Question
 

When do we have to declare contract years for the players we signed this year?

August 15
 

I think this should cover it but Mike may want to confirm:

Teams are required to assign contract years to rookies by the end of the off-season free-agency period which ends August 15th each season. Rookies will not count against your cap until contract years have been assigned and they have been placed on your Active Roster or if they have been placed on your Development Squad, therefore if you were to include the costs of your rookies, you can exceed your cap during the off-season up until the time you assign contract years and declare whether the rookie will be on your Active Roster or Development Squad. If placed on your Active Roster, you must have room under the cap to accommodate the player.

Yup!
 

I'm not Mike... but that was my understanding, too. Aug. 15th. Contract years + DS squad designation (finally have to make decisions about the rookies we drafted!).

That's right... August 15th.