Football

NFL base salary arrives in 18 equal weekly game checks during the regular season only. How the pay calendar works, from signing bonuses to flat playoff shares.

One NFL contract produces three numbers – cap hit, base salary, and cash – and they almost never match. The definitions, a worked example, and which to watch.

Dead money is cap space charged for players no longer on the roster. How bonus proration, void years and the June 1 rule work – and the $85M Wilson record.

Four accrued seasons makes a player unrestricted; three makes him restricted and tendered. The 2026 tender levels, ERFA rules, and how clubs play the system.

First-round picks carry a team option for a fifth season – fully guaranteed once exercised, priced across four tiers. How it works and 2026’s decisions.

The franchise tag is a one-year, fully guaranteed, position-priced tender – $43.9M for QBs in 2026. The three tag types, every value, and this year’s tag class.

An accrued season is six-plus games on the active roster, IR or PUP – the clock that decides NFL free agency, separate from the credited season that drives pay.

A vested veteran has four accrued NFL seasons. What that means for waivers, termination pay, and why the rules flip after the trade deadline.

Fantasy playoff formats: standard brackets, seeding and tiebreakers, byes, and why Week 17 championships are the modern default.

Fantasy IR spot rules: who qualifies by designation, how platforms differ, the lock rules, and how to use IR slots for value.