I think about the best understanding of the "market", objectively and not subjectively, is the UFA TAG number.
And for 2018 WR and DT are virtually identical at $13.9 mil.
So where do you get this idea that somehow the DT market and the WR market are so totally different?
I don't think so. And the numbers don't say so.
To me, the next barometer after TAG numbers is the percentage difference between the current highest paid player at the position, and then what the next new contract at that position gets. But my guess is it would be in the 5% range.
If that's in the ball park, then here's where we're at: in a 3-4 D, the highest paid DT is Casey at $14.9 mil.
In a 4-3 D, the highest paid DT is Cox at 17.9 mil.
Assuming the Rams simply look at the highest paid DT number, then 5% more would put the number at $18.8 mil.
So tell me again why Donald should get $22mil?
I don't buy it and I don't think the numbers will be anywhere close to that.
Sure the numbers after the guaranteed money could highly inflate the average, but I would guess that Donald isn't going to get anywhere near what some here think or what some in the media report (and that is pure speculation on their part).
