New York Jets newly-minted first-round quarterback Mark Sanchez’s five-year contract carries a maximum value of $60 million, including $28 million in guaranteed money, a league source told us tonight.
The fifth overall pick’s average annual guaranteed money represents a 56-percent increase over the contract of Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, last year’s No. 5 selection, according to our source.
That figure accounts for our source’s interpretation of Sanchez’s average yearly guaranteed money in comparison to Dorsey’s average guaranteed money per year. Our source says that Dorsey’s total guaranteed money is actually a lower figure than the $22.5 million previously reported.
And Sanchez’s $50.5 million core/base value of the deal is 53 percent higher than Dorsey’s, according to a source.
A former USC star, Sanchez is set to make $32.5 million over the first three years of the contract where Dorsey is due to make $33 million over the first five years of his contract.
Dorsey signed a five-year deal with a maximum value of $51 million that included an option year and $22.5 million in guaranteed money, according to published reports.
The $32.5 million Sanchez is due over the first three years also represents a higher figure than last year’s top overall pick, Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long, was due over the first three years of his deal, according to our source.
Sanchez’s contract also includes $9.5 million in escalator clauses.
According to our source, Sanchez’s annual guaranteed money and total core deal percentages increase more than double the increases that top overall pick, Detroit Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, received over Long’s deal.
Stafford signed a six-year, $72 million deal, which reportedly included $41.7 million in guaranteed money, prior to the NFL Draft.
