In recent years, steps have been taken to reduce the role of NFL agents, particularly with younger players. Since the NFL and the NFLPA entered into their 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, NFL agents have been limited in what they can negotiate for rookie players. They are only able to negotiate the timing of salary bonus payments and “offset” language, which addresses whether the salary of a player who is released from his contract and signs with another team reduces, or offsets, the amount the first team must pay to the player. As a result of this restricted role, some players have even begun to forego agents completely for their first contract, hurting agents’ revenue.
