Now that nine of the first 10 picks in the 2011 NFL Draft are signed, it’s interesting to see the impact of the new rookie wage scale.
Rookie wage scale hits 2011 draftees hard
First overall pick Cam Newton received a fully guaranteed $22 million contract from the Panthers Friday. The first eight picks of the 2010 NFL Draft received more guaranteed money than Newton. The first pick in 2010, quarterback Sam Bradford, received a whopping $28 million more than Newton in guaranteemoney.
Of course, Newton is more of a victim of timing than anything else. After all, it’s not like he would have been picked as highly if he entered the 2010 draft out of Blinn College.
On the flip side, Bradford's $78 million contract is likely more than the combined contracts for picks six through 10 in total dollars. That's only likely because terms for seventh pick Aldon Smith haven't been disclosed.
2011 NFL Draft:
1. Cam Newton - QB, Carolina Panthers
Contract: Four years, $22 million, all guaranteed
2. Von Miller - LB, Denver Broncos
Contract: Four years, $21 million, all guaranteed
3. Marcell Dareus - DT, Buffalo Bills
Contract: Four years, $20.4 million, all guaranteed
4. A.J. Green - WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Contract: Four years, $19.6 million, all guaranteed
5. Patrick Peterson - Arizona Cardinals
Contract: Unsigned
6. Julio Jones - WR, Atlanta Falcons
Contract: Four years, $16.2 million, all guaranteed
7. Aldon Smith - LB, San Francisco 49ers
Contract: Four years, monetary terms not disclosed
8. Jake Locker - QB, Tennessee Titans
Contract: Four years, $12 million, all guaranteed
9. Tyron Smith - OT, Dallas Cowboys
Contract: Four years, $12.5 million, all guaranteed
10. Blaine Gabbert - QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Contract: Four years, $12 million, all guaranteed
2010 NFL Draft:
1. Sam Bradford
Contract: Six years, $78 million with $50 million guaranteed
2. Ndamukong Suh - DT, Detroit Lions
Contract: Five years, $68 million with $40 million guaranteed
3. Gerald McCoy - DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Contract: Five years, $63 million, $35 million guaranteed
4. Trent Williams - OT, Washington Redskins
Contract: Six years, $60 million, $36.75 guaranteed
5. Eric Berry - S, Kansas City Chiefs
Contract: Six years, $60 million, $34 million guaranteed
6. Russell Okung - OT, Seattle Seahawks
Contract: Six years, $58 million, $29 million guaranteed
7. Joe Haden - CB, Cleveland Browns
Contract: Five years, $50 million, $26 million
8. Rolando McClain - LB, Oakland Raiders
Contract: Five years, $40 million, $23 million guaranteed
9. C.J. Spiller - RB, Buffalo Bills
Contract: Five years, $37.5 million, $20.8 million guaranteed
10. Tyson Alualu - DT, Jacksonville Jaguars
Contract: Five years, just under $28 million, $17.5 million guaranteed
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