Comparing Pre- and Post-Contract Numbers for Top WRs

I’ve decided to go through some of the highly compensated players in the league and see how their performance has been since signing their deal, compared to before it.

I considered any player that is currently on a significant deal (above or around early 1st round pick range), and has played at least two seasons since signing. Today I’m taking a look at the wide receivers.. I’ve taken some baseline numbers to use for comparison, but also have to consider other factors such as age, injury and whether they changed team or system. Pro Football Reference has been a valuable tool for finding sortable stats across season ranges. Continue reading Comparing Pre- and Post-Contract Numbers for Top WRs »

2015 NFL Stock Up Week 3

Every week during the season I’ll take a look back at the games and select three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on gameday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team. So let’s see who made the cut in week 3…

Stock Up

James Jones– Jones, who was cut by the Raiders and Giants this offseason, is playing terrific back in Green Bay. Jones had 139 receiving yards and a touchdown Monday night against the Chiefs. He’s on a minimum contract this year but should be doing enough to earn a new two or three year contract next season. Continue reading 2015 NFL Stock Up Week 3 »

Bengals Sign AJ Green to Big $60 Million Contract

As usual it has been a busy few days leading up to kickoff as teams usually make their last big push to extend players before setting aside negotiations until later in the year and the latest big name to get it done is AJ Green of the Bengals. I’ve always been intrigued by how the Bengals would approach this contract since Green is the first true premier player they have had since Carson Palmer and was going to warrant a contract unlike any other the Bengals signed. Mike Florio of PFT already has all the details and the Bengals certainly went the premier route with Green in this mega dealContinue reading Bengals Sign AJ Green to Big $60 Million Contract »

NFL Stock Up: Week 1

[adsenseyu1]

Every Monday during the season we will take a look back at three players who are entering important stages of their contract that may have helped their stock in upcoming negotiations with their play on Sunday. In addition we will also look at one player signed in the offseason to a new contract that exceeded all expectations and provided exceptional value to his team.

Stock Up

AJ Green– I can not figure out why people don’t realize how special Green is. Outside of the touchdown production he is every bit as productive as Calvin Johnson was at the same point in his career and there is no reason for AJ Green to not be the top paid receiver in the entire NFL. This week he put together a 131 yard game including the game winning 77 yard haul that took all the steam out of a Ravens team that had just battled back to take the lead. IMO, this is the best receiver in the NFL.

Julius Thomas Thomas obliterated the Colts secondary to the tune of 7 receptions for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was getting open at will and toying with the coverage schemes of the Colts. Thomas is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and a few more games like this and he may end up getting a new deal before seasons end. Thomas is in an interesting contract position because the Broncos have another potential franchise tag free agent in Demaryius Thomas meaning one of the two should be able to jump into a new offer.

Jake Locker Locker did not get the option year picked up on his contract and gets the opportunity at free agency in 2015. There was a lot of talk about how well the new coaching staff might benefit him and for this week it certainly did. Locker completed 66.7% of his passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Locker completed passed to eight different receivers and was very effective in leading his team to a surprising dominating win against the Chiefs.

[adsenseyu2]

New Contract Player Of The Week

Knowshon Moreno– I very easily could have gone with JJ Watt who had a dominating performance in every phase of the game for the Texans, but Moreno hit a second gear that seemed to completely catch the Patriots off guard. 24 carries for 134 yards acting like a workhorse back that could take the entire load on his shoulders and power a team to a win. His score with about 3 minutes left in the game cemented one of the big upsets of the week.

[adsenseyu4]

[subscribe2]