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.