Sam Bradford to command $50 million guaranteed?
An ESPN.com report by Adam Schefter says that Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford will command in the range of $50 million in guaranteed money when he signs as the No. 1 overall pick in next week’s draft.
The contract for the No. 1 overall pick will likely be staggering. Bradford’s contract is expected to pay him an average of $13 million a season with roughly $50 million in guaranteed money. These figures are based on the past two drafts, when Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford were the first quarterbacks picked.
Two years ago, the Falcons’ Ryan received $34 million in guaranteed money on a deal that averages $11 million a season. Stafford, who was picked No. 1 last season by the Lions, received $42 million in guaranteed money on his deal, which averages $12 million a season.
It’s no secret that the rookie salary structure is completely ludicrous in the NFL and it’s something that the league will eventually have to change or else it’ll keep getting worse. A player that has never once stepped on the field should never command more money than anyone on the team’s current roster. It just doesn’t make any sense.
That said, Bradford might as well cash in when he can. If the owners and player’s union come together on a new CBA deal for next season, one of the items that might be changed is the salary structure for rookies. Commissioner Roger Goodell is on record saying that the league could make a change, but he’s going to need the approval of the player’s union first, which could prove to be a high hurdle to jump.
“A player that has never once stepped on the field should never command more money than anyone on the team’s current roster.”
While that’s going a little too far — a draft pick can’t make more guaranteed money than a player making the league minimum? — it’s no joke that the NFL rookie salary structure is messed up. They need to go to something like what the NBA has, where the player is paid based on his draft pick. There are a few cases where players outperform their contract (i.e. Kevin Durant made $4.8 M this season) but for the most part the players are compensated fairly.
One issue with football is the injury risk. An NBA player doesn’t have the same risk, so a very good player like Durant will be able to cash in when is contract is done. The same can’t necessarily be said for a football player. But how much should a guy be guaranteed when he’s never played a down in the NFL?
small 2 year contract.
if you perform, bam you get paid.
if your ryan leaf or jamarcus russel, ect…
you get cut…
JP – that actually wasn’t my intentions in that sentence. I screwed up my thought process and like usual, nothing gets past your cat-like reflexes.
My initial thought for that sentence was that a player that has never stepped foot on the field shouldn’t make more money than the team’s best player (i.e. a veteran Pro Bowler, or someone that has already established himself as a star in the league). But for whatever reason, the word “anyone” came out in the sentence. (It was an early-morning post – I hadn’t properly warmed up yet apparently.)
Thanks for pointing it out and hammering such an obviously bad statement though, you mother fu….
This is fucking bullshit 50 million dollars is ridiculous