NFL Agent Exam 2026/2027 | NFLPA Certified Contract
Advisor Exam Study Guide, Practice Questions & Answers,
NFL Agent Exam Prep
Question 1: Under SPARTA, within what timeframe must a certified
contract advisor notify the educational institution's athletic director
after a student-athlete signs an agency contract?
A. Within 24 hours of contract execution
B. Within 48 hours of contract execution
C. Within 72 hours of contract execution or before the next athletic event,
whichever comes first
D. Within 7 days of contract execution
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Within 72 hours of contract execution or before
the next athletic event, whichever comes first
Rationale: SPARTA mandates that both the student-athlete and the agent
must notify the athletic director or similarly responsible individual within 72
hours after entering into the contract or before the next athletic event in
which the athlete is eligible to participate, whichever occurs first. This dual-
timing requirement ensures timely awareness by the institution to protect
eligibility considerations.
Question 2: What is the key distinction between an exclusive franchise
tag and a non-exclusive franchise tag?
A. The exclusive tag pays a higher salary but prohibits the player from
negotiating with other teams
B. The non-exclusive tag requires the team to surrender two first-round
picks immediately upon designation
C. The exclusive tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams while
the non-exclusive tag does not
D. The non-exclusive tag pays the average of the top five salaries while the
exclusive tag pays the average of the top ten salaries
CORRECT ANSWER: A. The exclusive tag pays a higher salary but
prohibits the player from negotiating with other teams
Rationale: The exclusive franchise tag prevents the player from negotiating
with other teams and compensates at the average of the five largest
salaries at the position for the current year. The non-exclusive tag permits
,the player to negotiate with other teams, with the original team retaining
right of first refusal or receiving two first-round picks as compensation.
Question 3: How many accrued seasons must an NFL player have to
qualify as an Unrestricted Free Agent?
A. Two or more accrued seasons
B. Three or more accrued seasons
C. Four or more accrued seasons
D. Five or more accrued seasons
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Four or more accrued seasons
Rationale: An Unrestricted Free Agent is defined as any player with four or
more accrued seasons and an expired contract, who is free to negotiate
and sign with any team. Players with three accrued seasons are Restricted
Free Agents, and those with fewer than three are Exclusive Rights Free
Agents.
Question 4: What is the maximum number of years over which a signing
bonus can be prorated for salary cap purposes?
A. Three years
B. Four years
C. Five years
D. Six years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Five years
Rationale: NFL salary cap rules permit teams to prorate a signing bonus
over a maximum of five years, spreading the cap charge evenly across
those seasons. If a player is released before the proration period
concludes, the remaining bonus accelerates onto the current year's cap as
dead money.
Question 5: A Restricted Free Agent receives a first-round tender. If his
original team declines to match an offer sheet from another club, what
compensation does the original team receive?
A. A second-round draft pick
B. A first-round draft pick
C. Two first-round draft picks
D. No draft pick compensation
,CORRECT ANSWER: B. A first-round draft pick
Rationale: The first-round tender for a Restricted Free Agent carries a one-
year contract worth the greater of $8.107 million (2026 figure) or 110
percent of the prior-year base salary. If the original team declines to match
an offer sheet, it is entitled to a first-round draft pick from the new team as
compensation.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a post-June 1 designation
when releasing a player?
A. To allow the player to negotiate with other teams before free agency
officially begins
B. To delay future bonus proration from accelerating onto the current year's
salary cap
C. To exempt the player's salary from counting against the salary cap
entirely
D. To permit the team to re-sign the player at a reduced salary during the
season
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To delay future bonus proration from
accelerating onto the current year's salary cap
Rationale: A post-June 1 designation permits a team to release up to two
players before June 2 while treating the transaction under the salary cap as
though it occurred after June 1. Only the current year's bonus proration
counts against the current cap; future proration becomes a charge against
the following year's cap, providing immediate cap relief.
Question 7: Under NFLPA Regulations, what educational requirement
must an applicant meet to be eligible for certification as a Contract
Advisor, absent an exception?
A. A high school diploma and five years of negotiating experience
B. An undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or
university
C. Both an undergraduate degree and a post-graduate degree from
accredited institutions
D. A law degree from an accredited law school
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Both an undergraduate degree and a post-
graduate degree from accredited institutions
, Rationale: NFLPA Regulations require applicants to possess both an
undergraduate degree and a post-graduate degree from accredited
colleges or universities. However, the NFLPA may grant exceptions for
applicants with at least seven years of sufficient negotiating experience.
Question 8: How many players can a team designate with a post-June 1
designation in a single league year?
A. One player
B. Two players
C. Three players
D. Unlimited players
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Two players
Rationale: The 2006 CBA introduced the post-June 1 designation provision,
allowing teams to release up to two players each league year before June 2
with the salary cap treatment of a post-June 1 release. This limit has been
maintained in subsequent CBAs.
Question 9: What is the defining characteristic of an Exclusive Rights
Free Agent?
A. The player has four or more accrued seasons and can negotiate with any
team
B. The player has fewer than three accrued seasons and cannot negotiate
with other teams if tendered at the league minimum
C. The player has three accrued seasons and is subject to right of first
refusal
D. The player has been released from his contract and is free to sign with
any team immediately
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The player has fewer than three accrued
seasons and cannot negotiate with other teams if tendered at the
league minimum
Rationale: An Exclusive Rights Free Agent is a player with fewer than three
accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a
one-year contract at the league minimum based on his credited seasons,
the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
Advisor Exam Study Guide, Practice Questions & Answers,
NFL Agent Exam Prep
Question 1: Under SPARTA, within what timeframe must a certified
contract advisor notify the educational institution's athletic director
after a student-athlete signs an agency contract?
