Gainwell

Or, you know, maybe they watched tape or just looked at the stats that he was our second leading receiver and the other guy wasn't playing?

 

Gainwell had 486 yards receiving. He also had 528 yards after catch. Do the math.

 

Lots of swing catches where he caught it behind the LOS... He gained over 7 yards after the catch per reception, so he turned a lot of dump offs and check downs into positive plays.

 

I got you! I agree on the Le’Veon being the best back ever had he stayed. If I remember correctly he held out all season for like 4-5 million more. He faded after that as well. Pretty much every player does when they go to the Jets.

 

Exactly. It's a nice 74 here right now. I can't stand the cold.

 

Short winters, long summers.

 

You in Little Rock?

 

He will find out in FA

He would be foolish to sign before

 

I bet he will get more than that this is his first chance to really get paid, if that's all he gets he should fire his agent.

 

Najee only got $5.25M and he had twice the yards of Gainwell

$3M/yr may be fair

And if that is all he gets then it has nothing to do with the agent it’s what he is worth

 

I think skillsets matter for the money. Gainwell has the ability to play all 3 downs and he is excellent as a receiver out of the backfield. Harris was a borderline starter quality 2 down volume back. I think someone will pay Gainwell a decent amount because his skillset is more unique. Some team that plans on using its RB's in the passing game a good bit is going to love to have him. However, I don't think any teams are going to view him as a "starter", so his value is capped. I think something in the middle of Austin Ekeler's $4.2m and Jordan Mason's $5.2m is probably the sweet spot. It could be less if he's viewed as a one hit wonder or something, but this was the first time he was extensively used and he performed very well. Someone with a middling starter or a team with a young QB would benefit greatly from his services.

 

Gainwell should be a priority signing, he is a difference maker.

 

I agree.

I love the guy. I hope McCarthy wants him, and I hope they can sign him.

He isn't a premier running back that gets 25 carries a game, but he was money in split duties with Warren and on third downs. He has some of the best hands I've ever seen at the running back position.

 

A little chart to show which RB offered the best value this season based on total EPA (rushing+rec) vs their average salary rank.

Steelers got good value from Gainwell this season. But even Warren's pay isn't out of line for what he brings to the offense. Worst contract is Jeanty's. Barkley's is also bad. Best is Javonte Williams.

(btw, the salary correlate much better with receiving EPA than rushing EPA when looking at them separately. Just further proof that teams are willing to pay for a RB that is good in the passing game)

 

It's funny because in the cut / extend / play out thread, I just said I'd let Gainwell walk.

But that's because I assume that someone will overpay him based on his production last year.

At $3MM / year, it would be an easy decision to bring him back. But I wouldn't expect close to the same production because I assume we'll have more than 1 (and sometimes 0) actual NFL WRs.

 

Someone with a middling starter that would be the Steelers .