Bears just re-signed RT Bobby Massie to a four-year contract

[TheSpecialJuan]

It's reportedly worth more than $8 million per year, making Massie one of the five highest-paid right tackles. 29-year-old Massie has spent the last three seasons in Chicago after spending his first four in Arizona. Massie received strong marks from Pro Football Focus for his pass blocking in 2018.

http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/nfl/football-player-news

[TheSpecialJuan]

What does this do to our chances of re-signing Daryl Williams? 

[trueblade]

This will set parameters for our discussions with Williams. If his people think he's better than Massie, they will expect more than 8M a year. I'm sure the Panthers will want some sort of injury protection and might offer less. 

[ncfan]

I think he'll ask for more but itll be around that price range.

Williams had a good year, but rember it was only 1 year which may not drive the value up. PLUS he is coming off a knee injury.  Big men and Knee injuries concern some gms

[Black&BlueBubba]

I was just talking about this in the senior bowl thread.  Let the headache begin. 

 Watching the Senior game and practices it is apparent that this year is a pretty good class for interior OL.  I have lots of questions marks about the tackles.  Dillard may have some potential but I’m not sure he is a day 1 starter which is what we need. That leaves Williams, Cojuste, Taylor, or Edwards draftable Day 1 tackles.  I also thinks it drives up the price for Darryl Williams on the FA market.  

 Interested to see how Hurney works this one out.  

 Can any one say Speed Bump McGee at LT?  SMH. 

 I will be studying those 4 remaining tackles pretty hard. 

[CarolinaNCSU]

Coming off an injury, maybe he'd even go for a little less, in the 6-8 range.  If that's the price tag, we better not lose him. Make it a 2-3 year deal and his money will be coming off the books as Moton needs a pay raise. 

[PandaPancake]

Would you say Massie got a massive deal?

[Black&BlueBubba]

From Walter Football
 Bears re-sign OT Bobby Massie (4 years, $32 million): B+ Grade 
This contract is just an estimation. It's been reported that Bobby Massie received a 4-year contract worth about $8 million per season. I may have an update when full details are revealed. 

As it stands now, this is a solid deal. Massie used to be a sub-par blocker, but he's improved every year and is now a decent right tackle. He did a great job of protecting Mitchell Trubisky last year, and he's not 30 yet. It makes sense to give him $8 million per season as long as the guaranteed money isn't out of control. 

I'm giving this a B+ grade. The Bears have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, which is one of the many reasons why they won the division in 2018. The offensive tackle class in both free agency and the draft is very weak, so it was important for the Bears to retain Massie. 

Comment on the other free agent signingsbelow.

[LinvilleGorge]

The devil is in the details, specifically the guaranteed money. No telling how good this contract really is until that info is available.

[Eazy-E]

I have no problem paying Williams if we include an injury clause just to cover our ass. When healthy, he is easily worth 8 a year. We can't afford to neglect the offensive line any longer.

Also Massie has been playing well and isn't coming off an injury. Williams won't command as much money but he won't be "cheap" either.

[LinvilleGorge]

34 minutes ago, Eazy-E said:

I have no problem paying Williams if we include an injury clause just to cover our ass. When healthy, he is easily worth 8 a year. We can't afford to neglect the offensive line any longer.

Also Massie has been playing well and isn't coming off an injury. Williams won't command as much money but he won't be "cheap" either.

What kind of injury clause? NFL contracts have a built in "injury clause" in that salaries aren't guaranteed only bonus money. No player is signing a contract that voids if he gets injured. Hell, such a thing isn't even permissible under the CBA since a player can't be released if he's injured. The only ways to build in additional injury protection is to limit the guaranteed money, sign a shorter term contract, and/or build in escalators tied to performance and/or playing time.

But since Williams is a former 4th round pick coming off of a season ending injury I fully expect him to put pen to paper for whoever will give him the most guaranteed money and I can't blame him. He hasn't made his set for life money yet.

[tiger7_88]

36 minutes ago, Eazy-E said:

include an injury clause

This makes me laugh every time I read it.

Daryl Williams played for 4 years and had a knee injury in one of them.  Football players tend to suffer knee injuries.  Its a dangerous job.  If your team doctors are confident that Williams will be healthy again, you re-sign him.  If they think his knee is a risk, well you may offer him lower money or a ridiculous "injury clause" and he and his agent will just laugh in your face and sign with another team that will be more than happy to give him more money.

"Golly, I'd be glad to sign a contract that makes sure you don't have to pay me any (or less) money if I suffer an injury playing this extremely dangerous game for your team, Mr. General Manager!  Why should I be concerned about my own financial well-being when I can be concerned about yours?"  

Do some of y'all truly think players and their agents think like this?

I think "injury clause" should go on the same legendary, preposterous list as "home-town discount".

[Eazy-E]

All I meant was to structure the contract so that he makes more money the more games he plays. Make it bonus / incentives based. Sorry, god forbid I’m not an NFL contract expert.

[Cdw]

1 hour ago, Eazy-E said:

All I meant was to structure the contract so that he makes more money the more games he plays. Make it bonus / incentives based. Sorry, god forbid I’m not an NFL contract expert.

With the Kalil fiasco everyone should know what you meant.  The guaranteed money is the killer.  I'm all for Williams getting somthing near what Massie got per year, but if he insists on guaranteed money then I'd say farewell and move OT to the top of the draft priority list.