Category: NFL Draft (Page 37 of 101)

      Sam Bradford to command $50 million guaranteed?

      April 18, 2010 /

      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.

      College Football, NFL, NFL Draft

      Report: Albert Haynesworth looking to be traded during draft

      April 17, 2010 /

      According to a report by the Washington Post, Albert Haynesworth is planning to skip the Redskins’ voluntary minicamp this weekend and will only report to mandatory minicamp in June.

      But here’s the kicker: Haynesworth is also upset about the team’s plan to use him as a nose tackle in their new 3-4 defensive alignment and is hoping to be traded during the draft next week.

      Haynesworth is frustrated about the Redskins’ plans to use him as a nose tackle in their new 3-4 defense, and the eight-year veteran hopes to be traded during the three-day draft that begins next Thursday. On Saturday, General Manager Bruce Allen said he was not disappointed about Haynesworth doing his own thing because “it’s voluntary.”

      As the article notes, owner Daniel Snyder shelled out a record $100 million contract that included a then-record $41 million in guaranteed money when he signed Haynesworth last offseason. One would think that the least Haynesworth could do is be a leader and show up to the team’s first organized workout, whether the camp is voluntary or not.

      But that’s the day and age we live in. Even though a player is making a ridiculous amount of money, he feels as though he’s bigger than the team. Don’t want to play in a specific scheme? No problem, just bitch about it and don’t show up. Instead of embracing his new role or at the very least, showing up so that his coaches can walk him through their plans for utilizing him, Hanyesworth would rather be traded.

      Hopefully he rots in Washington. He followed the dollar signs there last offseason, so he should have to honor his commitment and play hard. But chances are, the Redskins will never see a good return on their investment and Haynesworth will wind up being yet another bad signing in a long history of bad signings by Snyder.


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      NFL, NFL Draft

      Morgan a lock at No. 12 to the Dolphins?

      April 17, 2010 /

      According to Dolphins beat writer Edgar Thompson of the Palm Beach Post, Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan will “100 percent” be Miami’s pick at No. 12 in next week’s draft if he’s available.

      Many draft pundits speculated that the Dolphins would select Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant at No. 12 before the team acquired Brandon Marshall from the Broncos earlier this week. But with their need at receiver filled, the Fins can now concentrate on adding a pure pass rusher.

      After racking up 19.5 sacks (including 12.5 last season) while playing at Georgia Tech the past three years, Morgan is highly regarded as the best pass rusher in this year’s draft. While he lacks pure athleticism, speed and overall quickness, he exhibits good instincts, awareness, and has a non-stop motor. He was highly productive in college and has an outstanding work ethic, which is probably why Bill Parcells and the Dolphins are drawn to him.

      Unless the Seahawks select him at No. 6 or the Jaguars target him at No. 10, Morgan should be on the board when the Dolphins pick at No. 12.

      College Football, NFL, NFL Draft

      Lions likely to stay put, but still undecided about selection

      April 16, 2010 /

      GM Martin Mayhew said on Thursday that it’s likely the Lions will stay put at No. 2 instead of trading down, but also insisted that the team is undecided about which player they’ll draft.

      Detroit could go in a couple directions in round one, although the most likely scenario has them selecting either Ndamukong Suh or Russell Okung. The Lions have needs on both sides of the line, although they might be more inclined to take Okung seeing as how they want to protect their biggest investment in quarterback Matthew Stafford.

      That said, I’m of the mindset that the Lions would be crazy to pass on Suh. That’s not to take anything away from Okung, who is a terrific prospect with a high upside. But in my opinion, Suh is the best prospect in this month’s draft and could be a potential difference-maker from day 1.

      Teams selecting in the top 5 are always worried about matching the contract with the appropriate position. In other words, they’re more inclined to take a quarterback at No. 3 instead of a defensive tackle because they can justify handing a signal caller a huge contract as opposed to an interior defensive lineman.

      But that line of thinking has always been befuddling to me. Teams shouldn’t draft players based on a contract, they should draft players based on fit and need. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz built one of the better defenses in the NFL while in Tennessee, one that was centered around defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Assuming the Rams take Sam Bradford at No. 1, Schwartz now has a similar opportunity in Detroit if the Lions take Suh. While paying a left tackle No. 2 money may be more justifiable, the Lions need to select the best player and forget about the dynamics of a contract.

      And the best player is Suh.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Jaguars need Clausen, Bryant to fall in order to shop pick

      April 16, 2010 /

      Jaguars GM Gene Smith confirmed on Thursday that the team has been shopping the 10th overall pick in this month’s draft. The Jags don’t have a second round pick and would like to recoup one in a trade, but in order for them to have success swapping picks on draft day they’ll need a couple of predominant prospects to fall.

      Jacksonville is still very much a candidate to select Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, although it appears that they’d rather trade the pick and stick with incumbent starter David Garrard. But if Clausen falls past Oakland and Buffalo, then there may be a team in the teens that would be willing to move up in order to snag the potential franchise quarterback.

      The same could be said for receiver Dez Bryant, whose stock is apparently falling but could still be a hot commodity on draft day. Bryant is clearly the best receiving prospect in the draft, although his character concerns have scared away multiple teams. Denver seems like the most practical landing place for Bryant and considering they pick 11th, the Jags could shop their pick to a team that wants to get ahead of the Broncos.

      Perhaps the most intriguing team that may want to deal with the Jaguars is the 49ers, who have two first round picks (No. 13 and No. 17). If they have doubts about Alex Smith, they might pull the trigger on Clausen by moving ahead of the Broncos and Dolphins. Of course, they could always stay put as well and hope Clausen falls to them at No. 13.

      A couple of teams could be interested in Bryant, including the Titans (No. 16), Cowboys (No. 27) and/or Bengals (No. 21). All it takes is one team to deal with and if both Clausen and Bryant fall, the Jaguars’ phones might be ringing off the hook once they get on the clock.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL, NFL Draft

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