The league-mandated minimum base salary for first-year NFL players. For 2025, the rookie minimum is $795,000, and it increases annually under the CBA.
Every NFL player, regardless of how they enter the league, must be paid at least the rookie minimum salary. This floor applies to undrafted free agents, late-round picks, and practice squad call-ups alike. The CBA sets these minimums and increases them each year to keep pace with revenue growth.
The rookie minimum differs from veteran minimums, which increase based on years of credited service. A player with zero credited seasons earns the rookie minimum, while veterans with more experience earn progressively higher minimums. This tiered system ensures that even the lowest-paid veterans are compensated fairly relative to their experience.
For salary cap purposes, players signed at the rookie minimum who have accrued enough seasons may qualify for the Veteran Salary Benefit, which charges only a portion of their salary against the cap. This incentivizes teams to sign experienced players at minimum deals without the full cap penalty, creating a win-win for cost-conscious roster building.
Many undrafted free agents sign contracts at or near the rookie minimum salary. In 2023, Puka Nacua signed a four-year deal with the Rams as a fifth-round pick with base salaries near the minimum in his early years, then exploded for an NFL-record 105 rookie receptions.
Category: Draft & Rookies. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.