Rookie Contracts

If we're going to make draft picks worth something I feel we need to do one thing different with them than we do with the other contracts. Under current extension rules, we'll be letting a huge majority of our picks expire after the two years (thankfully 3 next year). Let's say you have Luck for 12k, and he has the typical shaky 1st year of Pre-Cam QBs (17TD/17INT), but shows some promise to be an eventual QB1. We'd have to decide at that point whether he's worth a raise (extension) which would go into effect immediately as well? I think that the rookie extensions should only have a raise for the FUTURE year, or else they're not worth a whole lot. We have to be able to lock into the lower salaries while they're still developing, where most positions don't show much in year 1, ignoring last year's stud rookie class. I think it needs to go into effect immediately & is ok to implement even though some have traded away their #1 picks already, because this rule concerns 12+months from now & beyond.

Bousquet, personally I think the extension rule that you mentioned is a valid one for the entire league. After thinking about it, there are not going to be many Contract Extensions because Owner's are forced to take on a salary increase for 2 years. For example, Wes Welker is @ $36K. If he were to be extended his contract is $46K both this year and next. But it sems like the better play to let his contract runout at the end of the year and then just franchise for $46.

I am glad you brought this up and would be interested to hear others points of views on this.

Now with respect to Rookie Contracts, I suggest you go back and go back over the specifics on the Rookie Deals.

Section 6.5.5 "After the Rookie contract has expired, owner’s may choose 1 of 3 options"

Exercise an option
Decline Option
Tag the Player


So your concerns are alleviated for Rookies.