How is Year-One Rookie Salary determined?

Year-One Rookie Salary is typically calculated by combining the base salary with the signing bonus. The base salary represents the player's guaranteed compensation for that year, while the signing bonus is an upfront payment that is often prorated over the life of the contract for salary cap purposes. This combination ensures that the player receives a guaranteed amount that reflects their market value and the front-loaded nature of rookie contracts, particularly in the context of the NFL.

The other options do not encapsulate the entirety of a rookie’s first-year earnings. For instance, using only base salary would overlook the signing bonus component, which is a significant part of most rookie contracts. Signing bonus proration takes into account how the bonus is allocated over the contract duration, but does not represent the actual Year-One Salary by itself. Lastly, a workout bonus, while it can be part of the contract, typically doesn’t determine the Year-One Rookie Salary as it is contingent upon the player participating in offseason workouts and is not guaranteed to be part of the salary structure for that year.