Consider Cam Newton’s bank account the first victim of the new NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement. The No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft agreed to terms on Friday, reportedly accepting a deal that will guarantee him $22 million over four years. There’s also a team option for a fifth year. With the new CBA effectively mandating how much each draft pick will be paid, the only part of the contract up for negotiation was the guaranteed money.
Cam Newton Agrees To Terms With Carolina Panthers
As a point of comparison, last year's No. 1 draft pick, quarterback Sam Bradford, signed a six-year deal worth $78 million that included $50 million guaranteed. Even assuming he wasn't able to demand more than that, as the trend in recent years has been, the new CBA which basically uses a slotting system, cost Newton at least $28 million in guaranteed money. On the plus side, Newton won't be holding out the way many top draft picks have.
Newton was among the more dynamic college players last year at Auburn, passing for 30 touchdowns and rushing for 20 more. Those numbers helped him win the Heisman Trophy.
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