Free NFLPA Exam Question of the Day #8: When Must a Team Match a Restricted Free Agent Offer Sheet?
Welcome to today's Free Question of the Day in Athlete Rep Lab's daily NFLPA practice series.
Every day until the NFLPA Contract Advisor Certification Exam, we'll publish a brand-new, original exam-style question covering an important concept from the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the NFLPA Regulations Governing Contract Advisors.
Today's Topic: Restricted Free Agency and the Right of First Refusal
Restricted Free Agency (RFA) questions are popular on the NFLPA exam because they test whether candidates understand the difference between:
A player's ability to negotiate with another club;
The original club's Right of First Refusal;
The timeline for the original club to decide whether to match.
Today's Question
A Restricted Free Agent receives a qualifying tender from his current club and later signs an Offer Sheet with a new NFL club.
How long does the player's prior club have to exercise its Right of First Refusal after receiving the executed Offer Sheet?
A) 3 days
B) 5 days
C) until the first day of training camp
D) until June 1st each year
Take a moment to answer before scrolling.
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Answer & Explanation
The correct answer is:
B) 5 days
The Rule Under Article 9, Section 3(a)
When a Restricted Free Agent signs an Offer Sheet with another NFL club, the player must provide the prior club with the executed Offer Sheet.
Once the prior club receives the Offer Sheet, it has five days to decide whether to exercise its Right of First Refusal.
During that five-day period, the prior club may:
Match the Offer Sheet and retain the player under the same terms; or
Decline to match, allowing the player to sign with the new club, subject to any applicable compensation rights.
Core Concept for Your Exam
Remember the RFA timeline:
Player receives qualifying offer/tender from original club.
Player signs an Offer Sheet with another club.
Original club receives the executed Offer Sheet.
Original club has 5 days to exercise its Right of First Refusal.
The key exam point:
A Restricted Free Agent Offer Sheet does not become final immediately, the original club gets five days to match.
Answer: B) 5 days