Brent Celek signs 6-year extension; Vernon Davis begins salivating

by David Fucillo on Dec 1, 2009 12:09 PM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

While this is not 49ers news, it is something that will certainly play into the 49ers long term plans. TE Brent Celek has reportedly agreed to a 6-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles worth $33 million, with $11 million guaranteed. I bring this up because our own monster TE Vernon Davis is signed through the 2010 season. If the 49ers intend to lock him up, the numbers are probably starting to fall into place. First, a quick comparison of Celek and Davis this season:

Celek: 54 receptions, 601 yards, 5 TDs, 8 catches of 20+ yards

Davis: 57 receptions, 670 yards, 9 TDs, 10 catches of 20+ yards

Celek, like Davis, is in the midst of a breakout season. The former 5th round pick certainly didn't come with the fanfare of Vernon Davis, but he's steadily improved and become a huge weapon for Donovan McNabb this season. If the 49ers do extend Davis at some point, I think it's safe to say it will end up being more than Celek's contract. I say this because I think Davis is a greater all around weapon than Celek, and also because of the fact that as time passes, contracts continue to inflate. Of course, this can be countered with the fact that we're looking at a whole lot of labor instability in the NFL, so who really knows what that means for contracts.

Just for the heck of it, I thought I'd pull up the contracts of some of the other elite tight ends in the NFL (with date it was signed in parentheses). These are from Rotoworld, which I consider a solid source, although obviously there's no guarantees on accuracy:

Dallas Clark (2/2/08): 6 years, $36 million - looks like $11 or so million was guaranteed

Jason Witten (7/22/06): 6 years, $29 million - $12 million guaranteed

Antonio Gates (8/30/05): 6 years, $24 million - $10.5 million guaranteed

Tony Gonzalez (1/12/06): 5 years $35 million - $17.75 million guaranteed

At this point, I'd imagine Dallas Clark is Davis's starting point for a contract. Of course, I'd imagine Vernon will be asking for more than that. If he continues his development at its new pace, one could argue he's well on his way to becoming the best tight end in the NFL. Heck, in my fantasy league with no PPR and basic scoring stats (where I snagged him for a 12th round pick and can keep him as a 12th rounder next year!), Davis is the highest scoring tight end in the league by 7 points over Dallas Clark. While Davis might not be using those fantasy numbers in his contract negotiations, it goes to show how far the man has come.

The only way I see Davis's contract value going up is if he goes into next season and puts up similar, or better numbers than this year to show an ability to be consistently great. The 49ers have done a good job signing young players to contract extensions, but they definitely missed the boat with Vernon Davis. If Davis and his agent told the 49ers he was going to wait to sign an extension, well then Davis is a smart individual. Either way, we'll see how long it takes for the 49ers to get a deal worked out, if it happens at all any time soon.

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Comments

Starting point

I actually think Jason Witten’s deal is something that will look like Davis’ contract. Not necessarily the actual figures, of course, but the ratio of bonus to total money. I think the 49ers will hope that Davis takes more in guarantees with annual base that is slightly lower than the other TEs with similar contracts. Or maybe that’s what I’m hoping?

by sfgfan on Dec 1, 2009 12:18 PM PST reply actions

I can live with

whatever contract the Niners end up giving Davis. If he becomes the highest paid TE, I’m cool with that, if he doesn’t I’m cool with that. Mostly, these types of deals are value, because not a lot of TEs in the league are “elite”.

Celek’s deal is huge, and I’ve got no problems if Davis’ eclipses it, whether it be in yearly base salary, or guaranteed money. LOCK.HIM.UP.

by Andrew Davidson on Dec 1, 2009 12:23 PM PST up reply actions

ratio

That would make sense, although in that case we might be looking at something more like Gonzalez. Higher ratio and higher total package

by David Fucillo on Dec 1, 2009 12:26 PM PST up reply actions

Gonzalez

I was thinking about that, but I don’t know if Davis warrants the kind of contract that a future HOF-er recently commanded. I can definitely see it happening, though.

by sfgfan on Dec 1, 2009 3:00 PM PST up reply actions

rumour has it

VD has signed these guys on as his agents. It’s only rumoured, but word has it there are more vicious than the Poston brothers.

by Andrew Davidson on Dec 1, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions

Poor Paraag......

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

by SportsChicken on Dec 1, 2009 5:30 PM PST up reply actions

Guaranteed money is where it's at

for NFL players. Crabtree got 17 million guaranteed—I expect that Davis will want that much.

I’ve got no problem paying the man whatever he wants. He’s the most valuable offensive weapon we have right now.

by smileyman on Dec 1, 2009 12:24 PM PST reply actions

They can't lose VD

As far as we can tell, there are maybe only 5-6 TEs in the NFL that are considered elite and Davis is inching closer to that status if he continues to be this good next season too. The 49ers’ offense needs any help it can get and Davis has proved thus far that he is the go-to guy.

With Crabtree cemented as the #1 WR and DBs covering Davis, I think what the offense needs now is a receiver with amazing speed to stretch the field even more. Morgan isn’t very fast but he has the looks of a solid #2 WR so I hope the Niners can draft a speedy guy in the 3rd round or later during the upcoming draft; remember you can teach them how to catch but you can’t teach speed*.

