Saints key offseason dates set after Rookie Minicamp

By Ross Jackson

With rookie minicamp now in the rearview mirror, the New Orleans Saints are looking ahead to the remainder of their offseason calendar. 

The NFL schedule is set to be released this week, but there are a few landmark dates already known for how the Saints will progress through the remainder of the offseason. 

NFL Schedule Release

May 14

The NFL is set to release its 2026 full-season and preseason schedules on Wednesday, May 14. On or before that day, the Saints’ Paris game, the first ever NFL game at the host site, should become known along with the rest of their 17-game schedule. 

The Saints should be crossing their fingers for a Thursday night primetime game this year, ideally ahead of their travels to Paris, but the Saints had no such games last season. 

It will be interesting to see if the growing competition level of the roster and momentum behind quarterback Tyler Shough changes their scheduling fortunes in 2026. 

Organized Team Activities

The Saints will hold three sessions of organized team activities (OTAs) beginning later this month. That means it won’t be long before fans can get more updates on how things are developing for the team. 

May 27-28, June 1, June 3-4, June 8, June 10-11

These practices will allow for rookies and veterans to get on-field some work in together. The two sides will begin weight room and classroom collaborations on Monday, May 11, and after just a few short weeks, they’ll get a chance to put it all together on the practice field. 

This could be the media’s first look at 11-on-11 drills, as well. There will also be 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 non-contact drills. 

These sessions are strictly voluntary and it is not a surprise to see veteran players not participating. 

Mandatory Minicamp

After their voluntary OTAs, the Saints will hold their mandatory minicamp a few days later. 

June 16-17

Minicamp limitations are similar to those during OTAs, but the teams can add limited protective padding, though full pads are still prohibited. 

All variations of competitive offense vs. defense drills remain permitted, as long as they are non-contact. This will be the first time that the entire roster is expected to hit the field together. This session wraps up the final phase of the offseason, setting the stage for training camp after a short break.