Mock Draft 2.0 w/trades, explanations and a few surprises...

REALCHRISM said
Why is that people think Sheppard will want a new contract? He just signed a new deal like two years ago. Also, he did not have his strongest year last season and also missed time with an injury. I do not think he is in the best position to ask for a new deal. Of course, I think you are spot on in your assessment of the Patriots and not wanting to give out big deals to veterans, even their own. Of course, last year they seem to take a detour from that philosophy. Also, they are in desperate need of a CB or two.

Valid point. He's not guaranteed to demand a new contract. But since his last contract signing in 2004, when he signed for 8/$26 according to http://www.geocities.com/eaglescap/Contract-Documentation4.html, there have been some big contracts shelled out to CBs (Clements, Samuel, Hall, etc.) and he's no longer getting compensated as well as his peers. Also, it's not uncommon for players to demand new contracts after being traded, as we've seen this offseason.

With that said, after taking a deeper look, it seems like you might be more correct in your assessment. It looks like Sheppard's deal was backloaded, so he might be satisfied with his situation. Or he might use recent level of play as leverage to sucker a new deal out of his new team. At this point, I can't really tell. :shrug:

2004: $2,610,750 (480.75K base salary+680K proration+1.45 mil proration)
2005: $2,661,000 (531K basae salary+680K proration+1.45 mil proration; $8,610,000 dead money if cut)
2006: $2,742,250 (612,250 base+680K pro.+1.45 mil proration; $6,480,000 dead money if cut)
2007: $2,450,000 (1 mil base salary+1.45 mil proration; $4,350,000 dead money if cut)
2008: $3,450,000 (2 mil base salary+1.45 mil proration; $2,900,000 dead money if cut)
2009: $4,450,000 (3 mil base salary+1.45 mil proration; $1,450,000 dead money if cut)
2010: $3,700,000 (base salary)
2011: $4,250,000 (base salary)