The salary cap going up an unprecedented $30.6 million created a seller’s market when the NFL free agent signing period opened on March 13. Twelve players with expiring contracts have signed for $20 million per year or more.
Structure is everything with NFL contracts. Unlike MLB and the NBA, fully guaranteed contracts are the exception, not the rule.
Details on 15 noteworthy multiyear deals from the early part of the 2024 NFL offseason are below. Average yearly salary and total compensation are the most common contract metrics, but most insignificant because of the lack of security with NFL contracts. The overall contract guarantees, amount fully guaranteed at signing, first three years compensation (when applicable) and the earliest realistic contract exit point for the team are also highlighted with each player. The deals are listed in order by average yearly salary.
Contract Value: $180 million/4 years ($45 million-per-year average)
Contract Guarantees: $100 million ($50 million as signing bonus)
Fully Guaranteed At Signing: $90 million
Earliest Realistic Exit Point: 2026 ($100 million earned)
Cousins capitalized on hitting the open market for the first time since 2018 when he broke new ground with the NFL’s first lucrative fully guaranteed veteran contract despite tearing his right Achilles eight weeks into the 2023 season. At $45 million per year, Cousins is the NFL’s eighth-highest paid player right behind quarterback Deshaun Watson, who signed a fully guaranteed five-year contract averaging $46 million per year with Cleveland Browns in 2022 when he was traded from…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CBSSports.com Headlines…