The new rookie wage scale is supposed to make contracts easier. Now that we are in the second year of the program, I expect it to be even easier than last year, especially for Trent Richardson who wants his deal done by Friday. Most of the rookies at the top of the first round get their four-year deals fully guaranteed. Last year’s third-overall selection Marcell Dareus agreed to a 4-year $20.4 million deal with the Bills.
The breakdown of that deal looked something like this.
| Salaries | Signing Bonus | Cap Number | |
| 2011 | $376,371 | $3,335,000 | $3,711,371 |
| 2012 | $1,302,605 | $3,335,000 | $4,637,605 |
| 2013 | $2,230,210 | $3,335,000 | $5,565,210 |
| 2014 | $3,157,814 | $3,335,000 | $6,492,814 |
| Total | $7,067,000 | $13,340,000 | $20,407,000 |
So without too much trouble the Browns should be able to figure out how to get Trent Richardson’s deal done as long as it doesn’t get too nit-picky in terms of structure. Just assume that Richardson’s deal will be 100% guaranteed and four years long and probably with an option year for the fifth year. [Read more...]
