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Same Approach for Dolphins Offseason Program

The Dolphins offseason program begins April 21 and concludes on the second week of June with the mandatory minicamp

Alain Poupart

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on during mandatory minicamp at Baptist Health Training Complex last June.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on during mandatory minicamp at Baptist Health Training Complex last June. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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Mike McDaniel is keeping his same approach with the offseason program.

The NFL announced Thursday each team's schedule for the offseason program and the Miami Dolphins once again will be conducting a limited number of Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

The Dolphins offseason program will kick off April 21, the earliest starting date for teams with returning head coaches, and conclude with the three-day mandatory minicamp June 10-12.

The Dolphins OTAs will take place May 27, 29 and 30 and June 2, 3 and 5. Teams are allowed up to 10 OTAs every spring, but this will be the second consecutive year the Dolphins do only six of them.

The Dolphins are one of 14 teams that will have six OTAs, and the Washington Commanders will have a league-low five in Dan Quinn's second offseason as head coach. By contrast, seven teams will use the full 10-OTA allotment — the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and New York Jets.

All of the offseason program — except for the mandatory minicamp — is voluntary, which means players don’t have to participate. However, all are incentivized to do so with weekly paychecks, and many have workout bonuses in their contracts that compensate them from $25,000 up to the $250,000 that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will earn.

The NFL Draft is April 24-26 and the Dolphins will bring their selections and undrafted signees in for rookie minicamp, which will take place on the first or second weekend after the draft. The Dolphins have used the later date under McDaniel, which would mean a rookie minicamp on the weekend of May 9-11.

THE OFFSEASON PROGRAM RULES

Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, the offseason workout program is divided into three phases.

Phase one lasts two weeks and is limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation work.

The second phase includes on-field workouts and takes place over a three-week span. There is no live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills permitted during the phase two practices.

The longest phase is the third one, which allows the team to participate in 7-on-7, 9-on-9 and 11-on-11 drills, though there is still no contact allowed.

Phase three includes the mandatory minicamp. Teams with first-year coaches also can hold a three-day voluntary minicamp for veterans before the draft.

No part of the Dolphins offseason program is open to the public.

Fans will have to wait until training camp arrives in late July to see the new-look Dolphins.

THE DOLPHINS OFFSEASON PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Monday, April 21 — Start of offseason program

Tuesday, May 27 — OTA

Thursday, May 29 – OTA

Friday, May 30 — OTA

Monday, June 2 — OTA

Tuesday, June 3 — OTA

Thursday, June 5 — OTA

Tuesday, June 10 — Mandatory minicamp

Wednesday, June 11 — Mandatory minicamp

Thursday, June 12 — Mandatory minicamp

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI and host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press and the Dolphins team website. In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books, such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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