Negotiating contracts in the NFL has traditionally been a long and drawn-out process, as agents tend to demand what is in their best interest, while teams may want to pay players a little less than their market value in order to navigate the league’s hard salary cap.
But that may be changing, at least for rookies.
NFL insider Field Yates pointed out that only about two weeks after the draft, 110 players chosen in this year’s draft officially signed their rookie contracts on Friday, rather than taking months to complete the process.
A total of 110 NFL Draft Picks officially signed their rookie contracts today, including 7 first round picks.
Not like the days of old where that process often took months.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 12, 2023
The market for viable NFL players has gotten a lot more lucrative in just the last couple of years, and it started with some of the league’s big stars.
Last offseason, Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, Tyreek Hill, and Davante Adams were all given humongous new contracts, and this spring, Lamar Jackson and Daniel Jones have cashed in big time.
This year’s crop of rookies will be very intriguing, and it will start with quarterbacks Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, who were taken with the first two picks of the draft.
In addition, Anthony Richardson, a dual-threat QB from the University of Florida, is thought to have a high ceiling.
Running back Bijan Robinson, who went at No. 8 to the Atlanta Falcons, is considered a possible superstar in the making.
Fans are also excited to see linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer, who were taken by the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively.
