Riley Cooper’s Contract Draws Back on Second Target Market

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I think most are aware by now of the particulars of Riley Cooper’s $22.5 million extension with the Eagles. Cooper received a $4 million signing bonus, a fully guaranteed $1 million salary in 2014, and $3 million of fully guaranteed salary in 2015. He can earn an additional $1 million in fully guaranteed salary in 2015 and in 2016 by being on the roster the 5^th day of each respective League Year. He can also earn up to $2.5 million in escalators based on performance.

To me what is more interesting about the deal is what this might say about the receiver market. The contract itself is very team friendly. In essence this is a two year $9 million contract where Cooper has to prove he belongs as a secondary target. In terms of annual value Cooper ranks well behind Brian Hartline ($6 million) and Danny Amendola ($5.7 million) the two who seemed to be the standard bearers for the secondary WR’s last year. His guarantees are about what Amendola received.

There is little upside in the contract for Cooper outside of avoiding the uncertainty of free agency. If he develops into a better receiver he will be locked into tier two money for the next five years. If this is the type of contract that the Eagles are offering Jeremy Maclin it would explain why Maclin would prefer taking a prove it type of contract from Philadelphia or another team.

For players such as Golden Tate and Emmanuel Sanders, who are free agents this year, the Cooper contract does little to give confidence that they can move past Hartline in terms of contract value in free agency. Despite the rumored increase in cap room he came towards the lower end of the WR2 marketplace. Odds are that’s a sign of how most teams will be viewing these players when free agency begins.

View Riley Cooper’s Salary Cap Breakdown

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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

Chris Johnson– For one week CJ2K seemed to turn back the clock and look like the back everyone thought he would be when the Titans signed him to the $13.49 million dollar contract. Johnson ran for 150 yards and two scores and was actually a player that could be relied on for more than one big run. Johnson still has a lot of work cut out for him if he wants to stick in Tennessee next year- the team will save $4 million in cap room and $8 million in cash by releasing him– but he at least took one step to keeping his contract in place in 2014.

Riley Cooper– The Eagles receiver became a very controversial figure following some unfortunate remarks he made at a concert, but on the field he has had a career year in his walk season. Hes made the most out of the opportunity that was created by the injury to Jeremy Maclin and has more than doubles his per game output from last season. Riley’s 139 yard game was his second 120 plus yard game in the last 4 and he is now averaging 90 yards per game over that stretch. His improved stats have come directly as a result of Mike Vick being injured and if he continues to be a major target for the younger QB’s the Eagles will be rushing to keep him next season.

Jerricho Cotchery– Cotchery had a 3 TD game on Sunday and his second 90 plus yard game on the year. While the Steelers lost again he is on pace for his best season since 2007 and could get an opportunity to come back to Pittsburgh next year at a raise from his current $1.5 million a year annual contract. While Cotchery will by no means be an expensive player there are many people who likely thought he was finished when the Jets gave up on him in 2011 and the Steelers signed him for the minimum to compete for a job. With the Steelers salary cap problems likely leading to a departure for Emmanuel Sanders, Cotchery has a chance to lock in some good playing time in 2014.

New Contract Player Of The Week

Chris Ivory– There were a number of players who deserved consideration for this, but Ivory dominated his old team and was the offensive catalyst for the Jets in their upset win over the Saints. Ivory ran for 139 yards on 18 carries in a game where the Jets’ QB, Geno Smith, only attempted 19 passes and gained just 115 yards. Ivory had been a bit of a bust for the Jets since he came over in a trade. He’s battled injuries, something he has been saddled with his whole career, and been mediocre when he has been on the field, but on Sunday he was everything the Jets could have hope for.

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riley cooper