Why did the Patriots accept a second-round pick for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel? In today’s economy, and in our collective interest in finding good value in everything we purchase, a second-round pick is noticeably more valuable than a first.","highlights","status","PUBLISHED","featuredImage","seo",{"_78":626,"_627":628,"_629":18},"Wednesday Whys","excerpt","The average guarantee in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft was $11.9M. The average guarantee in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft was $1.9M. The $10M difference is striking and should explain why the Patriots opted for a second-round pick in the deal. It was a no-brainer.","defaultImage","pageViews","1","commentCount","0","categoryFilter",{"_636":637,"_638":639},"property","specs.tag","values",[640],"the-business-of-football","slugUrl","lock","categoryId","userReactions",[],"reactionSummary",[],"feedPageHeading","feedPageHeadingLineTwo","feedPageTitle","feedPageDescription","feedPageLogo","hideFeedForum","prohibitComments","prohibitReactions","prohibitReactionsInComments","hideFeaturedImage","advancedOptions","feedBorderOverrideColor","pinnedOn","feedBlurb","The Business of Football",[664],{"_7":552,"_453":640,"_45":662},"isPremium","isWarning","isTertiary","hasEmbed","bangHead","types","videoInfo",{"_673":18},"url","podcastInfo",{"_673":18},"relatedArticles",{"_15":678,"_679":680},[],"filters",[681],{"_636":637,"_638":682},[640],"thumbnail","publishedOn","2009-03-04T13:54:24.000Z","category","featuredImageUrl","cacheKey","nfp_wednesday-whys-21","cachedOn","2026-06-18T16:42:00.150Z","contentBlocks",[694],{"_47":695,"_696":697},"text","html","

