NFL Salary Cap 2018 New Team Totals

New Salary Cap Per Team Reaches $177.2 Million Total

The NFL’s salary cap is set at $177.2 million per team in 2018, up from $167 million last year that is based on the league’s revenue. Though this is the 5th straight year the salary cap has increased by at least $10 million, the 6.11% increase is the smallest increase for the cap from year to year since 2013.

The NFL new league year starts March 14 with Free Agency and the Trading period the key areas of headlines.
There are three teams over the salary cap and must clear salary space by March 14th. The three teams that are over the cap are the Philadelphia Eagles ($11,210,390), Miami Dolphins ($8,874,165) and Kansas City Chiefs ($3,285,981).

The Cleveland Browns have the most room under the cap, with $108 million to spend in the Free agency market. The Browns hold both the #1 and #4 overall selections in addition to multiple other top 75 selections.

Last year, the salary cap increased by $12 million per teams when they went from $155.27 million in 2016 to $167 million. The jump from 2017 to 2018 marks the fifth straight year the cap has increased by at least $10 million over the previous year.

Free agency begins March 14

NFL Team – available Salary Cap Space 2018
Numbers from OverTheCap.com

Team salary cap total will undergo numerous changes with many players released over the next two weeks. New ‘Street’ free agents have annually become some of the most demanded players on the open market. Redskins’ QB Kirk Cousins will most likely be available next week and be the hottest free agent QB since Peyton Manning hit the open market in the 2012 postseason. Manning led the Broncos to a Super Bowl title, earning his second ring after an illustrious career with the Colts.

NFL Team Salary Cap Space 2018

Cleveland Browns: $108,692,537
New York Jets: $89,259,293
Indianapolis Colts: $72,700,202
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $69,775,263
San Francisco 49ers: $66,290,382
Chicago Bears: $62,546,933
Houston Texans: $62,383,067
Washington Redskins: $47,727,317
Minnesota Vikings: $47,630,443
Tennessee Titans: $45,974,068
Los Angeles Rams: $38,840,349
Cincinnati Bengals: $33,805,793
New Orleans Saints: $30,263,354
Jacksonville Jaguars: $29,048,410
Detroit Lions: $26,660,005
Carolina Panthers: $26,535,393
Buffalo Bills: $24,267,381
New York Giants: $23,036,234
Denver Broncos: $23,021,711
Los Angeles Chargers: $22,341,346
Arizona Cardinals: $20,236,238
Oakland Raiders: $17,355,013
Green Bay Packers: $15,674,151
Atlanta Falcons: $13,864,422
New England Patriots: $13,127,289
Seattle Seahawks: $12,609,911
Baltimore Ravens: $8,896,861
Pittsburgh Steelers: $5,119,024
Dallas Cowboys: $12,247
Kansas City Chiefs: $3,289,981
Miami Dolphins: $8,630,165
Philadelphia Eagles: $11,214,390

2018 Pro Day Schedule

The NFL Combine 2018 is only a day old and the College Pro Day Schedule is out. It begins tomorrow with the national champion, the Alabama Crimson Tide holding their Pro Day. The Tide has actually held more than 1 Pro Day at times according to the injury status of certain players.

Different colleges will post additional Pro Days and we will add to the current schedule. Some teams will add a 2nd Pro Day if injuries or weather interfere with the original event.

