The Year of the WR: Contract Talk

[Purple_ICE 81]

With Brandon Marshall signing his contract extension the other day, it got me thinking about the next generation of dominant WRs most of which are entering contract talks.

 

Over the next year a lot of big name WRs will start to reshape the market that is currently dominated by Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson. And I thought it would be interesting to discuss the possible terms of said contracts. We saw Richard Sherman and Joe Haden make a dent in the CB market...it will interesting to see how the WR market changes.

 

2015 Free Agent WRs:

 

A.J. Green(5th year option for 2015)

Julio Jones(5th year option for 2015)

Dez Bryant

Demariyus Thomas

Roddy White

Jordy Nelson

Randall Cobb

Michael Crabtree

Reggie Wayne

Hakeem Nicks

Wes Welker

Cecil Shorts

Torrey Smith

 

Im not sure anyone of these guys will come close to the 8/$128...and 8/$150 deals that Fitzy and Megatron got...but there are some really talented WRs with epic stats going into contract years so it will be interesting to see how the market shapes up.

 

 

A.J. Green is inline for most likely the most lucrative contract after averaging 1200yds/9TDs through 3 seasons. He could get anywhere from $12-15M per year something a long the lines of a 8yr/$100-125M.

 

To me Aj Green, Dez Bryant, Demariyus Thomas, and Julio Jones are inline for the biggest deals and some of them could be pretty big and make Mike Wallace look like hes paid minimum wage. 

 

Jordy Nelson, Roddy White, and Michael Crabtree are all in (or soon to be) extension talks. I could see Roddy getting something a little less than what Bmarsh just got (4yr/$39M). Jordy Nelson wont get anymore than Mike Wallace (5/$60M) in my opinion due to his injury concerns, and the same thing goes with Michael Crabtree who is currently asking for $10M per year (hahahahahaha). Crabtree has only 1 good season to his name and has battled injuries as of recently, he wont get the money he wants.

 

 

And as for our guy Torrey...I think he will land a solid 5-7 year deal worth somewhere near $40M. And play as a Raven for a longtime.

[T3hRaven]

AJ, Dez, DT, and Jones are in for some big paychecks.  Not one of those guys should be averaging less than $12 million.  Green is obviously the big star of that group, but Dez isn't that far behind.  The problem with his negotiations will be the off the field stuff.

 

I wonder what Marshall's deal does to the market.  He got paid less than he probably should have.

[Purple_ICE 81]

AJ, Dez, DT, and Jones are in for some big paychecks.  Not one of those guys should be averaging less than $12 million.  Green is obviously the big star of that group, but Dez isn't that far behind.  The problem with his negotiations will be the off the field stuff.

 

I wonder what Marshall's deal does to the market.  He got paid less than he probably should have.

Brandon Marshall is 30 thats why he got slightly underpaid and he has the Dez Bryant headcase OTF problems too although he has been better since arriving in Chicago...he still got $23M guaranteed though which is pretty good chunk of change. I think his contract will effect Roddy White's, Randall Cobbs and maybe Jordy Nelson's too, Nelson is 29 and has battled injuries same with Cobb. Marshall's contract could endup being the ceiling for them, or something close to it.

 

But Aj, Demaryius, and Dez are locks to get atleast $12M per year and probably a lot more. I really think Aj will get a megacontract.

 

One player I question is Julio Jones...Injury prone coming out of Bama and has missed 14 games. He is definitely a dominant WR(I would  take a healthy Julio Jones over Aj Green) and he  puts up epic numbers when he plays, but his health may dampen his contract talks a bit. 

[GrimCoconut]

TOP TIER:
AJ Green*, Julio Jones*, Dez Bryant, Demariyus Thomas

• AJ Green will definitely command major money, and it will be really interesting to see if Cheapsake Cincinnati is willing to pony up for one of the top-5 players at the position.
• Julio Jones is also an obvious player with enormous upside and skill as a WR.
• Dez Bryant should get paid very well, though his character could possibly dampen his contract, though with Jerry you never really know.
• Thomas will likely get paid to help the next QB for the Broncos, since Manning's time is coming to a close.

 

SECOND TIER:

Roddy White, Jordy Nelson

• White should get paid, but I'm not sure if Atlanta will afford him. I think they'll likely let him go and draft a replacement, since they need to also retain Julio and they're sort of tight at the cap from what I remember with holes throughout the roster. Then again, their management isn't the best, so....
• Nelson will likely remain a Packer, or should, anyway. He's a legitimate #1 WR and the best one they have, IMO. Better than Cobb.

