Larry English: breakin' necks and cashin' checks

Saturday's rundown:

NIU Spring Game: 1 PM

NFL Draft: 3 PM

Most pre-draft projections have Larry English going anywhere from #20 to #30 overall.  NFL.com just submitted some new projections two hours ago and all four analysts have English going as high as #24 to as low as #28.  My personal guess is that English will go to the Atlanta Falcons.  Many projections had him going there before the Tony Gonzalez deal.  Now that the Falcons have another offensive weapon to add to former Huskie Michael Turner and Matt Ryan they may be even more inclined to select a player from the defensive side of the ball with their first round (24th) pick.  I could also see English going a pick before to the Patriots at #23.  LE is a SOLID football player who went through the combine AND the pro day.  No controversy, nothing.  Just some great workouts from one of the most intriguing players in the draft.

However, since most people have beaten to death the topic of pre-draft projections let's change the tone and focus on the money Larry English could potentially see as a first round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Here are the contracts 2008 NFL draft players selected #20 through #30 received:

20. CB Aqib Talib (Buccaneers) - Signed a five-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes $8.2 million guaranteed.
21. OT Sam Baker (Falcons) - Signed a five-year, $13 million contract. The deal includes $8 million guaranteed.
22. RB Felix Jones (Cowboys) - Signed a five-year, $10.525 million contract. The deal contains $7.665 million guaranteed, including a $3.57 million signing bonus.
23. RB Rashard Mendenhall (Steelers) - Signed a five-year, $9.855 million contract. The deal contains $7.125 million guaranteed, including a $6.83 million signing bonus.
24. RB Chris Johnson (Titans) - Signed a five-year, $12 million contract. The deal includes $7 million guaranteed.
25. CB Mike Jenkins (Cowboys) - Signed a five-year, $9.725 million contract. The deal contains $6.75 million guaranteed, including a $3.1 million signing bonus.
26. OT Duane Brown (Texans) - Signed a five-year, $9.1 million contract. The deal includes $6.2 million guaranteed.
27. CB Antoine Cason (Chargers) - Signed a five-year, $12.03 million contract. The deal included a $6.3 million signing bonus.
28. DE Lawrence Jackson (Seahawks) - Signed a five-year, $11.25 million contract. The deal included a $6.1 million signing bonus.
29. DE Kentwan Balmer (49ers) - Signed a five-year, $8 million contract. The deal includes $6 million guaranteed.
30. TE Dustin Keller (Jets) - Signed a five-year, $8.5 million contract. The deal includes $5.995 million guaranteed.

Source: rotoworld.com

By looking at those numbers there, we see that English most likely would see a deal around five years and $10 million with around $6 to $7 million of that money guaranteed.  Either way, making $2 million a year in this economy isn't too shabby.

Good luck to Mr. English tomorrow!  Huskie fans will be watching...