Shaq Mason extension: 5 years, up to $50M

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Can he catch? Would love to see him line up as a tight end.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Mason's good but he's not nearly on that level of Norwell.

Um, masons in the elite group of run blocking guards in the league and has improved each year with his pass blocking.

 

[jah]

I would be curious to see the details. First off let me say this.

I HATE PAYING GUARDS BIG MONEY. I think it is one of the things which caused the Patriots issues for years was the Mankins deal. Yes he was a very good player. But to have the highest paid guy at one of the least impactful positions, to me, hurts your ability to win championships. They were unable to be really active in free agency for a number of years. It wasn't until 2014 (the year they planned to trade him away) that they felt comfortable making moves. I doubt they sign Browner/Revis if they don't have an idea in place about trading Mankins and dumping his salary.

That contract was signed in 2011 They paid him for 3 years of play for 5.5/7/10M in 2011, 2012, 2013 and traded him in 2014. In 2014 they had to pay him 4.25 in dead money and in 2015 they had to pay 4M in dead money. (That is an average of 7.5M for 3 years without counting the dead money and 10.5M for 3 years of play counting the dead money).

You can factor in that they got a 4th round pick as well for signing the deal in 2015 (as that is what they eventually traded him for).

This deal however isn't as bad as the Mankins deal relatively speaking.

in 2011, 2012, 2013 the cap was 120, 120.6, 123M. For the dead money years the cap was 133, and 143M.

Considering this contract won't start to take effect until 2019 when the cap will be over 180M this deal looks a lot better even if the cap increase slows down after 2019.

That about a 50% increase in cap space compared to 2011.

That means in a player worth 6.67M in 2011 is now worth 10M in 2019. Maybe slightly more as the cap was stagnant for most of those 3 years and may go up even into 2020 to some amount.

Masons deal is clearly the better of the 2 even if he isn't as good a player as Mankins

All that being said. I still don't love paying a guard this kind of money but it isn't a deal that i think will handicap the Patriots ability to sign other good players in today's cap age.

I think you're underestimating how important guards are, especially in this golden age of interior pressure.

 

[BobDigital]

Mason's good but he's not nearly on that level of Norwell.

No, he isn't as good. But he got paid about 75% of what Norwell did. So that makes sense.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

I dont think so. A contract extension like that is not negotiated, drawn up and signed in a week as a knee jerk reaction to someone who is playing an entirely different position. If anything Wynns injury might have made Mason maybe consider the gained security a bit more.

Was going to say the same thing. It's a deal fair to both sides. No way they only started talking after the Wynn injury and got it done already.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Where do you see him having the most room for improvement? Also, what would be the typical prime years for a guard? Mason's 25th birthday is tomorrow. Happy Birthday, guy... have $30M guaranteed

Pass pro is the general answer you'll get & the correct one but more specifically his balance/transfer of power from lower to upper while keeping his hands active but patient. Shorter arms so he has make contact almost every time he strikes (OL strike, DL punch) for win or to survive. Shorter arms leaves less room for error. He's one of the best contact players in the league (when he gets ahold/touches you it's usually a W for him)


As for his age, as long as he's healthy, continues to improve. Which he's done every year. He should be top 10-ish, maybe higher for a long time.

 

[DarrylS]

Interesting that Wynn hasn't been sent to IR yet. With the rule change this year, teams are now llowed to send a rookie to IR without exposing him to waivers.

Wynn is under contract for 3 more years, so not sure the comparison is apt here.. there is a lot of "salary cap money" in 2020, not so much in '19...

 

[ashley]

Wasn't sure if we would pay him, but glad to have him back!!

 

[RobertWeathers]

Interesting that Wynn hasn't been sent to IR yet. With the rule change this year, teams are now llowed to send a rookie to IR without exposing him to waivers.

I don't think your interpretation if the rule is accurate .

 

[RobertWeathers]

Was going to say the same thing. It's a deal fair to both sides. No way they only started talking after the Wynn injury and got it done already.

Agree. This was in the works.

 

[FCB02062]

$50M....for a guard....yikes....

 

[RobertWeathers]

Is Wynn even on IR, yet?

Matter of time. They don't need to IR players until they are required to get to 53.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

$50M....for a guard....yikes....

Guards are important. The guy has to work on that pass protection though.

 

[HailHydra]

Um, masons in the elite group of run blocking guards in the league and has improved each year with his pass blocking.

Andrew Norwell is considered to be excellent in both regards. Mason isn't as polished as a pass protector, which is why many people, prior to this extension being released, were assuming he was on his way out.

 

[BobDigital]

I think you're underestimating how important guards are, especially in this golden age of interior pressure.

I think interior pressure is absolutely terrifying and I have been annoyed it is something the Pats have lacked over the years.

That being said, that is also part of the reason I don't like paying guards too much. If you pay for the best guard LG in the NFL to help stop interior pressure that isn't a bad idea. But there is nothing to stop the other team from putting their best IDL on your RG now. So what do you do to counter that? Are you going to pay to get a great RG as well?

This also why i don't HATE the Mason deal. In 2 years this contract will seem pretty decent when he is only the 10th or 11th highest paid guard in the NFL.

To stop interior pass rushers I believe the formula is to have 2 good guards (not great ones) and to have great form. As well as call out proper protections depending on where they line.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Can bill get us a wr now? You just paid his guard now give us a wr.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Andrew Norwell is considered to be excellent in both regards. Mason isn't as polished as a pass protector, which is why many people, prior to this extension being released, were assuming he was on his way out.

Which makes me wonder how much this had to do with the wynn injury. Mason was gonna make his money this offseason regardless.

 

[Deus Irae]

I think it is one of the things which caused the Patriots issues for years was the Mankins deal.

 

[AlexB]

Wow, did not see this coming. Great continuity for the o-line.

Makes extending Flowers more difficult though.

 

[sieglo]

Love Shaq.

Baby.