I'm guessing it's a prospect who has played about 30 games at the QB position lifetime, and has never taken an NFL snap...
I think the correct term would be: potential franchise qb. It's been a while since we've even had one of those!
I think claiming that we already have a FQB in Darnold is way premature. In all likelihood, he will be a FQB, but if he doesn't work to fix his flaws, if he doesn't wind up having the right mindset, or if the Jets rush him onto the field, he could just be another meh JAG QB.
I'd say a franchise QB (or indeed any other player) is one the team is committed to either financially or through the cost of draft picks taken to acquire. That player can suck for a season or maybe even two but they'll still come back as the cost of jettisoning them is much too high (Flacco). After all we got to two AFC games with our last 'franchise' QB.
surprising that he is showing up for minicamp without a contract. I'm sure he's not the only rookie to do so but it is pretty amazing. God forbid one of these unsigned rookies gets a Teddy Bridgewater injury in these minicamps then what the hell happens??
Insurance kicks in and the Jets would have to demonstrate good faith and rehab the player. What I don’t understand is this escrow period. The contract has set values for the 3rd draft position and any other negotiatiable stuff is just fluff.
I think it has something to do with the option on the final year of the contract but I don't know. You are right the hold up here is always odd
I would imagine they're all insured. And their salaries are slotted so it's a pretty simple payout, everyone knows what the player will earn.
There are little things in rookie contract negotiations such as salary splits, offsets, guarantee language, workout bonuses, and timing of payments that usually cause the hold ups. Front office vacation time is coming so may be July before they get him signed.
