NFL Agent Exam
NFL Player Contract - Answer-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) - Answer-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 - Answer-The NFL's annual draft of Rookie football players described in CBA Article
6 (College Draft).
Drafted Rookie - Answer-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 - Answer-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.
Right of First Refusal - Answer-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 - Answer-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 - Answer-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provided, this player can only re-sign with his old club (unless the tender is later withdrawn).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 - Answer-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 - Answer-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 - Answer-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.
Transition Player - Answer-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 - Answer-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: - Answer-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 - Answer-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" - Answer-All of the League and Team Revenues that are included within the
definition of All Revenues, as set forth in CBA Article 12.
Team Salary - Answer-The Team's aggregate Salary for Salary Cap purposes, as calculated in accordance
with the rules set forth in CBA Article 13 (Salary Cap Accounting Rules).
NFL Player Contract - Answer-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) - Answer-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 - Answer-The NFL's annual draft of Rookie football players described in CBA Article
6 (College Draft).
Drafted Rookie - Answer-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 - Answer-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.
Right of First Refusal - Answer-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 - Answer-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 - Answer-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 - Answer-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 - Answer-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 - Answer-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.
Transition Player - Answer-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 - Answer-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: - Answer-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 - Answer-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" - Answer-All of the League and Team Revenues that are included within the
definition of All Revenues, as set forth in CBA Article 12.
Team Salary - Answer-The Team's aggregate Salary for Salary Cap purposes, as calculated in accordance
with the rules set forth in CBA Article 13 (Salary Cap Accounting Rules).
