Projecting Cedric Ogbuehi's Rookie Contract

Offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi will, at some point, sign a contract as a first-round pick from the 2015 NFL draft. Perhaps it won't be the lucrative deal that he had hoped for as a projected top-10 selection -- prior to suffering an ACL injury during Texas A&M's 45-37 win over West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 29 -- but he won't collect on loss-of-value insurance either.

How much will he get paid, we're asking ourselves (like it totally matters):

Over the Cap projects Ogbuehi signing a deal worth $8.5 million over four years with $7.65 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4,384,364.

However, it's noticeable that their projections based on the contracts that were actually signed are significantly different. OTC projected Jameis Winston to sign a four-year deal worth $22,355,498 (fully guaranteed) with a $14,518,544 signing bonus. Winston actually signed a contract worth $25,351,277 million (only $25,349,948 guaranteed) with a $16,697,292 signing bonus. Wide receiver Amari Cooper signed a four-year deal worth $22,663,116 with all of it guaranteed and a signing bonus of $14,742,266, projections on the overall value and signing bonus he would receive were off by $2 million.

Closer to where the Bengals selected, let's review the No. 20 pick. Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor signed a four-year deal worth $9,377,374 with $8,520,507 guaranteed and a $5,079,908 signing bonus. Over the Cap had Agholor's projected deal at $8,465,952.

Forbes.com, who lists Ogbuehi's projection at $8,421,200, had Nelson projected at $8,465,952... which is far more accurate.

In addition to the overall cost, Ogbuehi will have a fifth-year option tied into his contract. If the Bengals trigger that, he'll receiver the average salary of the top 25 players (excluding the top two) on the offensive line -- not distinguishing guard, tackle or center. Had Ogbuehi been selected in the top 10, the fifth-year option would have been similar to the transition tag.

For comparison, Tyler Eifert, the 21st pick of the 2013 draft, signed a four-year, $8,256,001 contract, including a $4,384,364 signing bonus, $7,490,592 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,064,000. Last year, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signed a 4 year, $8,338,501 contract with the Packers as the 21st pick, including a $4,384,364 signing bonus, $7,559,967 guaranteed, calculating to an average annual salary of $2,084,625.

Ogbuehi's injury affected his draft stock and thus his rookie contract; however he's in a situation that allows him to develop under Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith, allowing him to rehabilitate at his own pace.