Pick # Determines Maximum Length of Contract

[CloakNNNdagger]

As related within a PFT piece, it is interesting to note a factor that may go into determining what position a team may be willing to go after a player............the maximum length that a player can be "sewn up." How much would this factor into teams' draft decisions is a question that I have not really seen discussed here, or for that matter in other formats.

Picks 1 thru 16...............................6 years
Picks 17 thru end of 1st round............5 years
Picks 2nd round and later..................4 years

 

[aj.]

CBA extension item #3 on this list by Clayton from a couple years ago:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2361392

The four year max was all about delayed UFA eligibility on rooks. Previous to the most recent CBA extension you saw more high round rookie deals that were > 4 years with voidable years based on statistical or playtime marks achieved to give them some leverage. Gaffney's rookie deal was like that.

 

[Vinny]

I imagine many of those 6 year deals have escape clauses. Probably something along the lines of what Carr had when we re-upped him a few years back.