DraftInsiders.com will post Pro Day results on the web site, email list and twitter account along in our 250 in-depth Scouting Reports in the Draft Insiders’ 2018 Yearbook

2018 Pro Day Schedule – Updated

March 12
Arizona
Illinois
Ft Hays St (Ks)
Hampton (Va)
Old Dominion (Va)
St. Francis (Pa)
Tennessee-Martin
Tennessee St

March 13
Jacksonville St
Kansas St
Northwestern
Richmond (Va)
Vanderbilt
Wake Forest

March 14
Arizona St
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Virginia Tech
Wisconsin

March 15
Clemson
Oklahoma St
Oregon
UCLA
Virginia

March 16
Central Michigan
Charleston Southern
Georgia Tech
James Madison
Nevada
Oregon St

March 19
Bowling Green
Bucknell (Pa)
Delaware
Fresno St
NC St
Penn U
Syracuse
Temple
Tennessee
Toledo

March 20
California
Eastern Michigan
Florida State
Hawaii
Penn State
South Carolina
South Carolina St
Texas-San Antonio
UTEP

March 21
Boston College
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Georgia
Illinois St
Pittsburgh
Southern Cal
Western Michigan

March 22
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Stanford )

March 23
Kentucky
Michigan
Missouri

Arkansas (March 26)
Iowa (March 26)

Iowa State (March 27)
Ole Miss (March 27)
Texas A&M (March 27)

Florida (March 28)
Mississippi State (March 28)
Texas (March 28)
UTEP (March 28)

March 29
UCF
Louisville
Southern Methodist

South Dakota State (March 30)

Boise State (April 3)
LSU (April 4)
SMU (April 5)

The NFL Scouting Combine – February 27 – March 5, 2018

The 2018 NFL Scouting Combine is here with the early part of the process underway with 336 draft-eligible players in attendance. This has become an annual event in Indianapolis, where they will go through the gauntlet of team and media interviews, physical and medical testing, and more. The results usually have a huge impact on their status for the upcoming NFL Draft.

On this list are all of the top prospects in the draft, as well as many players who will inevitably go undrafted. After all, the NFL Draft has just 256 selections, and there will be additional players who are selected despite not being invited to Indy.

NFL 2018 Scouting Combine

The best college football players are invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year 336 players will show up for extensive testing over a week as a critical part of the scouting progress for the NFL Draft. Top NFL Executives, coaching staffs, Player Personnel departments and medical personnel from all 32 NFL teams will be on hand to evaluate the nation’s top college football players eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft. This intense, four-day job interview is an exciting time for the athletes and a vital step in achieving their dreams of playing in the NFL.

With increasing interest in the NFL draft, the scouting combine has grown in scope and significance, allowing personnel directors to evaluate upcoming prospects in a standardized setting. Its origins have evolved from the National, BLESTO and Quadra Scouting organizations in 1977 to the media event it has become today.

The NFL Combine 2018 features the national champion Alabama who has the biggest group, with 14 players invited. They are followed by Ohio St (11), Georgia and LSU (10), Florida St and Miami (9) with Penn St (8), Washington (7) and Texas (6) and Oklahoma (6) each. On average, there are 110 NFL Combine players who will go undrafted while on average, 35 non-invited NFL Combine players will be drafted in April.

Athletes attend by invitation only. An athlete’s performance during the NFL Combine can affect their draft status and salary, and their career. The NFL Draft has popularized the term “workout warrior”, whereby an athlete’s “draft stock” is increased based on superior measurable qualities such as size, speed, and strength, despite having an average or sub-par college career.

NFL Scouting Combine – Feb 27 – March 5, 2018

Player Group Combine Schedule:
DAY 1 ARRIVALS: Group 1 (PK, ST, OL), Group 2 (OL), Group 3 (RB)
Tuesday – February 27 – Travel to Indianapolis – Registration/Hospital Pre-Exam & X-rays
Overflow Testing – Orientation – Interviews
Wednesday – Feb 28 – Measurements – Medical Examinations – Overflow Testing – Interviews
Thursday – March 1 – Psychological Testing – NFLPA Meeting – PK/ST Workout – Media – Bench
Press – Interviews
Friday – March 2 – On-Field Workout (timing, stations, skill drills) – Departure from Indianapolis

