Want another sign that rookie contracts have gotten to the point of pure insanity? Only a few months after the New York Jets Giants made Antrel Rolle the highest-paid safety in league history, the Chiefs beat that deal when they signed fifth overall pick Eric Berry to a six-year, $60 million contract.
Of that $60 million, $34 million is guaranteed.
The kid has never stepped foot on an NFL field, and he’s the highest-paid player at his position? Anyone who opposes a rookie salary cap needs smacked a few times, or needs to explain to me why this kid deserves such an inflated deal.
It stands to reason that if you’re the highest-paid player at your position, that you’re also the best.
But even if we assume Berry’s success in college translates directly to the NFL, is he still better than Adrian Wilson, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Bob Sanders (when healthy), or others? I think Berry will be a very good player, and he certainly has the potential to be better than those guys, but why not make him work for such a deal?
Not only that, but Berry is now making more than last year’s fifth overall pick — quarterback Mark Sanchez.
Sanchez also signed a six-year, $60 million deal, but he was only given $28 million in guaranteed. Notice I say “only,” but that’s a ridiculous number as well. It just looks a little better when stacked up to Berry’s deal.
While I personally believe all positions are equally important, I’ve never heard anyone referred to as a “franchise safety” or heard anyone proclaim that their safety was the reason they won the Super Bowl.
Well, perhaps with the exception of Dexter Jackson in 2002.
After this deal, and Trent Williams’ ridiculous deal, I’m certainly looking forward to seeing how overpaid the first three picks are.