NFL Agent Exam & Sports Agent Questions GUARANTEE PASS
2024/2025
Right of First Refusal - The right of an NFL Club, as described in CBA Articles 9 (Veteran Free
Agency) and 10 (Franchise and Transition Players) to retain the services of certain Veteran
players by matching offers made to those players.
Draft Choice Compensation - The right of any Club, as described in CBA Articles 9 (Veteran Free
Agency) and Article 10 (Franchise and Transition Players) to receive draft pick(s) from any other
Club.
Exclusive Rights Player - A player whose contract expires at a time when he has less than three
Accrued Seasons in the NFL cannot market his services to other clubs if his old club gives him a
minimum salary tender, as described in CBA Article 8, on or before the last day of that League
Year. If the tender is provided, this player can only re-sign with his old club (unless the tender is
later withdrawn).
restricted free agent - A player whose contract expires when he has earned three (3) Accrued
Seasons. If his old club provides him with a sufficient "Qualifying Offer", as described in CBA
Article 9, on or before the last day of that League Year, it retains the right to either match an
offer the player may get from another club or to receive draft choice compensation from the
club making the offer. The Qualifying Offer is based on the level of draft choices the old club
wants to receive. For example, the Qualifying Offer to a player with three (3) Accrued Seasons in
2021 for the Club to receive a second-round draft choice and the Right of First Refusal in 2021 is
$3,384,000. For the 2021 League Year, the Restricted Free Agent has until April 23, 2021 to
generate an offer from another club. If he fails to get an offer, his exclusive rights revert to the
old club unless the Qualifying Offer is withdrawn.
Unrestricted Free Agent - As described in CBA Article 9, a player whose contract expires when
he has earned at least four (4) Accrued Seasons is free to sign with any other club if he does so
by July 22 of the same year. If he does not sign elsewhere, his exclusive rights revert to his old
club after July 22 only if his old club has given him a written tender by the Monday following the
last day of that year's NFL Draft offering to re-sign him for an additional year at a ten percent
increase in. If his prior club does not tender such player, then the player remains an
Unrestricted Free Agent for the remainder of that League Year. An Unrestricted Free Agent will
be restricted in signing elsewhere, however, if he is designated a Franchise or Transition Player.
,Franchise Player - Each club may designate one player who would otherwise be an Unrestricted
Free Agent as a Franchise Player. The designation must be made within a two-week period
beginning on the twenty-second day preceding the first day of the new League Year and will end
at 4:00 p.m. New York time on the eighth day preceding the first day of the new League Year.
The club must tender the Franchise Player an offer equal to the formula stated in Article 10 of
the CBA or 120% of the player's Prior Year Salary, whichever is greater. If the player's Club
extends the nonexclusive tender offer, the Franchise Player can seek offers from other clubs, but
the old team can match the offer or receive two first round draft choices from the offering team.
If the player's club extends the exclusive tender offer, the club retains exclusive rights to the
player and he cannot negotiate with other teams. Once signed by the player, the tender is fully
guaranteed.
NFL Player Contract - A written agreement or series of such agreements executed at or about
the same time between a person and an NFL Club pursuant to which such person is employed
by such Club as a professional football player.
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) - The union contract between the NFL Players
Association and the NFL Management Council covering the terms and conditions of
employment of all NFL players.
Draft or College Draft - The NFL's annual draft of Rookie football players described in CBA Article
6 (College Draft).
Drafted Rookie - A person who is selected in the current League Year's Draft or whose Draft
rights are held, or continue to be held, consistent with this Agreement, by an NFL Club that
selected the Rookie in a prior Draft.
Required Tender - A Player Contract tender that a Club is required to make to a player pursuant
to the CBA, either as a matter of right with respect to the player, or to receive Rights of First
Refusal, Draft Choice Compensation and/or other rights with respect to the player, as specified
in the CBA.
, Transition Player - A club can elect to use a Transition Player designation for one Unrestricted
Free Agent instead of using a Franchise Player designation. If it does so, it must tender the
player an offer equal to the formula stated in Article 10 of the CBA or 120% of his Prior Year
Salary, whichever is greater. A Transition Player can obtain an offer from any other team, but his
old team can only match or not match the offer and it cannot collect any draft choice
compensation. Once signed by the Player, the tender is fully guaranteed.