DAY 2 ARRIVALS: Group 4 (QB, WO), Group 5 (QB, WO), Group 6 (TE)
Wednesday Feb 28 – Travel to Indianapolis – Registration/Hospital Pre-Exam & X-rays
Overflow Testing – Orientation – Interviews
Thursday – March 1 – Measurements – Medical Examinations – Overflow Testing – Interviews
Friday – March 2 – Psychological Testing – NFLPA Meeting – Media – Bench Press – Interviews
Saturday – March 3 – On-Field Workout (timing, stations, skill drills) – Departure

DAY 3 ARRIVALS: Group 7 (DL), Group 8 (DL), Group 9 (LB)
Thursday – March 1 – Travel to Indianapolis – Registration/Hospital Pre-Exam & X-rays –
Overflow Testing – Orientation – Interviews
Friday – March 2 – Measurements – Medical Examinations – Overflow Testing – Interviews
Saturday – March 3 – Psychological Testing – NFLPA Meeting – Media – Bench Press – Interviews
Sunday – March 4 – On-Field Workout (timing, stations, skill drills) – Departure

DAY 4 ARRIVALS: Group 10 (DB), Group 11 (DB)
Friday – March 2 – Travel to Indianapolis – Registration/Hospital Pre-Exam & X-rays – Overflow
Testing – Orientation – Interviews
Saturday – March 3 – Measurements – Medical Examinations – Overflow Testing – Interviews
Sunday – March 4 – Psychological Testing – NFLPA Meeting – Media – Bench Press – Interviews
Monday – March 5 – On-Field Workout (timing, stations, skill drills) – Departure from Indianapolis

* Select players from any Group may arrive one day prior to their scheduled date listed above in order to assist with medical scheduling. This will be based on flight schedules and medical tests only and no players arriving early will have advanced contact with teams.

How are players selected for the NFL Combine?
Participants are determined annually by a Selection Committee. The Directors of both National and BLESTO scouting services, which combined represent twenty-five NFL teams, are joined by members of various NFL player personnel departments to form the committee. The participating NFL executives can rotate on a yearly basis, and remain anonymous. ALL eligible players are reviewed and voted on by the committee members. Each athlete receiving the necessary number of votes, by position, is then extended an invitation. While it is not a perfect science, the goal of the committee is to invite every player that will be drafted in the ensuing NFL Draft.

Tests/ Evaluations include:
40-yard dash
Bench press (225 lbs. repetitions)
Vertical jump
Broad jump
20-yard shuttle
3 cone drill
60-yard shuttle
Position-specific drills

Interviews – each team is allowed 60 interviews in 15-minute intervals
Physical measurements
Injury evaluation
Drug screen
The Cybex test
The Wonderlic test

QB Sam Darnold and RB Saquon Barkley Head Offensive Classes Entering NFL Combine

Offensive Skilled Positions

Sam Darnold, Josh Allen & Josh Rosen Head Strong QB Class

Sam Darnold ranks the #1 QB prospect entering the NFL Combine. He stated today, though he will not throw at the NFL Combine this week. He is currently the only passer of the 19 QBs invited to the NFL Combine expected to sit out the throwing drills. He is the top QB in our Top 12 rankings who is expected to sit out the throwing and running drills. He will throw at the Southern Cal Pro day on March 21st.

 Quarterbacks – Top 12 Prospects – Pre-NFL Combine
1 * Sam Darnold – USC
2 * Josh Allen – Wyoming
3 * Josh Rosen – UCLA
4 Baker Mayfield – Oklahoma
5 * Lamar Jackson – Louisville
6 Mason Rudolph – Oklahoma St
7 Mike White – Western Kentucky
8 Luke Falk – Washington St
9 Kyle Lauletta – Richmond
10 * Chase Litton – Marshall
11 Riley Ferguson – Memphis
12 Kurt Benkert – Virginia

Barkley Heads Talented Deep Running Back Class

Saquon Barkley is our #1 running back entering the NFL Combine workouts. Barkley is a blue-chip prospect and the clear #1 back entering the workout phase of the scouting process. He is a complete back with the well-rounded talent to be the biggest impact performer in this rookie class. This year’s RB group is a very deep class and should produce several interesting rookie pros through the middle into the late rounds. The NFL Combine workouts at this position will have a huge effect on the free agent running back group that will test the open market on mid March.

