A superior blocker and a more dynamic receiver, he earned approximately a million dollars less than Dalton last season, so affordability is subjective.
Who says no? You offer 3 years 40 million to Nico, fully guaranteed (includes last season of rookie). He would hit the market in his prime and take guaranteed life changing money in the meantime. He would have 3 years with CJ to build his resume for free agency.... Texans would get him then for reasonable money...
If you want a TE who blocks well in pass and run pro, then Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith are both superior to Schultz.
I think the NFL would say no because incorporating the last year of the rookie contract violates the rookie contract portion of their agreement with the MLBPA. They can do the same thing structured with a straight extension of two years for $40M - $3,341,730 or $36,658,270 structured as negotiated between bonuses and salary. The nominal AAV for those two years would be $$18,329,135 which would fall between Evans and Ridley estimates on SPOTRAC and 90% of the franchise tag of $20,714,000. For those concerned by his lower stats in his first 2 years, don't forget he was sharing targets and snaps with Brandin Cooks as a rookie and injured in 2022.
Yes, that would obviously be how to do it. I was emphasizing he's delaying free agency 2 years and not 3.
Spoiler https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/in...cks-linebackers-tiers-money-contract-rankings Running Back Tier 1: Franchise players Free agents: Saquon Barkley, Giants If any back is likely to get a deal in line with the $11.9 million franchise tag, it's Barkley. While he isn't coming off a spectacular season with the Giants -- he averaged 3.9 yards per carry on his way to 962 yards -- he's a little better (and younger, at age 27) than the other options available. His skill set is a little more versatile, too. And while Barkley has had only two complete seasons at a Pro Bowl level, he carried the Giants' offense to the postseason as recently as 2022. Where should he land? I'd look toward teams that need to help their rookie-deal quarterbacks with playmakers, a group that starts with the franchise at the top of the draft. The Bears have the cap space and the hole at running back to justify signing Barkley, with Roschon Johnson filling the supplementary role he excelled at during college at Texas. The Texans have plenty of wide receiver talent, but Barkley would be an upgrade over running back Devin Singletary. He could also end up in a game of musical chairs -- with one of the teams moving on from its back this offseason -- and join the Raiders or Titans. Average annual salary projection: $12 million Tier 2: Pro Bowl-caliber starters Free agents: Derrick Henry, Titans Possible cap casualties: Nick Chubb, Browns; Aaron Jones, Packers Average annual salary projection: $9 million Tier 3: Capable starters Free agents: Austin Ekeler, Chargers; Josh Jacobs, Raiders; D'Andre Swift, Eagles Possible cap casualties: Alvin Kamara, Saints; Joe Mixon, Bengals Average annual salary projection: $7 million to $8 million Tier 4: Borderline starters/high-end backups Free agents: Tony Pollard, Cowboys; Devin Singletary, Texans These are two backs seemingly going in different directions. Singletary joined the Texans and eventually carved out a role as the featured back, setting career highs for carries (216) and rushing yards (898). He also held onto the football, fumbling just once on 246 touches after fumbling about once every 55 touches during his final two seasons in Buffalo. I don't know if any team will ever be thrilled about having him as its starting back, but he deserves more credit than he gets. Pollard, meanwhile, was franchise-tagged in 2023 and had his chance to prove his time as the featured back in the second half of 2022 was sustainable. Instead, hampered by the fractured fibula he suffered during the 2022 postseason, he showed little explosion and set career lows in yards per carry (4.0) and yards per reception (5.7). He got 17 carries inside the 5-yard line and turned them into just three touchdowns. Pollard is just 26 and should be fully recovered from his injury, but it's going to be tough for teams to project him into excelling as a primary back in 2024. Average annual salary projection: $4 million to $6 million Tier 5: Backups likely to net guaranteed money Free agents: