On the first day, when the teams can negotiate with new players, the Jaguars decided to throw money at everyone, and then they threw another, separate pile at the receiver Christian Kirk. This latest decision could cost Baalke’s former employer dearly.
According to reports, the Jags are giving Christian Kirk a four-year contract worth no less than $74 million and no more than $82 million. A conservative estimate is $18.5 million a year for a wide receiver who has never played on a professional team. Never made a Pro Bowl team. Never beat a 1,000-yard reception in a single season and threw only 17 touchdowns in his entire four-year career.
Should this happen now that the 49ers are said to be working on a Deebo Samuel deal? Deebo Samuel, who completes his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl season. Who got over 1,400 yards getting hit on the first offense with an average quarterback and threw 14 combined touchdowns last year alone. Not to mention his 365 yards in 2021.
Samuel’s agents at CAA must have been gulping champagne when they saw those numbers, and you can be damn sure they’ll make sure the 49ers brain trust sees them too. This is one of the reasons why John Lynch’s comments that Samuel’s contract was already “budgeted” weren’t a good idea, especially before the free will round. This is another thing that Deebo’s representation will remind Lynch of during negotiations. Devante Adams hasn’t even signed a long-term contract yet, which means the market is set to rise even more.
On a day when the 49ers have already lost both Laken Tomlinson and DJ Jones, the former 49ers CEO’s move will also prove very costly at the negotiating table. All of a sudden, that franchise tag variation we posted a couple of weeks ago doesn’t look so crazy, does it?
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