How does a team select players for the Top 51 Rule?

The selection of players for the Top 51 Rule is based on their salaries, specifically focusing on the highest salaries on the team's roster. This rule dictates that during the offseason, only the top 51 player salaries count against a team's salary cap. It's a strategic approach that allows teams to manage their finances more effectively while assessing their roster.

This means that when evaluating which players will impact the salary cap, teams prioritize those with the highest contracts. Therefore, the criteria for including players in the Top 51 is directly financially driven rather than based on past performance statistics, draft selections, or votes from team captains.