Rookie wage scale hits 2011 draftees hard

by Dan Kadar on Jul 30, 2011 2:45 PM EDT in 2011 NFL Draft

Now that nine of the first 10 picks in the 2011 NFL Draft are signed, it's interesting to see the impact of the new rookie wage scale.

First overall pick Cam Newton received a fully guaranteed $22 million contract from the Panthers Friday. The first eight picks of the 2010 NFL Draft received more guaranteed money than Newton. The first pick in 2010, quarterback Sam Bradford, received a whopping $28 million more than Newton in guaranteemoney.

Of course, Newton is more of a victim of timing than anything else. After all, it's not like he would have been picked as highly if he entered the 2010 draft out of Blinn College.

On the flip side, Bradford's $78 million contract is likely more than the combined contracts for picks six through 10 in total dollars. That's only likely because terms for seventh pick Aldon Smith haven't been disclosed.

2011 NFL Draft:

1. Cam Newton - QB, Carolina Panthers
Contract: Four years, $22 million, all guaranteed

2. Von Miller - LB, Denver Broncos
Contract: Four years, $21 million, all guaranteed

3. Marcell Dareus - DT, Buffalo Bills
Contract: Four years, $20.4 million, all guaranteed

4. A.J. Green - WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Contract: Four years, $19.6 million, all guaranteed

5. Patrick Peterson - Arizona Cardinals
Contract: Unsigned

6. Julio Jones - WR, Atlanta Falcons
Contract: Four years, $16.2 million, all guaranteed

7. Aldon Smith - LB, San Francisco 49ers
Contract: Four years, monetary terms not disclosed

8. Jake Locker - QB, Tennessee Titans
Contract: Four years, $12 million, all guaranteed

9. Tyron Smith - OT, Dallas Cowboys
Contract: Four years, $12.5 million, all guaranteed

10. Blaine Gabbert - QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Contract: Four years, $12 million, all guaranteed

2010 NFL Draft:

1. Sam Bradford
Contract: Six years, $78 million with $50 million guaranteed

2. Ndamukong Suh - DT, Detroit Lions
Contract: Five years, $68 million with $40 million guaranteed

3. Gerald McCoy - DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Contract: Five years, $63 million, $35 million guaranteed

4. Trent Williams - OT, Washington Redskins
Contract: Six years, $60 million, $36.75 guaranteed

5. Eric Berry - S, Kansas City Chiefs
Contract: Six years, $60 million, $34 million guaranteed

6. Russell Okung - OT, Seattle Seahawks
Contract: Six years, $58 million, $29 million guaranteed

7. Joe Haden - CB, Cleveland Browns
Contract: Five years, $50 million, $26 million

8. Rolando McClain - LB, Oakland Raiders
Contract: Five years, $40 million, $23 million guaranteed

9. C.J. Spiller - RB, Buffalo Bills
Contract: Five years, $37.5 million, $20.8 million guaranteed

10. Tyson Alualu - DT, Jacksonville Jaguars
Contract: Five years, just under $28 million, $17.5 million guaranteed

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Comments

The good part is if any of these guys decide to become a bust, the team can get rid of them in 2 years.

I focus on money my hands touch
If that right there don’t add up
I gotta let you know your math sucks
You don’t ever talk to a calculator
You don’t get caught with an ounce of paper
Every convo is about a favour

by 4QB on Jul 30, 2011 10:27 PM EDT reply actions

Hope

I really hope no one feels sorry for these guys because their contracts are smaller than the previous years picks. In th end they are still millionaires and teams aren’t out all kinds of money if they do become a bust. At least now they have to live up to their potential versus getting paid for not having done anything the NFL.

by JASiege on Jul 31, 2011 4:55 AM EDT reply actions

That’s not what I was getting at with the post. It’s just interesting to look at how big of a difference there is with a rookie wage scale.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Jul 31, 2011 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

No I understand what your article was showing and it is interesting. I believe most people (including the NFL vets) are satisfied with the new system.

by JASiege on Aug 2, 2011 4:19 AM EDT up reply actions

The only way the established players

would agree to the new deal was to take money from the only people with no voice at the table: the rookies. The cap was lowered almost entirely at the expense of the incoming players.

This will affect the value of draft picks enormously. The old system of evaluating draft trades will have to be thrown out the window. Considering the low salary and such, draft picks in general and high draft picks in particular will be like gold going forward.

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant

by NJBammer on Aug 1, 2011 9:17 AM EDT reply actions