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The deal replaces the final two years Payton, 62, had remaining on his existing deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. \"Sean Payton has led an impressive turnaround over th","viewCount","bdcc2601-6bc7-4baa-8c25-bd6b08e9cab7","isLiveFile",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},"externalUrl","subHeadings",{"_707":761,"_604":762,"_641":763,"_552":46,"_743":764,"_684":765,"_612":766,"_617":767,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":768,"_101":769,"_627":769,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":770,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":771,"_646":772,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":773,"_606":770,"_660":-5,"_671":774,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/29160568-544x306.jpg","browns-sign-1st-round-pick-wr-kc-concepcion","/browns-sign-1st-round-pick-wr-kc-concepcion","2026-06-17T14:44:32.775Z","2026-06-10T15:10:08.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Browns sign 1st-round pick WR KC Concepcion","The Cleveland Browns signed first-round draft pick KC Concepcion to his four-year rookie contract on Wednesday. Concepcion, the 24th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, will receive $19.7 million in fully guaranteed money that includes a $10.8 million signing bonus. 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Lawrence, the 23rd overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, will receive $20.2 million in fully guaranteed money that includes an $11.2 million signing bonus. The deal also include","75d00207-40e8-46d1-95d1-cd46a94da09d",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},"skip",{"_704":807,"_708":809,"_710":711,"_712":711,"_679":810},{"_78":808,"_80":18,"_707":18},"Trade News",[],[811],{"_47":552,"_535":812,"_716":717,"_15":813,"_736":737,"_638":820,"_805":44},"trade",{"_47":552,"_535":812,"_45":812,"_719":814},{"_721":815,"_723":816,"_82":-5,"_549":817,"_686":-5,"_727":-5,"_728":818},"cb9eb646-7768-45ba-8968-b7714f7002dd",{"_535":-5,"_7":725,"_377":-5},[],{"_730":819,"_732":733,"_734":733,"_735":819},"2026-05-29T22:41:00.220Z",[821,836,851,866],{"_707":822,"_604":823,"_641":824,"_552":46,"_743":825,"_684":826,"_612":827,"_617":828,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":829,"_101":830,"_627":830,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":831,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":832,"_646":833,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":834,"_606":831,"_660":-5,"_671":835,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/27149906-544x306.jpg","reports-falcons-acquiring-ot-wanya-morris-from-chiefs","/reports-falcons-acquiring-ot-wanya-morris-from-chiefs","2026-06-17T14:44:36.174Z","2026-06-11T18:45:45.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Reports: Falcons acquiring OT Wanya Morris from Chiefs","The Atlanta Falcons are acquiring offensive tackle Wanya Morris from the Kansas City Chiefs, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday. Per reports, the Falcons also will receive a seventh-round pick in 2027 from the Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round selection in the same draft. ESPN reported W","8881ef85-baac-4185-a2e9-d057a29b657d",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_707":837,"_604":838,"_641":839,"_552":46,"_743":840,"_684":841,"_612":842,"_617":843,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":844,"_101":845,"_627":845,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":846,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":847,"_646":848,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":849,"_606":846,"_660":-5,"_671":850,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/27894988-544x306.jpg","denzel-ward-wants-to-stay-in-cleveland-despite-myles-garrett-trade","/denzel-ward-wants-to-stay-in-cleveland-despite-myles-garrett-trade","2026-06-17T14:44:26.184Z","2026-06-06T22:38:01.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Denzel Ward wants to stay in Cleveland despite Myles Garrett trade","With star defensive end Myles Garrett traded away from Cleveland, cornerback Denzel Ward became the longest-tenured player on the Browns, and he has no plans to change that. \"I definitely still want to be here,\" Ward said Saturday at his inaugural celebrity softball game in Eastlake, Ohio, according","982f70e4-3c0a-4bc1-af97-59f260743165",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_707":852,"_604":853,"_641":854,"_552":46,"_743":855,"_684":856,"_612":857,"_617":858,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":859,"_101":860,"_627":860,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":861,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":862,"_646":863,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":864,"_606":861,"_660":-5,"_671":865,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/27985555-544x306.jpg","eagles-trade-star-wr-aj-brown-to-patriots-for-1st-5th-round-picks","/eagles-trade-star-wr-aj-brown-to-patriots-for-1st-5th-round-picks","2026-06-17T14:44:09.050Z","2026-06-01T21:24:21.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Eagles trade star WR AJ Brown to Patriots for 1st-, 5th-round picks","The New England Patriots acquired star wide receiver A.J. Brown on Monday from Philadelphia for what the Eagles announced were a first-round draft pick in 2028 and a fifth-rounder in 2027. While New England did not disclose trade terms, ESPN reported the 2027 pick will be the better of the Patriots'","ad81c7dc-fd90-4ce2-a27b-263f11399b38",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_707":867,"_604":868,"_641":869,"_552":46,"_743":870,"_684":871,"_612":872,"_617":873,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":874,"_101":875,"_627":875,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":876,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":877,"_646":878,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":879,"_606":876,"_660":-5,"_671":880,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/24204710-544x306.jpg","reports-jets-trading-wr-irvin-charles-to-seahawks","/reports-jets-trading-wr-irvin-charles-to-seahawks","2026-05-30T02:55:04.017Z","2026-05-27T15:52:02.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Reports: Jets trading WR Irvin Charles to Seahawks","The New York Jets are trading wide receiver Irvin Charles to the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional seventh-round draft pick, multiple outlets reported Wednesday. Charles, 29, was a key player for the Jets on special teams in 2023 and 2024 but missed all of last season recovering from a torn ACL. Ch","238e26bf-c57e-4173-bd07-5acfaeb989f0",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_704":882,"_708":884,"_710":711,"_712":711,"_679":885},{"_78":883,"_80":18,"_707":18},"Giants",[],[886],{"_47":552,"_535":887,"_716":717,"_15":888,"_736":737,"_638":895,"_805":44},"giants",{"_47":552,"_535":887,"_45":883,"_719":889},{"_721":890,"_723":891,"_82":-5,"_549":892,"_686":-5,"_727":-5,"_728":893},"dcd19fe2-a113-4c2a-9e9f-93d54c7ba91e",{"_535":-5,"_7":725,"_377":-5},[],{"_730":894,"_732":733,"_734":733,"_735":894},"2026-05-29T21:55:19.841Z",[896,911,926,941],{"_707":897,"_604":898,"_641":899,"_552":46,"_743":900,"_684":901,"_612":902,"_617":903,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":904,"_101":905,"_627":905,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":906,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":907,"_646":908,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":909,"_606":906,"_660":-5,"_671":910,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/27141868-544x306.jpg","giants-wr-malik-nabers-making-really-good-progress","/giants-wr-malik-nabers-making-really-good-progress","2026-06-17T14:44:33.475Z","2026-06-10T18:03:26.