<Dl> <Dt> Restricted free agents </Dt> </Dl> <Dt> Restricted free agents </Dt> <P> Restricted free agents (RFAs) are players who have three or fewer accrued seasons of service and whose contracts have expired . RFAs have received qualifying offers from their old clubs and are free to negotiate with any club until a deadline which occurs approximately a week prior to the NFL Draft (for 2010 the deadline was April 15), at which time their rights revert to their original club . If a player accepts an offer from a new club, the old club will have the right to match the offer and retain the player . If the old club elects not to match the offer, it may receive draft - choice compensation depending on the level of the qualifying offer made to the player . </P> <Dl> <Dt> Unrestricted free agents </Dt> </Dl>

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