Rookie pay scale

shorter contracts are going to be part of the game of getting contract values down. Not all by itself, but that's a concession. I don't think 4-5 year contracts would be unreasonable, but 3 is too far.

Also, basing it heavily on incentive is probably not going to fly, since it came up.

I'd also like to see RFA completely revamped or killed off.

 

Incentive based pay won't fly too well for 1st year Qbs and WRs. What would you base it on, games dressed? By the third year, yes. This is a difficult thing to figure out.

 

Make all rookie contracts three years. Lower the salaries for first rounders a great deal. Or just restrict the amount of the signing bonuses that rookies can get. That is always the sticking point anyway.

 

My point was that the owners would much rather pay the 5-10 outrageous contracts at the top of the draft than limit all draftees to short contracts. Therefore don't expect any changes.

 

You might be right but if that is the case then they need to stop bitching about it. They have to give something up if they want to gain something.

 

Professional sports team owners are professional whiners and bitchers.

 

4 year contracts for day 1 drafted players. 3 for day 2. 1st round drafted players signed at league average for the position. That means the average of the highest paid player all the way down to the guys at league min. Then add incentives.

 

Something like that wouldn't be so bad, but I'd still think both parties would want the ability to rework the contract after 2 years. a 4 & 3 structure with the ability to increase the contract after 2 years, but not decrease it.

 

OK, true, going with the first 30-40 picks at 5 years does make sense for the 12 and further picks, for them. I would personally put all draft picks at 4 year deals and get rid of RFA, but leave the waiver process in effect. The bonus won't go up for later picks, and I personally just don't like RFA.

 

So a player drafted 32 would make the same as #1? I don't find that equitable either.