Contract details emerge for Colts’ deals with Kamar Aiken, Brandon Williams

As the Colts have made signings this offseason we’ve been looking at the contracts for each of the new players once the details have come in.

The Colts have once again been busy this week, making a number of signings. Two of the guys they have brought in are wide receiver Kamar Aiken and tight end Brandon Williams, both on one-year deals, and it’s worth taking a look at what their contracts are with Indianapolis:

Kamar Aiken

1 year, $2.6 million ($1.5 million guaranteed)

According to the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec, wide receiver Kamar Aiken’s deal with the Colts is a one-year contract worth $2.6 million, with $1.5 million of that guaranteed. Zrebiec also reports that Aiken has $600,000 worth of per game active roster bonuses in his contract as well. The Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson had some additional details on the deal: Aiken has a $1 million base salary in 2017 (with $500,000 of that fully guaranteed) as well as a $1 million signing bonus, which with the $600,000 in roster bonuses the deal is worth up to $2.6 million.

That seems like a fair deal for Aiken, who had a breakout year in 2016 but then saw his role reduced last year (something that he was upset about). This contract won’t hurt the Colts much at all, especially since Aiken will be in the running for the number three wide receiver spot and figures to get a decent amount of snaps. For Aiken, the one-year deal to play with Andrew Luck and the Colts also makes sense, as if he produces he could be in line for a bigger payday next offseason.

Brandon Williams

1 year, $855,000 ($80,000 guaranteed)

The Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson reports that tight end Brandon Williams signed a one-year deal with the Colts worth $855,000. He has a base salary of $775,000 and a signing bonus of $80,000. Wilson also notes that Williams’ contract will use the minimum salary benefit. Here’s what that means: it means that while Williams’ deal is worth $855,000, he actually will have a lower cap number than that. This is a little-known fact, but the idea behind the minimum salary benefit is to help prevent teams from passing over veterans in favor of rookies. If a player has four or more years of experience (which Williams does) and signs for the veteran minimum on a deal with no more than $80,000 in additional compensation, then the player’s cap hit will actually be identical to the minimum for a second-year player (plus the additional compensation added on top of that). So Williams’ cap number with the Colts is actually just $695,000, according to Over the Cap.

This contract does nothing to change the perception of this signing: Brandon Williams has been brought in to compete for a spot. Right now the third tight end spot is wide open (it’s only Williams on the roster right now behind Jack Doyle and Erik Swoope), and something working in Williams’ favor is his ability to play special teams. This signing is simply the Colts bringing in a tight end who could provide depth and special teams contributions but who will have to earn his spot.