Chiefs OTAs begin Tuesday — here is what that means

Phase three of the NFL offseason for the Kansas City Chiefs begins Tuesday with organized team activities, or more commonly known as OTAs.

What are OTAs?

• Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of OTAs, with a maximum of three OTAs each week for the first two weeks (during the first two weeks, a fourth non-OTA workout is allowed but phase two rules apply).
• No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.
• No pads except protective knee and elbow pads are allowed during OTAs. Helmets are permitted.
• OTA days last six hours.

Who comes to OTAs?

• Technically, whichever members of the Chiefs want to, since the workouts are still voluntary. That changes on June 11 (see below).
• Despite workouts being voluntary, many veterans see it as an opportunity to get a head start on preseason training.
• This is the first time all offseason in which veterans work side by side with rookies in an offense vs. defense setting. That’s important because the coaching staff needs to see how rookies and veterans can work together. For example, this will the first chance for the defensive coaching staff to work Tyrann Mathieu next to rookie Juan Thornhill.
• I expect most (if not all) Chiefs veterans to be in attendance for OTAs — except Chris Jones, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. We noted back on May 1 (via Terez Paylor of Yahoo! Sports) that Jones had not been present at team workouts since they began April 15. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill is not expected to participate. Players injured, rehabbing or recovering, like Travis Kelce, should be limited.

The practice schedule

• Week 1: May 21 - May 23
• Week 2: May 28 - May 30
• Week 3: June 4 - June 7

Mandatory Minicamp (10 hours a day) takes place after OTAs from June 11 - June 13.

Chiefs media days

We are currently scheduled to hear from the Chiefs the next three Thursdays (May 23, May 30 and June 6). On those days, media will be permitted to watch practice. This is the second time in as many years the Chiefs have chosen to only allow media for three out of the 10 OTA days.

Head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes will speak on each of the OTA media days. We expect to hear from assistant coaches for the first time on Thursday, May 30. This should be our first crack at asking defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo some questions since his initial conference call after signing on with the Chiefs.

The media is allowed to watch each day of mandatory minicamp, with media availability scheduled for each day. Reid and Mahomes are scheduled to do one final address with the media on Thursday, June 13, before breaking until training camp.