LOL at the Smith/Cincy discussion.

Smith was drafted to move Whitworth (a 2nd rounder from LSU) to RT or another team.

Whit signed a 2 year 19+ million dollar contract.
Smith signed a 3 year 18 million dollar contract.

Smith w/$5 million guaranteed.
Whitworth w/$10 guaranteed.

This fits with the salary averages of the top 10 highest paid players at each position.

Average Salary
LT - 8.1 million/year avg, 6 years avg years, $46.2 million average contract
RT - $5 million/year, 4 years, $22 million average contract

The market for these players absolutely does not lie. The 10 best Right Tackles in the NFL are worth less than 50% than their counterparts on the opposite side of the line. Their contracts are 30% shorter as well.

Neither of these players to me are in the top 10 of their positions and their pay bears that out. But their contract terms are applicable in terms of their value to their franchise.

Whitworth is twice as valuable even though he was a lower selection and Smith was drafted to replace him. Smith is absolutely, positively underperforming and is not considered in the top 3rd of his position in the League.

Very underwhelming and he's a bad example to prop up a Bama point of view in this discussion.

This post was edited on 5/8/14 at 9:37 pm