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A restricted free agent (RFA) is a type of free agent in some sports leagues, such as the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and National Basketball Association (NBA). Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.

NFL

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In the National Football League, a restricted free agent is one with three or fewer accrued seasons (six or more regular season games with a team)[1] of service, who has received a "qualifying" offer (a salary level predetermined by the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players, known as a "tender") from his current club. He can negotiate with any club through a certain date. If the restricted free agent accepts an offer sheet from a new club, his old club has "right of first refusal," a five-day period in which it may match the offer and retain him, or choose not to match the offer, in which case it may receive one or more draft picks for the upcoming draft from the player's new club. If an offer sheet is not executed, the player's rights revert to his old club the day after negotiations must end.

Tender amounts

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In 2007, a second-round tender offer was added, and after the 2011 lockout, the top tender was removed. The three tender amounts for 2018 are as follows:[2]

Tender amount Compensation required
$4.149 million First-round
$2.914 million Second-round
$1.907 million Determined by RFA's original draft status

Each player that signs a tender receives a non-guaranteed one-year salary that corresponds to the tender level. Teams which choose not to match an offer on a player with a low tender receive a draft pick corresponding to the round in which the player was originally drafted (except that the highest pick that can be surrendered for such a tender is a second-round pick). For example, a player who was originally drafted in the sixth round of the NFL draft would force the team signing him to give his former team a sixth-round pick in the upcoming draft as compensation for his service. No compensation is required for an undrafted player on the lowest tender amount, so teams with valued undrafted RFAs are taking a risk by offering such tenders. (The top tender prior to 2011 required first- and third-round picks as compensation.)

Examples of possible outcomes

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In addition to the following outcomes, if a player does not receive an offer sheet from his original team, he becomes an unrestricted free agent. If a player signs the offer sheet from his original team, he remains with that team.

  • Team declining to match offer sheet. Carolina Panthers cornerback Ricky Manning was a restricted free agent in the 2006 offseason. Based on the tender placed on Manning by the Panthers, the team would receive a third-round pick in the NFL draft if Manning signed with another team. On April 21, the Chicago Bears signed Manning to an offer sheet – a five-year contract worth up to $23 million. Although the Panthers had a full week to decide if they wanted to match the offer sheet, they announced on April 24 that they would not match. At this time, Manning became a member of the Bears and the Panthers received a third-round draft choice (88th overall) in the 2006 draft from Chicago, which they used to select linebacker James Anderson.
  • Team matching offer sheet. Arizona Cardinals offensive guard Reggie Wells was a restricted free agent in the 2006 offseason. On March 17, the Buffalo Bills signed him to an offer sheet – a five-year deal worth approximately $18 million. Four days later on March 21, the Cardinals matched the Bills' offer sheet for Wells, and he reverted to the Cardinals.
  • Team consummating a trade. The Miami Dolphins offered wide receiver Wes Welker a second-round tender in 2007. Although it was widely rumored that the New England Patriots would offer Welker a seven-year, $35 million deal, the Patriots ultimately traded their second- and seventh-round draft picks to the Dolphins for Welker, signing Welker to a five-year, $18 million contract.

NHL

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A player who is no longer considered to be entry-level, but does not qualify as an unrestricted free agent, becomes a restricted free agent when his contract expires. A player may only declare himself to be an unrestricted free agent if he is over the age of 27 or has played in the league for a minimum of 7 years.

Qualifying offers

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The current team must extend a "qualifying offer" to a restricted free agent to retain negotiating rights to that player. Qualifying offers are for one year contracts. The minimum salary for the qualifying offer depends on the player's prior year salary.

Players who earned less than $660,000 in the previous season must be offered 110 percent of last season's salary. Players making up to $1 million must be offered 105 percent. Players making over $1 million must be offered 100 percent.

  • If the qualifying offer is not made, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.
  • If the player rejects a qualifying offer, he remains a restricted free agent.
  • If the player does not sign before December 1, he is ineligible to play in the NHL for the remainder of the season.

Possible outcomes

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If a player accepts a qualifying offer, he then signs a one-year contract with his current team under the terms of the offer. If the player rejects the qualifying offer, or has not yet accepted it, he is able to negotiate offer sheets with other teams. Qualifying offers are required for a team to retain a player's rights, but in most cases the player and team will agree to a contract differing from the qualifying offer. Should the player sign an offer sheet with another team, his current team is notified and can no longer negotiate a new contract or trade the player rights to another team. The current team has 7 days to make a decision whether to match the offer sheet, or decline and receive draft pick compensation from the team making the offer sheet.

