ProFootballTalk is reporting that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached an agreement with seventh overall pick, safety Mark Barron. Most of the top picks have been hung up on the off-set language in their contract. If the contract doesn't contain off-set language, then the team will have to pay the contract in full, even if the player is cut and signed by another team within the first four years. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III managed to avoid off-set language in their deals, and Barron was no different.
Mark Barron Latest First Round Rookie To Sign Contract
The fully-guaranteed, four-year contract includes a signing bonus of $8.961 million and base salaries of $390,000 in 2012, $1.047 million in 2013, $1.705 million in 2014, and $2.362 million in 2014.
Most significantly, the deal has no offset language as to the guarantees. Which means that, of the first nine picks in the draft, four players have avoided the offset issue: Colts quarterback Andrew Luckat No. 1, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III at No. 2, Barron at No. 3, and Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly at No. 9.
It appears the teams are caving on the off-set language negotiations. All the top ten picks that have signed so far have avoided it, and it’d be a surprise to see any other top ten player lose this battle.
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