Tendering a contract in the National Football League (NFL) is a process where a team offers a contract to a player who is a restricted free agent. A restricted free agent is a player who has completed three years of service with their current team and is not yet an unrestricted free agent.
The tender offer is a one-year deal with a predetermined salary based on the player`s level of draft compensation. The levels of draft compensation are determined by the round in which the player was drafted. The higher the draft pick, the higher the tender offer.
If a player receives a tender offer from their team, they have the option to sign the offer and play for that team for another year or to negotiate a long-term deal. However, if the player chooses to negotiate, their team still retains the right to match any offer they receive from another team.
If a player does not receive a tender offer, they become an unrestricted free agent and are free to sign with any team.
The tender offer system is in place to prevent teams from losing their best players without compensation. It also provides some security for the player, as they are guaranteed a salary for the upcoming season even if they do not receive a long-term deal.
Overall, tendering a contract in the NFL is a key aspect of offseason negotiations and a way for teams to retain their restricted free agents and potentially negotiate long-term deals.
