I think the NFL needs to examine more closely the huge amount of salary cap they tied up in unproven rookies, particularly those going high in the first round. I don't think the top 2 or 3 teams got the trade offers they were seeking because of the number of draft picks they wanted in return and also because teams were concerned about how much money they'd have to lay out to sign a top ten pick.
I'd top the maximum amount for first pick in the draft to $25M contract w/increase thereafter in each succeeding draft tied to inflation. #2 selection gets $600,000 less and so on down the draft with the 32nd pick getting around $7M. A SB can't exceed 20% but realistic incentive/production bonuses should be expected/allowed. In the 2nd round there'd be less difference (maybe $300,000) and same for each succeeding round but again rookie minimum would remain where it's currently at.
If the owners change the rules to make those salaries less outrageous, then those players who want to play in the NFL can accept it or sign with the CFL, Arena League or that new league that's just starting up.
This opens up a new ballgame cause it would allow teams to keep a lot of their players, play backups more, and not have to get rid of older players because cap hit won't be nearly as bad. The cap itself won't change cause the owners would still have to pay out monies to their great players but there'd also be more money available for needed backups, etc.
This plan or something similar makes economic sense cause paying $24M to an unproven rookies makes absolutely no sense at all. I'd also change that ridiculous rule that only 47? players can be active on game day and up it to 50 so up to 3 players would be inactive.
I'd also reserve 2 slots on the PS where teams could stash two players who need development but if sent thru waivers would must likely be claimed by other teams. These 2 players must still meet PS criteria; these 2 players should also receive rookie minimum which same as those on on the roster--unlike remaining 6 PS players who must go thru waives before being signed for $70,000 minimum. I just don't think that if a team smart enough to draft a player with talent or sign an undrafted player with talent that they should be penalized by risking losing him to another team who didn't do bunkus.