  • Accept The player remains with his current team on a contract identical to that of the offer sheet, with the exception that the current team does not have to match any clauses restricting their ability to trade or reassign the player like a "no-trade clause". The team is not allowed to trade the player for one year.
  • Decline The player becomes a member of the team with whom he signed the offer sheet under all the terms of said offer sheet. His now former team claims draft picks from the player’s new team as compensation. Compensatory draft picks are determined by the player’s new salary on a sliding scale.

For example:

  • In 2008 a team that signed a restricted free agent to a salary averaging $2,615,625 to $3,923,437 per season lost a first-round draft pick and a third-round draft pick to the player’s former team.
  • Signing a restricted free agent to a contract worth over $6,539,062 per year costs a team four first-round draft picks.

At any point during the negotiation process, if the player has been in the NHL for longer than 4 years (less if the player signed his first contract after the age of 20), either the player or his current team may file for salary arbitration as a means of settling a contract dispute. At this point the player may no longer sign an offer sheet. The deadline to file for salary arbitration is July 5 with cases being heard between late July and early August.

  • Salary arbitration. Both the player and his current team submit their expectations for the player's salary for the coming year. The team cannot request a reduction in salary of greater than 15%. The arbitrator hears the case from both player and team and renders a verdict. The verdict sets the salary the team is required to pay the player. In cases where the player requested arbitration, once the arbitrator's verdict is rendered the team must make a decision within 48 hours of the verdict being rendered. If the team accepts, the player is signed to a new contract at the salary set in the verdict. Should the team decline, the player then becomes an unrestricted free agent. Teams cannot decline contracts resulting from club-elected arbitration.

A team can take a player to arbitration once in his career. While there is no explicitly-stated maximum number of times a player may request salary arbitration, since under the current CBA players spend four off-seasons as potential arbitration-eligible RFA's, a player could feasibly make up to four such requests before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

NBA

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Main article: Restricted free agent (NBA)

Players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with four or fewer years of experience may become restricted free agents under certain conditions.

KHL

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Kontinental Hockey League players under 28 years of age as of July 1 of a given calendar year whose contracts are expired are considered restricted free agents. Just like the NHL and the NBA, the original team of a player who signed an offer sheet tendered by another team has seven days to match the offer sheet. However, unlike its North American counterpart, teams that decide not to match offer sheets collect transfer fees instead.

Liga ACB

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In the Liga ACB, the right of first refusal is a rule that allows clubs to keep players who finish the contract. From 2015, non-FIBA Europe players have also been included, since they are within the collective agreement and therefore may be subject to the right of first refusal.[3]

The players that appear in the list of not subject to the right of first refusal are totally free to sign for the club they wish at the end of their contract. Some of them, however, have already reached a renewal agreement with the club.[3]

Analyzing what can happen from the moment a player appears on the list of the right of first refusal when the league publish the list:[3]

  1. If a club includes a player in the list of the right of first refusal, it means that they have submitted a renewal offer. If no other club bid for the player, then that offer would be effective and, if remaining in the Liga ACB the player would renew his contract with that offer.
  2. From this moment and until the next 12 calendar days, each player can accept and sign a single offer and present it in the ACB office. If that happens, the current club has 5 calendar days to match it and remain, in this way, with the player. If the current club does not match the offer, the player becomes a member of the club that has submitted the offer in the conditions reflected therein.

The right of first refusal only affects the ACB scope, but it does not expire. If a player subject to the right of first refusal reaches an agreement with a non-ACB club, the current club retains the rights for when it returns to the Liga ACB.[3]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Restricted free agent