*Doesn’t apply to a certain rookie wide receiver on the other side of the Bay

Win the inning.

by Scooter Ellis on Dec 1, 2009 12:42 PM PST reply actions

Good use of uncapped year

If the year is uncapped lock up VD with a large guaranteed up front roster bonus and little salary after that. If the cap returns in similar form than that sort of deal will be ridiculously cap friendly.

by Dave R. on Dec 1, 2009 1:47 PM PST reply actions

It would be done if Eddie D was still the owner.

by aBulldog on Dec 1, 2009 2:29 PM PST up reply actions

Davis will be the highest paid TE in the league.. again.

I’m betting something along the lines of 6 years 45 million.

by whistlingmountain on Dec 1, 2009 2:23 PM PST reply actions

I'd be ok with that

6 years 45 million, 20 of it guaranteed.

We treat him like a #1 receiver, so he should get paid like one.

by smileyman on Dec 1, 2009 2:36 PM PST up reply actions

I think his blocking skills are probably top 2 or 3 in the league, if not the best for a TE with receiving ability… and his redzone/big play ability should be rewarded, as should the fact that he’s a team captain. Pay the guy.

by aBulldog on Dec 1, 2009 2:29 PM PST reply actions

Man. I hated Vernon Davis last season.

I loved his potential, but I was just short of buying an 85 jersey with the name as “BUST.” I’m glad this guy has turned it around.

So by my count Singletary has Vernon Davis, Aubrayo Franklin, Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson playing better, plus he has Takeo Spikes, who may have been out of gas two seasons ago, playing like he’s a young ’un. And possibly Alex Smith, too?

You can never resist the game... nor could I... we're the same, so don't even try.

by James Brady on Dec 1, 2009 3:06 PM PST reply actions

pay VD whatever he wants

great blocking skills and now he’s emerged as the go-to-guy in our offense. That’s what we were expecting from him when we made him the 6th overall pick back in 2006. Might have taken him +3 years to get there, but discovering that you had a gem in the rough all along is way better than knowing you wound up with a bust. VD is probably gonna be the best TE in the NFL when his career is said and done. RE-SIGN HIM front office!!! I mean that is why we drafted him in the first place, right? To give Alex a target. Well, now that we got him, let’s keep him!

by Doni S on Dec 1, 2009 3:08 PM PST reply actions

They will probably do it in the offseason right before free agency. They need to extend Willis too.

49ers Al Grito De Guerra!!! hahaha

by 49erSalvatrucha on Dec 1, 2009 3:23 PM PST reply actions

Hell yeah Willis too!!

Is next year an uncapped year or not? Maybe we can get all these extensions w/ guaranteed $ up front to circumvent any cap ramifications the following year.

IF next year is uncapped we might be able to pick-up some additional help on the o-line and corner positions.

by 49er Faithful925 on Dec 1, 2009 3:27 PM PST up reply actions

i read somewhere willis and VD want to see how the uncapped year goes

i think they’ll still be under contract, but they want to see how much bigger the salary cap becomes before they resign. So would it work like this?
After 09 season: Franklin is franchised
After 2010: Davis
After 2011: Willis

by Rep the Bay on Dec 1, 2009 3:28 PM PST up reply actions

I agree it’s going to be up to the players and their agent’s when these things get done more than the 9ers.

I was surprised they managed to get the extensions last preseason that they did.

by Dave R. on Dec 1, 2009 4:03 PM PST up reply actions

If anything the salary cap will get smaller

not bigger.

And if it’s an uncapped year it takes 6 years for FA, so both Davis and Gore will be out of luck. It’s in their best interest to sign an extension before a new CBA.

by smileyman on Dec 1, 2009 5:30 PM PST up reply actions

Lock him up to a 6yr deal....

Guy just set a franchise records….. as much as I loved watching Brent Jones catch everything thrown his way…. VD is a better blocker and just seems like more of a deep threat!! VD could play and put up monster numbers on any of those old niner teams. Future looks bright w/ this guy on our side!!

by 49er Faithful925 on Dec 1, 2009 3:25 PM PST reply actions

I've always thought that if you put 30 or 40 pounds on him

he’d make a pretty good offensive lineman.

by smileyman on Dec 1, 2009 5:31 PM PST up reply actions

extension that is!!

by 49er Faithful925 on Dec 1, 2009 3:25 PM PST reply actions

Pay the Man!

by danknerd49 on Dec 1, 2009 4:32 PM PST reply actions

Sort of off topic

Manny Lawson?
He was drafted in the same year and he’s been doing OK this season.

Thoughts?

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

by SportsChicken on Dec 1, 2009 5:34 PM PST reply actions

He has shown some signs. He needs to add weight and muscle cause he gets stone walled to often. So far not worth the big contract but he has some game.

by bignerd on Dec 1, 2009 9:34 PM PST up reply actions

I need Florida Danny...

…but hasn’t he written before that Tight Ends and Running Backs are the easiest positions to replace and thus not where you want to spend your money?

Never use a big word where a diminutive alternative would suffice.

by YoungWillis on Dec 1, 2009 9:38 PM PST reply actions

That's a good point

Most RB’s are already passed their prime by the second contract. VD is a bit special because he can catch the ball and block, where most TEs specialize in one or the other. A really ingenious OC could exploit his multiple talents but sadly Jimmy Raye has been the most creative OC when it comes to VD. If Sean Payton had VD (well Peyton would be a slut), VD would appear like the rarest commodity in the league.

by bignerd on Dec 1, 2009 11:09 PM PST up reply actions