Regarding the 40% rule, with some cribbing from BTF, it looks like the 15 days to offer a contract is still out there. So if you can't get these underslot guys to sign for less than 40% within 15 days, you're pretty much forced to offer him 40% or lose him. ETA: It's more like 30 days (warning after 15 days, then 15 days after the warning to offer a contract)