 Running Backs – Top 12 Prospects – Pre-NFL Combine
1 * Saquon Barkley – Penn St
2 * Derrius Guice – LSU
3 * Ronald Jones – USC
4 Rashaad Penny – San Diego St
5 * Kerryon Johnson – Auburn
6 Sony Michel – Georgia
7 Royce Freeman – Oregon
8 Nick Chubb – Georgia
9 * Josh Adams – Notre Dame
10 * Bo Scarbrough – Alabama
11 Akrum Wadley – Iowa
12 * Mark Walton – Miami

Chiefs Deal Pro Bowler Marcus Peters to Rams

         Rams Trade Two Draft Picks for Young Pro Bowl Corner

Frank Coyle/ Head Scout

Early Trades Will Impact Upcoming Free Agent Market and NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs made their second major trade since the close of the 2017 season last week, dealing Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters to the Los Angeles Rams. The deal will become official on March 14th when the new NFL year starts for Free agency and trading period starts. The Rams have agreed to a deal where the Chiefs will receive two undisclosed draft choices, one of which may be a conditional pick in the NFL Draft 2019. Landing a player of Peters’ talent with potentially two more years under contract at $1.8 million for 2018 and a possibly fifth year option at a reasonable increase is a rare opportunity. It was reported by NFL.com that Peters and a 6th round pick this year goes to the Rams for a 4th round selection this year and a 2nd round pick in the NFL Draft 2019. The Rams can exercise the 5th year option in Peters’ contract for another season (2019). The Rams do not own a 2018 2nd round pick, traded earlier to Buffalo in the Sammy Watkins deal.

The Rams acquired the Pro Bowl CB Marcus Peters to replace young Pro Bowl corner Trumaine Johnson who is expected to explore free agency in mid-March and sign with the highest bidder. Peters is a two-time Pro Bowl performer who is only in his 3rd year as a pro and has become a major playmaker for the Chiefs and ranked as a rising NFL shut down cover man. He already has 19 career interceptions which is the most in the league since 2015, his rookie season. The only defender in NFL history with more in their first three year career is former Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed. Peters earned Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2015, giving the Chiefs a true #1 cover man. The talented Peters though has a long history of off-field character issues, dating to his college days at Washington. The final compensation for the deal will be announced on March 14th. Peters was a former #1 pick by the Chiefs. Trades cannot become official until new league year beings on March 14.

Peters is one of the best corners in the league, showing ball-hawking skills from day one as a pro. In addition to his 19 career interceptions, he has totaled 55 passes defended. Despite his talent on the football field, the Chiefs became discussed by his continuous bad behavior both on and off the field. The team suspended him for one game last season for his actions during and after a loss to the Jets. He tossed a referee’s flag after a play, then left the field without being ejected. As a former #1 pick, he has a four-year deal which his club can exercise a 5th year extending the original contract. With only three years into this deal, the Rams can retain Peters by exercising their option next March and retain him for a 2nd season. In addition to probably losing CB Johnson next month, the Rams lost Pro Bowl corner Javoris Jenkins two years ago to the Giants while earning Pro Bowl honors his first season in 2016.

Earlier this offseason, the Chiefs agreed to ship QB Alex Smith to Washington for a #3 pick and rising corner Kendall Fuller. The two year corner was essential in the deal for Smith. The Chiefs also recently signed young veteran corner David Amerson from the Raiders. Those moves gave the Chiefs the talent and depth to listen to offers for Peters. The Rams moved quickly to replace their expected loss of young corner Trumaine Johnson in free agency. Johnson should be one of the highest paid free agents this offseason. The Rams may use their franchise tag on safety Lamarcus Joyner who is also up for free agency, though not the cost of the coveted Johnson.