AJ Dillon, Packers; Gus Edwards, Ravens; Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots; Antonio Gibson, Commanders; Zack Moss, Colts Average annual salary projection: $2 million to $4 million Tier 6: Backups likely to earn roster spots Free agents: Matt Breida, Giants; J.K. Dobbins, Ravens; Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs; D'Onta Foreman, Bears; Damien Harris, Bills; D'Ernest Johnson, Jaguars; Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs; Dare Ogunbowale, Texans; Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons Possible cap casualties: Nyheim Hines, Bills; Samaje Perine, Broncos Average annual salary projection: $1 million to $2 million Restricted free agents: Cam Akers, Vikings; Rico Dowdle, Cowboys _________________________________ Linebacker Tier 1: Franchise players Free agents: None Tier 2: Pro Bowl-caliber starters Free agents: Patrick Queen, Ravens The closest thing to a franchise player might be Queen, who had a relatively disappointing first 2½ seasons in the league. When the Ravens traded for Roquan Smith, the deal was partly a reflection on Queen's failure to develop into Mosley's replacement. It unlocked a new level out of Queen, however, and he played his best football alongside Smith. Queen improved to good in 2022 and was very good in 2023, producing career lows in yards per completion and yards per target. With the Ravens signing Smith to a massive deal and declining Queen's fifth-year option last May, the writing is on the wall for his future in Baltimore. The Ravens will pocket a comp pick and move on. The easy landing spot for Smith is Seattle, where Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner are both free agents and former Ravens coordinator Mike Macdonald has taken over as coach. I'm not sure that's as simple of a fit as some have made it out to be, but Queen should end up getting something close to an Edmunds-sized deal somewhere this offseason. Average annual salary projection: $16 million to $18 million Tier 3: Capable starters Free agents: Jordyn Brooks, Seahawks; Lavonte David, Buccaneers; Willie Gay, Chiefs; Jordan Hicks, Vikings; Josey Jewell, Broncos; Frankie Luvu, Panthers; Andrew Van Ginkel, Dolphins; Devin White, Buccaneers; Bobby Wagner, Seahawks Possible cap casualties: Jerome Baker, Dolphins Average annual salary projection: $7 million to $10 million Tier 4: Borderline starters/high-end backups Free agents: Azeez Al-Shaair, Titans; Anfernee Jennings, Patriots; Denzel Perryman, Texans; Sione Takitaki, Browns Possible cap casualties: De'Vondre Campbell, Packers; Cole Holcomb, Steelers; Eric Kendricks, Chargers Average annual salary projection: $3 million to $5 million Tier 5: Backups likely to net guaranteed money Free agents: Cody Barton, Commanders; Devin Bush, Seahawks; Zach Cunningham, Eagles; Tyrel Dodson, Bills; Shaq Leonard, Eagles; Kenneth Murray, Chargers; Isaiah Simmons, Giants; Drue Tranquill, Chiefs; Anthony Walker, Browns; Mack Wilson, Patriots Average annual salary projection: $1.5 million to $3 million Tier 6: Backups likely to earn roster spots Free agents: Kwon Alexander, Steelers; Oren Burks, 49ers; Kamu Grugier-Hill, Panthers; Malik Harrison, Ravens; Nicholas Morrow, Eagles; Khaleke Hudson, Commanders; Josh Woods, Cardinals Average annual salary projection: $1 million Restricted free agents: Jack Gibbens, Titans; Christian Rozeboom, Rams
I never know the background of posters and if they tell me I will forget. There are many who would have no clue. But the 2 year extension focusses in on numbers useful for comparison to the FA market and the Franchise Tax, at least the standard first time Franchise Tax.
Unfortunately, players get lost on SPOTRAC at times. Cashman and Stewart disappeared off the FA list and Under contract list. Sometimes it's just an error and other times it might be confusion or lack of information on a status change.
The Texans better not pay Saquon or any RB a high dead-cap amount. Draft a guy on day 2 or round 4, sign a complimentary vet RB for cheap.
No. We're not that dumb. It has nothing to do with how good he is or isn't. It's the $96M - 4 year obligation for a thirty year old WR. Dear fans. You don't pay the player 100% value AND the Team 100% value. You divide it between them, usually the player gets the bulk of it because Teams keep players with high excess value just like we'll be keeping CJ and WAJ.
