Rookie pay scale

Everyone knows the NFL needs a new rookie pay scale. So what do you think it should look like? Lay out a plan -- as big and detailed, or short and simple as you want.

 

First round draft picks, even the 1st pick, should make significantly less than a proven starter at the same position on his 2nd or 3rd contract.

 

cap guarantees, cap term length possibly (5 years?)

 

Magnus, do you know if there's a resource that lists rookie and vet minimum salaries?

 

They should fine Players for Drop passes, fumbles etc. T.O. would owe the cowboys money, and have 25 million reasons to off himself the right way..

 

Five years is too long. Some players, especially running backs would be used up by the end of their rookie deals. I would favor three year deals. For first round picks pay them what the average starter gets at their position.

 

Make the whole pay scale base plus performance with an increase of 2.8% for each year in the league. If a player is injured he gets injury payments of 65% of the last six weeks pay/performance.

 

Three years, team option for another year with a big payday attached. If you suck after three years, buh bye. If you're great, you get the huge contract shot after no more than four years. Pay for play.

 

Establish a base pay for the rookie year and increases each year thereafter. Trigger FA based on playing time, not game clock time, but participation in a number of plays. This would allow a superstar out of college to possibly kick in FA after his rookie year while a Special teams only type guy may not get there for a few years. Clauses would have to allow for other considerations such as injury,etc. The bottom line is that I see no way that the union is going to allow the owners to make money off its members for periods of time up to 5 years. They want FA as soon as possible.

 

I imagine that negotiations over this issue will break down and the owners will let it drop. In exchange for lower top 10 salaries, the union is going to want shorter contracts and the owners are not going to go for that. Good players picked in the middle rounds being locked into their contracts for four or five years is collectively as much of an "injustice" as rookies getting paid as much as the best veterans in the game.