The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Mailbag: Are Rookie Contracts TOO IMPORTANT To Team Building?
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Mar 23, 2026 They debate whether rookie contracts truly drive roster construction and draft value. They name players who would look different on better teams and highlight coaching rooms to watch. They discuss what makes a great center and why teams draft offensive linemen early. They weigh Titans draft choices, rookie trade value hypotheticals, and even settle the spiders vs rats pool.
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Rookie Contracts Reflect Drafting More Than Cheapness
- Rookie contract value is partly about draft success not just cap savings.
- Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen argue teams with many contributing cheap draftees reflect superior drafting, which drives wins and allows expensive additions.
Players Undervalued Because Of Bad Teams
- Several mid-tier players would have been stars on better teams, like Jordan Brooks, DeAndre Levy, and Dexter Lawrence.
- Mays and Klassen list Jared Cook, Golden Tate, Snacks Harrison and Cam Wake as examples whose contexts limited recognition.
Prioritize Offensive Staff Upside Over Headlines
- Watch offensive staff hires as long-term investments not just coordinator names.
- Mays highlights the Ravens offensive additions (Declan Doyle, Dwayne Ledford, Israel Woolfork) as underrated hires with upside for scheme development.