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.
Conversion (Salary to Bonus): NFL Definition
The process of converting a player's base salary or roster bonus into a signing bonus, spreading the cap charge over remaining contract years to create immediate salary cap savings.
Full Explanation
A salary-to-bonus conversion is the mechanical process at the heart of most NFL contract restructures. The team takes a portion of the player's base salary (which counts fully against the cap in the current year) and converts it into a signing bonus (which is prorated over the remaining life of the contract, up to five years). The player receives the same amount of money -- it is paid immediately as a lump sum rather than spread across game checks.
The conversion creates cap savings by reducing the current-year cap charge and spreading it into future years. If a player has a $25 million base salary with four years remaining, converting $20 million into a signing bonus would create $15 million in current-year cap savings ($20 million minus $5 million per year prorated over four years). The player actually benefits too, since they receive $20 million immediately rather than in weekly installments.
Conversions require the player's consent, though players almost always agree because they receive their money faster. The key constraint is that the prorated bonus money becomes guaranteed and cannot be recovered if the player is later cut or traded. This means each conversion increases the dead money associated with releasing the player, making it harder to move on from the contract in future years.
Category: Cap Strategies. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.