The NFL offseason officially begins for all teams on Monday following the Super Bowl. First, the waiver system kicks into action for the 2018 season, meaning former Vikings tight end Kyle Carter will become a New York Giant after he was claimed by first-year head coach Pat Shurmur, his former coordinator in Minnesota.
The Vikings' search for a new coordinator continues into this week, when general manager Rick Spielman said he intends to interview "one or two" more candidates.
Below are dates to know for a Vikings offseason with a couple question marks at critical posts.
Feb. 5: Waiver system for 2018 season begins.
Feb. 20: Teams can begin applying a franchise or transition tag on designated players.
Feb. 27-March 5: The NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
March 6: The deadline for franchise or transition tags at 3 p.m. central.
March 12-14: The 'legal tampering' period begins, meaning teams can engage in negotiations with pending free agents from other teams.
March 14: The start of the 2018 league year, when free agency opens at 3 p.m. central. This is also the deadline for teams to exercise 2018 options on player contracts and submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents to retain right of first refusal. This is also when NFL trading officially begins after last year's October deadline. So, if the trade holds up, Alex Smith will officially become a member of the Washington Redskins at this time.
March 25-28: Annual league meetings in Orlando.
April 16: The Vikings, and all other teams with returning head coaches, can begin offseason workouts.
April 20: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 26-28: The NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex.
May 4-7 or May 11-14: Teams are permitted to hold one three-day rookie minicamp, featuring draft picks, undrafted signings or tryouts, on either weekend.
May 21-23: Spring league meetings in Atlanta, where rule changes are typically voted upon for the upcoming season.