Contract shows Patriots paying Nelson Agholor to be an initial recipient

Based on the first reports, the New England Patriots spent more than $ 250 million in total contract value in just the first two days of the NFL’s legal adulteration period: they hired eight outside players and also kept two of their free internal agents in the herd. As always, however, the figures initially reported show only a fragment of the image and need more details to be properly evaluated.

These details, at least with respect to another of the agreements signed by the Patriots during the legal tampering window on Monday, have already been reported by Albert Breer of Spots Illustrated: Nelson Agholor had allegedly agreed to a two-year, $ 26 million pact with New England, but as the more thorough analysis shows, the real impact on the team’s books is slightly less than that.

Miguel Benzan, better known as Pats Cap on Twitter, described the deal in more detail. Let’s take a look at this

WR Nelson Agholor: Two years, $ 22 million

• Salary: $ 10 million
• Sign-up bonus: $ 10 million
• List bonus: $ 2 million
• Maximum number: $ 7 million (2021), $ 15 million (2022)

Agholor’s deal with the Patriots is quite straightforward. His signature and escalation bonuses are split between the two years, while he plays with salaries of $ 1 million and $ 9 million, respectively. Given this structure, New England could very well decide to separate itself from the draft choice of the first round after a season: the Patriots would assume a $ 5 million deadline charge if they did so in 2022 – the remainder of the prorated bonus. subscription – but it would save the other $ 10 million in cap space. Agholor’s business, in essence, is therefore another “prove it” contract.

For a more comprehensive analysis, please take a look on this chart.

Patriots analysis

While Agholor can only reach the initial reported value of the deal through $ 2 million on escalators rated as unlikely to be won, the Patriots are paying very well after he spent the 2020 season on a minimum wage contract. : he is starting Cash level for the next two seasons and therefore should be expected to play a prominent role in the passing game at least this year.

That said, New England didn’t spend much when comparing it to other players in the league. His 2021 number is currently ranked 27th in the NFL, according to Over the Cap, which means he is after players like Randall Cobb, Alshon Jeffery and Jamison Crowder, who posted worse or similar statistics last year. In short, Agholor’s contract is therefore reasonable, giving the team some flexibility to enter 2022.