The “legal tampering” portion of the NFL season has begun. As the world waits to hear what Aaron Rodgers has decided to do, here are some 2023 NFL Free Agency Questions & Answers. This is provided courtesy of the NFL Communications department.<\/p>\n
SALARY CAP SET AT $<\/u><\/strong><\/em>224.8 MILLION<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n When does the 20<\/strong>23<\/strong> free agency signing period begin?<\/strong><\/p>\n At 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 15.<\/p>\n When is the two-day negotiating period for potential unrestricted free agents?<\/strong><\/p>\n From 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 13 until 3:59:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon expiration of their 2022 player contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 15. The two-day negotiating period applies only to prospective unrestricted free agents. It does not apply to players who have received, or who may receive, a required tender applicable to the 2023 League Year (e.g., Exclusive Rights Players, Restricted Free Agents, Franchise Players or Transition Players).<\/p>\n What are the categories of free agency?<\/strong><\/p>\n Players are either \u201crestricted free agents\u201d or \u201cunrestricted free agents.\u201d\u00a0 A restricted free agent may be subject to a \u201cqualifying offer.\u201d\u00a0 A restricted or unrestricted free agent may be designated by his prior club as its franchise player or transition player.<\/p>\n What is the time period for free agency signings this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n For restricted free agents<\/u>, from March 15 to April 21.\u00a0 For unrestricted free agents<\/u> who have received a tender from their prior club by the Monday immediately following the final day of the NFL Draft for the 2023 League Year (i.e., May 1), from March 15 to July 24 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later).\u00a0 For franchise players<\/u>, from March 15 until the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season, November 14. \u00a0For transition players<\/u>, from March 15 until July 24.\u00a0 After July 24 and until 4 p.m. ET on the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season, November 14, the prior club has exclusive negotiating rights to unrestricted free agents and transition players.\u00a0 If the above-listed players do not sign by November 14, they must sit out the season<\/p>\n What is the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?<\/strong><\/p>\n In the 2023 league year, players with three accrued seasons who have received a qualifying offer become restricted free agents when their contracts expire at the conclusion of the 2022 league year on March 15.\u00a0 Unrestricted free agents have completed four or more accrued seasons.\u00a0 Upon expiration of his 2022 contract, an unrestricted free agent is free to sign with any club with no draft-choice compensation owed to his old club.<\/p>\n What constitutes an \u201caccrued season\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n Six or more regular season games on a club’s active\/inactive, reserve\/injured or reserve\/physically unable to perform lists.<\/p>\n How do the free agency rules apply to restricted free agents<\/strong>?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n If a player with three accrued seasons has received a \u201cqualifying offer\u201d (a salary tender predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club, he can negotiate with any club through April 21.\u00a0 If the restricted free agent signs an offer sheet with a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because the qualifying offer entitles it to a \u201cright of first refusal\u201d on any offer sheet the player signs.\u00a0 If the old club does not match the offer, it may receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer.\u00a0 If an offer sheet is not executed on or before April 21, the player\u2019s negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club.\u00a0 In addition, prior to the start of free agency a player who would otherwise be a restricted free agent may be designated by his old club as its franchise player or transition player.<\/p>\n What are the right of first refusal\/qualifying offer amounts for players who have completed three accrued seasons<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n For right of first refusal only, a one-year salary of at least $2,627,000.<\/p>\n For right of first refusal and compensation at the player\u2019s original draft round, a one-year salary of at least $2,743,000 or 110 percent of the 2022 Paragraph 5 salary, whichever is greater.<\/p>\n For right of first refusal and compensation of one second-round draft selection, a one-year salary of at least $4,304,000 or 110 percent of the 2022 Paragraph 5 salary, whichever is greater.<\/p>\n For right of first refusal and compensation of one first-round draft selection, a one-year salary of at least $6,005,000 or 110 percent of the 2022 Paragraph 5 salary, whichever is greater.