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Giants WR Malik Nabers 'making really good progress'","New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh is encouraged by the progress of Malik Nabers as the star wide receiver continues to work his way back from last year's season-ending knee injury. \"He's making really good progress right now. I'm very hopeful that he'll be back soon,\" Harbaugh told reporters ","3e209435-55b4-4920-a604-f23910c5a83e",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_707":912,"_604":913,"_641":914,"_552":46,"_743":915,"_684":916,"_612":917,"_617":918,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":919,"_101":920,"_627":920,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":921,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":922,"_646":923,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":924,"_606":921,"_660":-5,"_671":925,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/28704454-544x306.jpg","john-harbaugh-excited-about-giants-wrs-if-malik-nabers-is-healthy","/john-harbaugh-excited-about-giants-wrs-if-malik-nabers-is-healthy","2026-06-17T14:44:29.143Z","2026-06-09T04:13:04.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"John Harbaugh 'excited' about Giants WRs - if Malik Nabers is healthy","New York Giants coach John Harbaugh believes that Malik Nabers is capable of being the best wide receiver in the league, though the Pro Bowler first must return to the field after a knee injury cut short his 2025 season. After a Pro Bowl campaign as a rookie, Nabers tore his right anterior cruciate ","58267bed-2283-4042-bdce-5eb74bd89a18",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_707":927,"_604":928,"_641":929,"_552":46,"_743":930,"_684":931,"_612":932,"_617":933,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":934,"_101":935,"_627":935,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":936,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":937,"_646":938,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":939,"_606":936,"_660":-5,"_671":940,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/28861576-544x306.jpg","longtime-qb-russell-wilson-announces-retirement","/longtime-qb-russell-wilson-announces-retirement","2026-06-17T14:44:17.908Z","2026-06-04T00:10:36.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Longtime QB Russell Wilson announces retirement","Longtime NFL quarterback Russell Wilson announced his retirement on Wednesday at age 37. Wilson made his announcement during a three-minute, 16-second video posted to social media. The 10-time Pro Bowl selection titled the announcement \"Thank You, Football, Love, #3.\" Wilson said he will be working ","32a2aae2-ccb2-4697-aac1-288ecfd1cd30",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_707":942,"_604":943,"_641":944,"_552":46,"_743":945,"_684":946,"_612":947,"_617":948,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":949,"_101":950,"_627":950,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":951,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":952,"_646":953,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":954,"_606":951,"_660":-5,"_671":955,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/29126062-544x306.jpg","odell-beckham-jr-thankful-for-second-chance-with-giants","/odell-beckham-jr-thankful-for-second-chance-with-giants","2026-06-17T14:44:17.544Z","2026-06-03T23:50:04.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Odell Beckham Jr. thankful for second chance with Giants","Odell Beckham Jr. has played in just 23 games over the past four seasons and he's no longer viewed as a top-flight NFL receiver. But the 33-year-old Beckham is glad to get another opportunity with the New York Giants, the franchise he excelled for in his first five NFL seasons from 2014-18. \"God has","e25f13d4-b99f-494c-9593-223afd578917",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_704":957,"_708":959,"_710":711,"_712":711,"_679":960},{"_78":958,"_80":18,"_707":18},"Patriots",[],[961],{"_47":552,"_535":962,"_716":717,"_15":963,"_736":737,"_638":970,"_805":44},"patriots",{"_47":552,"_535":962,"_45":958,"_719":964},{"_721":965,"_723":966,"_82":-5,"_549":967,"_686":-5,"_727":-5,"_728":968},"f2e99727-048a-4527-97ff-bbec02f8a020",{"_535":-5,"_7":725,"_377":-5},[],{"_730":969,"_732":733,"_734":733,"_735":969},"2026-05-29T22:40:57.348Z",[971,986,1001,1016],{"_707":972,"_604":973,"_641":974,"_552":46,"_743":975,"_684":976,"_612":977,"_617":978,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":979,"_101":980,"_627":980,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":981,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":982,"_646":983,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":984,"_606":981,"_660":-5,"_671":985,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/28885633-544x306.jpg","reports-nfl-closes-conduct-review-of-wr-stefon-diggs","/reports-nfl-closes-conduct-review-of-wr-stefon-diggs","2026-06-17T14:44:40.936Z","2026-06-12T20:21:34.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Reports: NFL closes conduct review of WR Stefon Diggs","The NFL has determined there was insufficient evidence of a personal conduct policy violation to punish wide receiver Stefon Diggs, according to multiple reports on Friday. The league informed Diggs on Friday that it has closed its investigation. The 32-year-old was found not guilty on May 5 of stra","48645040-7341-4954-b9c2-5c885ff3b401",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_707":987,"_604":988,"_641":989,"_552":46,"_743":990,"_684":991,"_612":992,"_617":993,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":994,"_101":995,"_627":995,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":996,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":997,"_646":998,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":999,"_606":996,"_660":-5,"_671":1000,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/28206795-544x306.jpg","report-patriots-wr-kayshon-boutte-interested-in-trade","/report-patriots-wr-kayshon-boutte-interested-in-trade","2026-06-17T14:44:17.198Z","2026-06-03T19:16:39.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Report: Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte interested in trade","New England wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is interested in being traded from the Patriots, according to ESPN. Boutte's outlook has been formed after the Patriots signed free agent receiver Romeo Doubs on March 10 and made the long-expected trade for star wideout A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagle","b152d217-faaa-441d-a3d6-eaf69e006d27",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_707":1002,"_604":1003,"_641":1004,"_552":46,"_743":1005,"_684":1006,"_612":1007,"_617":1008,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":1009,"_101":1010,"_627":1010,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":1011,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":1012,"_646":1013,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":1014,"_606":1011,"_660":-5,"_671":1015,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/27934085-544x306.jpg","patriots-te-julian-hill-to-miss-entire-2026-season","/patriots-te-julian-hill-to-miss-entire-2026-season","2026-06-17T14:44:11.972Z","2026-06-02T17:34:05.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"Patriots TE Julian Hill to miss entire 2026 season","New England Patriots tight end Julian Hill sustained a season-ending injury during a voluntary offseason practice. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the news on Tuesday, one day after Hill was placed on IR. Vrabel, however, did not disclose the specific injury. \"Julian won't be able to play ","d3e911b3-55a0-46e8-b6f3-2388cad11860",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},{"_707":1017,"_604":1018,"_641":1019,"_552":46,"_743":1020,"_684":1021,"_612":1022,"_617":1023,"_611":-5,"_669":-5,"_78":1024,"_101":1025,"_627":1025,"_665":30,"_666":30,"_667":30,"_751":631,"_632":633,"_670":-5,"_535":1026,"_132":602,"_753":30,"_644":1027,"_646":1028,"_654":30,"_655":30,"_656":30,"_658":1029,"_606":1026,"_660":-5,"_671":1030,"_758":18,"_759":-5,"_661":-5},"/img/legacy/25289475-544x306.jpg","a-j-brown-on-jalen-hurts-not-as-close-as-we-once-were","/a-j-brown-on-jalen-hurts-not-as-close-as-we-once-were","2026-06-17T14:44:10.617Z","2026-06-02T16:29:39.000Z",{"_45":538,"_535":537,"_616":747},[],"A.J. Brown on Jalen Hurts: 'Not as close as we once were'","A.J. Brown still has love for quarterback Jalen Hurts even though they drifted apart over the last few years, the three-time All-Pro wide receiver said. Brown shared as much and more with NBC Sports' Maria Taylor in an interview published on Tuesday, one day after his long-awaited trade from the Phi","7c3be53f-30f2-41e0-bcc1-665c9ac65355",[],[],{},{"_673":-5},"playerData","actionData","errors"]

