Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Dallas Cowboys

Best: Tyron Smith, 8 years, $97.6 million, $22.1M guaranteed

Nobody ever associates Dallas with negotiating the best contracts in the NFL, but in this instance they arguably have the best contract in the entire league. Smith is considered the best left tackle in the NFL and pretty much was considered the best tackle in the NFL when he signed this contract. His contract does not come close to reflecting that. Smith’s deal was one of the first extensions signed for a first round player in the new CBA and Dallas hit a home run by proactively approaching this deal. Continue reading Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Dallas Cowboys »

Best and Worst Contracts 2016: San Diego Chargers

Best: Keenan Allen, 4 years, $45 million, $20.7 million guaranteed

I thought this was a pretty easy selection to make. Regardless of his injury last season, Allen is one of the real bright young NFL talents at the position. He plays on a team that lacks playmakers yet is able to stand out despite the attention he gets. He had been consistent his first two years before making the “third year leap” many expect for receivers as he was on his way to a 1,400 yard season before being injured. Continue reading Best and Worst Contracts 2016: San Diego Chargers »

Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Oakland Raiders

Best: Reggie Nelson, 2 years, $8.5 million, $4M guaranteed

Some of the best contracts come by waiting out those initial runs at free agency and that’s what the Raiders did here with Nelson. Despite the fact that Nelson was 32 last season he is still a very productive player, but we often look at that productivity with a glass half full approach when players are on the wrong side of 30. That situation helped Nelson fall into the Raiders lap where he should not only improve the secondary but take on the mentoring role that has been vacated by the retirement of Charles Woodson. Continue reading Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Oakland Raiders »

Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Kansas City Chiefs

Best: Jamaal Charles, 4 years, $27.75 million, $3.95M guaranteed

There were a few options here. I thought the contract with Jaye Howard was exceptionally strong despite only being for two season. I think they did a few clever things with Travis Kelce and Justin Houston in terms of structure. But its just so hard to beat that Jamaal Charles contract, even factoring in the injuries he has sustained through the years. Continue reading Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Kansas City Chiefs »

Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Denver Broncos

Today we’ll start the AFC West with our best and worst selection for the Denver Broncos.

Best: Chris Harris, 5 years, $42.5 million, $10M guaranteed

John Elway pulled off one of the greatest con jobs of all time to get Harris to agree to this contract late in the 2014 season. Harris was already gaining recognition around the NFL as one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL and he was every bit as good as teammate Aqib Talib. At the least Harris should have matched Talib’s $9.5M per year contract, but he’ll end up earning $6.5 million less over a 5 year period. While his overall guarantee of $24 million is closer to Talib’s that in no way should make up for the differential. Continue reading Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Denver Broncos »

Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Tennessee Titans

Best: Jurrell Casey, 4 years, $36 million, $13M guaranteed

I’m not sure anybody can explain this contract and how the Titans were able to do this one. By 2013 Casey had developed into one of the best interior defenders in the NFL. He was solid in all phases of the game, had more or less started every game since his rookie year, and had just come off a season in which he amassed 10.5 sacks. Continue reading Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Tennessee Titans »

Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Jacksonville Jaguars

A little late with the Jaguars entry, but we are close to wrapping up our look at the AFC South. There is a running list in the right sidebar with links to all of our Best and Worst picks so far…

Best: Tashaun Gipson, 5 years, $36 million, $12M guaranteed

Two years ago Gipson was considered to have an outside chance at becoming the highest paid safety in the NFL, but an injury happened and that was followed by a year of lackluster play. Still we have seen other players somewhat limp into free agency and still score big and in a few cases with this Jaguars team. That didn’t happen with Gipson who signed a reasonable deal with the Jaguars. Continue reading Best and Worst Contracts 2016: Jacksonville Jaguars »