This is the digital version of Scoop City. If you want it earlier, start every morning with Scoop City delivered to your inbox. Sign up here.
Aaron Rodgers’ four snaps netted him $81.14 via the NFL’s performance-based pay program. He’s already ordered new sandals for his next ayahuasca retreat.
Today’s NFL newsletter includes:
- 🔬 Draft guides for AFC teams
- 💰 Performance bonusexplained
- 🔢 Draft Big Boardupdated
- ✉️ NFL Execs on free agency
NFL Draft Guides: AFC Contenders
Yesterday’s newsletter included insights from our NFL Draft guides that focused on NFC teams. Today, I highlight our guides for the AFC side. Four thoughts on teams in title-or-bust seasons:
Ravens (13-4): After losing three starting offensive lineman this offseason, Baltimore could use reinforcements. Having nine picks in a draft class with one of the deepest and most talented offensive line groups in recent memory helps. Here are names on their big board, which includes Arizona’s athletic OT Jordan Morgan (No. 34 on the consensus big board).
Bills (11-6): Stefon Diggs turns 31 in November and Buffalo has no identifiable successor. The other receivers in Buffalo are solid: Khalil Shakir is underrated (graded PFF’s WR29, just ahead of Zay Flowers), Curtis Samuel is a gadget option and Dalton Kincaid had the most receiving yards by a rookie TE in team history (673). But none has clear WR1 potential. The Bills could spend an early pick on a WR in this strong class – potentially LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.
Bengals (9-8): Their offensive line always needs work (PFF’s 26th-ranked unit in 2023), but improving their run defense must be a priority. In 2023, Cincinnati allowed the second-most yards per carry and the second-most first downs via run. You can’t do that in the AFC North. They lost their top run stuffer (DT D.J. Reader, now in Detroit) this offseason but added former Texans DT Sheldon Rankins. In the latest Bengals mock draft, Ohio State DT Mike Hall Jr. was one of two DTs they draft in the first four rounds.
Chiefs (11-6): No franchise has ever won three consecutive Super Bowls — for good reason. Roster turnover wreaks havoc on talented teams, and we’ve already seen a cap casualty in CB L’Jarius Sneed. But the Chiefs have depth at CB, while the WR position remains a pressing need (especially with the ongoing uncertainty shrouding Rashee Rice). Texas WR Adonai Mitchell lands in Kansas City via trade up in their most recent mock draft.
Below, we have four more snippets from AFC draft guides. First, some insight into the NFL’s bonus system.
How the NFL’s performance-based pay system works
Yesterday, I mentioned that QB Brock Purdy and G John Simpson will see some of the $393.8 million paid out by the NFL’s performance-based pay program. Payouts through this program have totalled over $2 billion since it was implemented as part of the 2002 Collective Bargaining Agreement. That’s a lot of dough via something many fans never heard of.
How it works. The program was created to ensure players who over-performed on low salaries see their pay increased. Each team has a certain amount — which does not count against the cap — to distribute based on a set formula (around $12 million this season). So yes, teammates are competing for these payouts.
The formula is calculated using the “Index,” which I’ve tried to explain in three steps:
Step 1: Calculate playtime. Count how many plays each player participated in during the prior regular season. Then divide that total by the number of plays for each team’s most-played player.
Let’s call Player A Brock Purdy and pretend his playtime was equal to 50 percent on a team with four other players.
Step 2: Divide by compensation. The playtime total is divided by each player’s regular season salary, including signing bonus and earned incentives. If their salary is less than the seven-year vet minimum, it is rounded up to $1.165 million (for calculation purposes only, the player doesn’t have their actual salary changed).
If Purdy’s salary was $500,000 and the vet minimum was $1 million, the NFL’s Index would round Purdy’s salary up to $1 million for the calculation.
Step 3: Compare. Each player’s Index is then compared against his teammates to determine eligible pay. The below table from the NFL offers a simplified example where Player Aour Brock Purdy, would receive a bonus of $500,000.👇
Where does the money come from? The pool comes from money saved by the reduced growth of both the rookie salary pool and minimum veteran salaries.
