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As if the Dallas Cowboys needed a reminder, wide receivers are an extremely valuable commodity in today’s NFL. Stefon Diggs offered that proof recently when he inked a three-year, $69 million deal to join the New England Patriots.
Even in a relatively unimpressive WR free agent bunch this year, Diggs signed for far more than predicted. In free agency forecasts Diggs was expected to sign something along the lines of one-year, $14 million. His actual deal which holds $26 million in guaranteed money, blew that prediction out of the water. The four-time Pro Bowler has a resume that features six 1,000-yard seasons, 70 career touchdown catches and over 10,000 career receiving yards. It’s an impressive past even if his future looks somewhat questionable. Coming off an ACL injury at the ripe age of 31, Diggs is hardly the slam dunk he used to be each season with Buffalo.
But the market has spoken and with Tee Higgins signing a four-year, $115 million contract to stay in Cincinnati and D.K. Metcalf agreeing to a four-year, $132 million to go to Pittsburgh, the market has said the WR position is a very, very valuable position in the NFL today. Warts, age, injuries and/or any other concerns be damned. Starting WRs are at a premium and it's a market condition the Cowboys should pay special attention to as they prepare for the 2025 NFL draft.
According to Spotrac, the going rate for a non-rookie-contract, starting WR is roughly $16.5 million per season. It’s the second-most expensive position to employ by a fairly significant margin and proof that what happened with Diggs’ contract is not out of the norm.
Why it’s important for Dallas to pay attention to is simple.
The Cowboys have a massive need at WR this season and armed with the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. They may be able to get the pick of the litter at WR if that’s the direction they want to take. Recent scouting news has indicted top prospect Tetairoa McMillan may be available when Dallas goes on the clock in the first round. It's a big opportunity to make a big impact in more than one way.
If the Cowboys want to draft a position of need while also picking from one of the most cost-conscious position groups the league has to offer, WR is an excellent direction to take in the first round. Surplus value is way of looking at the savings offered by paying a starter on the rookie scale vs paying a veteran at market rate. It shows some positions payoff enormously if the starter is on a rookie contract, while other positions pay off very little.
Running back, safety and off-ball linebackers are a few of the lowest paid starting positions in the NFL today so using a top draft pick to select one as a starter offers the least amount of savings. Positions like quarterback, receiver and defensive line offer tremendous savings if starting positions can be handed to players on rookie deals. This is something the Cowboys front office, who are always looking for a way to save a buck, should find extremely useful in their decision-making process.
Obviously, none of these perceived savings would come to fruition if the player drafted cannot perform. They’re only bargains if they replace market value starters, so drafting a position just for the sake of its value makes zero sense if the player can't play.
Based on market trends the WR position is one of the most valuable positions in the game. If the Cowboys drafted one at No. 12, they'd be on the hook for an estimated $4,845,296 in APY (per Sam Hoppen). If that pick is a WR he'd be only the 44th-highest paid WR in the NFL. Assuming that player can become a good player, he'll offer Dallas tremendous savings on that rookie deal.
The NFL draft is a great way for cost-conscious teams like the Cowboys to save significant cash and cap space if they only target the right players at the right positions.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: NFL Draft: Cowboys can take draft lessons from free agent WR market
Continue reading...
Even in a relatively unimpressive WR free agent bunch this year, Diggs signed for far more than predicted. In free agency forecasts Diggs was expected to sign something along the lines of one-year, $14 million. His actual deal which holds $26 million in guaranteed money, blew that prediction out of the water. The four-time Pro Bowler has a resume that features six 1,000-yard seasons, 70 career touchdown catches and over 10,000 career receiving yards. It’s an impressive past even if his future looks somewhat questionable. Coming off an ACL injury at the ripe age of 31, Diggs is hardly the slam dunk he used to be each season with Buffalo.
But the market has spoken and with Tee Higgins signing a four-year, $115 million contract to stay in Cincinnati and D.K. Metcalf agreeing to a four-year, $132 million to go to Pittsburgh, the market has said the WR position is a very, very valuable position in the NFL today. Warts, age, injuries and/or any other concerns be damned. Starting WRs are at a premium and it's a market condition the Cowboys should pay special attention to as they prepare for the 2025 NFL draft.
According to Spotrac, the going rate for a non-rookie-contract, starting WR is roughly $16.5 million per season. It’s the second-most expensive position to employ by a fairly significant margin and proof that what happened with Diggs’ contract is not out of the norm.
Why it’s important for Dallas to pay attention to is simple.
The Cowboys have a massive need at WR this season and armed with the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. They may be able to get the pick of the litter at WR if that’s the direction they want to take. Recent scouting news has indicted top prospect Tetairoa McMillan may be available when Dallas goes on the clock in the first round. It's a big opportunity to make a big impact in more than one way.
If the Cowboys want to draft a position of need while also picking from one of the most cost-conscious position groups the league has to offer, WR is an excellent direction to take in the first round. Surplus value is way of looking at the savings offered by paying a starter on the rookie scale vs paying a veteran at market rate. It shows some positions payoff enormously if the starter is on a rookie contract, while other positions pay off very little.
Running back, safety and off-ball linebackers are a few of the lowest paid starting positions in the NFL today so using a top draft pick to select one as a starter offers the least amount of savings. Positions like quarterback, receiver and defensive line offer tremendous savings if starting positions can be handed to players on rookie deals. This is something the Cowboys front office, who are always looking for a way to save a buck, should find extremely useful in their decision-making process.
Obviously, none of these perceived savings would come to fruition if the player drafted cannot perform. They’re only bargains if they replace market value starters, so drafting a position just for the sake of its value makes zero sense if the player can't play.
Based on market trends the WR position is one of the most valuable positions in the game. If the Cowboys drafted one at No. 12, they'd be on the hook for an estimated $4,845,296 in APY (per Sam Hoppen). If that pick is a WR he'd be only the 44th-highest paid WR in the NFL. Assuming that player can become a good player, he'll offer Dallas tremendous savings on that rookie deal.
The NFL draft is a great way for cost-conscious teams like the Cowboys to save significant cash and cap space if they only target the right players at the right positions.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: NFL Draft: Cowboys can take draft lessons from free agent WR market
Continue reading...
