OT: Justin Jefferson signs a team friendly deal for $35 million a year

[Rob0729]

Ok, I get Jefferson is arguably the best WR in the league or at least the top 2-3. But is really worth $35 million a year? He just signed an extension for $140 million over four years with $110 million guaranteed. $88 million will be paid out at the signing.

Calvin Ridley's contract wasn't so crazy after all. Although I am not sure I would have paid him big money even now that his contract seems like a value. A lot of risk in that guy.

 

[signbabybrady]

I'm not going to say that he isn't worth it but I think it definitely creates an opportunity where if you can fill out the WR room without breaking the bank like that sort of like in the past with Jules and a rotation of cheaper guys than it would leave money for other positions.

 

[festy1986]

These numbers are only going to continue to go up so it's probably time you get it out of your head it's a overpay.

Given what Jefferson gives you and Ridley gives you, id gladly pay Jefferson this money.

 

[Love The Drake]

These numbers are only going to continue to go up so it's probably time you get it out of your head it's a overpay.

Given what Jefferson gives you and Ridley gives you, id gladly pay Jefferson this money.

Tee Higgins is going to be kicking at the door to get out of Cincy, as will Brandon Aiyuk,
Question is will we pay either of them 20 mill plus a season?

 

[Fuzz]

Jefferson is the best WR in the league. Ridley is a below average WR1, probably around #23-#26 or so.

 

[Rob0729]

Jefferson is the best WR in the league. Ridley is a below average WR1, probably around #23-#26 or so.

Yeah, but Ridley is making what $13 million less a year than Jefferson. Ridley got the going rate for a below average #1 WR.

 

[Rob0729]

Tee Higgins is going to be kicking at the door to get out of Cincy, as will Brandon Aiyuk,
Question is will we pay either of them 20 mill plus a season?

The question may now be whether you will pay either $30 plus million a year. If you could get either to sign in the low $20 millions a year, it would be a steal.

 

[Toofy]

The question may now be whether you will pay either $30 plus million a year. If you could get either to sign in the low $20 millions a year, it would be a steal.

I have a feeling . Wide receivers will start to be drafted more and more in first2 rounds every year irrespective of need . Defense is going to take a backseat in draft and contracts .

 

[h0c2000]

If he was a free agent, I would have expected him to earn even more than this.

 

[mike_usagisan]

These numbers are only going to continue to go up so it's probably time you get it out of your head it's a overpay.

Given what Jefferson gives you and Ridley gives you, id gladly pay Jefferson this money.

I think this is right. Throw out all the old numbers and look at the money coming in from the TV/streaming deals. Start looking at it as percentage of cap. The money is going to just be silly.

 

[stinkypete]

A QB on a rookie deal used to be the ultimate cap cheat code. Now, WRs on rookie deals may be the new cheat.

The WR market is absolutely out of control.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

A QB on a rookie deal used to be the ultimate cap cheat code. Now, WRs on rookie deals may be the new cheat.

The WR market is absolutely out of control.

I remember getting A LOT of pushback for wanting to pay Higgins and Aiyuk 20+ per year just months ago.

Have to keep up with the times. WR is the second most important position in football

 

[Lagaffe_07]

Yeah, but Ridley is making what $13 million less a year than Jefferson. Ridley got the going rate for a below average #1 WR.

Over a 17 games pace in 2023:

Ridley : 22M for 1016 yds. 21653.5 $ / yard
Jefferson 35M for 1825 yds (1074 yds over 10 games projected to 17 games) 19178 $ / yard

In fact the Vikings are paying less for a yard of production from Jefferson than the titans for Ridley.

 

[Steve102]

Let's hope this regime can draft rookie WRs every other year with success.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Hope we’re having this discussion whether to pay this kind of money to Polk and/or Baker in a few years.

 

[Love The Drake]

KC have won their Super Bowls with ELITE qb and ELITE O line with average to mediocre WRs.

They then grabbed Hollywood brown at a discount and jumped us fot a lottery ticket in Xavier Worthy.

I expect KC to compete for years.

Houston then went and traded for a underpaid, under appreciated Diggs and l locked up their best wr for under market value.

These are the two best run teams in the league right now.

Baltimore blew the dust off of Agholar and drafted a guy we all had neck and neck with Gonzalez for need.

Point is Higgins and Aiyuk both come with huge risks especially at 30 mill range,

Higgins can be perform without Chase taking coverage away and not having Burrow?
Aiyuk is very talented but how much of it is that system where they just seem to plug and play guys who can make big plays in that Shanny offense?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Only in Madden football you can draft elite WR's on the cheap, let them go and replace them with a new rookie. Only Brady and Mahomes have won multiple Super Bowls without an X WR. Everyone else has to pay up.

Jefferson obliterated the guarantees which I predicted, but he's only $3M per more than the previously leading AJ Brown. This a signing to keep asses in the seats in Minnesota as they have nothing going for them.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Tee Higgins is going to be kicking at the door to get out of Cincy, as will Brandon Aiyuk,
Question is will we pay either of them 20 mill plus a season?

25m minimum these days. I wouldn't be surprised if the ask becomes 30m in the wake of this record breaking contract.

 

[jdlboot14]

It's getting insane. NO WR is worth that kind of money.
Sure, call me old school and out of touch...
I know the Cap is increasing almost as fast as Bidinflation, but that amount of investment into 1 of 5 necessary pass catchers is stupid.

There is 1 QB, and if he is an above average player with processing & accuracy & poise, he can be the difference in your team having a losing record or playoff contention. So he is worth $30-$40M.

But you need 3 solid WR's, 1 prime pass-catching TE, and 1 flex pass-catching RB in this league.

To spend QB money on a WR, or ~1/7 of your cap on a 1/52 player is insane.

 

[TheRainMaker]

The WR market is absolutely out of control.

That's what happens when average players get the bag from desperate teams - and I'm referring to all positions. When this happens, elite players prices go through the roof. The sooner the Owners cut that **** out, the prices will level off somewhat.

And I don't want to hear "the cap is going up". That's not an excuse to pay average players top of the market money.