Undrafted rookies from last year?

[Italian Stallion]

Isn't it true that guys like Rashad Baker, Jabari Greer, Luke Lawton etc. all just signed 1 year deals last year? If that's the case I'm somewhat concerned about the first two, especially BAKER

He's a guy that can step in for Vincent once he moves on, and will learn alot from him. I'd try to give him somewhat of a long term deal....

[Italian Stallion]

I forgot about Peters too....any of these guys should get more than one year deals so we can develop them

[ShadowHawk7]

Lawton, Peters, and Greer were good/very good pickups, and Baker and Williams turned out to be excellent pickups. These guys had more production than a few of our draft picks, great scout job after the draft, I look forward to the same after the draft this year.

[Konyeezie]

They didn't get 1 year deals.

[Italian Stallion]

They didn't get 1 year deals.

What did they get then???

[Dozerdog]

Plus, they would become RFA's their first two years- the Bills can tender them and if someone else comes in with an offer, the Bills would be compensated with draft picks if they don't match.

[Ickybaluky]

They don't become restricted until they have 3 years in the NFL.

Any player with less than 3 years experience is an Exclusive-rights FA (which seems a misnomer, considering they aren't free at all). If the team wants to keep an EFA they can make a minimum-level tender to retain their rights. That player cannot negotiate or sign with any other teams.

In other words, all those players, if they did sign for 1 year, are tied to the Bills for 2 more years at minimum salaries with no signing bonus.

After their 3rd years they become restricted, and the Bills can tender them. Depending on the level they are tenders it would play out as follows:

High tender (about $1.6M) - The Bills could match any offer the player receives. If they don't match, the Bills would receive a 1st and 3rd round pick from the team that signs the player.

Medium tender (about $1.3M) - The Bills could match any offer the player receives. If they don't match, the Bills would receive a 1st round pick from the team that signs the player.

Low tender (about $700K) - The Bills could match any offer the player receives. If they don't match, the Bills would receive a draft pick equal to the round the player was originally drafted in from the team that signs the player. Since the 3 players in question are undrafted, the Bills would not receive any draft pick compensation.

After their 4th seasons, those player would become unrestricted FA.

[Dozerdog]

They don't become restricted until they have 3 years in the NFL.

Any player with less than 3 years experience is an Exclusive-rights FA (which seems a misnomer, considering they aren't free at all). If the team wants to keep an EFA they can make a minimum-level tender to retain their rights. That player cannot negotiate or sign with any other teams.

In other words, all those players, if they did sign for 1 year, are tied to the Bills for 2 more years at minimum salaries with no signing bonus.

After their 3rd years they become restricted, and the Bills can tender them. Depending on the level they are tenders it would play out as follows:

High tender (about $1.6M) - The Bills could match any offer the player receives. If they don't match, the Bills would receive a 1st and 3rd round pick from the team that signs the player.

Medium tender (about $1.3M) - The Bills could match any offer the player receives. If they don't match, the Bills would receive a 1st round pick from the team that signs the player.

Low tender (about $700K) - The Bills could match any offer the player receives. If they don't match, the Bills would receive a draft pick equal to the round the player was originally drafted in from the team that signs the player. Since the 3 players in question are undrafted, the Bills would not receive any draft pick compensation.

After their 4th seasons, those player would become unrestricted FA.
Yeah- that's what I meant...

[Italian Stallion]

So, unless the Bills release them, undrafted rookies-by rule- are tied to the team for 3 years?

[Dozerdog]

If we feel like paying them....Yup!

[jamze132]

Thats some good info. Thanks