Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Determinants Of Nfl Player Salaries, Trevor Draisey

Honors Program Theses

Using performance data from 2013 and salary data from 2014 for 426 offensive skill position players in the National Football League (NFL), this study analyzes the determinants of player salaries in rookie and veteran NFL contracts. It is the first study to use fantasy football statistics as a measure of performance across positions. The results indicate that performance, as measured by fantasy football statistics, is the primary determinant of veteran players’ salaries. Under the 2011 NFL Players Association Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), draft position is the primary determinant of rookie players’ salaries.