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NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported hours earlier than Tremendous Bowl LVI was performed that the Rams and Matthew Stafford’s agent, CAA Soccer’s Tom Condon, will meet to “hammer out” a contract extension this offseason. Stafford was acquired in a commerce with the Lions final March as a result of Rams head coach Sean McVay had soured on quarterback Jared Goff through the 2020 season regardless of Goff signing a four-year contract extension averaging $33.5 million per yr in 2019. Goff was included within the deal the place the Lions obtained a 2022 first-round decide, a 2023 first-round decide and a 2021 third-round decide from the Rams.
Stafford is coming into the ultimate yr of his contract. He’s scheduled to make $23 million in 2022 consisting of a $12.5 million base wage, $10 million fifth day of the 2022 league roster bonus and a $500,000 exercise bonus.
The optimum timing for an extension is earlier than Stafford’s roster bonus is due on March 20. In doing so, this $10 million may turn out to be a part of the signing bonus Stafford would obtain in an extension and prorated over the lifetime of the contract as much as a most of 5 years, which might assist decrease his present $23 million 2022 wage cap quantity.
After a stellar postseason the place Stafford engineered a 15-play, 79-yard drive culminating in a Tremendous Bowl-winning landing move with simply 1:25 left to play, he has super contract leverage. The phrase, “to the victor belong the spoils” is often related to politics, however is relevant to Stafford’s state of affairs. Stafford ought to be capable to just about identify his personal value in an extension due to the steep acquisition price to get him from the Lions and the improve at quarterback paying the final word dividend. That’s supplied Stafford chooses to totally exploit his leverage.
Left to his personal gadgets, that is precisely what Condon will do on behalf of Stafford. Brokers are presupposed to work for the participant regardless that it might typically appear as if it is the opposite approach round. Within the typical participant/agent relationship, a participant will give his agent enter a few contract on a big-picture stage initially however might not become involved within the course of once more till the ultimate levels of a negotiation, if in any respect. Due to this dynamic, an agent is often given extensive latitude to barter a contract that she or he feels is within the consumer’s finest curiosity.
The Rams could have a tough time persuading Condon that Stafford should not not less than be put in the identical place Goff, who the Rams considered as an inferior quarterback, was within the NFL wage hierarchy on his 2019 deal. Goff’s four-year, $134 million extension (value as a lot as $147.95 million due to incentives and wage escalators) tied him with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers because the league’s second-highest-paid participant by common yearly wage. The $110,042,682 of ensures within the deal had been an NFL report when Goff signed.
Payments quarterback Josh Allen is at present No. 2 within the NFL wage hierarchy with the six-year, $258 million extension (value a most of $288 million by means of incentives) averaging $43 million per yr he obtained from the Payments final August. His $147,381,405 of ensures are probably the most ever in an NFL contract. It is $150 million if Allen’s absolutely assured $2,618,595 2021 third day of coaching camp roster bonus earned just a few days earlier than the extension was signed is included, like some folks do.
Condon’s sights will probably be set on Stafford turning into the NFL’s highest-paid participant once more, which was the case with the quarterback’s five-year, $135 million extension averaging $27 million per yr from the Lions in 2017. It was achieved regardless of an absence of postseason success. Stafford solely made the playoffs 3 times (with none victories) whereas enjoying for the Lions, with the final postseason look occurring through the 2016 season. The deal additionally established new league benchmarks with a $50 million signing bonus and $60.5 million absolutely assured at signing.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the distinction at $45 million per yr within the 10-year, $450 million extension (value as much as $475 million by means of incentives) he signed in 2019. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s $66 million signing bonus is the present benchmark in that metric. Allen leads the way in which with $97,381,405 absolutely assured at signing. It is $100 million if the coaching camp roster bonus is included.
