In the financial structure of the National Football League, the lowest-paid positions are typically occupied by special teams contributors or specific depth roles—such as traditional fullbacks, backup punters, and deep reserve offensive linemen—who sign rookie minimum contracts or practice squad agreements. While star quarterbacks, edge rushers, and wide receivers command tens of millions of dollars annually, entry-level players on the bottom tier of the 53-man roster earn baseline rookie minimum salaries dictated by the collective bargaining agreement. Players assigned strictly to practice squads earn weekly stipends that translate to significantly lower annual earnings compared to active roster veterans. Because positions like fullback have diminished in modern offensive schemes, players filling those rare blocking specialist roles often lack the leverage to command lucrative multi-year deals, keeping their compensation closer to league minimum floors relative to premier positional groups.