Former Florida football starting quarterback Graham Mertz is officially a member of the National Football League after signing a four-year, $4.9 million contract with the Houston Texans, who selected him in the sixth round with the No. 197 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft.
My understanding of the NFL is they can cut someone at any time and basically be off the hook for the money?? Still, I had no idea contracts for picks that low in the draft were anywhere that lucrative.
Happy for Graham. He embraced being a Gator and gave it his all. His all actually caused his season ending injury. If he improves his deep ball, he may have a very long career in the NFL.
Yes, if none of the money is guaranteed this is true. But the minimum salary for rookies is about $850K, so he's not that far above that number.
Looks like only the signing bonus was guaranteed. If he can last a couple of seasons he'll have a nice nest egg. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/97998/graham-mertz/contract/cap
Cool, that site has a nice breakdown. Fingers crossed Mertz can hang around and collect most of that contract. FWIW it does look like his salary for this season is the minimum.
Congrats to Graham Mertz. As far as him getting drafted in the sixth round, please keep in mind that a guy named Tom Brady was a sixth round draft pick too. I often wonder whatever became of him.
If he can just show some promise, stay on for two seasons he will collect a couple million. With that he could pay for and furnish a house, and then do almost anything. What would be so wrong with managing a fast food restaurant imploring your staff of fsu grads, to flip burgers before burned on one side, and cook those fries to a rich golden brown consistently? "Nole grads lets have a quick huddle. We seem to have some issues with timing. Too often your fries are either under cooked and soggy, or over cooked and somewhat burned. Our customers remain disappointed. We need product consistency! Can I count on you from here on out to be better at your only available career option? And yes, I have it approved from Corporate to let you all have the weekly clown-face-day you all have been clamoring for. How about Mondays? Great, now lets get back to work."
Nole grads cannot comprehend verbal direction of that many words. Please condense down to six words or less
He will be able to keep his signing bonus. After that, it is going to be all about his showing during the pre-season games. If he shows well, he can make the team. Otherwise, I foresee him being on the practice squad. The QB development in the NFL is too restrictive IMO. You relish quality QBs but you can't treat them like the rest of the team. They just don't get any real game experience like the second or third stringers at the other positions. Anyways, congratulations Graham and good luck.
Unless it's changed, and my getting fogger by the day memory is right. NFL pension are accrued by actual playing time measured in quarters. To collectively be years. Just being on an NFL roster didn't matter. Years ago I saw a Shane Matthews podcast where he discussed his NFL pension. From previous experience, he knew the Bears playbook inside and out. For years the Bears would sign him to ten day contracts to cover an injured QB starter. So, one quarter of playing time at a whack, and he eventually qualified for an NFL pension. Without having long term health issues as well was a bonus.
Count me as a bit surprised that he was drafted and landed a contract. Really wish him well, he was a great Gator and team mate - All Team guy! I definitely see him as a guy who moves into coaching sooner than later, not that he couldn't surprise me and become a starter somewhere. His football IQ, his demeanor and communication skills just scream out COACH to me! Hope he comes home to coach up the Gators!