The two trades change both the Free Agency and NFL Draft plans of a few clubs especially the Chiefs, Rams, Redskins and Raiders. With both the Browns and 49ers losing out on the bidding for Peters, those clubs have a huge salary cap cushion that puts them at the forefront in the bidding for Trumaine Johnson.

The start of the new NFL year March 14th should be exciting time with the trade market most likely active, in addition to the usual headlines provided by the Free Agency period. The NFL office will announce the new salary cap limit for clubs within two weeks. As usual, expect a number of veteran players released and placed on the market as ‘Street’ free agents.

NFL Awards 32 Compensatory Picks for NFL Draft 2018

Additional Round Brings Total Draft Selections to 256 Overall Choices
Frank Coyle – Head Scout / Publisher

The NFL awarded 32 compensatory picks for the 2018 NFL Draft to 15 teams. Four teams, the Bengals, Cowboys, Raiders and Packers each have received four additional draft picks. The 32 compensatory picks brings the total draft selections for the NFL Draft 2018 to 256 choices. The Atlanta Falcons will have the final selection, ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ which is #256.

The Arizona Cardinals earned the best value for their three additional selections, with a 3rd (#97) and 4th round (#134) picks, in addition to a 7th (#254) round selection. The Cincinnati Bengals added picks in the 3rd (#100), 5th (#170) and 7th (#252 & 253) rounds.  The Dallas Cowboys received selections in the 4th (#137), 5th (#171 & 173) and 6th (#208) rounds. Green Bay Packers four selections were similar to Dallas when they added picks in the 4th (#133), 5th (#172 & 174) and 6th (#207) rounds. The Oakland Raiders were awarded four choices, all in the 6th round (# 210, 212, 216 & 217).

Teams losing more or high rated veteran free agents than it signed from the previous FA class are eligible to receive compensatory draft picks the following spring. The draft selections are determined by factors like salary, playing time and postseason honors. The additional 32 selections create an overall 8th Round for the NFL Draft with 256 total selections annually.

List of Compensatory Choices (32) Awarded for the NFL Draft 2018

Cardinals
Third-round pick (#97th overall), Fourth-round (#134th overall), Seventh-round (#254th overall)

Texans
Third-round pick (#98th overall), Sixth-round picks (211th & 214th overall)

Broncos
Third-round (#99th overall)

Bengals
Third-round pick (#100th overall), Fifth-round pick (#170th overall), Seventh-round (#252nd & #253rd overall)

Cowboys
Fourth-round pick (#133rd overall), Fifth-round picks (#171st & #173rd overall), Sixth-round (#208th overall)

Giants
Fourth-round (#135th overall)

Patriots
Fourth-round (#136th overall)

Packers+
Fourth-round pick (#137th overall), Fifth-round picks (#172nd & #174th overall), Sixth-round (#207th overall)

Raiders
Sixth-round picks (#210th, 212th, 216th & 217th overall)

Vikings
Sixth-round picks (#213th & 218th overall)

Chiefs
Sixth-round (#209th overall)

Ravens
Sixth-round (#215th overall)

Chargers
Seventh-round (#251st overall)

Buccaneers
Seventh-round (#255 overall)

Falcons
Seventh-round (#256th overall)
Final pick in the draft – ‘Mr. Irrelevant’

NFL Draft Value Board – Trade Value Chart

This Draft Insiders.com chart below displays the approximate value on each draft selection over the seven rounds of the NFL Draft. Teams use this as a guide to determine value when trading draft picks. Example – if a club wants to trade for the 34th overall pick, they will look to receive an equal total a value close to 560 points. If that club held the 54th and 78th picks that would be equal value accurately. In most incidents absolute equal value is very difficult. In addition, compensatory picks at the ends of rounds three through seven may be included in any trade agreements. Those picks will be allowed to be traded in the NFL Draft 2018. Many times the teams moving up in the draft process will pay a greater value total then the selection received because of several reasons mainly knowing the player’s availability most often with the earlier selection.

