What does RFA stand for as it relates to player contracts?

Restricted Free Agent (RFA) refers to a specific status of an NFL player whose contract has expired but who has not yet become an unrestricted free agent. Under the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a player with three accrued seasons can receive a qualifying offer from their current team, allowing the team the right to match any offer the player receives from another team during the free agency period. If the original team chooses not to match an offer, they may receive compensation in the form of draft picks based on the level of the qualifying offer.

This designation is significant because it helps teams retain some control over their young players while still allowing those players the opportunity to negotiate with other teams. The restricted nature of the status implies certain limitations compared to unrestricted free agents, who can sign with any team without their former team having a right to match offers.

The other terms mentioned, such as Retired Free Agent, Rookie Free Agent, and Regular Free Agent, do not accurately capture the specific legal and competitive implications of the RFA designation within the context of the NFL's contract system.