A. Within 24 hours of contract execution
B. Within 48 hours of contract execution
C. Within 72 hours of contract execution or before the next athletic event,
whichever comes first
D. Within 7 days of contract execution
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Within 72 hours of contract execution or before
the next athletic event, whichever comes first
Rationale: SPARTA mandates that both the student-athlete and the agent
must notify the athletic director or similarly responsible individual within 72
hours after entering into the contract or before the next athletic event in
which the athlete is eligible to participate, whichever occurs first. This dual-
timing requirement ensures timely awareness by the institution to protect
eligibility considerations.
Question 2: What is the key distinction between an exclusive franchise
tag and a non-exclusive franchise tag?
A. The exclusive tag pays a higher salary but prohibits the player from
negotiating with other teams
B. The non-exclusive tag requires the team to surrender two first-round
picks immediately upon designation
C. The exclusive tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams while
the non-exclusive tag does not
D. The non-exclusive tag pays the average of the top five salaries while the
exclusive tag pays the average of the top ten salaries
CORRECT ANSWER: A. The exclusive tag pays a higher salary but
prohibits the player from negotiating with other teams
Rationale: The exclusive franchise tag prevents the player from negotiating
with other teams and compensates at the average of the five largest
salaries at the position for the current year. The non-exclusive tag permits
,the player to negotiate with other teams, with the original team retaining
right of first refusal or receiving two first-round picks as compensation.
Question 3: How many accrued seasons must an NFL player have to
qualify as an Unrestricted Free Agent?
A. Two or more accrued seasons
B. Three or more accrued seasons
C. Four or more accrued seasons
D. Five or more accrued seasons
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Four or more accrued seasons
Rationale: An Unrestricted Free Agent is defined as any player with four or
more accrued seasons and an expired contract, who is free to negotiate
and sign with any team. Players with three accrued seasons are Restricted
Free Agents, and those with fewer than three are Exclusive Rights Free
Agents.
Question 4: What is the maximum number of years over which a signing
bonus can be prorated for salary cap purposes?
A. Three years
B. Four years
C. Five years
D. Six years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Five years
Rationale: NFL salary cap rules permit teams to prorate a signing bonus
over a maximum of five years, spreading the cap charge evenly across
those seasons. If a player is released before the proration period
concludes, the remaining bonus accelerates onto the current year's cap as
dead money.
Question 5: A Restricted Free Agent receives a first-round tender. If his
original team declines to match an offer sheet from another club, what
compensation does the original team receive?
A. A second-round draft pick
B. A first-round draft pick
C. Two first-round draft picks
D. No draft pick compensation
,CORRECT ANSWER: B. A first-round draft pick
Rationale: The first-round tender for a Restricted Free Agent carries a one-
year contract worth the greater of $8.107 million (2026 figure) or 110
percent of the prior-year base salary. If the original team declines to match
an offer sheet, it is entitled to a first-round draft pick from the new team as
compensation.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a post-June 1 designation
when releasing a player?
A. To allow the player to negotiate with other teams before free agency
officially begins
B. To delay future bonus proration from accelerating onto the current year's
salary cap
C. To exempt the player's salary from counting against the salary cap
entirely
D. To permit the team to re-sign the player at a reduced salary during the
season
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To delay future bonus proration from
accelerating onto the current year's salary cap
Rationale: A post-June 1 designation permits a team to release up to two
players before June 2 while treating the transaction under the salary cap as
though it occurred after June 1. Only the current year's bonus proration
counts against the current cap; future proration becomes a charge against
the following year's cap, providing immediate cap relief.
Question 7: Under NFLPA Regulations, what educational requirement
must an applicant meet to be eligible for certification as a Contract
Advisor, absent an exception?
A. A high school diploma and five years of negotiating experience
B. An undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or
university
C. Both an undergraduate degree and a post-graduate degree from
accredited institutions
D. A law degree from an accredited law school
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Both an undergraduate degree and a post-
graduate degree from accredited institutions
, Rationale: NFLPA Regulations require applicants to possess both an
undergraduate degree and a post-graduate degree from accredited
colleges or universities. However, the NFLPA may grant exceptions for
applicants with at least seven years of sufficient negotiating experience.
Question 8: How many players can a team designate with a post-June 1
designation in a single league year?
A. One player
B. Two players
C. Three players
D. Unlimited players
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Two players
Rationale: The 2006 CBA introduced the post-June 1 designation provision,
allowing teams to release up to two players each league year before June 2
with the salary cap treatment of a post-June 1 release. This limit has been
maintained in subsequent CBAs.
Question 9: What is the defining characteristic of an Exclusive Rights
Free Agent?
A. The player has four or more accrued seasons and can negotiate with any
team
B. The player has fewer than three accrued seasons and cannot negotiate
with other teams if tendered at the league minimum
C. The player has three accrued seasons and is subject to right of first
refusal
D. The player has been released from his contract and is free to sign with
any team immediately
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The player has fewer than three accrued
seasons and cannot negotiate with other teams if tendered at the
league minimum
Rationale: An Exclusive Rights Free Agent is a player with fewer than three
accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a
one-year contract at the league minimum based on his credited seasons,
the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
