How NFL Restricted Free Agency Works Explainer
A restricted free agent is an NFL player with an expiring contract and the required accrued seasons who has received a qualifying offer from the current club. The player may negotiate with other teams, but the original club retains important rights.
Another team can sign the player to an offer sheet during the designated period. The original club then has a set number of days to match the contract and keep the player. If it declines, the player joins the new team and draft-pick compensation may be owed based on the tender level.
Tender levels set a one-year salary and the possible compensation. Higher tenders cost the original club more but provide stronger draft protection. If no offer sheet is signed by the deadline, the player’s negotiating options narrow and the qualifying offer remains available.
Restricted free agency differs from unrestricted free agency because the player cannot simply choose a new club without the matching process. It also differs from the franchise tag, which applies through another mechanism. The tender, offer sheet, and matching window explain the leverage on each side.
Yes, during the offer-sheet period, but the original club may match the signed offer.
It is a qualifying one-year offer that establishes salary terms and possible draft compensation.
The player joins the new club, and the original club may receive draft compensation tied to the tender.
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