The numbers are in on the Davante Adams deal. And, as usual, the initial reports were subject to a little agent-fueled puffery.
For starters, it’s not a five-year, $141.25 million deal. The base amount is $140 million. To get to the maximum value, he needs to get to the Pro Bowl for each of the next five years.
Also, despite that the deal pays out $67.5 million fully guaranteed at signing, it doesn’t. Per a source with knowledge of the transaction, the full guarantee at signing is only $22.75 million.
By early 2023, another $42.92 million in injury guarantees becomes fully guaranteed. To avoid owing Adams that amount, the Raiders would have to cut Adams after only one year, paying him $23.36 million (if he satisfies the workout and per-game roster bonuses) for 2022 — and giving up a first-round and second-round pick. This makes the practical guarantee $65.67 million at signing. But that amount isn’t fully guaranteed.
The structure of the deal may not have been dramatically…