There’s a fairly widespread belief in league circles that the best place to get a high-end running back is at the bottom of the first round of the draft. The player can be tied up for five years (at the top of round two it drops to four), and he’s paid a relatively low amount, under the slotting process.
Then, if he becomes a star, the team can use the franchise tag for year six. For year seven, the player likely won’t have enough left in the tank to justify a huge-money long-term deal.
The Cardinals, intentionally or not, have taken advantage of that reality with the 31st pick in round one.
A league source tells us that the contract signed by running back Beanie Wells carries a base value of only $9 million over five years. That’s an average investment of $1.8 million per year for a guy who could become just what the Cardinals have needed at the tailback position.
The deal has a maximum package of $11.8 million, and guaranteed money (after the option bonus is exercised) of $6.345 million. The signing bonus will be $2 million.
So while Wells won’t go hungry, he might soon find himself a member of the Anquan Boldin unhappy camper club, if Beanie becomes a star.
Five years (maybe six) is a long time for a guy to wait at a position where every hit takes a little tread off the tires -- and each hit could be the last one he ever takes.