Credited Seasons - Any season in which a player is on one of the following lists for at least three
(3) regular season or postseason games: Active List, Inactive List, Injured Reserve List or
Physically Unable to Perform List. Bye weeks do not count toward a player earning a Credited
Season. A player will also earn a Credited Season if he is released injured and paid the
equivalent of at least three (3) game checks. Earning Credited Seasons entitles you to various
benefits under the CBA. For instance, a player who has earned three (3) or more Credited
Seasons in the NFL qualifies to receive the pension benefit. Keep in mind however, that the
definition for Credited Seasons for Minimum Salary purposes is slightly different. Please refer to
CBA Article 26, Section 2 for more information.
Accrued Seasons: - A season during which a player has been on full pay status (Active, Inactive,
Injured Reserve List or Physically Unable to Perform due to a football related injury) for six (6) or
more regular season games. However, a player who is on the Exempt Commissioner Permission
List, the Reserve Physically Unable to Perform/Non Football Injury List or the Practice squad for
any of the six (6) qualifying games will not earn an Accrued Season regardless of his pay status.
Also, bye weeks do not count toward a player earning and Accrued Season. Earning an Accrued
Season entitles a player to advance through the free agency system which governs a player's
negotiating rights once his contract has expired. A player with four (4) or more Accrued Seasons
becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent once his contract expires (unless he is designated a
Franchise or Transition Player). Also, a player with three (3) Accrued Seasons when his contract
expires becomes a Restricted Free Agent, assuming his Club makes the appropriate Qualifying
Offer. A player with less than three (3) Accrued Seasons when his contract expires becomes and
Exclusive Rights Player, assuming his Club makes the appropriate tender.
Salary Cap - The absolute maximum amount of Salary that each Club may pay or be obligated to
pay or provide to its players at any time during a particular League Year, in accordance with the
rules set forth in CBA Article 13 (Salary Cap Accounting Rules).
All Revenues or "AR" - All of the League and Team Revenues that are included within the
definition of All Revenues, as set forth in CBA Article 12.
2024/2025
Right of First Refusal - The right of an NFL Club, as described in CBA Articles 9 (Veteran Free
Agency) and 10 (Franchise and Transition Players) to retain the services of certain Veteran
players by matching offers made to those players.
Draft Choice Compensation - The right of any Club, as described in CBA Articles 9 (Veteran Free
Agency) and Article 10 (Franchise and Transition Players) to receive draft pick(s) from any other
Club.
Exclusive Rights Player - A player whose contract expires at a time when he has less than three
Accrued Seasons in the NFL cannot market his services to other clubs if his old club gives him a
minimum salary tender, as described in CBA Article 8, on or before the last day of that League
Year. If the tender is provided, this player can only re-sign with his old club (unless the tender is
later withdrawn).
restricted free agent - A player whose contract expires when he has earned three (3) Accrued
Seasons. If his old club provides him with a sufficient "Qualifying Offer", as described in CBA
Article 9, on or before the last day of that League Year, it retains the right to either match an
offer the player may get from another club or to receive draft choice compensation from the
club making the offer. The Qualifying Offer is based on the level of draft choices the old club
wants to receive. For example, the Qualifying Offer to a player with three (3) Accrued Seasons in
2021 for the Club to receive a second-round draft choice and the Right of First Refusal in 2021 is
$3,384,000. For the 2021 League Year, the Restricted Free Agent has until April 23, 2021 to
generate an offer from another club. If he fails to get an offer, his exclusive rights revert to the
old club unless the Qualifying Offer is withdrawn.
Unrestricted Free Agent - As described in CBA Article 9, a player whose contract expires when
he has earned at least four (4) Accrued Seasons is free to sign with any other club if he does so
by July 22 of the same year. If he does not sign elsewhere, his exclusive rights revert to his old
club after July 22 only if his old club has given him a written tender by the Monday following the
last day of that year's NFL Draft offering to re-sign him for an additional year at a ten percent
increase in. If his prior club does not tender such player, then the player remains an
Unrestricted Free Agent for the remainder of that League Year. An Unrestricted Free Agent will
be restricted in signing elsewhere, however, if he is designated a Franchise or Transition Player.