Cowboys first team All-Pro CB DaRon Bland, a 2022 fifth-round pick, saw his salary nearly double after receiving $759,756 through this program. Players who perform get paid more? Love to see it. Maybe there’s something here for running backs …
NFL Draft Guides: AFC Turnarounds
After disappointing 2023 seasons, these four are looking to get their franchises on track. Here’s what The Athletic’s beat writers expect next:
Jets (7-10): Again, the Jets are stocked with talent. Again, health will determine their season. They upgraded at the tackle position with Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, but both are 33 years old and free agents after this season. Adding depth here is a priority, and with no second-round pick, they should grab an OT early. If only games were won in March.
Chargers (5-12): There are college trios with more upside than this current group of WRs: an inconsistent Joshua Palmer, disappointing Quentin Johnston and special teamer Derius Davis. Adding Tyler Boyd in free agency would help, but that’s just a start. Jim Harbaugh’s focus appears to be on the trenches, but as beat reporter Daniel Popper writes, can they resist adding a WR like LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze?
Broncos (8-9): For as bad as last season felt in Denver, an 8-9 record seems impressive. They now enter a transition year after at least five starters were lost on offense without significant reinforcements via free agency. The pressing issue is QB, as rostered veterans Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are career backups. HC Sean Payton has hinted about trading up, and beat reporter Nick Kosmider explains how that could work.
Raiders (8-9): Despite having two QBs that played 10-plus games last season in signee Gardner Minshew and returning sophomore Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas’ most pressing need is QB. Beat reporter Tashan Reed traded up in the latest mock draft to add Washington QB Michael Penix Jr., despite HC Antonio Pierce’s love for QB Jayden Daniels.
Around the NFL
The consensus NFL Draft Big Board is updated as of this morning. Florida State RB Trey Benson is the highest rise — up 15 slots — after impressing at the combine (4.39-second 40-yard dash at 216 pounds).
S Julian Blackmon re-signed with the Colts on a one-year contract worth up to $7.7 million. The 25-year old was coming off a career season but entered a depressed safety market.
WR Laviska Shenaultformerly of the Panthers, is joining a loaded Seahawks WR room. Still only 25, look for Shenault to add a rushing component to the Seattle receiver corps.
WR Tyler Boyd is still a free agent. In the latest Steelers mailbag, Mark Kaboly shares his perspective on why Boyd landing in Pittsburgh “would be a long shot, at best.”
Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy is betting on himself despite the Dallas roster looking worse on paper than it did in 2023. Beat reporter Jon Machota has more.
The Rams VP of operations Tony Pastoors spoke with Jourdan Rodrigue about a few interesting contract items. Learn why three-year deals are the new preference for both players and teams.
Jacob’s Picks
📕 NFL Execs, unfiltered. Mike Sando canvassed NFL executives for their thoughts on all 32 teams after free agency. The Lions and Ravens drew strong reviews, while many questioned the Jets and Cowboys. (The Athletic)
📺 The Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort was cooking during the 2023 draft, moving back just three spots to get his guy while adding a number of draft assets — including a 2024 first-rounder — in the process. This video shows the magic behind the scenes. (YouTube)
🎙 Saquon Barkley talks shop with Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce on their podcast. They cover the tush push, Saquon’s welcome in Philly and more. (Podcast)
Now, your best answers to our prompt: Eagles HC Nick Sirianni is…
- Sticking around as long as they make it out of the Wild Card round (Andrew L.)
- Not very creative (John S.)
- In a Super Bowl or bust year (Olivia R.)
- Toast (Steven P.)
Sign up for our other newsletters:
The Bounce 🏀 | The Windup ⚾ | Full Time ⚽ | Prime Tire 🏁 | Until Saturday 🏈
(Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)
2024-04-03 19:54:38
#AFC #draft #guides #primer #NFLs #performance #based #bonus
