When the NFL announced the salary cap for the 2022 season recently, it was expected to create some record salaries once free agency opened. The rumored Aaron Rodgers deal is just one of the record deals expected to reset the market.
Rodgers’ teammate, wide receiver Davante Adams, is currently a free agent, but the Packers placed the franchise tag on Adams. Adams wants a long-term deal, and as arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, Adams is set for a massive payday, especially after what happened on the first day of the legal tampering period Monday.
Former Arizona wide receiver, Christian Kirk, agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth up to $84 million with the Jaguars Monday, per Adam Schefter. Field Yates of ESPN broke down the numbers.
Christian Kirk’s deal:
Signing bonus: $20M
Salaries: $1.5M, $15.5M, $14.5M, $15.5M
Annual roster bonuses: $500K
Annual workout bonuses: $500K
Annual incentives: $3M
2024 roster bonus: $1MMax value of $84M
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 14, 2022
The skyrocketing numbers for wide receivers were expected. But I doubt too many believed it would be Kirk who had the most-discussed new contract when the legal tampering opened.
Do you think Adams is paying attention? After all, Kirk has never finished with 1,000 yards receiving in a single season, and he has just four 100-yard games in his career. During his time with the Cardinals, he was never a No. 1 receiver. Could Adams double Kirk’s AAV (average-annual-value)?
And what does this mean for Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin? McLaurin is set to begin his fourth NFL season in 2022 — and it’s also his last year under his rookie contract. As soon as the 2021 season ended, Washington was eligible to begin contract talks with McLaurin.
In their season-ending press conferences, head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew spoke of their desire to keep McLaurin around long term.
Mayhew said during the NFL combine that the team was scheduled to meet with McLaurin’s agent.
Yet, here we are, and there is no contract extension. There are probably multiple reasons why Washington and McLaurin haven’t agreed to an extension. With one year until free agency, McLaurin realizes it may be in his best interest to wait. He undoubtedly saw Kirk’s deal and realized what that meant for him. McLaurin is a far more accomplished player than Kirk and one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
For Washington, the closer it gets to the regular season, the more leverage McLaurin’s side will hold. Sure, Washington can control McLaurin for two seasons with the franchise tag, but do we want to go down that road again? Kirk Cousins and Brandon Scherff manipulated Washington brilliantly and finally found rich contracts in unrestricted free agency.
McLaurin is far too important to allow him to enter his final season without a contract extension. The ball is now in Washington’s court. The Commanders must come to McLaurin with a massive offer, so he’ll choose to bypass a shot at free agency and keep the team from employing the franchise tag.
Does that mean he will accept? Of course not. Washington has always been criticized for overpaying, but if you are going to overpay, why not overpay for one of your own? If any player deserves a massive extension, it’s McLaurin. He is a team leader, exemplary teammate and a true No. 1 wide receiver.
Reaching a contract extension with McLaurin is one of the most important decisions in the recent history of Washington’s franchise. If he gets to the season without a new contract, fans will be upset having seen that movie before.
