Chance Warmack Finally Signs Contract
By Ben Greene
Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Offensive guard Chance Warmack (Alabama) is introduced as the tenth overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
It is official. Chance Warmack has signed his rookie contract and will report to training camp as early as July 30.
The deal is reportedly worth more than $12 million over the next four seasons and includes a fifth year option. Warmack’s signing bonus is worth $7.2 million.
Warmack, the 10th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, was the last of the first-round selections to sign his rookie contract. The main point of conflict in the negotiations was over the inclusion of “offset language” in the deal. Offset language is a complex issue, but Ian Rapoport broke it down in an article for NFL.com last year. Basically, offset language allows teams to release players down the road without paying out the rest of those players’ contracts. Since offset language gives teams more financial freedom, the Titans wanted it and Warmack did not.
Six of the nine players selected ahead of Warmack in the 2013 draft have such clauses in their contracts. Only Luke Joeckel (selected No. 2 to the Jaguars), Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah (No. 5 to the Lions) and Tavon Austin (No. 8 to the Rams) do not have offset language in their deals.
If the other top 10 draft picks’ contracts are any indicator, the Titans were completely justified in not only requesting, but expecting offset language in Warmack’s contract. As it turns out, the Titans got what they wanted, as Warmack’s deal includes offsets.
Now that his contract dispute is over, Warmack will finally be able to start practicing with the offensive line unit he is expected to start alongside come Week 1. However, Coach Mike Munchak, a former NFL offensive lineman, said he expects it to be difficult for Warmack to make up for lost time.
“Even though he’s been through it one time, there’s nothing like this kind of competition,” Munchak told the Associated Press July 28. “There’s stuff that went on today that the offensive line faced versus the defense. That’s something that’s hard to make up. I mean, we know he’ll be here at some point and we’ll just have to wait until that comes. He’s good enough to play and help us right away, it just sets everything back.”