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
A restricted free agent (RFA) is a professional in major North American sports leagues, including the (NFL), (NBA), and National Hockey League (NHL), whose contract has expired but whose original team retains specific rights to prevent unrestricted movement to another club by matching competing offers. This status balances player mobility with team stability, typically applying to early-career players who have met minimum service requirements but not yet qualified for unrestricted free agency. Eligibility for restricted free agency varies by league and is tied to accrued seasons or age thresholds. In the NFL, a player qualifies as an RFA after exactly three accrued seasons, defined as playing in at least six regular-season games per season, allowing their club to issue one of several qualifying tenders to maintain rights. These tenders include options like the first-round tender at approximately $7.458 million for 2025, which, if the RFA signs an offer sheet with another team and the original club declines to match, requires the signing team to surrender a corresponding draft pick to the original club as compensation. In the NBA, RFAs generally include former first-round draft picks completing their rookie-scale contracts after four years or players with three or fewer seasons of experience, with teams issuing a one-year qualifying offer to preserve matching rights. The NHL defines RFAs as players under 27 years old or with fewer than seven accrued NHL seasons (at least 10 games per season), requiring clubs to extend a qualifying offer—typically 105% or 100% of the prior salary, capped at around $1 million for lower earners—to retain negotiation exclusivity or matching ability. The process for RFAs emphasizes the original team's , deterring aggressive pursuits by rivals due to potential compensation costs. For instance, in the and NBA, if an RFA signs an offer sheet with a new team (minimum two years in the NBA), the incumbent club has a limited window—seven days in the , two days in the NBA, and seven days in the NHL—to match and retain the player, while rules may also involve draft pick forfeiture if unmatched. Failure to issue a qualifying offer converts the player to an unrestricted , granting full negotiation freedom without matching rights. This system, governed by each league's agreement, has evolved to protect developing talent while curbing excessive player turnover, though it often results in most RFAs re-signing with their original teams due to the matching deterrent.

Overview

Definition and key principles

A restricted free agent (RFA) in is a player whose contract has expired, allowing them to negotiate with other teams, but whose original team holds the to match any offer sheet signed with a new club, thereby restricting the player's full mobility in the market. This mechanism balances player rights to seek better opportunities with team interests in retaining developing talent, preventing abrupt losses without recourse. The key principles of restricted free agency include the ability for the player to sign an offer sheet with another team, triggering a matching period—typically several days—during which the original team can elect to match the terms and retain the player on their roster. If the original team declines to match, the player joins the new team, and in some leagues, the original club receives compensatory assets such as draft selections to offset the loss. This system fosters competitive balance by discouraging aggressive while providing leverage for negotiations, often resulting in the player remaining with their incumbent team due to the matching threat. Restricted free agency emerged in the and through agreements (CBAs) in major leagues like the , NBA, and NHL, following antitrust lawsuits that dismantled the perpetual s binding players indefinitely to one team. These reforms addressed concerns over teams losing young, homegrown talent without compensation, evolving from earlier partial free agency models like the NFL's 1989 Plan B system into the structured RFA framework seen today. Prior to this, the dominated, limiting player movement almost entirely until legal challenges in the paved the way for graduated free agency rights. Generally, RFA status applies to players who have accrued 3 to 7 years of service time, are under age 27 or 28, and have completed or entry-level contracts, though exact thresholds vary by league. League-specific eligibility details are outlined in their respective sections.

Comparison to unrestricted and exclusive rights free agency

In leagues such as the , NHL, and NBA, unrestricted free agency grants players with sufficient experience the full freedom to negotiate and sign contracts with any without interference from their prior club, typically requiring at least four accrued seasons in the or seven accrued seasons (or age 27 and older) in the NHL. Unlike restricted free agency, where the original holds matching rights, unrestricted free agents face no such restrictions or compensation obligations for signing elsewhere, allowing greater mobility for veterans but limiting access to this status until service thresholds are met. In the , exclusive rights free agency applies to players with minimal tenure, such as fewer than three accrued seasons, enabling the original team to retain control by tendering a one-year at the league minimum , after which the player cannot negotiate with other teams. This NFL-specific mechanism provides teams with near-absolute retention power over early-career talent by eliminating external negotiation options, differing from restricted free agency. In the NBA and NHL, players with minimal service time are typically retained through entry-level contracts and do not become free agents until completing those deals, offering no market exploration until restricted or unrestricted status. The restricted free agent status strikes a balance between these extremes, providing players with the ability to solicit offer sheets from other teams—leveraging the held by their original club—while exposing them to the risk of stagnation if the offer is matched, a absent in unrestricted free agency where mobility is unencumbered but eligibility demands longer service. This intermediary position empowers emerging players to secure better deals but often results in retention by the team, unlike the minimal control in exclusive rights scenarios or the complete of unrestricted status. Restricted free agency evolved as a compromise in collective bargaining agreements to safeguard teams against prematurely losing developing talent to competitors, emerging prominently in the NFL's 1993 labor settlement following earlier partial reforms like Plan B, while prioritizing veteran mobility through unrestricted provisions in contrast to the prior reserve system's indefinite bindings. Similar structures were adopted in the NHL and NBA to balance player rights with competitive equity, preventing the talent drain seen in pre-free agency eras.

