[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

It's what the Giants appear to be doing with Barkley.

They simply don't want to give him the leverage of that massive year 1 payday in negotiations. So rather than do so, they've told him he can go test his value on the market and come back if he wants to discuss a new deal.

The Chiefs know that the moment Brown gets tagged, he's starting the bidding at $20 million in year 1 and it really does put him in line for a Tunsil caliber contract.

Without the ability to leverage that 1st year, he's going to have to get a team like the Bears to engage. And if he doesn't, he's going to get substantially less than he's asking for.

It's not a bluff, really. It's just Veach calling no joy. He has a number he's willing to pay and Brown, with that $20 million tag as leverage, isn't willing to accept that overall number. So Veach isn't going to offer him that leverage and he's going to see if the market does it for him. Especially since all another year on the tag will do is set up him for some $24 million tag figure next year and that's pretty obviously not palatable.

But it's also probably what his agent is using. He probably wants $45 million in guarantees over the first 2 seasons (so figure on a $25 million signing bonus and guaranteed salaries of say $8 and $12 million in years 1 and 2 with substantial salary increases to say $18, $22 and $25 million thereafter) because the tag is what he's going to base his calculations on.

That's a 5 year, $110 million deal with cap hits at $13, 17 and $23 million and $10 million on dead money to follow. If he gets cut/restructured after 3 years, it's $63 million over 3 seasons and $21 million/season.

I gotta figure that's about the sort of thing he's looking for with probably some bullshit $30 million 6th year to get his contract to $140 million overall, take him just past Williams and his 6/$138 million and 're-set the market'. It's $64 million in practical guarantees (surpassing Williams $55 million) and it's $45 million guaranteed at signing (surpassing Williams $40 million guaranteed at signing). It is, by any reasonable definition, re-setting the market for OTs.

And Veach simply doesn't want to swim in those seas.

The Ravens should do this with Lamar Jackson by giving him the non-exclusive franchise tag.

Let these guys test the market and see if anyone else in the league is willing to give them the ridiculous contract they think they are worth.