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Filthy rich: How much money every SEC first-round draft pick will make
By SDS Staff
Published:
Dreams became reality Thursday night for 10 former SEC standouts, and they are set to make a boatload of money instantly.
Every year, the NFL sets a “total rookie compensation pool” that forms what each draft pick can earn based on calculations tied to the salary cap.
For reference sake, Ex-Oklahoma and Heisman winning QB Baker Mayfield was the biggest winner as the No. 1 pick overall by the Cleveland Browns. As the No. 1 pick, Mayfield is set to have an estimated $21.85 million signing bonus and a contract value of nearly $32.7 million over four years.
Former Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith was the SEC’s highest pick at No. 8 overall to the Chicago Bears, and Smith is set to have a $11.5 million signing bonus and a contract value of nearly $18.5 million over four years. Conversely, former Georgia running back Sony Michel was the SEC’s last pick at No. 31 overall and is set to have a $5 million signing bonus and have a contract value of $9.6 million over four years.
Hopefully, for their sakes, they get to help their families and save and invest for their future after football.
Here’s a look at the projected total contract value and signing bonus of every former SEC player in the draft, according to Spotrac.com:
| Pick | Team | Player | School | Total Value | Signing Bonus |
| 1 | Browns | Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma | $32,683,750.00 | $21,850,000.00 |
| 8 | Bears | Roquan Smith | Georgia | $18,477,574.00 | $11,518,236.00 |
| 11 | Dolphins | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Alabama | $16,448,126.00 | $10,042,274.00 |
| 13 | Redskins | Da’Ron Payne | Alabama | $14,418,662.00 | $8,566,300.00 |
| 20 | Lions | Frank Ragnow | Arkansas | $11,780,374.00 | $6,647,545.00 |
| 22 | Titans | Rashaan Evans | Alabama | $11,577,422.00 | $6,499,943.00 |
| 23 | Patriots | Isaiah Wynn | Georgia | $11,442,129.00 | $6,401,548.00 |
| 25 | Ravens | Hayden Hurst | South Carolina | $11,036,241.00 | $6,106,357.00 |
| 26 | Falcons | Calvin Ridley | Alabama | $10,900,923.00 | $6,007,944.00 |
| 29 | Jaguars | Taven Bryan | Florida | $10,155,151.00 | $5,465,564.00 |
| 31 | Patriots | Sony Michel | Georgia | $9,626,874.00 | $5,081,363.00 |
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
