Kwon Alexander’s time as the NFL’s highest-paid inside linebacker was short-lived. He and the 49ers came to an agreement on a four-year, $54 million deal. Originally it was reported to be worth $27 million guaranteed. Contracts agreed to by Anthony Barr with the Minnesota Vikings, and CJ Mosley with the New York Jets on Tuesday outpaced Alexander’s $13.25 million average annual value.
Still, it appeared on the surface a steep price for a 24-year-old inside linebacker coming off an ACL tear in Week 7 of last season. The contract details published by Over the Cap illustrate a team-friendly deal that places nearly all of the financial burden in the 2019 season.
Alexander is due $14.25 million in fully guaranteed money per OTC. He’ll earn $10.25 million of his guarantees in Year 1 with a cap hit of just over $11.5 million.
That effectively spells the end of San Francisco’s financial commitment to Alexander. If he plays well, they can continue paying him for the next three seasons. His cap numbers for the final three years of the deal are $13.1 million, $14.4 million and $14.5 million.
On the other hand, if he doesn’t play well or his athleticism diminishes substantially upon his return from that ACL tear – San Francisco owes him just $3 million more in guaranteed cash. That means they can cut him with $3 million in dead money after the 2019 season.
His dead money total drops by $1 million in each of the two years after that.
This illustrates why it’s important to wait on contract details before assessing the value of a contract. Alexander is being paid handsomely, but the deal is almost entirely front loaded with a team-friendly out after the first year.
If he does play out the length of the contract and earn his $54 million, it’ll mean San Francisco got a very good starter for several million fewer dollars than other starting inside linebackers.
About the Author: Insidethe49
