What determines a player's movement through free agency?

A player's movement through free agency is mainly determined by accrued seasons, which are defined by the number of seasons a player has spent on a roster, including time on injured reserve (IR) or the physically unable to perform list (PUP). For a player to qualify for unrestricted free agency, they must have accrued at least four seasons. This system is essential because it establishes a framework where a player's tenure with the team is measured, impacting their eligibility in free agency.

While contract negotiations, a player's performance metrics, and team salary cap space certainly play significant roles in the context of free agency, none of them directly determine the player's eligibility to move through free agency. For instance, a player may have poor performance metrics or limited salary cap space, but if they have met the required accrued seasons, they can still enter free agency. Thus, the number of accrued seasons is the critical factor that governs a player's ability to explore new opportunities as a free agent.