JonCJG
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POSTED 11:36 p.m. EDT, September 9, 2006
McKINNIE DEAL FAIR TO BOTH SIDES, FOR NOW
We've tracked down even more details regarding the seven-year extension signed on Tuesday by Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie, and in our view it's definitely a win-win proposition.
For now.
A source familiar with the terms of the deal tells us that McKinnie will make $25 million over the first three years of the eight-year contract. It's good money for McKinnie, but hardly a backbreaker for the Vikings. Indeed, if McKinnie had forced the team to use the franchise tag on him for multiple seasons, he would have earned roughly $9 million in 2007, $10.8 million in 2008, and because the new CBA bases the third franchise season on the franchise tag for quarterbacks or a 144 percent increase over the prior year's salary, whichever is greater, McKinnie would have earned $15.55 million under the tag in 2009.
That's $35.35 million over three years, and he then would have been eligible for a long-term deal on the open market, at age 30.
By way of comparison, Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones signed his big-money long-term deal at age 31, after three seasons of franchise tenders.
Because the risk of injury for left tackles is lower than it is for, say, running backs, it's very possible that, like Jones, McKinnie would have remained healthy and effective through the next four seasons. "These guys are a relatively low injury risk," said a league source. "They play forever. Eleven years, 13, 15."
Instead of playing the franchise game and then getting a long-term deal later, McKinnie inked a contract that places him at No. 5 on the list of left tackles, behind Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace, Walter Jones, and Chris Samuels.
We've also learned that McKinnie's cap number in the final year of the deal will be only $7.5 million. At a time when the salary cap is expected to be well over $150 million, that's not much at all to have tied up in a left tackle. Moreover, significant money is tied to McKinnie's participation in offseason conditioning and workouts, which will prompt him to do the things necessary to remain effective.
So the deal represents a very good outcome for the Vikings, especially since it's generally accepted in league circles that high-end left tackles don't grow on trees. Or in free agency. Or in the bottom half of round one of the draft. Or lower.
Unlike other positions, there's a strong correlation between the draft status of a left tackle and his level of eventual NFL performance. Ogden was the fourth overall pick in 1996. Pace was the first overall selection in 1997. Jones was the sixth pick in 1997. Samuels was the third pick in 2000. And McKinnie was the seventh pick in 2002.
It's not a recent trend, by any means. Willie Roaf, whom the Chiefs are still begging to change his mind about retirement, was the No. 8 overall selection way back in 1993. Tony Boselli, the only premier left tackle over the past 15 years or so whose career was cut short by injury, was the second overall pick in 1995.
(The only bust in this regard (albeit a big one) was Tony Mandarich, the second overall selection in 1989.)
The potential downside as to the McKinnie deal, as we see it, is that the player might regard the package as substandard as the cap continues to climb, and as other left tackles get contracts worth more than his. As we've said recently with respect to extensions signed by Steelers running back Willie Parker, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, and Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, McKinnie has made a conscious decision to take the money now, and to commit for eight total years. If he thinks at some point that he has "outperformed" the deal, he needs to keep in mind that the team has dumped plenty of money into his pockets despite the risk that he'll "underperform."
But if McKinnie continues to develop into one of the top left tackles in the game, we've got a feeling that the Vikings will do whatever is necessary to keep him happy and effective over the long haul.
McKINNIE DEAL FAIR TO BOTH SIDES, FOR NOW
We've tracked down even more details regarding the seven-year extension signed on Tuesday by Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie, and in our view it's definitely a win-win proposition.
For now.
A source familiar with the terms of the deal tells us that McKinnie will make $25 million over the first three years of the eight-year contract. It's good money for McKinnie, but hardly a backbreaker for the Vikings. Indeed, if McKinnie had forced the team to use the franchise tag on him for multiple seasons, he would have earned roughly $9 million in 2007, $10.8 million in 2008, and because the new CBA bases the third franchise season on the franchise tag for quarterbacks or a 144 percent increase over the prior year's salary, whichever is greater, McKinnie would have earned $15.55 million under the tag in 2009.
That's $35.35 million over three years, and he then would have been eligible for a long-term deal on the open market, at age 30.
By way of comparison, Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones signed his big-money long-term deal at age 31, after three seasons of franchise tenders.
Because the risk of injury for left tackles is lower than it is for, say, running backs, it's very possible that, like Jones, McKinnie would have remained healthy and effective through the next four seasons. "These guys are a relatively low injury risk," said a league source. "They play forever. Eleven years, 13, 15."
Instead of playing the franchise game and then getting a long-term deal later, McKinnie inked a contract that places him at No. 5 on the list of left tackles, behind Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace, Walter Jones, and Chris Samuels.
We've also learned that McKinnie's cap number in the final year of the deal will be only $7.5 million. At a time when the salary cap is expected to be well over $150 million, that's not much at all to have tied up in a left tackle. Moreover, significant money is tied to McKinnie's participation in offseason conditioning and workouts, which will prompt him to do the things necessary to remain effective.
So the deal represents a very good outcome for the Vikings, especially since it's generally accepted in league circles that high-end left tackles don't grow on trees. Or in free agency. Or in the bottom half of round one of the draft. Or lower.
Unlike other positions, there's a strong correlation between the draft status of a left tackle and his level of eventual NFL performance. Ogden was the fourth overall pick in 1996. Pace was the first overall selection in 1997. Jones was the sixth pick in 1997. Samuels was the third pick in 2000. And McKinnie was the seventh pick in 2002.
It's not a recent trend, by any means. Willie Roaf, whom the Chiefs are still begging to change his mind about retirement, was the No. 8 overall selection way back in 1993. Tony Boselli, the only premier left tackle over the past 15 years or so whose career was cut short by injury, was the second overall pick in 1995.
(The only bust in this regard (albeit a big one) was Tony Mandarich, the second overall selection in 1989.)
The potential downside as to the McKinnie deal, as we see it, is that the player might regard the package as substandard as the cap continues to climb, and as other left tackles get contracts worth more than his. As we've said recently with respect to extensions signed by Steelers running back Willie Parker, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, and Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, McKinnie has made a conscious decision to take the money now, and to commit for eight total years. If he thinks at some point that he has "outperformed" the deal, he needs to keep in mind that the team has dumped plenty of money into his pockets despite the risk that he'll "underperform."
But if McKinnie continues to develop into one of the top left tackles in the game, we've got a feeling that the Vikings will do whatever is necessary to keep him happy and effective over the long haul.