NFL owners pulled a fast one on players and the NFLPA during the 2011 collective bargaining agreement when they instituted the rookie wage scale. Before the latest labor agreement which extends to 2020, high draft picks were commanding large contracts before ever playing a snap at the professional level.
In 2008, the number one draft pick Jake Long signed a five year contract worth $57.75 million. In 2009, Matt Stafford signed a six year contract worth $72 million. But, perhaps the most used example of overpaying an unproven rookie came in 2010 when Sam Bradford signed a six year contract worth $78 million.