How the Browns could win a Joe Flacco negotiation


FlaccoThe world of NFL contracts is pretty tough to comprehend at times due to the fact that there are various bonuses and cap implications. Baseball, conversely, is pretty easy. There are contracts with dollar amounts and options, and other than options, pretty much everything else is guaranteed. The structures (and re-structures) of NFL contracts will sometimes make your head spin.

Agents tout deals worth eleventeen years and twelveteen million dollars in order to make themselves look good. Then when the details come out, the guaranteed money is significantly more reasonable and team-friendly. As the Browns are mentioned as having cap space to steal someone like Joe Flacco out of Baltimore, I thought it might be instructive to at least see what the numbers could look like. Make no mistake. This isn’t a post saying the Browns should make a play for Joe Flacco. It’s just hopefully pointing out how they could, if they had the opportunity and desire to do so.

First, let’s set the table with Mike Vick’s contract restructuring that was reported today.

That deal was once touted as a “$100 million deal!!!” Remember when many on Twitter claimed that the Eagles were really really stupid? It was actually $32.5 million guaranteed. The back end of that deal was so horrendous from a cap perspective that Vick was forced to restructure (give up all that $100 million in contract language) or face being cut outright. And don’t forget that there was a 2016 $20 million year that was never going to happen ever. Never ever. So Michael Vick “gave up” $15.5 million for 2013 in order to sign a deal that could be worth “up to” a reported $10 million. To me, that means it is likely decidedly less than $10 million.

In 2002 Joe Banner’s Eagles signed a 26-year-old Donovan McNabb to a 12 year deal worth up to $112,920,000. The deal included $13.5 million prorated over the first seven years of the deal. The first seven years of the deal carried salaries of nearly $31 million or an average of $4.4 million per year. That was in 2002 so the numbers would need to be updated. The cap was about $71 million in 2002 and should be about $122 million in 2013.

So that gives you a bit of history about how Joe Banner has compensated a quarterback he wanted. This is obviously a different scenario assuming Banner wants Flacco at all. Flacco must be wowed away from the only team he has played for his entire career. Banner would have to differentiate his offer from the Ravens who are reportedly $5 million over the cap as we sit today. The Browns are a reported $48 million under the cap.

So the Ravens would want to pay Flacco big money, but with cap friendly numbers early on. He’s going to get a big signing bonus regardless of where he signs. Let’s use Tom Brady’s contract as a baseline because Flacco will look to be north of Brady’s numbers considering his age and his timing with winning the Super Bowl. Whether it makes sense or not is another discussion, but for conversation’s sake, let’s just assume he’ll get a bigger deal than Brady.

Brady’s extension in 201o was five years, $78.5 million with $48.5 million guaranteed. Let’s just say for argument’s sake that Joe Flacco’s deal will be for five years and $85 million with $55 million guaranteed just to push it north of Brady’s deal. Tom Brady got a $16 million signing bonus. Let’s say Flacco gets $20 million and the salary structures look something like this from Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens.

 Signing BonusSalaryOther BonusCap Number
2013         4,000,000         1,000,000            5,000,000
2014         4,000,000         6,000,000          10,000,000
2015         4,000,000         8,000,000         5,000,000         17,000,000
2016         4,000,000       10,000,000       10,000,000         24,000,000
2017         4,000,000       10,000,000       15,000,000         29,000,000

       20,000,000       35,000,000          85,000,000


As you can see, the Ravens would want to minimize the cap hit by back-loading contract dollars. They’re up against it in terms of cap scenario right now and they need to keep Flacco, but keep their financial flexibility higher right now to buy them time to clean up the cap. The Browns could potentially do some damage to that proposal by front-end loading their offer with the estimated $48 million in cap space they have available today. It wouldn’t hurt the Browns to give Flacco a huge cap number in the first year of the deal. I’m totally making these numbers up, but what would keep the Browns from putting this offer together?

 Signing BonusSalaryOther BonusCap Number
2013         4,000,000       10,000,000          14,000,000
2014         4,000,000       10,000,000          14,000,000
2015         4,000,000         5,000,000         5,000,000         14,000,000
2016         4,000,000         5,000,000       10,000,000         19,000,000
2017         4,000,000         5,000,000       15,000,000         24,000,000
Total20,000,000       35,000,000          85,000,000

The contracts are “identical” in value, except that in 2013 Joe Flacco would take home $21 million with the Ravens’ offer. In 2013 with the Browns’ offer he’d get $9 million more with the Browns paying him his first year salary and the $20 million signing bonus for a total of $30 million. All things being equal, I know which one is more attractive.

It gets even better if you look at the first three years. The Ravens’ offer is $35 million in the first three years, while the Browns’ offer pays $45 million in the first three years. If the Browns flop the roster bonuses around a bit that number could be $50 million vs. $35 million. The Browns would win the battle for the player and also have more cap flexibility with him than anyone else could have by front-loading his deal.

Now, whether or not it is worthwhile to go out and sign Joe Flacco is anyone’s guess. If he’s franchised and it costs the Browns some picks it’s an even bigger value question. Still, it’s important to at least understand what advantages the Browns might have at a negotiating table with Joe Flacco’s people should they have an opportunity and the desire to do it somewhere this off-season.

(Image Tracy Boulian / The Plain Dealer)


  • @TheDeePagel

    Could we do it simply as a way to force Baltimore into a bad contract situation down the road? I am extremely ignorant to NFL salaries and cap workings…..but just trying to somehow force Baltimore into paying more then they want to by acting interested in Flacco.

  • MrCleaveland

    Friend of mine said he saw Flacco’s wife at the Strongsville mall.

  • Mrs. Sanchez

    She was buying a Jets jersey.

  • Harv 21

    Flacco may appropriately worry about head trauma or other injuries affecting his career, play hardball and use his current leverage to get max up front money, even if he intends to re-sign with Baltimore.

    But Ozzie’s ability to consistently draft well can save the Ravens even from this frontloaded contract. They’ve morphed into a good offensive team and even if they take a big cap hit retaining Flacco the system in place seems to be maximizing their players’ abilities. And Ozzie can reboot the defense with a few drafts and still have Flacco in his prime. I think Ozzie will do a lot to keep Flacco, because it took him 10 years to find his QB.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Only fair a QB for a franchise! 😉

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    But seriously while this seems interesting his contract would really strap down the Browns who have more then a few player positions of need.

  • hopwin

    Let me put on my pointy Nostradamus hat. Flacco won’t be worth it wherever he signs at any price.

  • mgbode

    yes, just the idea we can offer that contract allows us to force the Ravens to “exclusive” rights Flacco, which guarantees him $22mil each of the next 2 years.

  • mgbode

    she cannot help her Tebow love. the Chiefs hat was for Joe though.