ESPN, citing people on both sides with knowledge of the negotiations, reported that the NFL owners and players came to an agreement in principle over the rookie wage scale. ESPN reported that details in the agreed-upon wage scale include a fifth-year option in the contracts of players selected in the top 10. The network also said the owners offered to pay those players the top 10 salaries at their positions in their fifth year and that the owners had been seeking a fixed amount for the fifth-year option, roughly $4 million per year. According to ESPN, the players wanted a top 10 salary for the top 16 picks and proposed a top 15 salary for picks 17-32. It was also reported that all first rounders would get four-year deals, plus the option year. Source: USA Today
Heard this was almost done earlier. Forget what thread I posted but it's supposed to start this year.
I think the most ardent supporters of a rookie wage scale were the Browns, Bengals, Raiders and Redskins. The Steelers, Patriots, Colts, Ravens and Packers probably didn't care one way or the other.
I think no, because of an option a year 5. Im guessing if the option isnt picked up, they will be restricted after year 4
The 5th year option is pretty much the transition tag without the tag. Picks 11-32 could get sort of screwed unless they work out a long term deal but for picks 1-10 it's good news and most teams would be willing to pay a productive player that money.
i think they would be FAs after 4, unless the 5th year option was picked up in the offseason prior to year 3
