February 10, 2015
Riley Cooper has become the scorn of the Eagles fan base almost as much for his bad contract as his racist rant at the Kenny Chesney concert in 2013. But how does he compare to the other bad contracts in the NFC East?
Below we identified the worst contracts in the division. To be clear, we factored in cap savings if the player were to be cut. For example, Cary Williams and his $8.16 million cap figure in 2015 is terrible, but the team can save $6.5 million of that if they cut him, so the damage control factor is what keeps him off this list. The five worst current contracts in the division (contract data via overthecap.com):
Cruz had an insane NFL debut in 2011, but his numbers have declined each year since:
Cruz is beginning to remind me of former Cowboys WR Miles Austin, who had a breakout season out of nowhere, then steadily declined the rest of his career. People thought Austin was a good player for years after one great season in 2009, all the way up to last offseason:
Miles Austin goes to the Pro Bowl this year as a Brown. I said it.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) July 31, 2014
I'm not ready to say Cruz isn't a good player anymore, but he's certainly an overpaid one. Cruz signed a six year, $45.9 million deal during the 2013 offseason. His cap number in 2015 will be $8,125,000, and $9.9 million in 2016. If the Giants wanted to cut him this offseason, it would only be a savings of $2,425,000.
The Cowboys traded their first and second round picks (14th and 45th overall) to draft Claiborne 6th overall in the 2012 draft. He's been a complete bust. When Claiborne got hurt Week 4 against the Saints, no-name Sterling Moore took over and played far better than Claiborne ever has for the Cowboys. Claiborne's cap number (still on his rookie contract) in 2015 is $5,175,069, and the Cowboys are on the hook for all of it if they cut him.
Prior to cutting DeSean Jackson last offseason, the Eagles handed Cooper a 5 year, $22 million deal. They paid him like a proven commodity when he had really only had one promising half season. Cooper stunk out loud in 2014, and the Eagles are now stuck with him. Cooper's 2014 cap number, at $4.8 million, isn't as bad as others on this list, but it would cost the Eagles more to cut Cooper than to keep him.
Although to be fair, he's a good blocker!
Austin was cut last offseason with a post-June 1 designation, which delayed his cap penalty until the 2015 season. Austin will count for $5,106,200 against the Cowboys' cap in 2015 while likely playing for some other team.
In three seasons after Carr signed a ridiculous five year, $50.1 million with the Cowboys, he has six interceptions and no forced fumbles. He also doesn't tackle well. Carr has a cap hit in 2015 of $12,717,000, with only a savings of $566,000 if they cut him. Or they could cut him after June 1, and put off the cap penalty pain until 2016, which is a Jerry Jones special. Whatever the case, that contract is gross.
Wait... No Redskins?!? That's unpossible.
Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski
