As first reported by Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the details on the contract extension for Patriots center David Andrews have been made available.
Finally got a look at David Andrews’ new contract with Patriots. It’s 4 years, $9.615m with another $2.1m in play time incentives
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) May 23, 2017
The deal gives Andrews a $1.6 million signing bonus up front, while retaining his $615,000 2017 salary. The deal also appears to include $300k in per-game active roster bonuses in 2017 ($18,750 per game), and $400,000 ($25,000 per game) in 2018 through 2020 per Miguel Benzan of Patscap.com:
In 2017 David Andrews can earn up to 300K in 46-man active roster bonuses or $18,750 per game. In 2018/19/20 400K each year or 25K per game.
— Cap Space=19,057,204 (@patscap) May 23, 2017
Miguel also anticipates the addition of $100,000 in workout bonuses per year, a contract feature commonly used by the Patriots.
Here is what Andrews’ yearly cap hits will look like:
2017 - $1,320,000
2018 - $1,700,000
2019 - $2,800,000
2020 - $3,800,000
The additional $2.1 million in play time incentives are for $700,000 per season from 2018 through 2020. At this time, the details of those incentives are unknown, but Andrews will certainly earn that money should he maintain the 99% snap percentage he totaled in 2016.
As is typical of initial contract value reports, some felt the deal was too rich for a player who went undrafted and has only one full season under his belt as the full time starter. However, the details of the contract, as they always do, give a better perspective of how the team views the player.
Given the low signing bonus, the Patriots will be able to terminate the contract without much financial repercussion. Should Andrews continue to steadily improve and grow with the young pieces already assembled along the offensive line, then the team will find themselves with a quality center at a below-market rate being paid practically on a pay-as-you-go type of deal when factoring in the lack of dead money that would be involved in his release.
The Patriots will lose $700,000 in cap space in 2017, bringing their current estimated cap space number to $19,076,496 ($19,057,204 per Miguel). The deal is also another example of the Patriots’ process of building and maintaining a league-leading “middle class” within their roster.
Andrews joins fullback James Develin and pass-catching running back James White as the third in-house non-UFA player to reach an extension with the club this offseason — leaving many to wonder — who will be next?
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