Originally posted by Scoots:Top of the first rookie contracts are becoming more expensive but nothing like before the new CBA.
Originally posted by the_dynasty:
you claimed that "high pick rookies are more expensive now than they used to be."
and I asked you how so
After the 2011 CBA, young rookie qb on cheap is the best value in the NFL
pre 2011 CBA, picking a rookie qb high in the first round wasnt even a value - you could pay a huge amount of your salary cap to a rookie jamarcus russell to be a bum
In 2025 the first pick signed for $48+M, the 2nd for $46, then $45, etc down to the last first round pick getting almost $15M. Sure the 2005 first pick got $53M, but the 2nd only got $26, down to the last first round pick getting $6M. Then look at signing bonuses and guaranteed money and it's MUCH worse. In 2005 the total first round signing bonuses was less than $40M, in 2025 the first two picks alone got more than $60M signing bonus.
There is more money and less flexibility in high pick draft pick contracts now than there used to be. Looking at only QBs is not a fair comparison.
2009 salary cap: $128M
Stafford was the first pick that year and signed an NFL history record rookie contract before he played a snap (record guarantee money).
Bradford signed a bigger deal the next year with 6 year $78M.
these guys were getting nfl record money before playing snap. Making more than the legends in the game at the time.
the cba made a massive difference for rookie contracts and essentially stopped holdouts.