Rookie Pool
From what I have heard Pat Kirwin say in the past is that a drafted Rookie is considered to have a 1 year rookie minimum tender placed on him as soon as he is drafted and that would count as the cap hit until he signs his 4 year deal. Also a team just has to have enough space in their cap to cover the tenders on draft day in order to participate in the draft. I believe rookie minmum this coming season is $405,000.00.