Free Agents

Free Agency Key

Unrestricted Free Agent - A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no compensation owed to his old club, through the first day of training camp. On the next day his rights revert to his old club if it made a "tender" offer (110 percent of last year's salary) to him by June 1. His old club then has until the 10th week of the season (November 10) to sign him. If he does not sign by the 10th week, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by June 1, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.

Restricted Free Agent - A player that has completed three accrued seasons and their contract expires. He has received a "qualifying" offer (a salary level predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club. He can negotiate with any club through April 15. Then, because of the qualifying offer, his rights revert exclusively to his old club on April 15. Prior to April 16, if the restricted free agent accepts an offer sheet from a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because it has the "right of first refusal." If the old club does not match the offer, it can possibly receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer.

Franchise Player - A club can designate one franchise player in any given year. The salary level offer by a player's old club determines what type of franchise player he is. An "exclusive" franchise player -- not free to sign with another club -- is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. If the player is not offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, he becomes a "non-exclusive" franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club's offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match.

Transition Player - The player's club must offer a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player's position or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.