West Notes: Bosa, Baldwin, Lynch, Easley

Everyone gets excited about rookies, but it’s not fair to compare Chargers newcomer Joey Bosa to superstar J.J. Watt, Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego writes. Bosa, who was ranked as the top player in the entire draft by some outlets, should provide the Bolts with an instant boost and a long-term staple in the front seven. Still, no NFL neophyte should be expected to keep pace with a four-time Pro Bowler and the league’s most feared defensive force, Krasovic argues.

Let’s take a spin around the rest of the NFL’s two West divisions…

  • During an appearance on the NFL Network, Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin indicated that contract talks could begin soon. “Not yet,’’ Baldwin said when asked if contract talks have begun (link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times). “We’re going to be talking here shortly, at least that’s what I’ve been told. We’ll see how it goes. Of course, I’m not worried about it. I’m here working out with my teammates trying to get better for this upcoming season.’’ Condotta writes that conventional wisdom would dictate that the veteran could get at least $8MM/year on a new deal, which would rank him among the top 20 highest-paid receivers in the NFL. As it stands, Baldwin will be playing on a $4MM base salary in 2016, the final year of his three-year, $13MM deal signed in 2014.
  • Broncos first-round pick Paxton Lynch hasn’t yet signed his rookie contract, but his agent Leigh Steinberg tells Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link) that he intends on “getting [the deal] done quickly.” Thanks to the new CBA, rookie signings are a relative breeze, as contracts are essentially slotted values. Lynch should be in line for a four-year deal worth about $9.59MM, with the requisite fifth-year option attached.
  • Dominique Easley‘s one-year deal with the Rams is a minimum salary deal worth $600K with no guarantees, incentives, or bonuses, as Ben Volin of The Boston Globe tweets. The Patriots had offset language in Easley’s Patriots contract, but the Pats still owe him ~$484K and the team will receive a $600K cap credit in 2017 (link). Easley also has a split salary of $363k if he gets hurt and spends the season on IR (link).
  • Former Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams worked out with the Seahawks and Redskins after going undrafted, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be starting an NFL career anytime soon. The Montreal Alouttes have acquired Adams’ rights from the BC Lions in exchange for a first-round pick, and Adams is set to report to the CFL, according to Marvez (Twitter link). Adams will sign a deal this weekend, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

View Comments (3)