Who has earned themselves a lucrative contract extension, and who has cost themselves one?
That's what football fans have to start asking themselves, as the players from the 2012 NFL draft are now eligible for contract extensions. That includes the trio of high profile quarterbacks from that draft: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson.
Luck, 2012's No. 1 overall pick, and Wilson, a third-round selection, are virtual locks for new contracts. Luck has propelled the Indianapolis Colts to the post-season every year since being drafted while Wilson already has a Lombardi Trophy to his name. RGIII, however, has dealt with a string of serious injuries and inconsistent play after his phenomenal rookie season. It is unclear at this point if the Washington Redskins will offer him an extension.
There are several players outside of the headline-grabbing quarterbacks worth looking at as well. Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner is an interesting case, as is Carolina Panthers linebacker and former Defensive Player of the Year winner, Luke Kuechly. Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David are all supremely talented players who will be looking to cash in on new deals.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains why it would behoove Wilson and Wagner to get their deals done sooner rather than later.
"It's unknown whether either player currently is clamoring for a deal to be done before the divisional-round playoff game," Florio wrote. "For the first time in their careers, the answer to 'why haven't they been financially rewarded?' is something other than 'we're prevented by the CBA from doing a new contract.' With the injury risk squarely on the players and the Seahawks theoretically in position to sign them to new contracts, it'll be interesting to see whether Wilson or Wagner try to get something done before they suit up to face the Lions, Cardinals, or Panthers."
