The Indianapolis Colts are currently embroiled in contract negotiations with a trio of their homegrown stars: Darius Leonard, Braden Smith and Quenton Nelson.
In regards to Nelson, his new extension could be delayed until next offseason after the Colts exercised his fifth-year option, but we’ll see how that plays out.
In the meantime, the Colts have bigger fish to fry along their offensive line, like getting Smith locked up for the long haul. It remains to be seen what kind of contract the star right tackle is demanding, but recent NFL news could give Indy some perspective during negotiations.
On Wednesday, the Saints made headlines when they agreed to a five-year, $90 million (!) extension with right tackle Ryan Ramczyk. The deal includes $60 million in guarantees and rightfully makes him the highest-paid RT in the league.
Fans in Indianapolis have been begging for some insight in terms of what Smith should be paid annually, and Ramczyk’s record-setting deal should help give them an idea.
Saints' OT Ryan Ramczyk is signing a five-year, $90 million extension that includes $60 million guaranteed and makes him the new highest-paid right tackle in football, source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 30, 2021
Colts fans should use Ryan Ramczyk’s deal as a measuring stick for Braden Smith’s impending contract.
Some fans might think that Ramczyk resetting the market for right tackles would derail any progress the Colts have made during negotiations with Smith, but that’s not the case. After all, Ramczyk is far more decorated than Indianapolis’ former second-round pick.
Not only does Ramczyk have three All-Pro nods over his first four years in the league, but the former No. 32 overall pick has missed just one game during that span while playing a ridiculous, especially for a tackle, 97.7% of the offensive snaps.
You better believe those accolades tacked a few extra zeroes on to his new deal. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for Smith, who’s yet to receive an end-of-season accolade, has missed three games over his first three years while logging an 87% snap share.
Despite that, Smith has been a force for the Colts, and that cannot be overlooked. The former Auburn star has been everything they could’ve asked for and then some. However, Ramczyk’s production proves Smith isn’t quite on that level, and therefore doesn’t deserve as lucrative of a deal.
How RT Ryan Ramczyk’s New Nearly $100M Deal Impacts Braden Smith’s Contract Negotiations with Colts https://t.co/0r8GGJwEAP
— Stampede Blue (@StampedeBlue) June 30, 2021
With Ramczyk ($19.2 million), Lane Johnson ($18 million), Jack Conklin ($14 million) and Taylor Moton ($13.753 mil) being the current highest-paid right tackles, Smith probably deserves an annual average salary somewhere in between the second and third spots.
While Smith doesn’t have an All-Pro or Pro Bowl nod to his name yet, we’re still talking about a lineman that didn’t allow a sack across 471 pass-blocking snaps last year.
Though Ramczyk’s deal might’ve increased Smith’s price tag ever so slightly, it gives the Colts more of an understanding of the RT market, and that will only help them during the negotiation process as they look to get their star blocker locked up to a multi-year extension.
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