What term describes a player whose contract expires and has less than three accrued seasons?

The term that describes a player whose contract expires and has less than three accrued seasons is Exclusive Rights Free Agent. This designation applies to players who, upon the expiration of their contracts, have not yet met the threshold of three accrued seasons in the NFL. An Exclusive Rights Free Agent is not entitled to negotiate with other teams; instead, the former team has the exclusive right to offer a contract, typically at a minimum salary level.

In the context of NFL contract negotiations, this classification is significant because it allows teams to retain control over young players who may not have had enough time in the league to become unrestricted or restricted free agents. This encourages teams to develop their talent while also providing a safety net for players who may not have fully established their value yet.

In contrast, free agents have more negotiating power and flexibility to pick their destination, while unrestricted free agents have completed four or more accrued seasons and can seek contracts with any team. Restricted free agents, on the other hand, have three accrued seasons yet are still limited in their ability to negotiate with teams due to their former team's right to match any offer.