NFL analyst boils A.J. Terrell’s $81,000,000 deal down to being an advertisement
A.J. Terrell is a much richer man on Thursday than he was the day before as it has been reported that he received a massive new contract. His new deal, which reportedly makes him the second-highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, has sparked reactions from fans and analysts across the league.
Speaking on Thursday's edition of "Pro Football Talk," NFL analyst Mike Florio gave perhaps the most unique take, effectively calling it an advertisement.
"[00:00:17] Sometimes the numbers are a little off, and the numbers paint a picture that is advantageous to the agent because they like to take contracts and use them to recruit more clients."
Florio's comments appeared to be geared toward the overall total worth of the deal rather than the other numbers attached to it. At face value, it is worth up to $81 million, but players rarely receive every dime of the announced deal.
Whether it is because of early outs baked into the deal or large chunks placed on unrealistic incentive goals, players get less than the original deal tries to claim. This benefits agents so they can look for rookies and some veterans with better resumes, and thus, easier sales.
A.J. Terrell's $81 million contract details hand cornerback lengthy leash
Terrell may be the one listed as the recipient of the check from the Falcons, but he isn't the only one whose life just got better. However, despite getting a big payday, not every player can say they also received a long-term commitment. A.J. Terrell can now say that.
According to Spotrac, the cornerback is tied through the 2028 season despite nearing 31 years old now. In other words, he won't need to worry about where he is going to play until he's past his prime.
Terrell sits behind Jaire Alexander who is the highest-paid cornerback in the history of the sport, per Adam Schefter on X.
Some may argue that this could be A.J. Terrell's final contract. Of course, after netting a massive new deal, he may feel encouraged to seek out one more multi-year deal in the shadow of the 2030s. Either way, Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. should be assured that they will have someone to help get the ball back for them this season.