thedayafter
Pro Bowler
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2004
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Because of the salary cap, a better way to judge players than “who is the best?†is “who is the best per dollar?†And by that measurement, every selection in the second round is better than the first pick in the first round. It turns out that the most valuable pick in the draft in terms of getting a good player without breaking the bank is the 43rd overall, which is the 11th pick in the second round.
Last year, that pick belonged to the Dallas Cowboys, who took running back Julius Jones out of Notre Dame. Jones ran for 819 yards and scored seven touchdowns in just eight games and cost Dallas only $4.37 million on a six year contract.
Another factoid for trading down and not taking a RB at number 2.....
Even young players who look promising, like the Cardinals’ first-round pick (no. 3 overall) in 2004, Larry Fitzgerald, exact a heavy financial toll. Fitzgerald’s six-year contract gives him $20 million in guaranteed money. Meanwhile, Michael Clayton, the receiver Tampa Bay selected with the 15th pick, got only $6.2 million in guarantees on his six year deal. And Clayton had a better rookie year than Fitzgerald.
Confused yet......
On the flip side are the Patriots, who have had only two top-10 picks in the last 10 drafts. One of those picks, Terry Glenn, has long since departed, while the other, Richard Seymour, remains an integral part of the team. But the absence of high picks has given the Patriots the leeway to spend money on other players, and that wise spending has made them the best team in the league.
The Pat's are not confused....
Last year, that pick belonged to the Dallas Cowboys, who took running back Julius Jones out of Notre Dame. Jones ran for 819 yards and scored seven touchdowns in just eight games and cost Dallas only $4.37 million on a six year contract.
Another factoid for trading down and not taking a RB at number 2.....
Even young players who look promising, like the Cardinals’ first-round pick (no. 3 overall) in 2004, Larry Fitzgerald, exact a heavy financial toll. Fitzgerald’s six-year contract gives him $20 million in guaranteed money. Meanwhile, Michael Clayton, the receiver Tampa Bay selected with the 15th pick, got only $6.2 million in guarantees on his six year deal. And Clayton had a better rookie year than Fitzgerald.
Confused yet......
On the flip side are the Patriots, who have had only two top-10 picks in the last 10 drafts. One of those picks, Terry Glenn, has long since departed, while the other, Richard Seymour, remains an integral part of the team. But the absence of high picks has given the Patriots the leeway to spend money on other players, and that wise spending has made them the best team in the league.
The Pat's are not confused....
