Exactly my thought. What do we OWE Jimmy Graham?
Yes, HE signed his rookie contract, and who would know how unbelievably great he would turn out? Well, maybe Loomis, who 'gambled' on a 3rd round pick AND had the foresight to offer a 4 year deal.

Let's say we do pay him the 12. (obviously we won't). Over the next 4 years, that would make JG's career avg salary $6.3mil. Every team in the league would pay that for his numbers.

We look at JG's agent's 'insane' demands and are appalled. Consider it back pay and it's easier to take.

Doesn't work that way, unless all the busts are also forced to give the owner back all the money they didn't earn.

Rookie contracts are for earning what the owner/GM think you'll be worth.

You 2nd/3rd/4th contract is based on what the owner/GM think you'll be worth.

The only way to make that a bit more fair is to go to one year contracts for everyone, or base each players pay on what they did the previous season. Play 1st, then get paid for how well you did.

Honestly guys, what team in their right mind would give a first round pick this year and next year plus take on his salary??? They made this deal so outrageous that I cant possibly see any team with 1/2 a brain take this offer.

Seriously, play GM here for a minute, would you give a first rounder this year, next year and 12 mil for one player? No way in hell.

They will ink out a deal but this will linger most of the offseason.

Expanding on this a bit...the more I think about it, the more I realize it was a GENIUS move with some nice potential. IF a team makes him an offer, it's probably going to be discounted because they are also having to give up two first rounders in addition to his salary (my whole analysis is dependent on this - if someone throws huge money at him then my argument fails lol)...So let's say someone does make him a offer. It will most likely be less than the WR tag we will have to pay without them making him an offer and even less than what he is looking for in a long term deal. It sets us up for a potential DISCOUNT. Then instead of matching their lowball offer, we turn round and ink him for a better long term deal than he was offered (but still lower than what we would have paid without letting other teams make offers) and become the saving grace. Everyone is happy.

Am I delusional or does this make perfect sense?

Exactly my thought. What do we OWE Jimmy Graham?
Yes, HE signed his rookie contract, and who would know how unbelievably great he would turn out? Well, maybe Loomis, who 'gambled' on a 3rd round pick AND had the foresight to offer a 4 year deal.

Let's say we do pay him the 12. (obviously we won't). Over the next 4 years, that would make JG's career avg salary $6.3mil. Every team in the league would pay that for his numbers.

We look at JG's agent's 'insane' demands and are appalled. Consider it back pay and it's easier to take.

Consider 8-8 and 9-7 or one and done in the playoffs the residual effect of giving a TE $12 million a year.