What is the minimum number of accrued seasons required for an Exclusive Rights Free Agent?

The classification of an Exclusive Rights Free Agent is significant in the context of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. To achieve this status, a player must have completed a minimum of two accrued seasons in the NFL. This means that the player has been on the active roster for a certain number of games during two distinct NFL seasons, which could include time spent on the practice squad, provided the player was elevated to the active roster appropriately.

Once a player is designated as an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, it grants the team the exclusive right to retain the player's services by offering a one-year contract at the league minimum salary. If the team chooses not to extend this offer, the player does not have the ability to negotiate with other teams.

Understanding this distinction helps clarify the contractual dynamics in the NFL and underlines the importance of accrued seasons in determining a player's free agency status.