As teams trade both prior and during the NFL Draft, this chart is a good guide, though it is not the rule that clubs use to complete every deal. When certain players are available on the clock, how a select team values a prospect changes the final price they are willing to pay in a trade. Usually the club moving up during the top of the first round in the NFL Draft will pay a greater price than the chart below indicates with a specific player on the draft board, usually a QB. The chart holds up very accurately from the mid first round through the remaining rounds. Ironically, the teams trading up especially in the early rounds may benefit more in recent years despite overpaying related to the chart. Each year, some club is willing to pay a higher price to move up with several hot prospects available. This year the top 10-15 selections are high quality. The ‘Safe Haven’ selections for the NFL Draft 2018 are the defensive linemen, running backs, safeties and cornerbacks with many prospects expected to go in the top 15 overall picks. The top five defensive linemen could come off the board in the top 20 overall selections with 6-8 clubs interested. The value of the top selections will also be high for Quarterbacks. Expect little movement up in the top ten selections other than for a premier defensive lineman.

Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson Heads Offensive Line Class

Entering the critical NFL Combine 2018, Irish guard Quenton Nelson heads an average group of offensive linemen. Nelson is a blue chip prospect who has excelled for the Irish since starting early in his career.  Since his days at Red Bank Catholic High School where he earned a four and five star recruit ranking,  I have been very familiar with Nelson as a potential NFL prospect. He is a highly developed prospect and maybe the most NFL ready player in this entire draft class. He has a massive frame with long arms and very strong hands which he uses  very well to initiate contact and gain control of an opponent. He is an outstanding pass protector who anchors well and slides easily to either side. Capable of moving along the line and making the short traps and pulls with the agility to get to the 2nd level and fit on defenders.  Type with few flaws and probably warrants a top ten selection.

Top Ten Offensive Line Prospects – Tackles, Guards & Centers

Offensive Tackles
1 * Connor Williams – Texas
2 * Orlando Brown – Oklahoma
3 Mike McGlinchey – Notre Dame
4 Martinas Rankin – Mississippi St
5 Chukwuma Okorafor – Western Michigan
6 * Brian O’Neill – Pittsburgh
7 Tyrell Crosby – Oregon
8 * Kolton Miller – UCLA
9 Jamarco Jones – Ohio St
10 Brandon Parker – North Carolina A&T
11 Zachary Crabtree – Oklahoma St

Draft Insiders’ 2018 Yearbook will have over 300 In-depth Scouting Reports
Order Today – View Sample Yearbook Scouting Reports for NFL Draft 2017

Guards
1 * Quenton Nelson – Notre Dame
2 Isaiah Wynn – Georgia
3 Will Hernandez – Texas-El Paso
4 Braden Smith – Auburn
5 Austin Corbett – Nevada
6 Wyatt Teller – Virginia Tech
7 Sean Welsh – Iowa
8 Cole Madison – Washington St
9 Tony Adams – North Carolina St
10 Skyler Phillips – Idaho St

Centers
1 Billy Price – Ohio St
2 * James Daniels – Iowa
3 Frank Ragnow – Arkansas
4 Mason Cole – Michigan
5 * Will Clapp – LSU
6 Scott Quessenberry – UCLA
7 Coleman Shelton – Washington
8 Bradley Bozeman – Alabama
9 Brian Allen – Michigan St
10 Erick Wren – Oklahoma

The NFL Announces the Finalists to Host the 2019 or 2020 NFL Draft

The NFL announced the finalists to host the 2019 or 2020 NFL Draft this week. The finalists are Cleveland/Canton, Denver, Kansas City, Tennessee and Las Vegas. The winning city to host those events will be announced at the Spring League Meeting in May. Any winning city cannot host the draft in both years.