Wednesday Whys

Broncos, Sean Payton agree to 5-year deal through 2030

By Field Level Media

Jun 11, 2026

Browns sign 1st-round pick WR KC Concepcion

By Field Level Media

Jun 10, 2026

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield sets deadline for contract talks

By Field Level Media

Jun 5, 2026

Cowboys sign first-round pick Malachi Lawrence to rookie deal

By Field Level Media

Jun 5, 2026

Reports: Falcons acquiring OT Wanya Morris from Chiefs

By Field Level Media

Jun 11, 2026

Denzel Ward wants to stay in Cleveland despite Myles Garrett trade

By Field Level Media

Jun 6, 2026

Eagles trade star WR AJ Brown to Patriots for 1st-, 5th-round picks

By Field Level Media

Jun 1, 2026

Reports: Jets trading WR Irvin Charles to Seahawks

By Field Level Media

May 27, 2026

Giants WR Malik Nabers 'making really good progress'

By Field Level Media

Jun 10, 2026

John Harbaugh 'excited' about Giants WRs - if Malik Nabers is healthy

By Field Level Media

Jun 9, 2026

Longtime QB Russell Wilson announces retirement

By Field Level Media

Jun 3, 2026

Odell Beckham Jr. thankful for second chance with Giants

By Field Level Media

Jun 3, 2026

Reports: NFL closes conduct review of WR Stefon Diggs

By Field Level Media

Jun 12, 2026

Report: Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte interested in trade

By Field Level Media

Jun 3, 2026

Patriots TE Julian Hill to miss entire 2026 season

By Field Level Media

Jun 2, 2026

A.J. Brown on Jalen Hurts: 'Not as close as we once were'

By Field Level Media

Jun 2, 2026

Broncos, Sean Payton agree to 5-year deal through 2030

By Field Level Media

Jun 11, 2026

Browns sign 1st-round pick WR KC Concepcion

By Field Level Media

Jun 10, 2026

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield sets deadline for contract talks

By Field Level Media

Jun 5, 2026

Cowboys sign first-round pick Malachi Lawrence to rookie deal

By Field Level Media

Jun 5, 2026

Reports: Falcons acquiring OT Wanya Morris from Chiefs

By Field Level Media

Jun 11, 2026

Denzel Ward wants to stay in Cleveland despite Myles Garrett trade

By Field Level Media

Jun 6, 2026

Eagles trade star WR AJ Brown to Patriots for 1st-, 5th-round picks

By Field Level Media

Jun 1, 2026

Reports: Jets trading WR Irvin Charles to Seahawks

By Field Level Media

May 27, 2026

Giants WR Malik Nabers 'making really good progress'

By Field Level Media

Jun 10, 2026

John Harbaugh 'excited' about Giants WRs - if Malik Nabers is healthy

By Field Level Media

Jun 9, 2026

Longtime QB Russell Wilson announces retirement