A Look at the Contracts For All NFL-Bound Cowboys

Oklahoma State has had a player selected in the NFL Draft for nine straight years after Vincent Taylor and Chris Carson were picked up Sunday.

Both got the call with fewer than 60 picks left, but it counts, and they will make a lot more than most in 2017 because of it.

Drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round with the 194th overall pick, Taylor punched his earnings to an estimated four-year, $2.51 million contract, according to Sportrac.com. Taylor’s contract includes an estimated $155,035 signing bonus as well.

Then with the penultimate non-compensatory selection, the Seattle Seahawks nabbed Carson in the seventh round. Carson’s contract carries an estimated total value of $2.42 million over four years with a $65,258 signing bonus.

What matters here is whether Carson makes the team. He gets the $65K regardless, but as this article points out, the real money comes in September and beyond even if he has signed for just over the league minimum of $465,000 per year in 2017).

The key for every NFL player is to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, because they are only paid their salary during the regular season. For every week a player is on the roster, he receives 1/17th of his salary ($27,352 for a player on a minimum contract). [NJ.com]

Taylor and Carson’s contracts seem measly compared with the No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett’s total estimated contract value of more than $30 million, including a $20 million signing bonus.

The Cowboys’ undrafted free agents (so far) have been Blake Jarwin, Jordan Sterns, Ashton Lampkin, Lenzy Pipkins and Jhajuan Seales. Ben Grogan also received an invitation to the New Orleans Saints’ camp but has not been signed, according to The Tulsa World.

Here are how the undrafted guys’ contracts shake out:

• Blake Jarwin, Dallas Cowboys, $1.68 million total contract value, $15,000 guaranteed
• Jordan Sterns, Kansas City Chiefs, $1.665 million total contract value, $0 guaranteed
• Ashton Lampkin, Kansas City Chiefs, $1.665 million total contract value, $0 guaranteed
• Lenzy Pipkins, Green Bay Packers, $1.665 million total contract value, $0 guaranteed
• Jhajuan Seales, Chicago Bears, $1.627 million total contract value, $15,000 guaranteed

This is essentially just all five of these players signing for the minimum (again, $465,000 per year in 2017 with built-in increases) which they only receive if they make the 53-man team in the fall. Jarwin and Seales got a little dough to come to camp.

Undrafted free agents sign three-year contracts for the rookie minimum, which starts at $465,000 annually. That contract doesn’t look much different than what a late-round pick will sign. The catch is that [undrafted free agents] will likely only receive a nominal a signing bonus in the $5-10,000 range. [Draft picks] will be guaranteed more. [NJ.com]

Like Carson with the $65K.

During rookie minicamps, teams provide players with food, lodging and a nominal per diem. Even during training camp, players receive relatively modest compensation: $1,075 per week for every rookie and $1,900 per week for every veteran. [NJ.com]

All of these players could of course be cut at any time, but there is less incentive to cut a Vincent Taylor or Chris Carson because you’ve already sunk a little cash into them just for showing up.

Interestingly (to me), Jarwin signed the largest contract of all OSU UDFAs and tied with Seales at the top for most guaranteed money. Then again, maybe it shouldn’t be so shocking for an organization that was No. 1 on Forbes’ most valuable sports teams at $4 billion in 2016.

The first NFL preseason weekend is Aug. 11-14, and rosters must be cut to 53 players by Sept. 3.