Not sure if this was covered in one of the other threads but the details are out now.
One interesting thing I noted is this contract really starts next year.
They are only paying out 8.2 mil this year. My understanding is this is all that is truly guaranteed at this time. They can get out after this year with no future $$ out the door.
Next year there is a team option for $13mil that really initiates the contract.
Also the guaranteed figure is way over stated. It essentially becomes a year to year contract in the not to distant future
"If Elliott is on the Cowboys roster on the 5th day of the 2020 league year, his 2021 salary becomes guaranteed. If Elliott is on the roster on the 5th day of the 2021 league year, his 2022 salary will be fully guaranteed."
And the last two years of the deal are completely superfluous. I highly doubt he plays them out.
All in all a pretty well structured contract from the teams perspective.
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At least that’s my interpretation
right, but those last two aren't really guaranteed at signing. The team can get out of them.
They wouldn't call it an option bonus if there were no option and the 2020 salary doesn't become guaranteed till next year.
I mis read that the 5th day of the league year language applies to the following year, not the current year it is triggered.
"If Elliott is on the Cowboys roster on the 5th day of the 2020 league year, his 2021 salary becomes guaranteed. If Elliott is on the roster on the 5th day of the 2021 league year, his 2022 salary will be fully guaranteed.
Those are what I term escape hatches which afford Dallas some protection if things go sideways, either by conduct or by injury. More on that later."
The one thing I'm still unclear on is if the option bonus is truly an option or is it really guaranteed at this point.
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$28M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2019 salary + 2020 salary + 2020 option bonus)
2020 Option Bonus: $13M (guaranteed, paid 3/22/2020)
2021 salary fully guarantees on 3/22/2020 (injury guaranteed now)
2022 salary fully guarantees on the 5th league day of 2021 (injury guaranteed now)
How does the "injury guaranteed now" part work?
The roster requirements for the 2020 and 2021 salary guarantees are meaningless since the salary guarantees in the case of injury.
This is basically a way around the CBAs limit of 5 years for prorating deals (notice this deal extends for 8 years in total).
The roster requirements for the 2020 and 2021 salary guarantees are meaningless since the salary guarantees in the case of injury.
I missed that the option bonus is guaranteed... I didn't add int he last 2 years. That raises the guaranteed money.
4 years for 54.2 million all guaranteed.
As mentioned above, I am sure some of the salary in 2021 and 2022 will be converted to bonus and prorated.