I think it’s fair to say that the National Football League has some of the most complicated rules both on and off the field in North American sports. Between free agency, contract offers, and player tags, it can be incredibly difficult to understand all of the news and information that you receive regarding your favorite players and teams.
Thankfully, 101 Great Goals has created a glossary of terms to help you fully comprehend all of the moves and transactions that will take place in the NFL this off-season.
📰 Table Of Contents
Free Agency Designations
There are three different designations a pending free agent can have.
Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA)
This is any player on an expiring contract who has played at least four seasons in the league. Unrestricted free agents are allowed to negotiate and sign with any team they want.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this off-season.
Restricted Free Agent (RFA)
This is any player on an expiring contract who has played at least three seasons in the NFL. While they are allowed to negotiate with any team they want, their original team can extend them a “qualifying offer,” or the franchise will be eligible to receive draft compensation should the restricted free agent reject the qualifying offer and sign with another team.
This basically means that a team with a restricted free agent is allowed to match the offers extended to a specific player from other organizations. If the original team does not match the restricted free agent’s offer, then that team could be entitled to NFL draft compensation depending on the value of the deal that the player signs with the new franchise.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder will be a restricted free agent this off-season.
The league has three key types of qualifying offers that can be extended to RFAs.
First-round Tender
This is a one-year contract worth a specified amount over the player’s base salary from the previous year. If the player’s original team does not match another organization’s qualifying offer, the original team is entitled to a first-round pick from the player’s new squad.
Second-round Tender
This operates just like a first-round tender, but the draft choice compensation would be a second-round pick in this case.
Original-Round Tender
For this offer, the compensation would be for a draft selection in the same round that the RFA was originally taken (ex: a former sixth-rounder would warrant the new team to send the player’s original squad a sixth-round draft pick).
Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA)
This is any player on an expiring contract who has played less than three seasons. Exclusive rights free agents are not allowed to negotiate or sign with other squads if their original team offers them a one-year contract equal to the value of the league minimum.
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Cade York will be an exclusive rights free agent this off-season.
Franchise Tags
Sometimes, a franchise doesn’t want to make a long-term commitment to a player but still wants that individual on their roster next season. In that case, a team can use its franchise tag on that player to sign them to a lofty one-year contract.
There are three types of franchise tags.
Non-Exclusive Tag
This is the most common type of franchise tag that is used in the National Football League.
A non-exclusive franchise tag is a one-year deal equal to 120% of the player’s salary from the previous season or the average annual value of the top five salaries at that player’s position over the last five years, whichever number is greater.
Though the tagged player is allowed to negotiate with other teams, the player’s current squad can match any other organization’s offer. If the offer isn’t matched by the original club, then the original team can receive up to two first-round draft picks as compensation if the tagged player signs somewhere else.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins played last season under a non-exclusive franchise tag.
Exclusive Tag
Under this tag, only the player’s original team is allowed to negotiate with said player. An exclusive franchise tag is a one-year deal equal to 120% of the player’s salary from the previous season or the average annual value of the top five salaries at that player’s position over the last five years, whichever number is greater.
No players played under an exclusive franchise tag during the 2024 season.
Transition Tag
A transition tag is a one-year offer that is equal to the average of the top ten salaries at that player’s position. Though the player’s original team is allowed to match any qualifying offer extended to that individual, the original team is not eligible to receive any compensation if the player signs elsewhere.
Only one player during the 2024 season played under the transition tag: New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger.
