The projections on the contracts of the players taken in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft are out.
Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes SportsMoney has LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, taken with the first overall selection by the Cincinnati Bengals, slated for the traditional four-year rookie agreement at $36 million with $23.9 million guaranteed.
Burrows’ college teammate, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, selected with the 32nd and final pick in Round 1, is expected to receive a deal valued at $10.8 million with $5.4 million in guarantees.
The Giants’ first-round pick, Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, who was selected fourth overall, is slated to be given a $32.3 million deal with $21.1 of it guaranteed.
By contrast, last year’s No. 4 pick, Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell, received a contract worth $31.2 million with $20.8 million guaranteed.
“NFL rookie contracts are determined by a complex formula that considers the league’s 2020 ‘rookie compensation pool’ of $1.4 billion across all teams, as well as the $198 million per-team salary cap,” writes Badenhausen. “The rookie pool is divided among the 32 NFL teams based on the clubs’ number of picks and where they fall within the draft.”
The Giants selected 10 players in the draft this season and their rookie compensation pool is estimated to be $12.9 million. That is the cap space dedicated to rookie salaries/cap hits for the 2020 season.
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