NFL Contract Extensions

What a big payday for two of the elite young wide receivers in the NFL, and two of the players who, until now, had uncertain futures. DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks and Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers both signed three-year extensions that keep them with their respective teams through 2025, with their bank accounts kept quite full.

Metcalf Gets Largest WR Signing Bonus

The new contract for the Seattle Seahawks’ Metcalf was finalized at the end of last week. It’s for three seasons with a total value of $72 million. Including a signing bonus of $30 million-highest ever for a wide receiver-total of $58.2 million in guarantees.

Reportedly the length of the deal was important to Metcalf, preferring a shorter contract. This way, he will have another chance to score a big contract in the not-too-distant future, with the salary cap increasing and the market for top wide receivers continuing to expand.

For Seattle, the deal’s length is questionable, considering this season appears to be a waste, what with the Seahawks’ mundane situation at quarterback. While Metcalf is one-half of an excellent receiving tandem, alongside Tyler Lockett, Seattle is a longshot to win the NFC West, a distant +1600 behind the Rams (+125), 49ers (+175) and Cardinals (+325), according to NFL odds.

All sides in Seattle were happy Friday when the contract was signed. “It was a stressful process, but glad that it’s over,” Metcalf said. ‘Hawks’ general manager John Schneider publicly applauded Metcalf for his patience and professionalism during the negotiations. This doesn’t make Seattle any more competitive in the division, however.

Unless the Seahawks can find a quick fix at quarterback, they will be looking at a 28-year-old Metcalf ready for an even bigger contract, and not much to show for this one.

Samuel Staying in San Francisco

A long offseason of rumors that the San Francisco 49ers would trade an unhappy Deebo Samuel is over, the two sides coming to terms on a three-year contract extension worth $71.5 million. Included is $58.1 million in guarantees.

It was said Samuel was unhappy with the 49ers offense, and the hybrid running back/wide receiver role that he was playing. Supposedly, it was his desire to be traded. Instead, he’s now one of the highest-paid wideouts in the NFL, getting a new(ish) offense as the team builds around second-year quarterback Trey Lance.

During last season, Samuel caught 77 passes for 1,402, with a total of 14 touchdowns (six receiving, eight rushing).

For Samuel, older than DK Metcalf, the three-season extension was especially important because he, too, wants to cash in again down the road. He will be 30 years old when this contract expires, as compared to the 28 years old that Metcalf will be.

With Samuel as the focal point of their newly-designed offense in San Francisco, the 49ers are paying +200 to win the NFC West, +650 to win the NFC and +1600 to win the Super Bowl.

Individually, as per NFL odds, Samuel is co-third choice (+900) to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors.  

An Offseason of Wide Receiver Contracts

Obviously, the market for wide receivers has exploded this offseason, beginning with a pair of trades. Davante Adams was dealt to the Las Vegas Raiders (from Green Bay) and Tyreek Hill was rerouted (via Kansas City) to the Miami Dolphins. Hill did sign a new contract with the Dolphins carrying a $30 million annual average and $72.2 million in guaranteed money. Adams, meanwhile, has a pact with $28 million per year ($65.6 in guarantees).

Adams is the oldest wideout with a new big-dollar extension in his pocket. hailing from the 2014 draft. Hill was drafted in 2016. Samuel and Metcalf were both drafted in 2019.

Terry McLaurin, another member of the ‘19 class of receivers, was given $22.7 million per year through the 2025 season, $53.1 million in guarantees. Another of 2019’s draftees to get paid handsomely this offseason was A.J. Brown. Brown was traded by the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles, who then signed Brown at $25 million per season over the next four, $57.2 million in guaranteed money.