National Football League (NFL)

Eligibility requirements

In the (), a player qualifies as a restricted free agent (RFA) upon completing exactly three accrued seasons, during which their contract expires without an extension or remaining guaranteed years. An accrued season is credited to a player for any regular season in which they were on full pay status for at least six games, including time spent on the active roster, inactive list, injured reserve, or list. This eligibility applies specifically to players emerging from rookie contracts or subsequent deals that have fully lapsed, meaning no outstanding contract terms bind them to their original team. Players who have signed extensions or multiyear deals with guaranteed portions beyond the current season do not qualify, as their contracts remain active. As of the 2025 league year, the three-accrued-season threshold for RFA status remains unchanged under the current collective bargaining agreement, which extends through 2030; players reaching four or more accrued seasons transition directly to unrestricted free agency upon contract expiration. Players with fewer than three accrued seasons, including those primarily on practice squads without meeting the six-game threshold, are ineligible for RFA status and instead qualify as exclusive rights free agents if tendered a minimum-salary offer by their team.

Tender types and amounts

In the (), teams retain restricted free agents (RFAs) by issuing one of several qualifying tender offers, each specifying a one-year and potential draft pick compensation if the player signs an offer sheet with another team that the original team declines to match. These tenders must be submitted to the league office no later than 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12, 2025, coinciding with the start of the 2025 league year. The lowest tender is the (RFR) tender, which offers a one-year at a minimum salary of $3,263,000 for 2025. This tender grants the team the right to match any offer sheet signed by the player with another club but provides no draft compensation if the player departs unmatched. A step up is the second-round tender, providing a one-year salary of the greater of $5,346,000 or 110% of the player's 2024 Paragraph 5 salary (the base salary plus certain incentives). If unmatched, the original team receives a second-round draft pick as compensation in the subsequent NFL Draft. The highest standard tender is the first-round tender, offering a one-year salary of the greater of $7,458,000 or 110% of the player's prior-year salary. Unmatched offer sheets result in the original team receiving a first-round draft pick. For drafted players, the original round tender applies, setting the one-year salary at the greater of $3,406,000 or 110% of the prior-year salary and providing draft compensation in the player's original draft round if unmatched. This tender is particularly relevant for first-round draft picks, where the compensation would equate to a first-round selection, though teams often opt for the higher first-round tender for greater salary protection.
Tender TypeMinimum 2025 Salary (or 110% Prior-Year)Draft Compensation if Unmatched
$3,263,000None
Original Round$3,406,000Pick in player's original round
Second-Round$5,346,000Second-round pick
First-Round$7,458,000First-round pick

Negotiation and resolution outcomes

In the (), restricted free agents (RFAs) become eligible to sign offer sheets with other teams starting at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12 each year, marking the beginning of the offer sheet period that extends until April 18. Upon signing an offer sheet, the RFA's original team receives a seven-day window to decide whether to match the offer and retain the player. This matching right allows the original team to execute the identical contract terms without any relief, as the player remains on the roster under the new agreement. If the original team declines to match the offer sheet, it forfeits the player and receives draft pick compensation determined by the level of the qualifying tender previously extended to the RFA. For a first-round tender, the compensation is a first-round draft pick in the subsequent NFL Draft; for a second-round tender, it is a second-round pick. In contrast, no draft compensation is awarded if the RFA was tendered at the right-of-first-refusal (RFR) level, which only provides matching rights without attached picks. Should a choose not to tender an RFA at all before the start of the new league year on March 12, the player immediately becomes an , free to sign with any without restrictions or compensation owed to the prior club. Holdouts by RFAs, where players refuse to sign their tender, are uncommon due to accruing fines and lost earnings, often resolving in one-year deals at the tender amount or through trades to facilitate long-term extensions elsewhere. Offer sheets for NFL RFAs remain historically rare due to the deterrent effect of potential draft pick compensation and the financial risks involved for pursuing teams.

