What is the difference between OTAs and minicamp? All you need to know

Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamps are vital to the NFL preseason. The league created both programs to prepare players and teams for the upcoming NFL season.

This article will explore the differences between OTAs and minicamps ahead of the 2024 season.

These are the differences between OTAs and minicamps:

1. Voluntary vs. Mandatory:

NFL players are not required to attend OTAs as they are voluntary, while minicamps are mandatory. This is an essential point, as players who miss minicamps risk being fined, but they don't have to worry about such a penalty for a missed OTA.

Furthermore, it's important to note that rookies and reserve-level players hardly miss OTAs. Coaches consider these OTAs important, and a player without a surefire roster spot could be released or waived for perceived nonchalance regarding the activities.

2. Hours on-site

The NFLPA permits significantly different hours for OTAs and minicamps. For OTAs, players can participate in activities for a maximum of six hours per day.

Conversely, minicamps can last up to 10 hours a day, though franchises can only have a maximum of 24 hours in three days.

OTAs begin today for 21 NFL franchises

According to reports, organized team activities for most NFL franchises will begin on Monday, May 20, 2024.

The teams scheduled to begin their OTAs are:

• Arizona Cardinals
• Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills
• Carolina Panthers
• Chicago Bears
• Green Bay Packers
• Houston Texans
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Los Angeles Rams
• Miami Dolphins
• Minnesota Vikings
• New England Patriots
• New York Giants
• New York Jets
• Philadelphia Eagles
• San Francisco 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks
• Tennessee Titans

Last week, the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders started their own organized team activities.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the following teams will begin their OTAs:

• Cleveland Browns
• Dallas Cowboys
• Denver Broncos
• Detroit Lions
• Indianapolis Colts
• New Orleans Saints
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Cincinnati Bengals are the last of the teams, beginning their OTAs on May 28, 2024.