Who qualifies as an Exclusive Rights Player?

An Exclusive Rights Player is defined as a player who has fewer than three accrued seasons in the NFL and has been offered a minimum tender by their current team. This classification allows the team to retain the player's rights, meaning that the player cannot negotiate with other teams. The minimum tender essentially ensures that the player will receive a contract for the upcoming season, but the team's guarantee of rights allows for significant leverage in player negotiations.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the criteria for an Exclusive Rights Player. A player with full trade value does not align with the concept of exclusive rights, which focuses on contract terms rather than trade mechanisms. Additionally, a veteran player with over five years of experience typically falls under different contract rules, like being a unrestricted free agent, where they have more freedom to negotiate with other teams. Lastly, a player who has been on injured reserve all season does not change their status as it pertains to accrued seasons or their classification as an Exclusive Rights Player—it simply designates them as unable to play during that season, which does not inherently qualify or disqualify them from an exclusive rights designation.