National Hockey League (NHL)

Eligibility and qualifying offer process

In the National Hockey League (NHL), a player qualifies as a restricted free agent (RFA) upon the expiration of their entry-level contract if they are under 27 years of age as of or have fewer than seven accrued NHL seasons, with an accrued season defined as participation in at least 40 NHL regular-season games during that year (30 games for goalies). Players still serving entry-level contracts are excluded from RFA eligibility until those agreements conclude. To maintain rights to an RFA, the player's incumbent club must extend a qualifying offer (QO), which consists of a one-year standard player contract determined by the player's base from the prior . The QO amounts to 110% of that if it was $660,000 or less, 105% if between $660,001 and $1,000,000 (but not less than $1,000,000), or 100% if higher (but not less than $1,000,000); these rules apply to all players, including goalies. Clubs must issue QOs by the later of June 25 or the Monday following the NHL Entry Draft; for the 2025 offseason, this fell on June 30 at 5:00 p.m. ET. With the 2025-26 established at $95.5 million, actual offers remain constrained by the player's historical compensation and cap realities. If a club fails to issue a QO, the player automatically becomes an (UFA) effective July 1. An unsigned QO preserves the player's RFA status, but failure to reach an agreement by December 1 renders them ineligible to play in the NHL for the remainder of that season. RFAs who have received a QO may field offer sheets from other clubs beginning July 1, unless they elect by July 5, granting their original team the .

Salary arbitration option

In the National Hockey League (NHL), serves as a key mechanism for restricted free agents (RFAs) to resolve contract disputes with their teams when negotiations stall. Only Group 2 RFAs—those not eligible for unrestricted free agency—are permitted to participate, and eligibility is determined by professional experience accrued since signing their entry-level contract. Players who signed their entry-level deals at ages 18, 19, or 20 require four professional seasons (defined as playing at least 10 games in the NHL or 30 games in the in a given season); those signing at age 21 need three seasons; players signing at ages 22 or 23 need two seasons; and those 24 or older need just one season. Eligible RFAs who remain unsigned by their qualifying offer deadline may elect arbitration by submitting a filing to the NHL Players' Association no later than 5 at 5:00 p.m. ET each offseason. Teams also have the right to elect for unsigned RFAs by 6 at 5:00 p.m. ET, particularly if the player's prior-year exceeded $1.75 million, allowing the team to bypass issuing a qualifying offer in some cases. Once elected, both the player and team must submit proposed figures—either for a one-year or two-year —typically by late , with the maximum term limited to two years unless the player is one season from unrestricted free agency, in which case only a one-year award is possible. The process unfolds through a hearing before a neutral arbitrator, scheduled between and , where both parties present evidence including comparable player contracts, performance statistics, and arguments. This format employs "final-offer" , meaning the arbitrator must select one of the submitted proposals in full, without or averaging the figures. are confidential, lasting up to four hours, and focus solely on determination, excluding non-monetary issues like bonuses or no-trade clauses. The arbitrator's decision, issued shortly after the hearing, is binding and establishes the contract terms for the awarded duration. In player-elected cases, if the average annual value reaches or exceeds $4.85 million for the 2025-26 season, the team may elect to walk away within 24 hours, rendering the player an unrestricted free agent; otherwise, the team must sign the player to the awarded deal. In team-elected arbitrations, the player has no walk-away option and must accept the outcome. Awards count fully against the team's salary cap without acceleration or deferral provisions. Several limitations apply to the process: players cannot file for if they have already signed a that season or if they are awaiting a team-elected filing; additionally, arbitration eligibility is voided for those who signed an offer sheet with another team. Annually, approximately 20-30% of eligible RFAs pursue , as seen in 2025 when 11 of roughly 50 unsigned RFAs filed, though most cases settle before hearings through continued negotiations. As of 2025, the recently announced extension of the agreement—effective from the 2026-27 season through 2030-31—introduces no significant alterations to the salary arbitration framework, maintaining the existing eligibility, procedural, and outcome rules while confirming that cap hits from awards remain fully applicable to team payrolls.

