With Philip Rivers' Contract Extension, Eli Manning and Sam Bradford are Only Starters Who Could Be Free Agents in 2016
By Jason Lisk
After plenty of off-season posturing, Philip Rivers signed a contract extension that was reported late last night. According to Pro Football Talk, the “new” money in the deal is $21 million per year, in addition to the money he was due for this upcoming season. I guess that sum of money can make one feel a little better about a possible move to Los Angeles. Now, we await actual details about what guaranteed really means in regard to some of Rivers’ numbers.
Then, there was this blurb in the PFT piece:
"The contract leaves Giants quarterback Eli Manning and Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford as the only starting quarterbacks unsigned beyond 2015. Both are represented by CAA, the firm that negotiated the Rivers deal. "
In looking at the contracts on Spotrac, you also have Ryan Fitzpatrick on a deal only through this year with the Jets, and at least in the aftermath of the Geno Smith injury, he will be starting for the first part of the season. Other than that, the next group of players that will be free agents in 2016 at the quarterback position? Chase Daniel, Matt Cassel, Chad Henne, Kirk Cousins, and Colt McCoy. We also can’t rule out Robert Griffin III wearing out his welcome in Washington even though the team exercised the fifth-year option for 2016.
Top free agent quarterbacks rarely hit the market, and it seems like teams are scared of the alternative. That’s why we see so many of these contracts in the $20 million range. I do wonder if there will be a market correction soon where several of these players we see as starters (many well into their 30’s, or not established) are cap casualties when teams are no longer willing to pay the price.