,Franchise Player - Each club may designate one player who would otherwise be an Unrestricted
Free Agent as a Franchise Player. The designation must be made within a two-week period
beginning on the twenty-second day preceding the first day of the new League Year and will end
at 4:00 p.m. New York time on the eighth day preceding the first day of the new League Year.
The club must tender the Franchise Player an offer equal to the formula stated in Article 10 of
the CBA or 120% of the player's Prior Year Salary, whichever is greater. If the player's Club
extends the nonexclusive tender offer, the Franchise Player can seek offers from other clubs, but
the old team can match the offer or receive two first round draft choices from the offering team.
If the player's club extends the exclusive tender offer, the club retains exclusive rights to the
player and he cannot negotiate with other teams. Once signed by the player, the tender is fully
guaranteed.
NFL Player Contract - A written agreement or series of such agreements executed at or about
the same time between a person and an NFL Club pursuant to which such person is employed
by such Club as a professional football player.
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) - The union contract between the NFL Players
Association and the NFL Management Council covering the terms and conditions of
employment of all NFL players.
Draft or College Draft - The NFL's annual draft of Rookie football players described in CBA Article
6 (College Draft).
Drafted Rookie - A person who is selected in the current League Year's Draft or whose Draft
rights are held, or continue to be held, consistent with this Agreement, by an NFL Club that
selected the Rookie in a prior Draft.
Required Tender - A Player Contract tender that a Club is required to make to a player pursuant
to the CBA, either as a matter of right with respect to the player, or to receive Rights of First
Refusal, Draft Choice Compensation and/or other rights with respect to the player, as specified
in the CBA.
, Transition Player - A club can elect to use a Transition Player designation for one Unrestricted
Free Agent instead of using a Franchise Player designation. If it does so, it must tender the
player an offer equal to the formula stated in Article 10 of the CBA or 120% of his Prior Year
Salary, whichever is greater. A Transition Player can obtain an offer from any other team, but his
old team can only match or not match the offer and it cannot collect any draft choice
compensation. Once signed by the Player, the tender is fully guaranteed.
Credited Seasons - Any season in which a player is on one of the following lists for at least three
(3) regular season or postseason games: Active List, Inactive List, Injured Reserve List or
Physically Unable to Perform List. Bye weeks do not count toward a player earning a Credited
Season. A player will also earn a Credited Season if he is released injured and paid the
equivalent of at least three (3) game checks. Earning Credited Seasons entitles you to various
benefits under the CBA. For instance, a player who has earned three (3) or more Credited
Seasons in the NFL qualifies to receive the pension benefit. Keep in mind however, that the
definition for Credited Seasons for Minimum Salary purposes is slightly different. Please refer to
CBA Article 26, Section 2 for more information.
Accrued Seasons: - A season during which a player has been on full pay status (Active, Inactive,
Injured Reserve List or Physically Unable to Perform due to a football related injury) for six (6) or
more regular season games. However, a player who is on the Exempt Commissioner Permission
List, the Reserve Physically Unable to Perform/Non Football Injury List or the Practice squad for
any of the six (6) qualifying games will not earn an Accrued Season regardless of his pay status.
Also, bye weeks do not count toward a player earning and Accrued Season. Earning an Accrued
Season entitles a player to advance through the free agency system which governs a player's
negotiating rights once his contract has expired. A player with four (4) or more Accrued Seasons
becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent once his contract expires (unless he is designated a
Franchise or Transition Player). Also, a player with three (3) Accrued Seasons when his contract
expires becomes a Restricted Free Agent, assuming his Club makes the appropriate Qualifying
Offer. A player with less than three (3) Accrued Seasons when his contract expires becomes and
Exclusive Rights Player, assuming his Club makes the appropriate tender.
Salary Cap - The absolute maximum amount of Salary that each Club may pay or be obligated to
pay or provide to its players at any time during a particular League Year, in accordance with the
rules set forth in CBA Article 13 (Salary Cap Accounting Rules).
All Revenues or "AR" - All of the League and Team Revenues that are included within the
definition of All Revenues, as set forth in CBA Article 12.