Offer sheets and team rights

In the National Hockey League (NHL), restricted free agents (RFAs) who have received a qualifying offer from their original team become eligible targets for offer sheets from other clubs starting on and continuing until each offseason. An offer sheet is a binding proposal that must have a minimum term of two years, with the average annual value (AAV) determining the draft pick compensation owed to the original team if it declines to match. The AAV for compensation purposes is calculated by dividing the total value by the lesser of the length or five years, ensuring longer deals do not disproportionately inflate the tiers. Upon signing an offer sheet, the original team has a seven-day window to decide whether to match the terms. If matched, the player remains with the original under the new , though trade restrictions apply for one year following the . If the original team declines, the signing team forfeits draft picks to the original team based on the offer sheet's AAV, with no cash compensation involved. The compensation structure for the 2025 offseason, adjusted annually based on league salary averages, features the following tiers:
Offer Sheet AAV RangeCompensation Draft Picks
$1,544,424 or lessNone
$1,544,425 – $2,340,037Third-round pick
$2,340,038 – $4,680,076Second-round pick
$4,680,077 – $7,020,114First- and third-round picks
$7,020,115 – $9,360,152First- and second-round picks
$9,360,153 – $11,700,190Two first-round, one second-round, one third-round picks
Over $11,700,190Four first-round picks
Offer sheets remain rare due to the high cost of potential draft pick forfeiture, with typically only one or two issued per offseason across the league's history under the current agreement. For instance, in the 2025 offseason, forward Marco Rossi was a prominent RFA candidate for an offer sheet amid contract negotiations, though none materialized as he signed a direct extension with his team. If an RFA remains unsigned by December 1 without resolution, including via offer sheet or direct negotiation, their qualifying offer expires, and they become unrestricted free agents.

National Basketball Association (NBA)

Eligibility and qualifying offer issuance

In the (NBA), a player becomes a restricted free agent (RFA) upon the expiration of their if they have three or fewer accrued years of NBA service and their incumbent team extends a qualifying offer (QO). This primarily applies to first-round draft picks completing their four-year rookie scale contracts, as well as other players—such as second-round picks or undrafted players—with three years of service who have not signed a extension. Players with four or more years of service typically qualify as unrestricted free agents instead, unless specific circumstances like step-on contracts apply. The QO must be issued to preserve the team's and restricted free agency status; without it, the player enters unrestricted free agency. Teams issue the QO between the day after the and 5:00 p.m. ET on June 30, with the 2025 deadline falling on June 30, 2025. The QO is a one-year, fully guaranteed offer that, if accepted by the player by October 1 (extendable by mutual agreement up to March 1), binds the player to the team for that season at the specified amount. Rejection of the QO maintains the player's RFA status, allowing negotiations with other teams under the incumbent team's matching rights, while the offer remains withdrawable by the team until July 13. The exact value of the QO varies by player type: for first-round picks finishing scale , it is the amount specified in the rookie salary scale for their draft position, calculated as a increase over the fourth-year scale (e.g., 55% for picks 5-10), adjusted upward if "starter criteria" are met, such as starting at least 41 games or logging 2,000 minutes in the previous season (or averaged over the prior two seasons); for second-round picks or non-scale RFAs, it is the greater of 125% of the prior or the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, projected at $14.104 million for the 2025-26 season. The QO carries significant cap implications, counting as a hold against the issuing team's and calculations until it is accepted, rejected, or withdrawn, thereby limiting the team's financial flexibility during free agency. Unsigned RFAs cannot be directly traded as players until they sign a , though their negotiating can be traded to another team, which must then honor or replace the QO with a required tender; for the 2025 offseason, this effectively delayed trades of unsigned RFAs until January 7, 2026. Issuing the QO also preserves the team's , permitting the incumbent team to exceed the and limits to re-sign the player using Bird exception provisions, even if over the .

