You’re the young, physically gifted athlete with the game IQ to be a star in the NFL; rendering you cocky with a side of feeling unstoppable. Match that up with an NFL franchise’s number one draft pick and you’re automatically worth $80 million, not bad for a couple of years in college. So the question arises, how much money is too much for an unproven rookie?

Let’s begin with the process of how an NFL team evaluates its needs. When rebuilding a team, as seen with St. Louis Rams the previous couple of years, there are many factors that an organization takes into account. For one, your quarterback needs to be protected. He is without question the most valueable player on the team. Having a great offensive line is atop the list of needs. This is what the Miami Dolphins took into account when drafting tackle Jake Long. With the New Orleans Saints, the city itself was in desperate need of an impact player after hurricane Katrina ravaged the city. They selected just that, am impact stud player in running back Reggie Bush as the second overall pick. Having a shut down defense is another aspect that a team must take into account. Remember, offense gets the glory, but defense wins the game. The needs and wants vary from team to team. So who do you choose? Maybe a quarterback is the answer or a tackle to protect your franchise quarterback’s blind side; or the skilled position such as Bush. Depending on the players available in the and the teams’ position in the draft, you usually go with the best available and with who will best fit that team.

With that said, for most number one picks the bar is set high. With the mammoth responsibility of helping a franchise reach the Promised Land, we cannot forget the most important thing in the business, money, money, money.

So, what if you were a rookie coming out college never having played a single professional NFL game in your life and got $50 million guaranteed after being drafted number one overall? Well this is how NFL sports world works. With recent number one picks such as quarterbacks Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams, Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions and our beloved Miami Dolphins Tackle Jake Long, these guys received at least $30 million guaranteed. Is it fair? Some would say absurd. Whatever adjective used, these players receive, for lack of a better word, a shit load of  money without having to set foot on a pro field. While on the other hand, veteran stars receive this type of money much later in their careers, if ever. The rookie salary issue has been debated for years in the sports world. NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, said this in 2008 after Jake Long was drafted:

“There’s something wrong about the system…The money should go to people who perform.”

I completely agree with him! Of course there are a ton of other underlying issues that need to be looked at. Such as the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), wo represent the players, owners, and the financial economic status of the team and the list goes on and on. The biggest risk the team takes, if you ask me, is if that player is a bust, COUGHjamarcusrussellCOUGH, then the team is out millions of dollars not to mention back at square one. Rebuilding…

One thing to keep in mind is that the college game is completely different from that of the NFL. More complex defenses, offenses, game speed, physicality and so on. Quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts exercises his eyes for goodness sake! You can be a great college player, but it takes a special player to make it at the pro level. To make an impact in the NFL most will tell you that it usually takes about two to three years to get adjusted to the speed of the game. In my opinion, show me what you have in those first two to three years and then we can restructure your contract so that you get PAID IN FULL. Don’t cheat your star players if they are producing. If you’re not going to pay them, you can bet someone else will.

Below is a list of the first three overall picks from the past five years. And here I thought we were in a recession.

2010
No. 1 Pick by the Rams- QB- Sam Bradford- six year- $86 million with $50 million guaranteed
No. 2 pick by the Lions- DT Ndamukong Suh- five year with a max of $68 million with $40 guaranteed.
No. 3 pick by the Bucs- LT Gerald Mccoy- five year $63 million with $35mil guaranteed

2009
No. 1 pick by the Lions- QB Matthew Stafford- six year with max of $78 million with $41.7 million guaranteed
No 2. pick by the Rams- OT Jason Smith- six year $60 million
No. 3 pick by the Chiefs- DL Tyson Jackson- five year $57 million with $31 million guaranteed

2008
No.1 by the Fins- T Jake Long- five year $57.75 million with $30 million guaranteed
No. 2 by the Rams-  DL Chris Long- five year $48 million with $22.385 million guaranteed.
No 3. by the Falcons- QB Matt Ryan- six year $66 million with $34.75 guaranteed

2007
No1. by the Raiders- QB JaMarcus Russell- six year $60 million with $30 million guaranteed
No. 2 by the Lions- WR Calvin Johnson- six year $55.5 million with $27.178 million guaranteed
No. 3 by the Brown- OT Joe Thomas- five year $42.5 million with $23 million guaranteed

2006
No. 1 by the Texans- DE Mario Williams- six year $54 million with $26.5 guaranteed
No. 2 by the Saints- RB Reggie Bush- six year $52.5 million with $26.31 million guaranteed.
No. 3 by the Titans- QB Vince Young- six year $58 million with $25.74 guaranteed