Matt Elam agrees to rookie contract with Ravens

By Adam Silverstein
July 18, 2013

Updated on Saturday, July 20 at 3 p.m.

Former Florida Gators safety Matt Elam has agreed to a four-year, $6.767 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens and will sign his deal when he reports to the team for training camp.

The rookie’s agreement was officially announced by the team on Thursday. Elam did not hire an agent and instead relied on his brother, NFL veteran and current free agent Abram Elam, to help him throughout the process.

The rookie wage scale is set annually under terms of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with the player’s union, meaning there was not much for Elam (with his brother at his side) to negotiate.

Elam, arguably Florida’s best playmaker in 2012 and one of the top safeties available, was chosen by the Ravens with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was the second overall Gators player selected during the event and became the first picked by the Ravens since Travis Taylor (No. 10 – 2010).

Joining wide receiver Deonte Thompson and defensive backs coach Teryl Austin, who was the Gators’ defensive coordinator in 2010, Elam is the third representative out of Florida to be added the Baltimore franchise in the last two offseasons.

Elam’s four-year rookie deal includes $5.4 million guaranteed – his $3.301 million signing bonus and first three base salaries of $405,000 in 2013, $712,591 in 2014 and $1.02 million in 2015. Elam will earn $1.13 million in base salary in 2016.

The Ravens also possess a fifth-year team option for 2017, though Baltimore would likely lock up Elam with a more lucrative contract before that fifth season if he plays at the level the team expects.

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