- PREMIUM
- HOME
- NFL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
- NBA
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
Southeast
Atlantic
Southwest
Northwest
- MLB
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
AL West
AL East
NL West
NL East
- NHL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
Atlantic
Pacific
- WNBA
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
Eastern
- EPL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
- MLS
Transactions
Trending Players
Eastern
- ATL Atlanta UnitedAtlanta United FC
- MTL MontrealCF Montreal
- CLT CharlotteCharlotte FC
- CHI FireChicago Fire
- CLB Columbus CrewColumbus Crew
- DC UnitedD.C. United
- CIN CincinnatiFC Cincinnati
- MIA Inter MiamiInter Miami FC
- NSH NashvilleNashville SC
- NE RevolutionNew England Revolution
- NYC New York CityNew York City FC
- RBNY Red BullsNew York Red Bulls
- ORL Orlando CityOrlando City
- PHI UnionPhiladelphia Union
- TOR TorontoToronto FC
Western
- ATX AustinAustin FC
- COL RapidsColorado Rapids
- DAL DallasFC Dallas
- HOU DynamoHouston Dynamo
- LA GalaxyLA Galaxy
- LAFC Los AngelesLos Angeles FC
- MIN MinnesotaMinnesota United FC
- POR TimbersPortland Timbers
- RSL Real Salt LakeReal Salt Lake
- SD San Diego FCSan Diego FC
- SJ EarthquakesSan Jose Earthquakes
- SEA SoundersSeattle Sounders FC
- SKC Kansas CitySporting Kansas City
- STL St. Louis CITYSt. Louis CITY SC
- VAN WhitecapsVancouver Whitecaps FC
- NWSL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
- ACFC Angel City FCAngel City FC
- BFC Bay FCBay FC
- CHI Chicago Red StarsChicago Red Stars
- HOU Houston DashHouston Dash
- KC Kansas City CurrentKansas City Current
- GFC NJ/NY Gotham FCNJ/NY Gotham FC
- NC North Carolina CourageNorth Carolina Courage
- ORL Orlando PrideOrlando Pride
- POR Portland Thorns FCPortland Thorns FC
- LOU Racing Louisville FCRacing Louisville FC
- SD San Diego Wave FCSan Diego Wave FC
- SEA Seattle Reign FCSeattle Reign FC
- UTA Utah Royals FCUtah Royals FC
- WAS Washington SpiritWashington Spirit
- GOLF
Popular Pages
Trending Players
- TENNIS
ATP
WTA
- RACING
NASCAR CUP
FORMULA 1
- PVF
- OLYMPICS
Breaking Down DK Metcalf's $72M Extension
DK Metcalf became the latest wide receiver to grab the bag this NFL offseason, locking in a 3 year, $72M extension with the Seattle Seahawks. The deal runs through the 2025, or Metcalf’s age 28 season, putting him in line for at least one more shot at a major payday.
The $24M Average Salary
The new money average annual salary ties Stefon Diggs for 6th among wide receiver contracts, but ranks first among Seahawks by a healthy margin (Jamal Adams, $17.6M).
Metcalf becomes the 10th new member of the $20M+ club this offseason.
The Cash Flow
A record-setting $30M signing bonus hands DK $31M cash in Year 1 of this contract, the most in NFL history.
1-Year Cash: $31M (1st)
2-Year Cash: $45.2M (5th)
3-Year Cash: $58.2M (8th)
4-Year Cash: $76.2M (7th)
The Cap Flow
Seattle’s traditional “double-bonus” structure means this deal is already loaded with dead cap. The Seahawks also opted against adding void years (for now), so the signing bonus only prorates over 4 years, while the 2023 option bonus only spreads over 3.
These bonuses + healthy base salaries make up the entire contract. There are no workout payments, no per game active bonuses, not even an early March roster bonus built in.
2022: $8.8M (+$4.5M versus rookie contract)
2023: $13.7M ($6M less than a projected tag)
2024: $24.5M
2025: $29.5M
The Guarantee Structure
Also a Seattle tradition, Metcalf’s contract contains no full guarantees past the first year of the deal. The $31M guaranteed at signing is comprised of his $30M signing bonus, and $1M 2022 base salary.
If he’s on the roster the 5th league day of 2023, another $14.2M locks in in the form of a $2.2M base salary, & $12M option bonus.
If he’s on the roster the 5th league day of 2024, another $13M of base salary becomes fully guaranteed.
So for practical purposes, this is a 3 year, $58.2M contract, with a 1 year, $18M “option” thereafter. This $58.2M is all guaranteed for injury at the time of signing.
Secret Agent
Metcalf’s deal It becomes the 3rd high impact, 3-year, simple structure WR contract from agent Tory Dandy this offseason (Chris Godwin, Mike Williams). Dandy also represents A.J. Brown, who wound up with 4 new years in Philly, as well as Marquise Brown/Deebo Samuel - who are certain to be next in this conversation.
Concluding Thoughts
This is business as usual for Seattle, but its risky business right now as well. The Seahawks aren’t exactly in a prime window of contention post the loss of QB Russell Wilson amongst others.
It’s certainly plausible that Metcalf becomes impatient with a floundering franchise over the next few seasons, thus seeking bluer skies. However, the double bonus structure in this deal means that Seattle will be taking on extremely high dead cap numbers should they move on (trade or release).
A trade at the onset of the 2024 league year, for instance, would mean $23M of dead cap for the Seahawks (just $1.5M of cap savings). Will this matter to a bad team with no highly paid QB on the roster? Not much, but it’s still of note at the time of this signing.
From Metcalf’s standpoint this is an outstanding contract based on the short term, and stable 3 year guarantee structure. Metcalf will be 28 if he’s extended after 3 seasons, just barely 29 if he plays this entire contract out. Either way, he should have no trouble locking into a new mega deal prior to age 30.
CATEGORIES
- NBA 95
- NFL 70
- GOLF 55
- NWSL 47
- MLB 26
- NHL 1
AUTHORS
- Michael Ginnitti NFL, MLB
- Keith Smith NBA
- Scott Allen Contributor
- Taylor Vincent NWSL
5 NFL Weekend Storylines
As the NFL calendar flips to December a quick look at 5 impactful storylines from the weekend of play, including the updated MVP conversation, a QB problem in Atlanta, & notable injuries.
Difficult Decisions Down In New Orleans
The New Orleans Pelicans currently have a 4-13 record and are last in the Western Conference Standings while being a taxpaying team. They have some difficult decisions ahead of them.
NFL 2025 Roster Bubble Candidates
Spotrac’s annual NFL Roster Bubble report identifies players that have the potential to be released, traded, or retire after the current 2024 season, including notable financial ramifications for each.
2024 NWSL Awards
Recapping the NWSL Award winners
2024 NWSL Season-Ending Injuries
Recapping the season-ending injuries that occurred during the 2024 NWSL season.
TRENDING PLAYERS
- 1 Aroldis Chapman (RP, BOS)
- 2 Azeez Al-Shaair (ILB, HOU)
- 3 Jameis Winston (QB, CLE)
- 4 Deshaun Watson (QB, CLE)
- 5 Tyrod Taylor (QB, NYJ)
TRENDING PAGES
- 1 NFL Free Agents
- 2 MLB Free Agents
- 3 NFL Transactions
- 4 NFL Cap Tracker
- 5 NBA Trade Machine