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.
Veteran Salary Benefit: NFL Definition
A cap credit that reduces the salary cap charge for qualifying veterans signed to minimum salary contracts, with the league subsidizing the difference between the veteran minimum and the rookie minimum.
Full Explanation
The Veteran Salary Benefit (VSB) is a CBA provision designed to incentivize teams to sign experienced players at minimum salaries rather than replacing them with cheaper rookies. Under the VSB, when a veteran with four or more accrued seasons signs a one-year contract at the minimum salary, their cap charge is reduced to the equivalent of a player with two or fewer credited seasons. The league (not the team) pays the difference.
For example, a 10-year veteran's minimum salary might be $1.21 million, but under the VSB, only $915,000 (the lower-credited-season minimum) counts against the team's salary cap. The league covers the roughly $295,000 difference. This credit makes veteran minimum contracts among the most cap-efficient signings a team can make, as the team gets experienced production at a discounted cap rate.
The VSB is a crucial tool for roster construction. Teams regularly fill the back end of their 53-man roster with veterans on minimum deals who benefit from the VSB credit. These players provide depth, leadership, and special teams contributions at a cap-friendly rate. The benefit also helps veterans extend their careers, as it removes the financial incentive for teams to replace them with minimum-salary rookies who would cost the same against the cap but lack experience.
Category: CBA & League Rules. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.