Condon would possibly take a look at the price of enjoying the franchise tag recreation if Stafford performed out his contract as additional justification for eclipsing Mahomes. Quarterbacks often get the unique model of the franchise tag, which prohibits the solicitation of a proposal sheet from different groups. Utilizing the price related to the nonexclusive model would not make a lot sense as a result of the compensation for an unmatched supply sheet — two first-round picks from the signing workforce — is lower than the draft capital the Rams gave as much as get Stafford.
The 2023 quarterback unique franchise quantity, which might be the typical of the highest 5 2023 quarterback salaries (often wage cap numbers) on the finish of that yr’s restricted free agent signing interval in late April, at present initiatives to proper round $43.5 million. This quantity is topic to alter relying on new quarterback offers, contract restructures, pay cuts and/or releases between from time to time.
A second franchise tag in 2024 at an NFL collective bargaining agreement-mandated 20% improve over Stafford’s projected 2023 franchise quantity could be $52.2 million. The common of franchising Stafford two years could be $47.85 million per yr. At $47.5 million per yr, Stafford could be getting 5.56% greater than Mahomes’ $45 million per yr. It could really be a smaller improve than when Stafford changed Raiders quarterback Derek Carr because the league’s highest-paid participant. Stafford’s 2017 deal represented an 8% improve — $48.6 million per yr could be 8% greater than Mahomes’ deal.
The Rams’ solely potential saving grace on an extension is perhaps Stafford following the lead of two different Condon quarterback shoppers — Drew Brees and Peyton Manning — within the latter levels of their respective careers. Each instructed Condon to go away cash on the desk. Stafford is in a monetary place to take action as a result of he has made $239 million from his NFL participant contracts, in keeping with my calculations.
Manning declined to turn out to be the NFL’s first $20 million-per-year participant when Condon was negotiating his closing Colts contract in 2011. He opted for a five-year deal giving the Colts an out after the primary yr that matched then-Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s $18 million-per-year common, which was tops within the NFL at the moment. When Manning signed with the Broncos in 2012 after the Colts launched him, 12 groups reportedly inquired about him as soon as he turned accessible. Manning narrowed his selections all the way down to 4 groups and picked his vacation spot earlier than having Condon start negotiations as an alternative of letting him leverage the appreciable curiosity, which reportedly included a $25 million-per-year supply from the Titans, right into a blockbuster contract. Nonetheless, he nonetheless briefly set the NFL wage bar together with his five-year, $96 million deal, which lasted till Condon made Brees the NFL’s first $20 million-per-year participant 4 months later.
As a 39-year-old, Brees gave the Saints a monetary break for the primary time in his quite a few contract dealings with the franchise in 2018 to attempt to maximize his alternative to win a second Tremendous Bowl ring. Brees in all probability may have turn out to be the league’s first $30 million-per-year participant had he exploited his leverage by exploring potential choices with different groups. As an alternative, Brees signed a two-year, $50 million contract with $27 million absolutely assured to stay in New Orleans after limiting negotiations to simply the Saints.
It’s atypical for a quarterback round Stafford’s age, significantly if represented by Condon, to present a hometown low cost. Stafford simply turned 34. A 34-year-old Eli Manning signed a market-value extension with the Giants in 2015. Matt Ryan turned the NFL’s first $30 million-per-year participant with the five-year extension he obtained from the Falcons in 2018 shortly earlier than his thirty third birthday. The deal additionally established new requirements with $100 million of ensures and $94.5 million absolutely assured at signing.
Until Stafford provides Condon particular directions to make an financial sacrifice, his reign on the high of the NFL pay scale will probably be short-lived if an extension will get executed earlier than the roster bonus is due. Any such deal Stafford will get would immediately turn out to be the wage flooring for a 38-year-old Rodgers, who can be in a contract yr, whether or not he indicators an extension with the Packers or a brand new workforce if traded. The one approach it would not occur is by Rodgers going Brees’ route when he was in his late 30s, the place he put successful a second Tremendous Bowl ring forward of cash due to his playoff shortcomings. Rodgers’ solely Tremendous Bowl look was through the 2010 season when the Packers beat the Steelers 31-25.
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