 0.4387351779