DeAndre Hopkins is Holding Out, Getting Screwed by the Rookie Wage Scale Rules
By Jason Lisk
DeAndre Hopkins is holding out and has not reported to Houston Texans camp, according to Adam Schefter and Tania Ganguli. Hopkins, who was the first round pick (27th overall) in the 2013 draft, has emerged as one of the best receivers in the league, and has posted seasons with 1,210 and 1,521 yards at ages 22 and 23.
Hopkins’ problem is the Rookie Wage rules, and how it impacts Houston’s motivation to pay him commensurate with his production. (He will be fined $40,000 a day while he holds out.)
I railed on the Rookie Wage Scale proposals back during the lockout of 2011, while the talking points were things like JaMarcus Russell, the truth was the owners were seeking to control star players into their prime with things like the fifth-year option. At the time, I said the fifth-year option would remove all incentive for renegotiation entering years 4 and 5 for star players, because the team commitment was so low relative to market value.
By year five, shouldn’t you know if a player is JaMarcus Russell or Charles Rogers?
DeAndre Hopkins most certainly is not. He is one of the top players at his position.
But here is what he is up against. He is realistically controlled for three more years, because of the fifth-year option, plus the possibility of the franchise tag. According to Spotrac, he has a base salary of $1 million this year, and $7.9 million for the 5th year option season. The franchise tag, which will go up by 2018, was $14.6 million franchise tag for 2016 for wide receivers.
Let’s just assume around $17 million. That’s basically $26 million over three years that the Texans would be passing up if they altered the deal. His market value, according to Spotrac by looking at recent deals from players similar to Hopkins, is above $14 million per year. The only way Houston is going to extend him is if he signs a below market deal now, and they get 2-3 more years past age 26 on that deal. They have no incentive to give him a big signing bonus otherwise, when they can pay him $9 million or less over the next three years anyway.