Jason La Canfora has come up with his list of the best and worst contracts in the NFL and the Redskins make an appearance in both categories.
The former Redskins beat writer and current CBSsports.com analyst believes that Brian Orakpo has one of the best deals in the NFL, at least from the team standpoint. He will make $1.39 million this year, although incentives could push that higher. For a guy who has two Pro Bowl appearances and has averaged near double digit sacks in his three years, that’s a good bargain.
Like most good prices, this one is for a limited time only. His rookie deal is up after the 2013 season and you can expect talk of an extension to start up next spring. The good news is that the Redskins $36 million cap penalty will have been “paid off” in full by 2014 so that will not be a hinderance to getting Orakpo, who will be turning 28 then, a fair deal.
The other two Redskins mentioned in the article are both on the “bad” contracts list. Left tackle Trent Williams is slated to make $12 million this year, largely as result of the salary slot dictated by his draft position in 2010, which was fourth overall. For that kind of money, La Canfora says, you should expect a solid if not dominant player who knows enough to stay away from situations that will get him suspended for four games.
Those are fair points. But Williams did start to come on before the suspension and at the age of 24 all certainly is not lost for him. His salary drops to $5 million next year and if he has the kind of season that Mike and Kyle Shanahan think he can, he could move into the “bargains” category.
The other bad deal on the list belongs to DeAngelo Hall, who will make $6.5 million this year. That’s too much, says La Canfora, for a player who gambles and gets burned way too often and is a so-so tackler on his better days.
Again, valid criticism. The only way Hall will be able to live up to his salary is if the Redskins can muster enough offense to be playing with the lead a substantial amount of the time. That would allow him to play more aggressively and pile up some interceptions. An improvement in the pass rush, which was decent at times last year, would help Hall as well.
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