Stephen Dubner

In the NFL, most rookie contracts will bind you to that team for four years. The top-ranked players may sign huge rookie contracts with millions of dollars guaranteed, but that's just the top of the pyramid. Around 50% of NFL players make the league minimum. This year, that was a base salary of $840,000 for a rookie, with gradual increases for each year of service.

In the NFL, most rookie contracts will bind you to that team for four years. The top-ranked players may sign huge rookie contracts with millions of dollars guaranteed, but that's just the top of the pyramid. Around 50% of NFL players make the league minimum. This year, that was a base salary of $840,000 for a rookie, with gradual increases for each year of service.

In the NFL, most rookie contracts will bind you to that team for four years. The top-ranked players may sign huge rookie contracts with millions of dollars guaranteed, but that's just the top of the pyramid. Around 50% of NFL players make the league minimum. This year, that was a base salary of $840,000 for a rookie, with gradual increases for each year of service.

So, yes, that's a big paycheck compared to most first jobs, but... The average NFL career is barely three years long, so a lot of players are out of the league before their rookie contract expires. They are replaced by someone even younger and cheaper.

So, yes, that's a big paycheck compared to most first jobs, but... The average NFL career is barely three years long, so a lot of players are out of the league before their rookie contract expires. They are replaced by someone even younger and cheaper.

So, yes, that's a big paycheck compared to most first jobs, but... The average NFL career is barely three years long, so a lot of players are out of the league before their rookie contract expires. They are replaced by someone even younger and cheaper.

If you are good enough to stick around past that rookie contract, and if you're lucky enough to have remained healthy – those are two big ifs – then you become what is called an unrestricted free agent, and you can sell your services to whichever team wants you – Finally, after four years in the NFL, you have achieved the workforce freedom of a newly graduated mechanical engineer.

If you are good enough to stick around past that rookie contract, and if you're lucky enough to have remained healthy – those are two big ifs – then you become what is called an unrestricted free agent, and you can sell your services to whichever team wants you – Finally, after four years in the NFL, you have achieved the workforce freedom of a newly graduated mechanical engineer.

If you are good enough to stick around past that rookie contract, and if you're lucky enough to have remained healthy – those are two big ifs – then you become what is called an unrestricted free agent, and you can sell your services to whichever team wants you – Finally, after four years in the NFL, you have achieved the workforce freedom of a newly graduated mechanical engineer.

At this point, you may be in for big money, five or 10, even $50 million a year. And how does a free agent decide which team to play for? Your agent will speak to all the interested teams, try to drive up your price, and help you sort through the offers. There's a lot to consider.

At this point, you may be in for big money, five or 10, even $50 million a year. And how does a free agent decide which team to play for? Your agent will speak to all the interested teams, try to drive up your price, and help you sort through the offers. There's a lot to consider.

At this point, you may be in for big money, five or 10, even $50 million a year. And how does a free agent decide which team to play for? Your agent will speak to all the interested teams, try to drive up your price, and help you sort through the offers. There's a lot to consider.

How the payout will be structured, what kind of incentives and bonus clauses you can get in the contract, even the occasional restrictive clause, like in the recent contract the Arizona Cardinals offered to re-sign their star quarterback, Kyler Murray. They wanted Murray to... I'll read from the contract. They wanted him to complete at least four hours of independent study each week.

How the payout will be structured, what kind of incentives and bonus clauses you can get in the contract, even the occasional restrictive clause, like in the recent contract the Arizona Cardinals offered to re-sign their star quarterback, Kyler Murray. They wanted Murray to... I'll read from the contract. They wanted him to complete at least four hours of independent study each week.

How the payout will be structured, what kind of incentives and bonus clauses you can get in the contract, even the occasional restrictive clause, like in the recent contract the Arizona Cardinals offered to re-sign their star quarterback, Kyler Murray. They wanted Murray to... I'll read from the contract. They wanted him to complete at least four hours of independent study each week.

In other words, they want to make sure he's doing his homework, studying the playbook, watching film at night, things like that. Arizona was criticized for adding this clause and they ultimately removed it. And Murray did sign the contract, a five year deal that could pay out more than two hundred and thirty million dollars.

In other words, they want to make sure he's doing his homework, studying the playbook, watching film at night, things like that. Arizona was criticized for adding this clause and they ultimately removed it. And Murray did sign the contract, a five year deal that could pay out more than two hundred and thirty million dollars.

In other words, they want to make sure he's doing his homework, studying the playbook, watching film at night, things like that. Arizona was criticized for adding this clause and they ultimately removed it. And Murray did sign the contract, a five year deal that could pay out more than two hundred and thirty million dollars.

When players get to choose their team, they usually go with the highest dollar offer. But there are other factors to consider. How good is the team? Most players want to play for winners. How good is the coaching staff and how secure? If they're in danger of getting fired, you may be too. You might consider the weather. Are you a Miami guy or a Minnesota guy?

When players get to choose their team, they usually go with the highest dollar offer. But there are other factors to consider. How good is the team? Most players want to play for winners. How good is the coaching staff and how secure? If they're in danger of getting fired, you may be too. You might consider the weather. Are you a Miami guy or a Minnesota guy?