Four of the above cities are home to NFL franchises. Canton is the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Las Vegas will become the home of the Oakland Raiders who will move and start  there for the start of the NFL 2020 season.

The upcoming NFL Draft will take place April 26-28 and will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The draft was held in New York City from 1965 through 2014, mainly at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Hall. Since 2015, the league decided to moved the three day event to different NFL locations around from year to year, holding the annual event in Chicago in two seasons and Philadelphia for one year last spring.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo Signs Record NFL Extension with Niners

Frank Coyle 

San Francisco signed QB Jimmy Garoppolo to a five-year contract worth up to $137.5 million, the richest in NFL history. The 49ers acquired Garoppolo in a 2017 mid-season trade with the New England Patriots. He was set to become a free agent this March. The 49ers were 1-10 prior to acquiring Garoppolo and started him the final five games of the year where he went 5-0 after taking over team leadership. He was the leading free agent QB ready to hit the open market in March. The 49ers made him the top paid NFL player only weeks before he become a free agent. His short 5-0 record and excellent performance made him the highest priority for the 49ers who have struggled annually for a return to the NFL playoffs. The 49ers surrendered a second round pick (#47) for the young veteran. He has a perfect 7-0 record as a starter after going 2-0 in his only action as a starter backing up veteran Tom Brady in New England. He was a potential high profile player in a strong free agent market that has seen both Garoppolo and veteran Alex Smith change teams in the past few months. Smith had one year remaining on his contract before signing a new contract with the Washington Redskins for a #3 pick in April and corner Kendall Fuller.

Photo – QB Jimmy Garoppolo – 49ers

The Niners reintroduced Garoppolo to the media and fan base as the NFL’s highest-paid player in terms of average annual value. Both general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan were excited to land a cornerstone QB just entering his prime after a four year playoff drought in San Francisco. They were intent of getting Garoppolo into the fold to address their biggest pending issue this postseason. He signed a five-year extension for $137.5 million, including a record $86.4 million guaranteed in the first three years. The total payout of $42.6 million in the first year if he hits all roster and workouts bonuses ($37 million of which will count against the 2018 salary cap) and $48.7 million fully guaranteed at signing.

His huge deal impacts the league’s remaining free agent QBs, including Kirk Cousins, and three Viking QBs, Case Keenum, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater. With Garoppolo’s contract a done deal, the 49ers well-positioned to build around him with salary cap space that they can still be aggressive in the free agency market. They hold five top 75 selections in April, including three #3 picks after the trade. They will draft either 9^th or 10^th overall after the coin flip with the Raiders at the NFL Combine in a few weeks.

“Once we first got Jimmy, we knew exactly how we felt about him,” Shanahan said. “But where we were as a team at that time, where Jimmy was in his situation, I thought it was going to be hard for him to go in there and really get enough time to where he could show us and himself a deal where we would be comfortable. We didn’t really think about it too much because you always had that franchise tag.

Frank Coyle and staff of DraftInsiders.com has updates & in depth Senior Bowl Game & Practice info are in the early Feb Newsletter (15 pgs) along with East- West Game – Top 100 Prospects and 2 Round Mock Draft – Available Now – NFL Combine 2018 List available this week

“We knew Jimmy was a guy we wanted here badly. When he did get his opportunity and how he started out versus Chicago then versus Houston, Tennessee to Jacksonville to the Rams, each week kind of got better. The more Jimmy was here, the more comfortable he was, the better he played and I thought the guys around him played better. I think our team got tighter.

“We always felt very strongly about his talent, but when you get to be with a guy for that long and you have that success and the guy is the same every single day, you get a better idea of how he will be long term and how he would be with a bunch of money and things like that. It always starts with talent, but when it comes to things like this, character and who he is as a man is everything.”

With Kirk Cousins expected to be in high demand, Garoppolo’s highest paid NFL designation may be short lived with both the Broncos and Jets expected to be among the top players for the veteran QB who has worked the past three years on one year deals with the Franchise label.