What defines an Exclusive Rights Free Agent?

An Exclusive Rights Free Agent is a player who has completed an accrued season in the NFL but does not have enough accrued seasons to qualify for unrestricted free agency. Specifically, a player becomes an Exclusive Rights Free Agent after they have completed one accrued season in the NFL but less than three accrued seasons. This status means that the player's current team holds the exclusive negotiating rights, allowing them to offer a contract, and if the player does not sign that offer, the player is not allowed to negotiate with other teams.

In the context of the choices, while one accrued season is necessary to define an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, the critical aspect lies in having fewer than three accrued seasons, which aligns with the definition provided. As a result, the identification of an Exclusive Rights Free Agent hinges on the first accrued season in combination with the stipulation about the maximum accrued seasons. Therefore, the option indicating two accrued seasons distinctly highlights the status of players having completed one season but not enough for unrestricted agency, placing emphasis on eligibility for exclusive rights rather than full unrestricted freedom.