Adrian Peterson, whose contract expires after the 2017 season, is the only running back with a deal averaging more than $10 million per year. There may not be any when the decision needs to be made on Elliott’s option unless Le’Veon Bell is able to break the barrier on his next contract.
Elliott should be a leading candidate to be the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year running behind arguably the game’s best offensive line as Dallas tries to replicate the success it had with Murray in 2014. If Elliott is successful, the chances that he plays under his option salary or signs an extremely lucrative second contract may be compromised because of his high mileage at a position that has a relatively short shelf life.
2. What Paxton Lynch means to Von Miller’s bottom line
Denver Broncos franchise player Von Miller expressed optimism last week that he could be signing a new contract any day. General manager and executive vice president of football operations John Elway trading up five spots to the 26th pick to select quarterback Paxton Lynch could help the Super Bowl 50 MVP in his quest to become the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback. The distinction is currently held by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who received a six-year, $114.375 million contract containing $59.955 million fully guaranteed from the Miami Dolphins last year as an unrestricted free agent.
Miller doesn’t have to contend with the prospect of the Broncos having a high-priced quarterback on the books. Once Lynch takes over at quarterback, he will be one of the NFL’s lowest-paid starters at the position. He is expected to sign a four-year, $9,496,307 contract where his largest salary cap number in 2019 will be slightly more than $3 million. If Lynch is the long-term solution at quarterback, he won’t be able to sign a contract extension until 2019 when the guaranteed money under any long-term deal Miller signs this year will have run out.
3. Just how much money is Tunsil set to lose on his rookie deal
A video of Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil smoking out of a bong with a gas mask being leaked from his hacked Twitter account minutes before the start of the draft was costly. The Baltimore Ravens passed on Tunsil with the sixth-overall pick because of the video. He was taken by the Miami Dolphins with the 13th pick. Ronnie Stanley, who the Ravens selected, is expected to sign a fully guaranteed four-year, $20,484,433 deal. Tunsil’s fully guaranteed four-year contract should be worth $12,457,648. There’s a $7,996,785 difference in the two deals. The discrepancy is even greater when the value of fifth-year options is considered. Top-10 picks get the transition tender (average of the ten highest salaries) for a player’s position in the fourth year of his contract. With players selected outside of the top ten (picks 11-32), the fifth-year salary is the average of the third through twenty-fifth highest salaries at a player’s position. The two offensive line option-year salaries are currently $11.902 million and $8.821 million.
“The weight thing’s not a big thing with me,” Fangio said. “He’s going to weigh somewhere between 230 and 235. That’s just what he’s going to weigh. We knew that before we drafted him. So it’s not an issue. We knew that and that’s a fact and that’s what he is.”
So, to sum up, Floyd’s “job,” which will pay him somewhere around $15 million,consists of hunting down quarterbacks and eating as much food as he wants. That doesn’t sound awful.
Who was he (very briefly) hanging out with backstage? None other than rapper/Snapchat superstar DJ Khaled. What were they doing? Having a (very brief) “mogul talk,” according to Khaled.
Jones then went and shook some hands of people that are not DJ Khaled. Looks like Khaled thought he was a major key, but he played himself. Or something. I’m not totally sure what his Snapchat lingo is, but I’m pretty sure I’ve heard both of those sayings before
Anyway, yeah. So Beyonce, DJ Khaled and Jerry Jones walk into a stadium …
The Baltimore Ravens may have run afoul of the collective bargaining agreement. According to a report from ESPN, the NFL will investigate the Ravens for the use of full pads during their recent rookie minicamp. Under the CBA negotiated by the owners and the players association in 2011, the use of full pads during practice is not prohibited until training camp.
Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked Chicago’s system 23rd out of the 30 teams. They have two blue-chip prospects in shortstop Tim Anderson and right-hander Carson Fulmer, both of whom could be made available in the right deal. They are not going to give them away, though.
Secondary prospects like righty Spencer Adams, outfielder Adam Engel, third baseman Trey Michalczewski, and catcher Jacob May all figure to be on the table. Right-hander Erik Johnson, who has been going up and down between Triple-A and MLB for a few years now, could be another trade chip. You’ve got to give something to get something, remember.
The White Sox could also offer considerable salary relief at the trade deadline. Adam LaRoche’s sudden retirement has left an extra $13 million burning a hole in the team’s pocket. Being able to take on money at the deadline is rather valuable, and it also helps lower the prospect cost. Chicago can absorb considerable salary at midseason.
What Are Their Biggest Needs?
That 24-14 record is not an accident. The White Sox are 12th in MLB in runs scored per game (4.42) and are fourth in runs allowed per game (3.42). They’re getting the job done on both sides of the ball. The ChiSox need supporting pieces, not an overhaul. Here are positions that could use an upgrade.