Jackson Contract Details

[Nick]

Rams Sign First-Round Draft Pick
R.B. FALLSTROM
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Rams signed first-round draft pick Steven Jackson to a five-year, $7 million contract on Sunday.

The deal includes a $4 million signing bonus for Jackson, the 24th overall pick and the first running back taken. He ran for 3,625 yards and 39 touchdowns in three seasons at Oregon State.

The Rams have tentatively scheduled a news conference for Monday for Jackson. He is envisioned as the successor to Marshall Faulk, who is entering his 12th NFL season. The 31-year-old Faulk is signed through 2008.

Rocky Arceneaux of St. Louis is the agent for both players. He said Jackson had made it a priority to sign before training camp, which begins Wednesday with two workouts in Macomb, Ill.

"We never anticipated any problems," Arceneaux said. "It was very important for Steven to be in camp on time, so we sort of pushed for that."

The Rams' first-round pick last year, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, missed five days of workouts before signing.

As a senior, Jackson gained 1,545 yards and scored a career-high 19 touchdowns while also establishing himself as a receiving threat for the first time. He had career bests in receptions (44), receiving yards (470) and receiving touchdowns (3).

St. Louis traded up two slots to get Jackson after the Dallas Cowboys - widely expected to take him with the 22nd pick - traded down. The Rams gave Cincinnati the 26th overall pick and a fourth-round pick to grab Jackson at 24.

Jackson was the first offensive player taken in the first round by the Rams since 2000, when they selected running back Trung Canidate.

The Rams have signed five of their seven draft picks. Jackson joins safety Jason Shivers, center Larry Turner, linebacker Brandon Chillar and tight end Erik Jensen under contract. Third-round pick Tony Hargrove, a defensive end from Georgia Tech, and sixth-round pick Jeff Smoker, a quarterback from Michigan State, remain unsigned.

But both are expected to be under contract before the start of camp.

[coy bacon]

Rams Sign First-Round Draft Pick
The St. Louis Rams signed first-round draft pick Steven Jackson to a five-year, $7 million contract on Sunday.

7 million for 5 years - does that sound cheap by NFL standards?

[Nick]

Last year's 24th selection (Dallas Clark) received $7.075 million over five years with a $4.35 million bonus. Jackson's numbers are actually slightly lower, which seems to be contrary to the trend of increasing salary from the previous year.

Also, I'm sure Jackson's contract seems lower because of the value of the pick. Jackson was projected by some as a top ten draft choice. To get him for $7M over five season is amazing. And you also have to wonder if Faulk's status was worked into the deal to make it more reasonable to keep both players on without straining the cap.

[HUbison]

Last year's 24th selection (Dallas Clark) received $7.075 million over five years with a $4.35 million bonus. Jackson's numbers are actually slightly lower, which seems to be contrary to the trend of increasing salary from the previous year.

Also, I'm sure Jackson's contract seems lower because of the value of the pick. Jackson was projected by some as a top ten draft choice. To get him for $7M over five season is amazing. And you also have to wonder if Faulk's status was worked into the deal to make it more reasonable to keep both players on without straining the cap.

Even stranger is the fact that Clark making slightly more money, a year earlier, & at the TE position. I would think a RB in the same draft slot, a year later would demand a little higher salary...but hey I'm not complaining.

[rampete]

there are things called "escalator" and other incentive clauses, which may be one reason why jackson signed a relatively low contract...

[HUbison]

there are things called "elevator" and other incentive clauses, which may be one reason why jackson signed a relatively low contract...

I'm contractually ignorant. Is this kind of like the incentive-laden contract that Ricky Williams signed as a rookie? Speaking of which, wasn't that negotiated by some rapper?

[txramsfan]

Yep, Master P supposedly cost RW about 10 million a year in his early contract. That figure was from the Austin American Statesman.

[rampete]

I'm contractually ignorant. Is this kind of like the incentive-laden contract that Ricky Williams signed as a rookie? Speaking of which, wasn't that negotiated by some rapper?

yes, that's what is probably the crux of the contract. there's probably something in there that will allow jackson to void the last one or two years of his contract if he fulfills certain goals, like making it to the probowl or gaining certain amount of tds and so on...as for the rapper, tx seems to have a good handle on the jive...