On Wednesday, the Chicago Bears became the first team to sign a 2014 first-round draft pick as cornerback Kyle Fuller was inked to a four-year, $9.687 deal, according to Joel Corry of CBS Sports.
Fuller, a Virginia Tech product, will have $1.761 million salary cap number in 2014, according to Corry and being as he was a firs-round selection, the Bears have a fifth-year option they can pick up prior to him entering the fourth year of his deal.
Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers currently only have $311,934.00 in available cap space, according to the NFLPA, they can still sign the five players they drafted in round five and beyond without using up additional cap space, as none of those five contracts will crack the top 51 of players already under contract.
In addition, should they choose to sign third-round pick Dri Archer and fourth-round pick Martavis Bryant prior to June 2nd, they could accommodate both of those contracts even though both would crack the top 51 list.
The Steelers will receive nearly another $8 million in cap space post top 51 displacement after June 1st when the release of linebacker LaMarr Woodley becomes official. At that point they will be able to sign their top two picks, Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt.
Now that Fuller has signed, it looks like the estimates will be spot on for Shazier’s contract, which should total out at around $9.507 million.
Steelers 2014 Draft Picks Contract Estimates
| Round | Pick | Player | 2014 Base | Signing Bonus | 2014 Cap Charge | Contract Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Ryan Shazier | $420,000 | $5,234,328 | $1,728,582 | $9,507,198 |
| 2 | 14 | Stephon Tuitt | $420,000 | $1,672,324 | $838,081 | $4,609,444 |
| 3 | 33 | Dri Archer | $420,000 | $506,016 | $546,504 | $2,726,016 |
| 4 | 18 | Martavis Bryant | $420,000 | $439,220 | $529,805 | $2,659,220 |
| 5 | 17 | Shaquille Richardson | $420,000 | $190,052 | $467,513 | $2,410,052 |
| 5 | 33 | Wesley Johnson | $420,000 | $144,560 | $456,140 | $2,364,560 |
| 6 | 16 | Jordan Zumwalt | $420,000 | $104,852 | $446,213 | $2,324,852 |
| 6 | 39 | Daniel McCullers | $420,000 | $78,680 | $439,670 | $2,298,680 |
| 7 | 15 | Rob Blanchflower | $420,000 | $59,400 | $434,850 | $2,279,400 |
