Financial
7 terms
Salary Cap
The maximum amount of money NFL teams can spend on player salaries in a given league year. Set annually based on league revenue.
Cap Space
The amount of money a team has available under the salary cap to sign players. Calculated as salary cap minus total cap charges.
Dead Money
Salary cap charges for players no longer on the team's roster, typically from remaining prorated bonus money when a player is cut or traded.
Cap Hit
The total amount a player counts against the salary cap in a given year, including base salary, prorated bonuses, and likely-to-be-earned incentives.
Proration
The spreading of signing bonus money evenly across the years of a contract for cap accounting purposes, up to a maximum of 5 years.
Minimum Salary
The lowest salary a player can earn, which increases based on credited seasons. Set annually through CBA negotiations.
Veteran Minimum
The minimum salary for players based on their years of service. Provides cap benefit as only the lowest minimum counts against the cap.
Contract Terms
8 terms
Signing Bonus
An upfront payment to a player that is prorated over the life of the contract (up to 5 years) for salary cap purposes.
Guaranteed Money
Contract money that must be paid to the player regardless of whether they are released. Can be fully guaranteed or guaranteed for injury/skill.
Base Salary
The fixed amount a player earns during the season, paid weekly during the regular season. Counts fully against the cap.
Roster Bonus
A bonus paid to a player for being on the roster on a specific date. Unlike signing bonuses, it counts fully against the cap in the year earned.
Option Bonus
A bonus paid when a team exercises an option in the contract. Can be prorated like a signing bonus for cap purposes.
LTBE Incentive (Likely To Be Earned)
Performance incentives classified as likely based on prior year stats. Count against the current year cap and are adjusted after the season.
NLTBE Incentive (Not Likely To Be Earned)
Performance incentives classified as unlikely based on prior year stats. Count against next year's cap if earned.
Void Years
Fake contract years added to spread bonus proration, which automatically void at a specified date, accelerating remaining bonus to dead money.
Free Agency
5 terms
Franchise Tag
A designation teams can use to keep a pending free agent for one year at a salary equal to the average of the top 5 players at the position or 120% of the player's previous salary.
Transition Tag
Similar to the franchise tag but at a lower salary (top 10 average) and without draft pick compensation if another team signs the player.
Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA)
A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired, free to sign with any team without restrictions.
Restricted Free Agent (RFA)
A player with three accrued seasons whose contract has expired. Their original team can match any offer and receive draft compensation if they don't.
Accrued Season
A season in which a player was on full pay status for at least six regular season games. Determines free agency eligibility.
Draft
3 terms
Rookie Pool
The total amount allocated for rookie contracts each year, distributed based on draft pick selections with values assigned to each pick.
Fifth-Year Option
A team option on first-round picks that extends the rookie contract for a fifth year at a predetermined salary based on performance.
Compensatory Pick
Extra draft picks awarded to teams that lost more compensatory free agents than they signed, based on a formula comparing contracts.
Roster Management
4 terms
Injured Reserve (IR)
A roster designation for injured players. Players must miss at least 4 games but can return to practice after that period.
PUP List (Physically Unable to Perform)
A designation for players injured in football activities who cannot practice. PUP players miss at least 4 games before returning.
NFI List (Non-Football Injury)
A designation for players injured in non-football activities. Similar rules to PUP list but for injuries sustained outside team activities.
Practice Squad
A group of players signed to practice with the team but not on the active roster. Limited eligibility based on accrued seasons.
Agent Regulations
2 terms
Standard Representation Agreement (SRA)
The mandatory contract form between NFLPA certified agents and players, which sets the maximum 3% fee on playing contracts.
Agent Fee
The maximum fee an agent can charge is 3% of the playing contract compensation. Marketing and endorsement fees are negotiable.