The Pittsburgh Steelers selected tackle Broderick Jones with the 14th overall selection of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night following a trade up in the first round with the New England Patriots. With Jones now in the fold, we can look ahead at what his four-year rookie contract should look like.
According to former NFL agent Joel Corry of CBS Sports, Jones’ rookie contract is expected to total out at around $16.626 million for the four years and that amount should include a signing bonus of around $9,091,900. Jones’ full four years should be fully guaranteed as well.
Based on Corry’s numbers, and assuming that Jones will have a base salary in 2023 of $750,000, his cap charge for his rookie season would be $3,022,975. As for the rest of Jones’ deal by year, we’ll have to wait and see how the base salaries are ultimately structured. The bonus proration in those remaining three years would be $2,272,975.
Jones’ rookie contract will obviously come with a fifth-year option. However, the decision on that will not need to be made until right after the 2026 NFL Draft takes place.
For comparison’s sake, Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton was the 14th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft and his four-year rookie contract totaled out at $16,255,088 and included a $9,001,880 signing bonus. Additionally, the Steelers’first-round draft pick last year was quarterback Kenny Pickett, and his four-year contract totaled out at $14,067,904, including a $7,411,204 signing bonus. His rookie deal was also fully guaranteed as the 20th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Hamilton signed his rookie contract last year on June 7. Pickett signed his deal on June 23. With Jones being a 14th-overall selection this year, he should easily be signed well before the start of training camp in late July.