THIRD TIER:

Michael Crabtree, Torrey Smith, Randall Cobb, Reggie Wayne, Hakeem Nicks, Cecil Shorts, Wes Welker

• Crabtree's contract depends on Kaepernick and how he returns from the injury. If he becomes injured again, or doesn't play as well and has a down year, I can see his value dropping significantly.
• Smith is a good player, IMO, and should get paid well. His value will depend heavily on Kubiak, Engram, Steve Smith Sr, and how he develops from last year. His stats remained relatively the same every year except last year, where he had greater receiving yards but less TDs. I place the blame on the OL a lot, but Torrey did drop many balls as well. I think he could command a salary between $8-9M.
• I like Cobb a lot, but he has never put up the numbers to warrant a hefty check. I put him on here because I think he can put up those numbers, but he needs to prove it this year.
• Wayne is getting up there in age. I'm not sure he's still going to get paid like before. I think it's more likely he gets less due to his age. I think he will be a Steve Smith type of player, one who leaves the team that they were with for a long time for another. That will likely get him decent money from a team struggling at WR.
• Nicks needs to have a good year and stay healthy. Talent-wise, he deserves to be in this tier. Health-wise, he needs to prove he can sustain.
• Shorts has never put up the numbers you expect. Hopefully with better QB play, he will.
• Welker will be older, and I don't expect him to get the same kind of contract of 12/2. He's still a good player, but we'll see how he gets paid. I think Denver may let him leave.

[mg90]

I have no idea how the Cowboys plan on keeping Dez Bryant.

[Inqui]

I have no idea how the Cowboys plan on keeping Dez Bryant.

Saw a comment on Bleacher Report that the Cowboys have "shown they're willing to cut ties with a player if they won't accept the right deal". Which really means the example B/R used was the Cowboys overpaying one player too many and they couldn't afford to overpay that particular guy.

 

Ah well, watching that contract situation unfold will be a great excuse for a few popcorn gifs.

[hawkprey]

I have no idea how the Cowboys plan on keeping Dez Bryant.

I can almost guarantee they'll restructure Romo's deal - again.

 

Also, I think the 49ers will be giving Crabtree a good amount. He deserves it and we all saw what happened when he wasn't on the field last year. 

[BSHU_Miami]

Yeah, Cowboys let go of Demarcus ware, I dont think they'll mind letting Dez go if the contract demands arent met.  SD, KC, NE CAR

[Inqui]

Yeah, Cowboys let go of Demarcus ware, I dont think they'll mind letting Dez go if the contract demands arent met.  SD, KC, NE CAR

I think it's less about not minding letting him walk and more about not having the room to retain him after giving however much they gave Dan Bailey (among just a few others).

[Willbacker]

Not sure but I believe Mike Wallace signed a 5 yr deal averaging 13 mil a year. Half those receivers on the list are better than Wallace so I can see their agents demanding more money. Come on Dez Bryant is not gonna want more money than Wallace. 100% guarantee Bryant is not a Cowboy next year. Next year will be interesting to see who ponys up what.

[harfordravenfan]

Not sure but I believe Mike Wallace signed a 5 yr deal averaging 13 mil a year. Half those receivers on the list are better than Wallace so I can see their agents demanding more money. Come on Dez Bryant is not gonna want more money than Wallace. 100% guarantee Bryant is not a Cowboy next year. Next year will be interesting to see who ponys up what.

I also think that dez ends up on another team next year, lets see if we're right :-)

[JO_75]

I also think that dez ends up on another team next year, lets see if we're right :-)

 

Crabtree could end up on another team as well. Rotoworld is reporting that the 49ers may just let him walk instead of re-signing him to a big contract.

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/288989/49ers-expected-to-let-crabtree-hit-fa-in-2015

[Purple Punishment]

After reading today that Kenny Britt is crushing it in the Rams OTAs makes me wish we really would have went for him. Still young, still fast.

Though I do believe Slot was the biggest need and we've never really had a slot guy.

Britt and Smith lines up on the outsides with Marlons big body working the slot. Would've been NASTY!!!

[Purple_ICE 81]

After reading today that Kenny Britt is crushing it in the Rams OTAs makes me wish we really would have went for him. Still young, still fast.

Though I do believe Slot was the biggest need and we've never really had a slot guy.

Britt and Smith lines up on the outsides with Marlons big body working the slot. Would've been NASTY!!!

Who doesn't look good in OTAs? Haha when the pads come out and Britt starts taking hits...he will be all over the injury reports as per usual.  I bet we will see a Britt violation or arrest too...maybe a traffic violation or some type of small offense.

[ravensdan]

After reading today that Kenny Britt is crushing it in the Rams OTAs makes me wish we really would have went for him. Still young, still fast.

Though I do believe Slot was the biggest need and we've never really had a slot guy.

Britt and Smith lines up on the outsides with Marlons big body working the slot. Would've been NASTY!!!

Id wager Steve smith puts up better numbers than Britt this year.

[Purple Punishment]

Id wager Steve smith puts up better numbers than Britt this year.

I'm happy with the Smith signing. I think it covers a need. He probably will do better than Britt. As with all things hindsight, you wish your team should've pulled the trigger. Now I'm hoping for Flowers