<\/p>\n For right of first refusal and compensation of only one first-round draft selection, but any provision in the new club\u2019s offer sheet waiving or limiting the new club\u2019s ability to designate the player as a franchise or transition player is not a principal term and need not be matched by the prior club, a one-year salary of at least $6,505,000 or 110 percent of the 2022 Paragraph 5 salary, whichever is greater.<\/p>\n What determines an unrestricted free agent?<\/strong><\/p>\n A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired.\u00a0 He is free to sign with any club, with no draft-choice compensation owed to his old club, through July 24 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later).\u00a0 At that point, his negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club if by May 1 the old club tendered the player a one-year contract for 110 percent of his prior year\u2019s salary.\u00a0 His old club then has until the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season (November 14) to sign him.\u00a0 If he does not sign by that date, he must sit out the season.\u00a0 If no tender is offered by May 1, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.<\/p>\n What determines a franchise player?<\/strong><\/p>\n The salary offer by a player\u2019s club determines what type of franchise player he is: exclusive<\/u> or non-exclusive<\/u>.<\/p>\n An \u201cexclusive\u201d franchise player \u2013 not free to sign with another club \u2013 is offered the greater of (i) the average of the top\u00a0five salaries at the player’s position for the current year as of the end of the restricted free agent signing period on\u00a0April 21; or (ii) the amount of the required tender for a non-exclusive franchise player, as explained below.\u00a0Article 10, Section 2(a)(i) of the CBA sets forth the methodology, known as the \u201cCap Percentage Average,\u201d for\u00a0calculating the required tender for a non-exclusive franchise player:<\/p>\n The Nonexclusive Franchise Tender shall be a one year NFL Player Contract for (A) the average of the five largest Prior Year Salaries for players at the position . . . at which the Franchise Player participated in the most plays during the prior League Year, which average shall be calculated by: (1) summing the amounts of the Franchise Tags for players at that position for the five preceding League Years; (2) dividing the resulting amount by the sum of the Salary Caps for the five preceding League Years . . . ; and (3) multiplying the resulting percentage by the Salary Cap for the upcoming League Year . . . (the \u201cCap Percentage Average\u201d) . . . ; or (B) 120% of his Prior Year Salary, whichever is greater . . . .<\/p>\n If a club extends a required tender to a \u201cnon-exclusive\u201d franchise player<\/u> pursuant to this section, the player shall be permitted to negotiate a player contract with any club, except that draft-choice compensation of two first-round draft selections shall be made in the event he signs with a new club.<\/p>\n How many franchise players and transition players can a team designate each season?<\/strong><\/p>\n A club can designate one franchise player or one transition player among its potential restricted or unrestricted free agents.<\/p>\n Can a club decide to withdraw its franchise or transition designation on a player?<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes.\u00a0 A club can withdraw its franchise or transition designation, and the player then automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent, either immediately if the tender is withdrawn after the start of the 2023 league year, or when his 2022 contract expires if the tender is withdrawn before the start of the 2023 league year.<\/p>\n What is the salary cap for 20<\/strong>23<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/p>\n The salary cap is $224,800,000 per club.<\/p>\n When must teams be in compliance with the salary cap?<\/strong><\/p>\n At the start of the 2023 league year, which begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 15.<\/p>\n If a team is under the salary cap at the end of a given season, can the team \u201ccarry over\u201d room to the next season?<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes.\u00a0 A team may carry over room from one league year to the following league year by submitting notice to the NFL prior to 4:00 p.m. ET on the day following the team\u2019s final regular-season game, indicating the amount of room that the club wishes to carry over.<\/p>\n What is the maximum amount of room that a club can carry over?<\/strong><\/p>\n A club can carry over 100 percent of its remaining 2022 room to its adjusted salary cap for 2023.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The “legal tampering” portion of the NFL season has begun. As the world waits to hear what Aaron Rodgers has decided to do, here are some 2023 NFL Free Agency Questions & Answers. This is provided courtesy of the NFL Communications department. 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