A few years ago, I proposed this rule. It did not get much of a go with the league then. I am trying again. One of maybe 2 things I hate in this league is the salaries for the Free-agent draft. Is it fair to pick a player in a round and each team as you go down pays the same?
1. All players are not created equal. 2. Fairness of player quality to draft spot. 3. If we are trying to stay close to the NFL.
I propose changing the rule to make this fair and align with how the Rookie draft is run per salary as the player goes down.
14.1 - A player's initial salary is determined by how the player was acquired. Players acquired through the Free Agent draft are assigned an option year salary as follows: Round 1: $10 million Rounds 2: $7.5 million Rounds 3-4: $5 million Rounds 5-6: $4 million Rounds 7-8: $3 million Rounds 9-12: $2 million Rounds 13-16: $1 million Rounds 17-20: $500K Rounds 21-24: $300K Rounds 25+: $100K
Change to
14.1 - A player's initial salary is determined by how the player was acquired. Players acquired through the Free Agent draft are assigned an option year salary as follows: Round 1: $10 million Rounds 2: $7.5 million Rounds 3-4: $5 million Rounds 5-6: $4 million Rounds 7-8: $3 million Rounds 9-12: $2 million Rounds 13-16: $1 million Rounds 17-20: $500K Rounds 21-24: $300K Rounds 25+: $100K 14.1.1 Each money level is broken down into money slots using the difference in salary to the next round divided by the number of picks in each round ex: Round 1 to round 2 is 2.5million divided by 23 or 108,650 Then each pick will be decreased that amount rounded for ease of use per round. This will continue each round and will expand the division rate based on the picks in that salary level. 14.1.2 Additional Players taken in each round can still be added at the end of the expected round.
I have created a spreadsheet that I will email to the league. This shows the breakdown of each round.
I have also created drop-downs so you can pick one team at a time and transfer that information right to the current salary sheets used by the league. The spreadsheet will include all players to make it easier for the commissioner or his designee.
I can also do this spreadsheet for the Rookie draft also.
I think this proposal has merit, but I see no reason for breaking down the salaries in picks beginning in round 13 ($1.0mil) and after. Those should remain as they are not. All players drafted in those rounds get the same salary.
I also do not think players taken with supplemental picks should get the lowest salary in the round. They should get the salary they would have gotten had the team picked in their slot of the round as determined by rule 5.0.
The idea is interesting, but with the proposed figures there would be a considerable decrease in average salaries, so I would also call for a decrease in salary cap.