Offer sheet mechanics

In the (NBA), restricted free agents (RFAs) become eligible to sign offer sheets with other teams beginning at 12:01 p.m. ET on , the first day of the league's annual moratorium period, which typically runs through . This signing window allows RFAs to enter into binding contracts with new teams, provided the offer sheet adheres to specific structural requirements under the agreement (CBA). Offer sheets must span at least two seasons (or three if the player's qualifying offer was for a maximum ), and they cannot be two-way contracts; however, they may incorporate likely bonuses—such as those tied to or performance incentives—as part of the principal terms to enhance the overall value. During this initial phase of free agency, RFAs are prohibited from signing standard player contracts directly with their prior team until after the moratorium ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on , though negotiations with the original team can occur earlier. To deter exploitative contract structures, NBA rules impose strict limitations on offer sheets, particularly for RFAs with one or two years of service, rendering certain "poison pill" provisions void. A poison pill typically features a low salary in the first one or two years followed by sharp escalations in later seasons to strain the original team's salary cap situation upon matching. For these younger RFAs, the first-year base salary cannot exceed the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (approximately $14.104 million for the 2025-26 season), the second year is capped at a 5% increase over the first, and while the third year can reach the maximum allowable salary, the fourth year is limited to a 4.5% adjustment up or down from the third; additionally, no bonuses are permitted in the first two years, and escalators exceeding these parameters invalidate the offer sheet. For RFAs with three to six years of service, offer sheets allow greater flexibility, including up to 20% escalators in later years, but still prohibit extreme poison pills that could unfairly burden the matching process. These restrictions ensure that offer sheets remain viable for teams while protecting the right of first refusal held by the original team. Upon execution, the team extending the offer sheet must promptly notify the RFA's prior team (known as the right-of-first-refusal or ROFR team) by delivering a copy of the uniform player , typically within one hour via email, personal delivery, or other approved methods, though the CBA specifies no later than 1:00 p.m. ET on the next . This notification initiates a 48-hour matching window for the ROFR team, though if the offer sheet is signed during the moratorium, the clock does not start until 12:01 p.m. ET on , providing the original team time to assess the terms post-moratorium. The team making the offer must maintain sufficient cap room to accommodate the full value until the matching period expires or the offer is matched/renounced. Offer sheets remain a rare tool in NBA free agency due to the relative ease of matching and the financial risks involved, with only four issued since 2020 and the most recent to Paul Reed in 2023, which the matched. In the 2025 offseason, no offer sheets were extended to prominent RFAs such as , who instead signed a direct two-year, $48.5 million deal with the after prolonged negotiations, highlighting how teams often resolve RFA situations through extensions or direct signings to avoid the uncertainty of external bids. During the matching period, the ROFR team's cap hold for the RFA adjusts to the average annual value (AAV) of the offer sheet, replacing the prior free agent amount (typically 125% of the player's previous salary or the qualifying offer value) and potentially complicating roster construction until a decision is made. This temporary cap hold enables the team to use Bird rights for matching without needing cap space but ties up salary cap flexibility, further discouraging aggressive offer sheets from rival teams.

Matching rights and recent challenges

Upon signing an offer sheet with a new team, the original team is granted a 48-hour window to match the exact terms of the offer, including salary, bonuses, and contract length. If the original team elects to match, the player remains with that team, though trade restrictions apply: the player cannot be traded for without their consent, and never to the team that submitted the offer sheet. During this matching period, the original team retains full control over the player's without any power afforded to the player. Unlike the restricted free agency systems in the or NHL, which provide draft compensation to the original team if an offer is not matched, the NBA imposes no such penalties or awards; the player simply joins the new team on the agreed terms. This lack of compensation discourages offer sheets, as acquiring teams face no additional cost beyond the contract itself. The 2025 offseason highlighted ongoing challenges in restricted free agency, with negotiations for players like of the extending to October 1, when he signed his one-year qualifying offer, amid financial constraints from the league's apron rules. These apron restrictions, which limit team spending above the second apron threshold of $207.824 million (with additional restrictions starting at the first apron of $195.945 million), combined with the pressure to secure extensions before entering restricted free agency, increased risks for young players who failed to reach agreements and instead accepted one-year qualifying offers. Critics argue that the system traps emerging stars in prolonged uncertainty, allowing teams to exploit matching rights to negotiate below-market deals and limit player mobility. Proposed reforms include reinstating draft pick compensation for unmatched offer sheets or shortening the restricted period to three years, enabling earlier unrestricted free agency to better balance player leverage. In practice, the vast majority of restricted free agents—over 90% in recent offseasons—ultimately re-sign with their original teams, often through direct negotiations rather than offer sheets. Holdouts are commonly resolved via sign-and-trade deals, allowing players to move while providing the original team with assets in return.

