How do you calculate a veteran's cap number for a specific season?

To determine a veteran's cap number for a specific season, it is essential to add together all applicable components relevant to that player's contract for that particular year. The cap number reflects the total financial impact the player has on a team's salary cap and includes not only the base salary, but also any signing bonuses, roster bonuses, performance incentives, and any other benefits accounted for under the salary cap rules. This comprehensive approach ensures that all costs associated with the player's contract are considered, giving a more accurate representation of the player's value in terms of salary cap implications.

The other options do not encompass the necessary components: estimating based on the previous year's salary lacks accuracy for the specific season, focusing solely on base salary ignores other critical contract elements, and calculating only performance bonuses fails to account for fixed costs like signing bonuses or guaranteed money. Thus, the correct method involves a complete summation of all factors that contribute to the veteran's cap number for the season in question.