Proposed Change: The simple solution is to insert this language into both Rules 14.6 and 14.7:
A player must be under contract for three full years with the SAME team to be eligible for the Tender/Franchise designation. A player who is traded mid-season with three years left INCLUDING the current season will retain eligibility. Traded players who do not meet the three year limit will be marked with an asterisk in the spreadsheet.)
Explanation: A slight ambiguity has emerged after the implementation of the Franchise Player Eligibility rule that took effect last year concerning the portability of contracts during trades. Currently: Franchise eligibility does not follow the player traded to a new team with less than three full remaining contract years. The intention being that a player must be under contract for three years with the SAME team to be franchise eligible. The same rule should also apply to Tender eligibility to keep things clear.
Example: Presently, Joe Kapp, QB, could be signed for three years by Team A but traded to Team B with one year left on his contract. The terms of the contract (the 3 years) would allow him to be traded with his tender (but not franchise) eligibility still intact for the new team. Because of the ambiguity in the rules, this year we have to let Joe Kapp, QB, be tender eligible. My goal is to close that option for next year and beyond. My rule states that Joe Kapp, QB, must play for three years on Team B to be eligible.