Rookie signing watch

[fyo]

Chris Long just signed with the Rams. Terms not yet disclosed.

The Bears have reportedly agreed to all but a a few minor details with Chris Williams, 14th overall. The deal will be for 5 years, $9M guaranteed (250k more than Flacco 4 spots later).

Perhaps more important for the Phins, the Redskins have signed the 3rd pick of the 2nd round, Devin Thomas, and the Jets reached a deal with the second of their two first round picks, Dustin Keller. That slots Merling in nicely, with the players taken two slots on either side being signed.

ROUND 1:
#1: Jake Long (5y, $58M, $30M guaranteed)
#2: Chris Long (5/6y, $56.5M, $29M guaranteed)
#3: Matt Ryan (6y, $72M, $35M guaranteed)
#4: Darren McFadden (6y, $60M, $26M guaranteed)
#10: Jarod Mayo (5y, $19M, $14M guaranteed)
#14: Chris Williams (5y, $16M, $10M guaranteed)
#15: Brandon Albers (5y, undisclosed)
#17: Gosder Cherilus (5y, undisclosed)
#18: Joe Flacco (5y, $30M, $9M guaranteed)
#27: Antoine Cason (5y, $12M)
#29: Kentwan Balmer (5y, $11.5M, $6M guaranteed)
#30: Dustin Keller (5y, $12M, 6 guaranteed)
#31: Kenny Phillips (5y, $11.2M)

ROUND 2:
#3: Devin Thomas (4y, $4.83M, $2.7M signing bonus)
#4: Brandon Flowers
#8: Chilo Rachal
#12: Tyrell Johnson (4y, $3M, $1.5M guaranteed)
#13: Matt Forté
#18: DeSean Jackson
#19: Calais Campbell
#20: Malcolm Kelly
#31: Terrence Wheatley

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Hopefully Merling will take the cue and sign his contract and get his ass in camp by the 25th.  With JT now gone, we need him. 

Same deal for Chad Henne.

[ethurst2]

Hopefully Merling will take the cue and sign his contract and get his ass in camp by the 25th.  With JT now gone, we need him. 

Same deal for Chad Henne.

You're right Tommy. Out of all the rookies that I'm anxious to see, I think Philip Merling is going to surprise a lot of people.

[TonyB0D]

chris long got a 6 year deal, ill find out the money tonite

[fyo]

chris long got a 6 year deal, ill find out the money tonite

Rumor is it's a 5-year deal with an optional 6th (technically, a void-able 6th). That's closer to a 5-year deal than a 6-year one for comparison purposes, if that's what it is.

EDIT: OK, it's being called a 6 year, $56.5 million deal with $29M guaranteed by nfl.com. Other sources say the last year of the deal is voidable. Somewhat confusingly, the deal is also reported to be worth 16% more than last year's number 2, Calvin Johnson. He got $55.5 million with $27.2 million guaranteed in a "true" 6-year deal.

[fyo]

The Giants have signed their first-round pick, Kenny Phillips. That's the player taken right before Merling and after the annoying "hole" left by the Patriots.

No more excuses, Merling. SIGN THE CONTRACT!

In other signing news, the Eagles signed the second of their two second-round picks, DeSean Jackson, 18th in the second round.

The Cards signed Calais Campbell, 19th in the second round.

And the Patsies signed Terrence Wheatley, 31st in the second round.

[fyo]

Total contract value per year (y-axis) plotted by draft slot (unnumbered on the chart, sadly). The big bump is Matt Ryan, who clearly got "the QB premium". Chris Long is on there with a FIVE year deal, not the SIX years reported officially. Two reasons: Everything I hear is that the sixth year is in theory only... that year is voidable with minimal impact to the total paid salary. The other reason isn't so much a reason in and of itself, but more just something that reinforces my belief that it is a 5-year deal in reality and not a 6-year one: The contract would be REALLY bad for Long if it were for 6 years.

As it is, the deal is almost right on the non-QB line if it's considered a 5 year deal. It's a bit high, but then there is SOME cost associated with voiding the last year (the base salary for that year). It's unknown at this point, but it's unlikely to be more than 2-3 million, which would bring it right in line with everyone else.



Merling's contract seems pretty much slotted in at this point. Right around $2 million a year, with half guaranteed. It will most likely be a 4-year deal, so that would be $8 million with $4 million guaranteed.

[fyo]

Today is turning out to be quite a day for rookie signings...

The Chiefs have signed Brandon Flowers, 4th pick of the second round. Terms unknown.

The Bears finally got Chris Williams signature on a contract that's been "almost there" for days now. He's their first round pick (14th overall) and the last draft pick they had to get signed.

The Vikings also managed to sign all their draft picks. Most notable signing of the day for the Vikes: Second round pick Tyrell Johnson, taken 12th (in the second round). Tyrell's contract is reportedly a 4-year, $3 million deal with $1.5 million guaranteed.

EDIT: Chris Williams contract is something of a stunner... $10 million guaranteed (slightly more than previously reported), but only $16 million in total. That's VERY low. Totally wrecks the trend line on the chart ;-). Either Flacco got an amazing deal or Williams got ripped.

[fyo]

Detroit has signed their first-rounder, Gosder Cherilus. 5 years, financial terms not disclosed. This coming on the back of news that their seventh-round pick Caleb Campbell wouldn't be allowed to play football by the Army, despite having been informed that he could so numerous times last year and this year. Seems someone somewhere found a new DoD policy paper that superseded previous policy (that would have allowed him to serve as a recruiter if he made the team).

[fyo]

The Chiefs have signed Branden Albert, taken 15th overall. 5 years, no financial terms given.

The Patsies have signed their first-rounder, Jerod Mayo, to a 5-year, $19 million deal with $14M guaranteed.

Antoine Cason, 27th overall, was signed by the Chargers to a 5-year, $12 million contract.

One more first rounder signed: Kentwan Balmer, 29th overall, received a 5-year deal from the 49ers worth $11.5 million with $6 million guaranteed.

One odd thing: The 27th, 29th, 30th and 31st pick have all signed basically identical contracts (+- $500k, independent of draft position). That's going to put pressure on the Dolphins in negotiations with Merling.

[fyo]

All first-day picks except THREE (picks 7 through 9: Sedrick Ellis, Derrick Harvey, Keith Rivers) have now signed.

Not surprisingly, quarterbacks demand significant premiums (the 2 biggest spikes below), but running backs also seem to get a little extra... except McFadden, for some reason. The Raiders were reportedly extremely tough in all their negotiations this year, so that might be the reason... or it could be that McFadden's contract has a voidable year like Chris Long's, in which case he got a great deal.

Looking at the graph, it's not hard to understand why negotiations with picks 7,8, and 9 are difficult. The jump between 6 and 10 is HUGE.