NFL: Revisiting the NFL’s best assest

Jerod Goff, Carson Wentz, Paxton Lynch and in some mock drafts Connor Cook are projected to be drafted in the first round. With the new rookie contract scale drafting a quarterback in the first round and missing does not set a franchise back for years like the Oakland Raiders after drafting Jamarcus Russel or the Bengals drafting Aki Smith. In today’s NFL, a team like the Redskins can miss on a player like Robert Griffin (more on this below) and make the playoffs in a few years (would have been sooner but trading away four first and second round picks will do that to a franchise). One of the keys to

One of the keys to re-building in the NFL is to find a quarterback on a cheap contract (who is good!) and build around him through the draft and free agency. Finding a rookie or second year quarterback who is good and on the initial rookie contract is the best asset to have in the NFL. Teams like the Browns, Broncos, Jets and 49ers all have quarterback question marks going into the draft, and are hoping to draft a quarterback for the future. Finding a quarterback is only a portion of team building, and does not make a team a contender. Building a team around the quarterback (and his contract) will lead to sustained success. Contemporary examples of teams having this asset are the Seahawks, 49ers, Redskins and Colts all received good quarterback play on team friendly deals the past few years. Russel Wilson of the Seahawks was a third round pick, Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers was a second round pick, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin went number one and two in the 2012 draft. Each team’s management of the quarterback position is graded below

The selection of Russel Wilson in the third round meant that the Seahawks would only pay Wilson a base salary of $390,000 in 2012, $526,217 in 2013 and $700,000 in 2015 (Note: Wilson signed a new contract for four years’ worth $87 million dollars….which is still a bargain considering Wilson’s play over the years). With Wilson’s contract not even breaking a million dollars his first few years in the NFL; the Seahawks were able to sign WR Percy Harvin (trade for then sign), DE Cliff Avril, DE Michael Bennett, DT Tony McDaniel, CB Antoine Winfield, and CB Marcus Trufant before the 2013 season to help fill out the roster and make a Super Bowl run. In addition to free agent

In addition to free agent signings the Seahawks were able to give contracts to Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Seahawks General Manager John Schneider and Head Coach Pete Carrol drafted extremely well from 2010-2013. The Seahawks drafts from that time period could arguably be the best three-year run in the history of the NFL. Schneider did a masterful job through the draft and free agency enabling the Seahawks to make back to back Super Bowl runs, and considering how the NFC West is shaping up (49ers are a mystery, Rams are missing a Quarterback and the Cardinals are relying on a late 30’s Carson Palmer). The Seahawks could dominate the division for several years to come. Grade A+

The Colts selected Andrew Luck number one in the 2012 draft. The Colts post-season performances improved every year since Luck’s arrival in Indy. In 2012 the Colts made the playoffs, in 2013 the Colts signed QB Matt Hasselbeck, FB Stanley Havili, WR Darrius Heyward-bey, OT Gosder Cherilus, G Donald Thomas, DE/DT Ricky Jean-Francois, NT Aubrayo Franklin, DE/OLB Erik Walden, ILB Kelvin Sheppard, CB Greg Toler, S LaRon Landry during the offseason and won a wild card game and lost in the divisional round, in 2014 the Colts signed WR Hakeem Nicks, C Phil Costa, DE/DT Arthur Jones, ILB D’Qwell Jackson, S Mike Adams, and made it all the way to the AFC championship game, in 2015 GM Ryan Grigson made a slew of free agent acquisitions to get the Colts over the hump including Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, Trent Cole. One of the reasons that GM Ryan Grigson had to dip into free agency was the very poor showing in the NFL draft. The 2012 draft yielded Luck,

