Free NFL Analytics Platform — A Directory of Our Hubs
StickToTheModel is a free NFL analytics platform organized around a few core hubs. Each hub is the home for a specific category of NFL coverage — pick the one that matches what you're looking for. No signup required.
Our Hubs
Mock Draft Simulator — The simulator hub. 7-round NFL mock drafts with trades, AI opponents, and instant grades.
NFL GM Simulator — The GM mode hub. Manage salary cap, cuts, trades, franchise tags, and the draft for any team.
2026 Draft Prospect Hub — Big board, scouting reports, combine measurables, and team visit tracker.
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Our platform offers data-driven NFL analysis with tools for draft preparation, fantasy football, and player research. All core features are free with daily updates during the NFL season.
The platform serves fantasy football players, NFL Draft enthusiasts, dynasty league managers, sports bettors, content creators, and casual fans exploring NFL statistics.
Cap Implications of Trades: NFL Definition
When a player is traded, the acquiring team absorbs the remaining base salary and any new prorated bonus, while the original team retains all previously prorated signing bonus money as dead money.
Full Explanation
Trades in the NFL carry significant salary cap consequences for both teams involved. The key principle is that prorated signing bonus money cannot be transferred -- it stays with the original team as dead money that accelerates onto the cap in the year of the trade. The acquiring team takes on the player's remaining base salary, roster bonuses, and any new money added through a renegotiation or extension.
For the trading team, the cap hit depends on when the trade occurs. If a player has $10 million in remaining prorated signing bonus spread over two years, all of that accelerates into the current year's cap when the trade happens. This is why teams sometimes delay trades or time them strategically around June 1, when the dead money can be split across two cap years using a post-June 1 designation.
For the acquiring team, the cap hit is typically just the player's remaining base salary for the current season, making mid-season trades relatively cap-friendly for buyers. However, the acquiring team must also consider future-year cap implications if the player has a multi-year deal, and whether they will need to extend the player at a higher price.
Category: Trades & Transactions. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.