Does Tampa Bay remember what a contract holdout is? We’re not talking about this last offseason’s decision not to carry Gerald McCoy at $13 million for this season. We are also not talking about off-set language in rookie contracts that make 11th-hour signings for the newbies a thing.
What we are talking about is a team member that decides that the value of their current contract does not match their value to the team. And in turn, seek higher compensation. The following are three players that are seeking that higher compensation. Their reasons are different but really, are they?
Yannick Ngakoue
Ngakoue was selected by the Jaguars out of Maryland in the third-round of the 2016 draft and is now going into the fourth year of his rookie deal. This defense also has Jalen Ramsey at cornerback, Calais Campbell at one end, and first-round draft pick DE/LB Josh Allen out of Kentucky, which leaves that defense stacked nicely.
The team offered Ngakoue $50 million over two years earlier this week. The offer appeared to be $19 million-per-year for next two years. Quite a raise for a player currently scheduled to make just over a million for the 2019 season. How much money that was guaranteed and the length of the contract appeared to make the offer a dangled carrot for Ngakoue. His camp ultimately said no thank you.
Michael Thomas
The second-round pick out of Ohio State holds the record for receptions in his first three years in the league at 321. Michael Thomas is a favorite target of Drew Brees and is considered by many to be in the top five among wide receivers. With a salary that pays him around the top 75th percentile for WR salaries, he is definitely due a raise.
Ezekiel Elliott
One is tempted to use the “what the hell is he thinking” line here. Elliott has a full two years left on his contract; the second of which would be an option year that would pay him in the top five percent in the league at RB.
It’s hard to make an argument for a new contract. With the Cowboys looking at a new contract for WR Amari Cooper and QB Dak Prescott, it could make it difficult for the team to get a big deal done at RB.
From the outside, it appears that Elliott is just trying to break off his piece of the pie before the dish is bare. He is still in his rookie contract that had a total value of just under $25 million and is slated to make just under $4 million this year. Has his production on the field justified the Cowboys need to show him some love? Yes. Could the timing appear any worse? No.
Tampa Bay
Not making the playoffs in 12 years, numerous coaching changes and no consistent direction has allowed the Bucs to steer clear of many contract squabbles. Fans in Tampa Bay know that as a team starts to win, player salaries go up, and their value in the marketplace will increase. This also means there will be situations like the ones mentioned above, here in the Bay.
It might just be part of the cost of winning.
