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NFL Rookies: Big Money Spinners Or Big Waste Of Cash?

Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel

The Tennessee Titans caused debate recently when it was rumored that running back Bishop Sankey would take the coveted Offensive Rookie of the Year title.

Sankey’s skills on the field were the subject of much praise from Rob Rang of CBS Sports, who was confident that he might earn the accolade.

“I expect Sankey to take over as the lead back in Tennessee early and ultimately enjoy a similar rookie season as the back I compared him to in January, Giovani Bernard.

“Registering 1,209 all-purpose yards, eight touchdowns and helping push his squad into the playoffs would put Sankey in the running. Given his pro-ready game and mentality, Sankey may, in fact, be the favorite heading into the season for this award.”

But it was not so long ago that pundits were debating a very different name for the title. Though he is not that highly rated by some, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was also recently in the running. The issue was a tricky one, however – despite being nicknamed ‘Johnny Football’, Manziel was not the NFL’s first pick of quarterbacks.

The bigger question here is whether or not rookies are worth the money in the NFL.

Money is a contentious issue when it comes to rookies in the NFL – you’ve heard the stat originally reported by Sports Illustrated . . . 78% of former NFL players are bankrupt or nearly there. In 2012, changes were made to the structure of rookie contracts, with the CBA ruling that rookie salaries would be suppressed. Today, however, rookies can still earn a $570,000 salary if they make the squad as an active player.

Undrafted rookies have a much smaller paycheck in terms of signing bonuses, but it is ultimately down to them as to whether or not their team’s investment will be worth it. The better they do on the field, the more likely they will be to win bonuses – but is it worth the cash?

In 2010, Sam Bradford was drafted to the St Louis Rams, signing a six-year, $76 million contract. Since 2010, his performance has nowhere near matched his initial signing fee – he missed last year’s season with a torn ACL and failed to bring the Rams to the playoffs.

Hence, to avoid errors like this happening in the future, the rookie cap was brought in. It hasn’t been all bad news, however – Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan’s $70 million fee has been more than justified.

While a multi-year commitment may be too many for some rookies, a salary cap is the best way of ensuring that teams can make a good investment without being too badly affected in the long term.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.