The Eagles reached a four-year agreement with first round draft pick Lane Johnson on Saturday. The sticking point had been the offset language which the Birds wanted in the deal, but Johnson’s agent Ken Sarnoff fought against.
“We’re very excited to have all of our draft picks ready to go for the start of training camp,” said Eagles GM Howie Roseman. “I give Lane and his agent, Ken Sarnoff, a lot of credit for their work in getting this deal complete. Both had stated to us how important it was to get this deal signed before the rookies report on Monday and they kept their word. We’re all looking forward to watch Lane get his NFL career started.”
Offset language means the Eagles will be able to subtract the money that he is owed in his contract with his new team from the money they owe him. I’m sure the Eagles and other teams around the league were confident that players would give into this clause because a player drafted in the first round is very confident he’ll never be in a situation where he is released in the first place. These can’t think of a reason they’ll ever find themselves in that situation.
According to Jeff McLane of Philly.com, the Eagles were dangling an opportunity for Johnson to get his entire signing bonus of $12.8 million dollars in 15 days, as incentive to allow the offset language in the contract. The pick before Johnson Dion Jordan of Miami Dolphins also agreed to have the offset language in his deal. Once that happened the Eagles had to have been supremely confident there would be no hold out.
You can bet that Johnson was and is surely anxious to get his hands on that kind of money, plus by signing he’s able to get into camp ASAP and get to work solidifying his spot as the starter at right tackle.
Adam Caplan reports the deal also includes an Eagles option for a fifth year.
Great News to hear about, now all the Draft Picks are signed and should be ready from Day 1 of Camp which is critical for all of them to learn and compete for Playing Time and in Johnson’s case, compete to be the Starter at RT for Regular Season
By the way, did everyone hear the news of GMCliff’s Impact Pick of the Draft,
Dion Jordan of the Dolphins, which DCar and myself and some others said stay away from due to injuries was placed on “PUP” list by the Dolphins due to his slow recovery from his shoulder injury, Jordan missed all of the ORA’s held by the a dolphins and is a question mark, if he even see’s the field this Pre-Season for the Dolphins making him a very likely a Rookie Player who doesn’t contribute in 2013 as he has fallen way behind per reports following the Dolphins which us not what you want from a Top Pick of the 1st Round..
Glad the Eagles didn’t select him..(or get the chance)