Gabbert's contract and the savvy of the Jaguars management

by Joe Fisher on Jul 28, 2011 9:50 PM EDT

I think we were all excited to hear that Blaine Gabbert signed as did all of our draft picks in the quickest timespan since the inaugural season when all of our picks signed immediately. Probably out of fear of Tom Coughlin. A little look at the numbers tells us a couple of things:
1 - This current CBA-- the players involved really do not give a damn about the rookies. 2 - Every rookie from here out for the next 10 years while in Mobile, AL for the Senior Bowl, needs to find Jamarcus Russell who lives there and spit in his face. He was the straw that broke the camel's back in terms of rookie wages. And we jump...

Tyson Alualu was the 10th pick in the 2010 draft. He held out for a few days. When he signed, his contract was a five-year deal worth just less than $28 million, with $17.5 million guaranteed. A Defensive Tackle.

Gabbert's terms were 4 years for $12 million guaranteed with an option for year 5.

Third qb taken in the 2011 draft.

To put into further perspective, Tim Tebow at the 25 spot and second quarterback picked in 2010, got a five-year deal worth $11.25 million ($33 million maximum value) with $8.7 million guaranteed.

What to make of it? I still contend that the Jags management knew the rookie scale was going to happen and that it would result in a seismic shift in salaries and once the Titans took Jake Locker, they couldn’t leap fast enough to get to the 10 spot. Fortunately for us, the Washington Redskins knew we were not going to pick a Cornhusker player and dealt with us.

I know it’s very premature, but the NFL returning to fiscal sanity with rookies in 2011 may pay huge dividends for the Jaguars at the most important position on the field now and in the future.

There truly is little risk for the team if he happens to be a bust, whereas in years past you pretty much had to eat it for 3-5 years before you dipped back into the QB pool in the first round.

Thoughts?

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 2 recs |

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Comments

Good points. Gene and company definitely made the right decision in drafting a franchise QB this year

by montanajagsfan on Jul 28, 2011 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

I'm Really liking Blaine though

Got a real good feeling on him. he just feels like a franchise QB dont know why. He’s doing everything right so far. and i heard he threw a beauty of a pass to brock bolen… aka SUPER BOWL. but really Im liking gabbert so far

by hawk16lx on Jul 28, 2011 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

If we had picked a player at 16, it still would have been cheap. It’s nice that our first reduced price pick was a QB, but I’m not sure that I would put that on Gene.

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I'm willing to drink the Kool-ade, but I'm hungry for the truth.

by Brian Levenson on Jul 28, 2011 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

just seems more like a happy coincidence

Twitter: BLByline Youtube: BLByline
I'm willing to drink the Kool-ade, but I'm hungry for the truth.

by Brian Levenson on Jul 28, 2011 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I disagree

My premise was that with the current rules regarding rookie salarirs and slotting, they seemed to have made it easier for a team to take a swing and a miss and not essentially cripple the franchise for 4 or so years or constantly patch with mediocrity, especially a team such as Jacksonville.

I mean when we took Alualu, we had a good idea that in doing so, we have a guy who will give you a solid to great career, barring catastrophic injury. Remember all the talk, “one of the safest picks in the draft?” Necessity.

by Joe Fisher on Jul 29, 2011 7:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I think it had more to do

with there being what they perceived to be a franchise QB available this year, where there wasn’t one last year.

And the contracts have nothing to do with it as the new CBA will apply to next year as well, and I don’t think a QB contract at 10 last year would’ve been that much higher than Alualu’s contract was.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 29, 2011 8:55 AM EDT reply actions

Let's take a look at 2009 First round contracts (nfl.com)

1. Matthew Stafford QB Detroit Signed 6 years, $72 million ($41.7M guaranteed)

2. Jason Smith OT St. Louis Signed 5 years, $61.775 million ($33M guaranteed)
3. Tyson Jackson DE Kansas City Signed 5 years, $57 million ($31M guaranteed)
4. Aaron Curry LB Seattle Signed 6 years, $60 million ($34M guaranteed)

5. Mark Sanchez QB N.Y. Jets Signed 5 years, $60 million ($28M guaranteed)

6. Andre Smith OT Cincinnati Signed 4 years, $26 million ($21M guaranteed)

7. Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Oakland Signed 5 years, $38.25 million ($23.5M guaranteed)

8. Eugene Monroe OT Jacksonville Signed 5 years, $35.4 million ($19.2M guaranteed)

9. B.J. Raji DT Green Bay Signed 5 years, $28.5 million ($18M guaranteed)

10. Michael Crabtree WR San Francisco Signed 6 years, $40 million ($17M guaranteed)

11. Aaron Maybin DE Buffalo Signed 5 years, $25 million ($15M guaranteed)
12. Knowshon Moreno RB Denver Signed 5 years, $23 million ($13M guaranteed)
13. Brian Orakpo DE Washington Signed 5 years, $20 million ($12.1M guaranteed)
14. Malcolm Jenkins CB New Orleans Signed 5 years, up to $19 million ($11M guaranteed)
15. Brian Cushing LB Houston Signed 5 years, $18 million ($10.435M guaranteed)
16. Larry English DE San Diego Signed 5 years, $17.8 million ($9.9M guaranteed)

