ATHENS — Everyone knows the old cliche, “Show me the money!”
Dated as the Jerry Maguire movie reference it might be, it’s appropriate for Jake Fromm and a handful of former Georgia football players who have signed rookie contracts.
RELATED: Former NFL scout breaks down Jake Fromm’s outlook in Buffalo
Fromm, whose No. 10 Buffalo Bills jersey is apparently a tough find, has a four-year deal worth $3.597 million with a $685,740 signing bonus per spotrac.
The Houston Chronicle reported Fromm has a $302,960 signing bonus. Fromm was a fifth-round pick, selected No. 167 overall.
RELATED: Georgia NFL draft and free-agent signing updates
NFL rookie salaries and signing bonuses are pre-slotted. Agents negotiate what percentage of money is guaranteed and when the signing bonus is paid out.
It hasn’t always been that way, and former Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford benefitted before the rookie wage scale was put into place in 2011.
Stafford signed the second-highest rookie deal in history, a contract worth $72 million after being the first pick of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Joe Burrow, the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, is projected to get a $36 million deal by comparison.
The second (and third) contracts are where the big money can be found: Stafford signed a five-year deal worth $135 million (92 million guaranteed) last December.
Georgia’s top three 2020 NFL Draft picks have yet to sign, but sportrac has projected their salaries:
• No. 4 overall Andrew Thomas, four years, $32,345,589; signing bonus $21,084,065
• No. 29 overall Isaiah Wilson, four years, $11,568,389; signing bonus $5,973,374
• No. 35 (2nd round) overall D’Andre Swift, four years, $8,538,913; signing bonus $3,770,118
The vast different between the second round and the first round explains why coaches suggest to players they return if they can increase their NFL draft value.
Offensive guard Solomon Kindley, the fourth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, has a four-year deal worth $4.1 million, including a $785,000 signing bonus.
Former Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder, the 255th and final pick of the seven-round NFL draft, is another signee. Crowder inked a four-year deal worth $3.37 million with a 75,490 signing bonus.
The Houston Texans signed receiver Tyler Simmons to an undrafted free-agent deal worth $75,000 including a $25,000 signing bonus. Simmons is Houston’s highest-paid undrafted free agent, per the Houston Chronicle.
If Simmons — or any other undrafted free agent — makes the practice squad, he’ll be paid $10,500 weekly.
If he makes the team’s active squad but does not dress, his salary is pro-rated at $400,000 annually, and if he makes the dress squad he’ll make the league minimum of $610,000.
Other Georgia players who agreed to undrafted rookie free-agent deals:
• Eli Wolf, Baltimore
• JR Reed Jacksonville
• Lawrence Cager NY Jets
• Brian Herrien Cleveland
• Rodrigo Blankenship, Indianapolis
• Typique McGhee, Los Angeles Rams
• Tyler Clark, Cincinnati Bengals
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