Bills Receive Two Extra Benefits from Hiring Joe Brady as NFL Announces OTAs Dates

The Buffalo Bills will be back in town for the spring beginning on April 7.

The NFL officially revealed Organized Team Activities (OTAs) schedules for all 32 clubs, and the Bills are one of 10 teams who will kick off Phase 1 this upcoming week.

As a result of hiring a new head coach, Buffalo can begin its offseason program two weeks earlier than the standard start date. With April 6 being the first permissible day, the Bills have chosen to commence on Tuesday, April 7.

Although the large majority of Bills' players are expected to attend the voluntary sessions, there won't be anything resembling football happening for a few weeks. As per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), OTAs Phase 1 activities are strictly limited to "meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only."

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"There'll probably be some cursing, I'm not gonna lie," said Brady, who will be leading the players on official business for the first time. "Honestly, part of the process right now is just making sure I'm not loading them with everything [on] Day 1."

Replacing Sean McDermott with Brady allows the Bills to receive a second OTAs-related benefit in addition to the early start date. Buffalo is permitted to hold a voluntary veteran minicamp prior to the NFL Draft.

The Bills have scheduled the first minicamp of the Joe Brady Era for April 20-22. There will be two more subsequent minicamps in May and June.

First, Buffalo will host a rookie minicamp during either the first (May 1-3) or second (May 8-10) weekend following the draft. Then, at the completion of OTAs Phase 3, the Bills will conduct mandatory minicamp that is set for June 9-11.

Josh Allen, Joe Brady — Bills quarterback Josh Allen talks routes and passes with offensive coordinator Joe Brady at St. John Fisher University Thursday, August 7, 2025 in Pittsford, NY. | Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Following Phase 1, OTAs can begin to include on-field workouts, which are limited to "individual or group instruction and drills." Team drills are not permitted during the three-week period classified as Phase 2.

Phase 3 is when OTAs begin in earnest as teams are allowed to host 10 days of practice activity during that stretch. While 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are all permissible, no live contact can occur. The Bills are slated to begin this intensified phase on May 18.

Bills' OTAs practice dates

May 18, May 19, May 21, May 26, May 27, May 28, June 1, June 2, June 3, June 4

Bills' minicamp dates

Voluntary veteran minicamp — April 20-22

Rookie minicamp — May 1-3 or May 8-10

Mandatory minicamp — June 9-11