Other leagues

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)

In the (KHL), restricted free agency is governed through the "Partially Free Agent" (PFA) status, which applies to players under the age of 29 whose contracts expire by , allowing clubs to retain rights to young talents aged 18-28 via qualifying offers. Eligibility for this status typically includes players completing entry-level or junior contracts, such as those from club hockey schools or selected at the Juniors’ Fair, with special protections for those under 21 who may appeal offers deemed insufficient. For instance, players aged 17-23 have their rights automatically retained by the original club until age 29 if they refuse a qualifying offer or depart the KHL system temporarily. This age-based framework prioritizes retaining emerging Russian and European prospects, differing from experience-based thresholds in other leagues by emphasizing long-term club development over game counts, though players aged 28 or older require at least 250 KHL games (or 200 for goalkeepers starting in 2025/26) to qualify as unrestricted free agents. Clubs retain player rights by issuing qualifying offers through the KHL's Central Information Bureau (CIB) Electronic Base between May 1 and May 31, with contracts typically spanning a minimum of two years and set at 150% of the prior season's for the first year and 170% for the second for players under 21. These offers must detail duration, base , and bonuses, and for hockey school graduates, first professional contracts are extended from February 1 to April 30 with a minimum three-year term at statutory labor rates. If a player rejects the offer, they enter PFA status on June 1 and can negotiate with other KHL clubs until June 20, but the original club holds matching rights for seven days upon receiving the new offer. Failure to match results in a transfer with monetary compensation to the original club, calculated as one or two times the player's average-weighted based on the offer's increase and thresholds (e.g., under 15 million RUB for ages 22-23). The KHL system grants clubs greater control over international transfers compared to other leagues, as PFAs signing outside the KHL (e.g., with NHL or European teams) trigger "Assigned Rights" status, extending retention until age 29 upon potential return. This mechanism, updated in August 2024 to clarify one-year qualifying offer options for 27-28-year-olds and extend offer deadlines to , aims to curb of domestic prospects amid global pressures. For players under 21, disputes over qualifying offers can be appealed to the KHL Commission for Contract Disputes, which resolves cases within 7 business days and allows the player seven days to secure a new club if the original declines the commission's terms. Such cases are resolved without formal , emphasizing club priority in youth development. Restricted free agency in the KHL remains less publicized than in North American leagues, with fewer high-profile offer sheets due to the league's focus on internal stability and compensation deterrents that discourage external bids. The 2025/26 season introduces a minor adjustment for goalkeepers, lowering the unrestricted free agent game threshold to 200 from 250 while maintaining the age 28 requirement, further underscoring efforts to secure young European and Russian talents against international competition.

Liga ACB

In Spain's , the , known as derecho de tanteo, provides clubs with the ability to retain players whose contracts have expired by matching offers from other ACB teams, functioning as a restricted free agency system tailored to professional . This mechanism applies broadly to all players concluding their contracts at the end of the season, encompassing both domestic and international professionals without imposing a strict minimum years-of-service threshold. The derecho de tanteo was extended under the collective bargaining agreement to include non-EU players (extracomunitarios, or non-FIBA Europe players) starting in the 2014-2015 season, granting clubs matching rights over external offers with an expanded negotiation window to address talent retention challenges. Clubs must notify the ACB of each player's contractual status within three days of the league's final regular-season match, after which the ACB publishes a list of players subject to the rule—excluding those who have already renewed or become unrestricted free agents. Other ACB clubs then have until July 20 (13 days in recent iterations) to submit qualified offers, which must detail salary, duration, and other terms; the original club receives the offer and has five days to decide whether to match it exactly, including any termination clauses or agent fees. If the original club declines or fails to decide within five days, the player signs with the offering team at no additional compensation to the former club. Clubs can exercise the right up to three times per continuous player-club relationship before age 30, with three additional uses permitted afterward, but lose it if they owe the player more than 15% of their unless cleared promptly. This process is confined to intra-ACB transfers; players can freely join non-ACB leagues like the NBA or teams without triggering matching rights, though the derecho de tanteo persists indefinitely if the player later seeks to return to the ACB, prioritizing the original club's claim. As of 2025, the system aligns with EuroLeague's newly implemented Competitive Balance Standards, effective for the 2025-26 season, which introduce salary caps tied to clubs' revenues and measures to enhance financial and competitive equity. These measures aim to promote talent retention and competitive equity by limiting spending, with ACB clubs—many of which compete in both leagues—using the derecho de tanteo to counter potential outflows amid capped budgets. Unlike draft-heavy systems in North American leagues, the ACB places minimal emphasis on amateur drafts, relying instead on this mechanism to curb talent drain to the NBA or rival ACB teams and maintain roster stability.

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