What is a player categorized as if they have less than 3 Accrued Seasons?

A player with less than 3 accrued seasons is categorized as an Exclusive Rights Player. This classification occurs because such players have not yet reached the requisite experience level to qualify for either Restricted Free Agency or Unrestricted Free Agency. An Exclusive Rights Player is under the control of their current team, which retains the right to offer them a contract for the upcoming season. If the player accepts this qualifying offer, they are obligated to sign it, effectively preventing them from negotiating with other teams.

In contrast, a Restricted Free Agent typically has accrued between 3 to 6 seasons and can negotiate with other teams, but the original team has the option to match any offers made. An Unrestricted Free Agent has accrued at least 4 seasons and can sign with any team without restriction. A Practice Squad Player, on the other hand, represents a distinct category of players who are not on the active roster but can practice with the team, and they are not suited for the discussion regarding accrued seasons as it pertains to free agency.