One of the reasons that GM Ryan Grigson had to dip into free agency was the very poor showing in the NFL draft. The 2012 draft yielded Luck, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen and TY Hilton. The drafts in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were pretty forgettable including trading a first round pick for Trent Richardson. These free agent signings paired with Andrew Luck’s injuries caused the Colts to fall to eight and eight. Between bad free agent deals and Andrew Luck’s new contract I’m here to tell you that the Colts window to win the Super bowl is over. The Colts had the perfect chance to build around a team friendly Andrew Luck contract. 2012 Luck’s cap hit was just over $4 million dollars, 2013 was little over $5 million, 2014 was $6 million and 2015 was $7 million. Not bad for one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Luck’s new contract is going to be expensive. The Colts can only hope that Luck’s new contract is similar to Russel Wilson contract (4 years $31 million dollars). This would enable Indy to continue to build around Luck. Worst case scenario Luck’s contract is in the

The Colts can only hope that Luck’s new contract is similar to Russel Wilson contract (4 years $31 million dollars). This would enable Indy to continue to build around Luck. Worst case scenario Luck’s contract is in the Joe Flacco range (3 years $66 million dollars). Flacco’s contract has handcuffed GM Ozzie Newsome ability to make free agent deals since Flacco’s contract takes up cap space. While the Colts have made it to the AFC Championship game and never had a losing season since drafting Luck the team benefited from a weak division and schedule. Grade B

The 49ers drafted Colin Kaepernick in the 2011 draft and let Kaepernick acclimate to the NFL. (Kaepernick was a spread option quarterback at Nevada that operated from the pistol formation). Kaepernick learned from incumbent quarterback Alex Smith and in 2012 Kaepernick took over from Smith in a controversial move made then Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. Kaepernick took the NFL by storm by running a version of the read-option that enabled the 49ers to reach the Super Bowl and came one play away from winning the Super Bowl.

Kaepernick lead the 49ers to back to back NFC championship game appearances. The years preceding Kaepernick the 49ers drafted well and were able to fill the roster with small free agents deals such as WR Anquan Boldin, DT Glenn Dorsey in 2013 and S Antone Bethea the following year. In his first year Kaepernick made a base salary of $375, 2012 saw a raise to $607 2013 was $740, 2014 was $645. The 49ers checked every block in terms of sustained success: Good Quarterback on a team friendly deal-check, drafted well-check, and solid free agent deals to supplement roster-check.

Success however was not sustained as Harbaugh and GM Trey Baalke engaged in a public power struggle that led to Harbaugh getting fired and replaced with defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio also were either fired or contract not renewed. The firing of Harbaugh coupled with the departures of Roman and Fangio triggered the retirements of middle linebacker Patrick Willis, middle Linebacker Chris Borland, Defensive Lineman Justin Smith and Offensive Tackle Anthony Davis. Aldon Smith was released. Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Mike Iupati and Parrish Cox signed with other teams. Vernon Davis was also traded. Back to back NFC conference appearances under Kaepernick signaled that the 49ers had returned to glory using the team friendly contract of Kaepernick, but a power struggle and the gutting of the roster leaves the 49ers in rebuilding mode. Going to back to back NFC championship games weighs greatly in terms of sustained success but who knows the direction of the franchise. Grade B-

The Washington Redskins selected Robert Griffith the 3rd in the 2012 draft. The 2012 marked the peak of RG3 career with the Washington Redskins reaching the divisional round of the playoffs losing to the Seattle Seahawks. After trading away several first and second round draft picks the Rams for the rights to the second overall pick in the 2012 the Redskins were not able to acquire talent to surround RG3. Even with RG3 affordable contract ($390 in 2012, $1.3 million in 2013, $2.3 in 2014, $3.2 in 2015). in Free agency was not kind to the Redskins either: in 2012 the Skins signed :WR Pierre Garcon, WR Josh Morgan, ILB Jonathan Goff, CB Cedric Griffin, S Tanard Jackson, S Brandon Merriweather, K Neil Rackers….not exactly lighting up the NFL. In 2013 the Redskins signed WR Devery Henderson, WR Donte’ Stallworth, OT Jeremy Trueblood, DE Darryl Tapp, CB E.J. Biggers…..ouch! Grade F.

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