The Atlanta Falcons locked up defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to a new contract at the franchise tag deadline on Monday. Jarrett’s new deal figures to have an impact on the ongoing impasse between the Lions and their own standout DT, Damon Harrison.
Jarrett signed for four years and $68 million, with $42.5 million in guaranteed money. That breaks down to 62 percent of the total value guaranteed and $17 million per year, on average.
That bumps Jarrett into the top three highest-paid DTs in the NFL, joining Aaron Donald of the Rams and the Eagles’ Fletcher Cox. That’s where Harrison would like to be, at least in the same neighborhood.
There are differences, of course. Jarrett is more of a 3-technique pass rusher, though his six sacks last season are a career-high. Harrison had his career-high with 3.5 sacks in just 10 games with the Lions, but he’s much more of a traditional 0- or 1-technique nose and attack dog against the run.
It’s a different role despite playing the same basic position, and guys who do it like Harrison rarely get paid the way guys like Jarrett just did.
That distinction will probably not matter in the eyes of Harrison’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus. A defensive tackle is a defensive tackle for franchise tag purposes, and you can bet Rosenhaus will use that in his negotiating argument against the Lions.
Then there’s productivity. Harrison’s worst year in total tackles (55 in 2014) matches Jarrett’s career-best figure last year. Other than 2017, Harrison has topped Jarrett in TFLs every year, too. That’s another arrow in Rosenhaus’ quiver.
Will those matter to the Lions?
They should, at least to an extent. But the raw dollar and guaranteed figures matter more. If Harrison expects $68 million over four years, he’s apt to be disappointed. At 30 years old, the Lions would be foolish to commit that much money for that long to Harrison.
The $42.5 million in guaranteed money is more pertinent – guaranteeing 62 percent of the contract, more specifically. Harrison is due $15.75 million ($6.75M in ’19, $9M in ’20) in base salary on his existing contract, but none of that is guaranteed. Adding years on but guaranteeing enough that 62 percent of the total value is covered in full is the new bar, based on Jarrett’s deal.
The Lions can counter that Jarrett is younger and still ascending in talent, and that might (might!) buy them a few points in guaranteed money or overall value. But it won’t be much of a discount.
Even though Jarrett and Harrison play defensive tackle differently, the Falcons’ new deal directly impacts the Lions and anything they hope to get done with Harrison. That’s the way the NFL works.
