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Wisconsin Football: TJ Watt Signs First NFL Contract

By Noah Seligman

Jun 13, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) listens to defensive coordinator Keith Butler (left) during drills in minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) listens to defensive coordinator Keith Butler (left) during drills in minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wisconsin Football’s TJ Watt signs a lucrative first NFL contract

On Wednesday, former Wisconsin linebacker TJ Watt signed his first professional contract.  Kudos to his agent because Watt’s deal is more favorable than comparable draft picks.

Watt was the 30th overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He was the first Wisconsin Football player picked this year, with Wisconsin Football’s Ryan Ramcyzk going two slots later to the New Orleans Saints concluding the 1st round.

The deal is for 4-years at $9,258,568 with $7,933,000 guaranteed.  He also received a $4,873,504 signing bonus which is payable right away.  The signing bonus for NFL contract’s is prorated over the life of the contract for salary cap purposes.  So Watt’s signing bonus will count just over $1.2 million per year of the quadrennial deal.

Related Story: Wisconsin Football: Watt and Ramcyzk Drafted in 1st Round

Of course big brother JJ wasted no time in congratulating TJ as only a big brother can:

Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement every first rounder has a base four-year deal with a club option for the fifth year.  Remember, the guaranteed dollars is always the most important figure in evaluating NFL contracts because that is money a player will receive in full.

Wisconsin Football’s TJ Watt did well for himself compared to other recent NFL Draft picks who went 30th overall.  Below is a comparison of the contract details for the four previous 30th picks in the NFL Draft.

2017 TJ Watt (Wisconsin), Pittsburgh Steelers

4-Years $9,258,568, Guaranteed: $7,933,000 [Signing Bonus: $4,873,504]

May 30, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (left) and running back James Conner (right) pose for a photo after taking part in a ceremonial first pitch prior to the Pittsburgh Pirates playing the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (left) and running back James Conner (right) pose for a photo after taking part in a ceremonial first pitch prior to the Pittsburgh Pirates playing the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

2016 Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss), Arizona Cardinals

4-Years $8,600,601, Guaranteed: $8,150,600, [Signing Bonus: $4,016,897]

Oct 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) against the New York Jets at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) against the New York Jets at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2015 Damarious Randall (Arizona State), Green Bay Packers

4-Years $7,915,734, Guaranteed: $5,966,315, [Signing Bonus: $4,016,897]

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (23) during the third quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (23) during the third quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

2014 Jimmie Ward (Northern Illinois), San Fransisco 49ers

4-Years $7,112,534, Guaranteed: $5,302,639, [Signing Bonus: $3,492,752]

December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (25) sacks New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (25) sacks New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

2013 Alec Ogletree (Georgia), St. Louis (now LA) Rams

4-Years $7,030,034, Guaranteed: $5,666,393, [Signing Bonus: $3,492,752]

Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams middle linebacker Alec Ogletree (52) and Los Angeles Rams free safety Maurice Alexander (31) during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams middle linebacker Alec Ogletree (52) and Los Angeles Rams free safety Maurice Alexander (31) during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: College Football Playoff: Wisconsin Football Legit Contenders?

From the list above, both Nkemdiche and Ogletree slipped a bit in the draft due to off-the-field red flags so perhaps the Cardinals and Rams factored that into the contract discussions.

The average guaranteed dollars from the previous four 30th overall NFL draft picks totals $6,271,486.75.  Watt’s guaranteed money is a 26.5 percent increase overall that average.  The mean signing bonus from the previous four 30th overall NFL draft picks equals $3,754,824.50.  Watt’s signing bonus is a 29.8 percent increase over the mean.

In sum, Watt’s rookie deal is significantly more lucrative than his contemporaries and he should be pleased at the tremendous value of his first NFL contract.