Some definitions (italicized text from Mark Lawrence.)
Exclusive Rights FA – An Exclusive-Rights Free Agent … is not under contract, but has only two years of NFL experience. If his former club makes him an offer at the three year veteran minimum salary, then that’s it, he has to take it or leave the NFL. These guys have no right to negotiate with other teams. They are “free” only in the sense that they’re free to quit.
UFA – An Unrestricted Free Agent is free to sign with any team.
RFA – A Restricted Free Agent is … not under contract, but has only three years of NFL experience. The signing period for restricted free agents begins on March 2 and concludes on April 15. If his previous team has made him a Qualifying Offer, then that team has a right of first refusal on the player. This means the player may negotiate with other teams and receive an offer, however the previous team may agree to the offer that the player has received, in which case the player stays with his former team.
| # | NAME | POS. | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| 71 | Adams, Flozell | T | $5 million | UFA | ||||
| 26 | Allen, Will | S | $1.265 million | $1.28 million | UFA | |||
| 47 | Atkins, Baraka | LB | Reserve/future | |||||
| 16 | Batch, Charlie | QB | $865,000.00 | UFA | ||||
| 81 | Battle, Arnaz | WR | $1,037,500.00 | $1,037,500.00 | UFA | |||
| 87 | Bright, Eugene | TE | Reserve/future | |||||
| 77 | Brooks, Dorian | OG | $405,000.00 | Exclusive Rights FA | ||||
| 84 | Brown, Antonio | WR | $405,000.00 | $490,000.00 | RFA | |||
| 28 | Butler, Crezdon | CB | $405,000.00 | $490,000.00 | RFA | |||
| 25 | Clark, Ryan | FS | $2.5 million | $3 million | $3.5 million | UFA | ||
| 74 | Colon, Willie | T | UFA | |||||
| 42 | Cromartie-Smith, Da’Mon | S | Reserve/future | |||||
| 10 | Dixon, Dennis | QB | RFA (Tendered) | |||||
| 27 | Dwyer, Jonathan | RB | $405,000.00 | 490000 | RFA | |||
| 93 | Eason, Nick | DE | UFA | |||||
| 90 | Ellis, Chris | LB | Reserve/future | |||||
| 79 | Essex, Trai | G | UFA | |||||
| 51 | Farrior, James | ILB | $2.825 million | $2.825 million | UFA | |||
| 50 | Foote, Larry | LB | $2.4 million | $3 million | UFA | |||
| 73 | Foster, Ramon | T | $480,000.00 | RFA | ||||
| 57 | Fox, Keyaron | ILB | UFA | |||||
| 22 | Gay, William | CB | UFA | |||||
| 19 | Grisham, Tyler | WR | Reserve/future | |||||
| 98 | Hampton, Casey | NT | $3.91 million | $4.89 million | UFA | |||
| 92 | Harrison, James | OLB | $3.66 million | $5.315 million | $6.32 million | $7.325 million | UFA | |
| 77 | Harris, Ra’Shon | DE | Reserve/future | |||||
| 37 | Harris, Tuff | DB | RFA | |||||
| 66 | Hills, Tony | T | RFA (Tendered) | |||||
| 76 | Hoke, Chris | NT | No clue | |||||
| 96 | Hood, Ziggy | DE | $600,000.00 | $600,000.00 | $660,000.00 | UFA | ||
| 48 | Ivy, Mortty | LB | Reserve/future | |||||
| 85 | Johnson, David | TE | $480,000.00 | RFA | ||||
| 41 | Johnson, James | RB | Reserve/future | |||||
| 67 | Jolly, Kyle | OT | Reserve/future | |||||
| 13 | Kapinos, Jeremy | P | RFA | |||||
| 99 | Keisel, Brett | DE | $3.025 million | $2.825 million | $2.825 million | UFA | ||
| 68 | Kemoeatu, Chris | G | $2.973 million | $3.577 million | $4.181 million | UFA | ||
| 4 | Leftwich, Byron | QB | $1.75 million | UFA | ||||
| 64 | Legursky, Doug | C | Exclusive Rights FA | |||||
| 23 | Lewis, Keenan | CB | $480,000.00 | RFA | ||||
| 15 | Lyons, Wes | WR | Reserve/future | |||||
| 37 | Madison, Anthony | DB | UFA | |||||
| 65 | McCaskill, Nevin | OG | Reserve/future | |||||
| 46 | McCoy, Chris | LB | Reserve/future | |||||
| 45 | McCoy, Jamie | TE | Reserve/future | |||||
| 20 | McFadden, Bryant | CB | $2.5 million | $2.5 million | UFA | |||
| 69 | McLendon, Steve | DT | $405,000.00 | Exclusive Rights FA | ||||
| 34 | Mendenhall, Rashard | RB | $612,500.00 | $650,000.00 | UFA | |||
| 83 | Miller, Heath | TE | $3.86 million | $4.274 million | UFA | |||
| 21 | Moore, Mewelde | RB | UFA | |||||
| 29 | Mundy, Ryan | FS | RFA | |||||
| 43 | Polamalu, Troy | SS | $6.4 million | UFA | ||||
| 53 | Pouncey, Maurkice | C/G | $405,000.00 | $666,125.00 | $977, 250 | $1,288,375.00 | UFA | |
| 82 | Randle El, Antwaan | WR | $2 million | $2.5 million | UFA | |||
| 33 | Redman, Isaac | RB | $405,000.00 | Exclusive Rights FA | ||||
| 7 | Roethlisberger, Ben | QB | $11.6 million | $11.6 million | $11.6 million | $11.6 million | $12.1 million | UFA |
| 88 | Sanders, Emmanuel | WR | $405,000.00 | $490,000.00 | RFA | |||
| 61 | Scott, Chris | OT | $405,000.00 | $490,000.00 | RFA | |||
| 72 | Scott, Jonathan | T | UFA | |||||
| 9 | Sepulveda, Dan | P | UFA | |||||
| 91 | Smith, Aaron | DE | $4.5 million | UFA | ||||
| 89 | Spaeth, Matt | TE | UFA | |||||
| 78 | Starks, Max | T | $5.14 million | $5.14 million | UFA | |||
| 6 | Suisham, Shaun | K | UFA | |||||
| 80 | Sweed, Limas | WR | $555,000.00 | UFA | ||||
| 55 | Sylvester, Stevenson | ILB | $405,000.00 | $490,000.00 | RFA | |||
| 24 | Taylor, Ike | CB | UFA | |||||
| 94 | Timmons, Lawrence | LB | $650,000.00 | UFA | ||||
| 17 | Wallace, Mike | WR | $480,000.00 | RFA | ||||
| 86 | Ward, Hines | WR | $3 million | $4 million | $4 million | UFA | ||
| 30 | Warren, Donovan | CB | Reserve/future | |||||
| 60 | Warren, Greg | LS | UFA | |||||
| 5 | Waters, Swayze | K | Reserve/future | |||||
| 56 | Woodley, LaMarr | OLB | $10.091 million | UFA | ||||
| 97 | Worilds, Jason | OLB | $405,000.00 | $490,000.00 | $575,000.00 | UFA |
