2015 RULES: Free Agency (UDFA)

[robroach]

The rule exists to ensure that undrafted players don't drastically make more than a player that is drafted.

If I'm not mistaken, the last player in the draft last year received a signing bonus just under 50k.

[Goodell]

The rule exists to ensure that undrafted players don't drastically make more than a player that is drafted.

That makes a lot of sense, thanks!

It effectively keeps that market after the draft from getting too too crazy with teams trying to convince someone to sign with them instead of another team. Already many players still available in the 7th round want to go undrafted for their choice of team/situation. If signing bonuses associated with that were unlimited, you could see where that could quickly out-pace the draft contract structures for later-round picks without this limiting that. That helps solidify the value to the lower round draft picks by keeping the after draft bidding lower. Now with that limit, teams still go all out trying to get players, but they have to prioritize and be limited in their financial offering for guaranteed signing bonus.

Our UDFA free agency market can get even crazier (for better or worse) than reality in terms of competition for winning bid wars for guys undrafted and the amounts willing to be paid.

[Knighty Knight]

I learned some valuable lessons in guaranteeing UDFA last offseason and paid a hefty price.

[Ben C.]

The rule exists to ensure that undrafted players don't drastically make more than a player that is drafted.

I suppose it can also be said that it encourages players to enter the draft. If there wasn't a cap on the UDFA signing bonus, a star player could theoretically circumvent the draft in order to avoid being stuck with a team he didn't pick and limited by the rookie wage scale.

[Goodell]

CONCLUSION: We won't institute a UDFA cap this sim season, but will be something we'll keep in mind after our draft and thinking about how our own UDFA signing period may or may not be better with that signing bonus limit and the added strategy involved for front office game play. It may be good for increased challenge, realism, and overall parity to apply that NFL UDFA cap in the future, but for now just something to think about as not supported by most GMs here.

[stevebarrett24]

Changed my vote. In DFFL one team has already used 2.9 million dollars on 4 free agents and I'm pretty sure he is the team that just threw down 1.5 million dollars on another. If we are going for realism undrafted free agents would not be getting higher signing bonuses then 2nd round picks.

[Onyxgem]

Changed my vote. In DFFL one team has already used 2.9 million dollars on 4 free agents and I'm pretty sure he is the team that just threw down 1.5 million dollars on another. If we are going for realism undrafted free agents would not be getting higher signing bonuses then 2nd round picks.

agree 100%

[JonC]

Changed my vote. In DFFL one team has already used 2.9 million dollars on 4 free agents and I'm pretty sure he is the team that just threw down 1.5 million dollars on another. If we are going for realism undrafted free agents would not be getting higher signing bonuses then 2nd round picks.

agree 100%

Same

[sportznut]

The rule exists to ensure that undrafted players don't drastically make more than a player that is drafted.

I suppose it can also be said that it encourages players to enter the draft. If there wasn't a cap on the UDFA signing bonus, a star player could theoretically circumvent the draft in order to avoid being stuck with a team he didn't pick and limited by the rookie wage scale.

Bingo. It would be exploited every year, especially by players with more than one option (like a second sport for example).

[Aftermath2531]

Guys this took place last year but at a higher level... Remember Justin Jones? At this point last year he became one of the top 10 highest paid TEs and then didn't even make the 53 man roster.