The last major offseason workout session for the majority of the NFL kicks off Tuesday.
Twenty-four clubs begin mandatory minicamps on June 10: the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders.
The New England Patriots started minicamp on Monday. The Chicago Bears held theirs last week. The Detroit Lions decided not to conduct one this year due to their early start to training camp in preparation for the Hall of Fame Game.
The Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks will hold their minicamps next week.
The majority of the minicamps run for three days. Some, like the Texans, Falcons and 49ers, are running just two days. The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are scheduled for just one day of mandatory work.
The minicamps represent a distinct difference from the rest of offseason workouts in that they are mandatory -- whereas the previous work was voluntary. Players are subject to fines for missing minicamps. Unexcused absences subject players to penalties of more than $100,000 for missing all three days -- unlike training camp penalties, these fines can be waived by the club.
Some players searching for new contracts might decide to hold out to make a statement. Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin is skipping minicamp, as he did in 2022 when he also searched for a new deal. James Cook in Buffalo hasn't been at OTAs, while the club shows no indication it will give him an extension.
We know the likes of Kirk Cousins and Micah Parsons are expected to show up, but what of fellow pass rusher T.J. Watt in Pittsburgh? In Cincinnati, Trey Hendrickson skipped OTA practices and has vowed not to play without a new deal. (Update: Watt and Hendrickson are not attending mandatory minicamp.)
Some players might report to avoid fines but decline on-field workouts. The proverbial "hold-in" has become more popular in recent years as players avoid fines but still cause a disruption by not participating, creating headlines, and putting pressure on the club to come to the table.
For the vast majority of players without contract situations to be handled, mandatory minicamp is the final stage of team work before they break for summer. The 2025 team installs will take shape as clubs prep for training camp in late July. It's the closest we get to NFL football in June.
No broad conclusions should be cemented during minicamp, but it gives us a chance to see players in action. Assuredly, highlights of a Josh Allen bomb, Aaron Rodgers wearing his Pittsburgh get-up for the first time, or a majestic catch from Justin Jefferson will clutter the internet over the next three days. We'll get a look at position battles, like the quartet of QBs in Cleveland angling for the starting gig. The one prayer for all is that we come through minicamps with as few major injuries as possible.
