The game of musical chairs that unfolded among and between cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Aqib Talib, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had another interesting twist.
Per a league source, the Broncos tried after giving up on Rodgers-Cromartie but before considering Talib to acquire Revis.
As the source explains it, DRC declined to accept a deal believed to be worth $54 million over six years. So the team decided to contact Camp Revis, offering roughly the same package that Talib ultimately accepted. Revis declined, holding firm to his demand for $12 million per year.
At that point, the Broncos landed in the Talib business. He’ll get $11.5 million this year, plus up to another $500,000 via per-game roster bonuses. If he plays all 16 games (something he’s never done), Talib will be paid $12 million for 2014.
In 2015, a base salary of $5.5 million is guaranteed for injury only until the third day of the league year. At that point, it becomes fully guaranteed. There’s also another $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses.
In 2016, the base salary moves to $8.5 million. Again, it’s guaranteed for injury only until March 2016, at which time it’ll be fully guaranteed. And there’s another $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses.
In the final three years, the salaries are $11 million in 2017, $11 million in 2018, and $8 million in 2019. That’s a total available package of $57 million over six years.
We’ve heard mixed accounts on whether the player or the team wanted a three-year, $27 million deal, and whether the team or the player wanted to add three years that could easily be scuttled. While the salaries are significant in 2017 and 2018, they could translate to a much smaller percentage of the total salary cap by then.