NFLPA FINAL PAPER 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔What is level 2 of the Proven Performance Escalator? - ✔✔If participating in 55% of
applicable plays within the first three seasons, then 4th year salary = lowest restricted
free agent tender plus 250k
✔✔What is level 1 of the Proven Performance Escalator? - ✔✔2nd round picks 60%, 3-
7th round picks 35%, of applicable plays in the first three seasons then 4th year salary =
lowest restricted free agent tender
✔✔What is the Proven Performance Escalator? - ✔✔- 4th year rookie contract
- 2-7th rd picks
- 3 level salary escalator
✔✔What is the 25% rule? - ✔✔Maximum annual increase for rookies = 25% of 1st year
salary cap number
✔✔How is base salary paid? - ✔✔Over 36 weeks
(2x regular season weeks)
Equal installments
✔✔Salary cap number includes: - ✔✔P5 Base Salary
Signing Bonus Proration
Roster, reporting & workout bonuses
LTBE incentives
✔✔What is a post-June 1 designation? - ✔✔Releasing a max of 2 players that will be
treated on the salary cap as if they were released after June 1.
Must remain on the cap until June 2 when a player is given his designation.
Salary will be removed on June 2 unless guaranteed.
✔✔When does the current CBA expire? - ✔✔2030
✔✔Explain likely to be earned: - ✔✔Statistical achievements from the previous year that
are presumed to be earned & therefore count against the salary cap
✔✔What is an unrestricted free agent? - ✔✔- 4 or more accrued seasons
- Player can sign without prior team receiving draft choice compensation
✔✔When is the start of free agency in the 23-24 league year? - ✔✔January 8th, 2024
, ✔✔What is the trade deadline for the 23-24 league year? - ✔✔October 31st, 2024
✔✔What is the rookie pool number? - ✔✔Year 1 P5 base salary + bonus proration for
all qualifying bonuses
✔✔What happens to unused salary cap room? - ✔✔Carries over to the next league
year
✔✔What is the top 51 rule? - ✔✔Only the highest 51 player salary cap values count
against a team's salary cap during the offseason
✔✔What happens when a renegotiation in P5 salary happens after the 10th week of
regular season? - ✔✔It is treated as a signing bonus
✔✔Explain the 30% rule: - ✔✔If a player has a contract extending past the CBA's last
league year (2030) the salary increase can't be more than 30% the last league year
✔✔What does an off-season bonus need to have guaranteed for it to be prorated? -
✔✔Skill, injury & cap.
If not all three are guaranteed, it will not be prorated and will count against the cap in
that given year.
✔✔What happens to a salary guarantee from a future contract year when a player is
released? - ✔✔Accelerate onto the current year's salary cap.
✔✔What happens to proration when a player has sole control to void his contract? -
✔✔Proration will only occur up to the voidable year.
✔✔When can rookies renegotiate contracts? - ✔✔Drafted- after their third season
Undrafted- after their second season
✔✔When can veteran contract negotiation happen? - ✔✔1st time - anytime
2nd time- 12 months from first time
✔✔A prior league year can be renegotiated? T or F - ✔✔False. Once a league year has
passed, it cannot be renegotiated.
✔✔When can current season contracts not be renegotiated? - ✔✔After the last regular
season game of that season
✔✔What are the three basic types of renegotiation's? - ✔✔Contract restructures, pay,
cuts, and contract extensions
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔What is level 2 of the Proven Performance Escalator? - ✔✔If participating in 55% of
applicable plays within the first three seasons, then 4th year salary = lowest restricted
free agent tender plus 250k
✔✔What is level 1 of the Proven Performance Escalator? - ✔✔2nd round picks 60%, 3-
7th round picks 35%, of applicable plays in the first three seasons then 4th year salary =
lowest restricted free agent tender
✔✔What is the Proven Performance Escalator? - ✔✔- 4th year rookie contract
- 2-7th rd picks
- 3 level salary escalator
✔✔What is the 25% rule? - ✔✔Maximum annual increase for rookies = 25% of 1st year
salary cap number
✔✔How is base salary paid? - ✔✔Over 36 weeks
(2x regular season weeks)
Equal installments
✔✔Salary cap number includes: - ✔✔P5 Base Salary
Signing Bonus Proration
Roster, reporting & workout bonuses
LTBE incentives
✔✔What is a post-June 1 designation? - ✔✔Releasing a max of 2 players that will be
treated on the salary cap as if they were released after June 1.
Must remain on the cap until June 2 when a player is given his designation.
Salary will be removed on June 2 unless guaranteed.
✔✔When does the current CBA expire? - ✔✔2030
✔✔Explain likely to be earned: - ✔✔Statistical achievements from the previous year that
are presumed to be earned & therefore count against the salary cap
✔✔What is an unrestricted free agent? - ✔✔- 4 or more accrued seasons
- Player can sign without prior team receiving draft choice compensation
✔✔When is the start of free agency in the 23-24 league year? - ✔✔January 8th, 2024
, ✔✔What is the trade deadline for the 23-24 league year? - ✔✔October 31st, 2024
✔✔What is the rookie pool number? - ✔✔Year 1 P5 base salary + bonus proration for
all qualifying bonuses
✔✔What happens to unused salary cap room? - ✔✔Carries over to the next league
year
✔✔What is the top 51 rule? - ✔✔Only the highest 51 player salary cap values count
against a team's salary cap during the offseason
✔✔What happens when a renegotiation in P5 salary happens after the 10th week of
regular season? - ✔✔It is treated as a signing bonus
✔✔Explain the 30% rule: - ✔✔If a player has a contract extending past the CBA's last
league year (2030) the salary increase can't be more than 30% the last league year
✔✔What does an off-season bonus need to have guaranteed for it to be prorated? -
✔✔Skill, injury & cap.
If not all three are guaranteed, it will not be prorated and will count against the cap in
that given year.
✔✔What happens to a salary guarantee from a future contract year when a player is
released? - ✔✔Accelerate onto the current year's salary cap.
✔✔What happens to proration when a player has sole control to void his contract? -
✔✔Proration will only occur up to the voidable year.
✔✔When can rookies renegotiate contracts? - ✔✔Drafted- after their third season
Undrafted- after their second season
✔✔When can veteran contract negotiation happen? - ✔✔1st time - anytime
2nd time- 12 months from first time
✔✔A prior league year can be renegotiated? T or F - ✔✔False. Once a league year has
passed, it cannot be renegotiated.
✔✔When can current season contracts not be renegotiated? - ✔✔After the last regular
season game of that season
✔✔What are the three basic types of renegotiation's? - ✔✔Contract restructures, pay,
cuts, and contract extensions
