It is commonly established that Amon-Ra St. Brown was the 17th wide receiver selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he maintains track of the 16 receivers that came before him. Over the last three seasons, he has also outperformed the majority of those 16.
It’s also widely known that St. Brown is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and his next contract will make him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. According to reports and estimations, he will sign a contract worth between $26 and $28 million, which is only below the absolute top of the market.
Tyreek Hill is currently the highest-paid receiver at $30 million per year. Behind him is Davante Adams ($28 million per year), Cooper Kupp ($26.7 million per year) and A.J. Brown ($25 million per year).
St. Brown will land somewhere in that range, $25 million-plus per year, with one or more of Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase seemingly set to reset the top of the market.
Contract buzz around draft classmate is very good news for Amon-Ra St. Brown
ESPN’s Tim McManus reports that wide receiver DeVonta Smith has began contract extension talks with the Philadelphia Eagles.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said that the two sides have been in contact about a deal for some time, and Smith is prepared to be patient in light of the upcoming large wide receiver contracts. The Eagles also benefit from a fifth-year option, which they will almost certainly exercise by May 2.
Smith is one of the aforementioned receivers who was drafted before St. Brown in 2021. McManus also passed along an indication of what Smith may land in a long-term deal.
“The top of the market may be a reach —Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill currently holds that distinction with an average annual salary of $30 million — but it would be no surprise if Smith commands $25 million or more per season.”
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, some top-tier wide receiver contracts are not what they appear to be. So, if Smith obtains a deal worth $25 million or more per year, there will be understandable suspicion about what it actually is after further investigation.
St. Brown: 315 receptions (two 100-catch seasons), 3,588 yards (two seasons over 1,100 yards, one season over 1,500 yards), 21 touchdowns; two Pro Bowls
Smith: 240 receptions (zero 100-catch seasons; high of 95), 3,178 yards (one season over 1,100 yards; two seasons over 1,000 yards), 19 touchdowns; zero Pro Bowls
It’s worth noting that Smith has had to contend with a top-end receiver (A.J. Brown) for targets in a way St. Brown hasn’t. Even with that in mind, there’s really no comparing their accomplishments through three seasons.
Smith’s second contract may be worth $25 million or more per year, although this is still speculation. Even as pure speculation, signals of a contract bar for a less-experienced draft classmate bode well for St. Brown as his agent negotiates with the Lions.
