Modeling UDFA/Journeyman Contracts for Dynasty Leagues (1 Viewer)

[TheMathNinja]

Hey Sharks,

I'm considering some bylaw amendments to a dynasty league I participate in, and I'm wondering about a common NFL practice. It seems like when a journeyman-type signs with a new team, they almost always sign one- or two-year contracts for the veteran minimum. I'm thinking about Domenik Hixon's 1-year $930k deal w/ the Bears and Andre Brown's 1-year $645k deal w/ the Texans.

My question is: why are these contracts never longer? With no guaranteed money, and thus total freedom to cut the player without ramifications, why don't NFL teams negotiate for longer contracts, say 4 years? That way, if the guy makes a significant comeback or develops skills, you have him rostered really cheaply for a long time, with no drawback if you cut him. Why doesn't this happen? Is it because the player's agent would never go for something like this, knowing they could get a shorter contract and negotiate up for a new one after it expires if they outperform expectations?

 

[Louche]

Qualifying Contracts can only be one year contracts. QCs are contracts that are signed at the veteran minimum but only counts as a second year player wage for salary cap purposes. QCs can only be given to players that have four or more years in the league.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2014/03/nfl-qualifying-contracts-explained/

UDFAs can be signed to any length but the minimum base salary is regulated based on how many credited years they have in the league. Veteran contracts that are above the veteran minimum can be for any length but generally the power is in the hands of the teams in the NFL. If a player signs a two year contract at 2 mill per year with no guaranteed amount, that salary (the paragraph 5 salary) is paid in weekly installments during the regular season. This basically means that the team can play him the first year, retain his rights all throughout the offseason, and cut him before the second season without any salary for that season apart from the ridiculously low salaries they get for training camps. So for the player there is no incentive to sign a longer contract unless there is a guaranteed amount and teams are reluctant to do that for players that don't have a secure position on the roster. One solution is to have roster bonuses so that there is a date in the offseason where the team needs to make a decision on the player, giving the player a chance to hit free agency if he is not in the plans for the upcoming season.