17. Josh Freeman QB Tampa Bay Signed 5 years, $36 million (10.25M guaranteed)

18. Robert Ayers LB Denver Signed 5 years, $15.5 million ($9.7M guaranteed)
19. Jeremy Maclin WR Philadelphia Signed 5 years, $15.5 million ($9.5M guaranteed)
20. Brandon Pettigrew TE Detroit Signed 5 years, $14.6 million ($9.4M guaranteed)
21. Alex Mack C Cleveland Signed 5 years, $15 million ($8.3M guaranteed)
22. Percy Harvin WR Minnesota Signed 5 years, $14.25 million ($8.4M guaranteed)
23. Michael Oher OT Baltimore Signed 5 years, $13 million ($7.82M guaranteed)
24. Peria Jerry DT Atlanta Signed 5 years, $13.25 million ($7.55M guaranteed)
25. Vontae Davis CB Miami Signed 5 years, $13.3 million ($7.35M guaranteed)
26. Clay Matthews LB Green Bay Signed 5 years, $13.2 million ($7.1M guaranteed)
27. Donald Brown RB Indianapolis Signed 5 years, $12.835 million ($6.845M guaranteed)
28. Eric Wood C Buffalo Signed 5 years, $13 million ($6.5M guaranteed)
29. Hakeem Nicks WR N.Y. Giants Signed 5 years, $12.54 million ($6M guaranteed)
30. Kenny Britt WR Tennessee Signed 5 years, $12.25 million ($6.5M guaranteed)
31. Chris “Beanie” Wells RB Arizona Signed 5 years, $11.8 million ($6.345M guaranteed)
32. Evander “Ziggy” Hood DT Pittsburgh Signed 5 years, $11.3 million ($6.1M guaranteed)

I put the WRs and QBs in bold, as well as Monroe. Using straight averages (total value of contract divided by years) not factoring in guaranteed money and signing bonuses, Alualu is essentially averaging $5.6M/yr. Crabtree, taken same spot a year earlier avgs. $6.7M/yr. Freeman taken 17th, averages $7.2M/yr. This was 2009. Hell, Matt Stafford averages $12M/yr and cannot complete a full season!!!

Tell me the rookie scale did not need a massive overhaul.

by Joe Fisher on Jul 29, 2011 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

and another point

Remember, all the talk pre draft was that Claussen was first round talent. If even 1 GM took him before Tebow, he’d have likely been in Alualu’s range simply based on the position he plays. His agent would have seen to that.

by Joe Fisher on Jul 29, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

And lets remember

when Gene Smith drafted Gabbert there was no guarantee there would be a rookie salary cap or that it would be so favorable to the teams.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 29, 2011 8:56 AM EDT reply actions

I believe the NFLPA knew it was coming and the owners were not going to come off that issue

to foster goodwill, the NFLPA essential derailed the gravy train for rookies, rewards vets who have proven their worth, and in some cases overdoes it, and finally takes care of the retirees.

by Joe Fisher on Jul 29, 2011 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions

I understand it was a unique situation

in that EVERYONE wanted it fixed. But he still couldn’t be certain it would happen when he drafted Gabbert.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 29, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

That's why I said it was savvy. They GAMBLED!!!

by Joe Fisher on Jul 29, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you better check the dictionary

;-)

Savvy doesn’t mean to gamble. It means “To know; understand”

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 29, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you better check yourself! : )

“shrewdly informed; experienced and well-informed; canny”

It was, in my view, a very crafty move to take a player at a skill position when they could have played the percentages and taken a DE or S. The talk going in was that rookie wages needed a dramatic overhaul. In fact, that issue seemed to be one of the first that the players caved on, based on reports from the entire lockout.

by Joe Fisher on Jul 29, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I still believe 100%

that Gene Smith drafted Gabbert because he was the #1 player on his draft board and the value at 10 was too much to pass up. I also believe that it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the potential for a new rookie salary cap.

The Jaguars NEEDED a young QB regardless of the cost to draft one.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 29, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

so are we BAP or need based in our drafting?

by Joe Fisher on Jul 29, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

With Gabbert

I believe the team moved up to where value met need, which is the core behind BAP.

Though QB wasn’t the teams greatest need, it certainly was a need. But I don’t think anyone would argue that Gabbert’s value was good at #10.

Here's hoping we have NFL football in 2011

by pksiv on Jul 29, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

in the right now, yes, without a doubt

Had he stayed in school, I believe he’d have been the #2 qb coming out after Luck and before the kid from Oklahoma, Jones?

by Joe Fisher on Jul 29, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

It's think it returns the value

to the top picks in the draft. Before the new CBA, it was almost a punishment to have the upper picks because of the price tag that came with them. Now, we have a rookie pay scale that helps teams at the bottom of the league improve there team, without fear of breaking the bank…Jags included.

"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes."- Jack Handey

by Jagtastic on Jul 29, 2011 7:01 PM EDT reply actions