Tacario Davis hasn’t even taken a snap for the Cincinnati Bengals yet, and he already has his first big-ticket NFL purchase mapped out.
The Bengals used the No. 72 pick in the third round on the Arizona cornerback, adding a defensive piece to a roster that needed help on that side of the ball. Davis may not be locked into a starting job right away, but the rookie contract that comes with being a Day 2 pick gives him room to think a little bigger than he could before.
For Davis, that first splurge is a watch - specifically, a Rolex that ESPN says carries a suggested retail price of $58,950. The model he has his eye on is an “18-carat rose gold Day-Date.”
“I feel like there's levels to it," Davis said. "When you're a kid, you want a chain.
You don't ever want a watch. But watches start a conversation.
Somebody will be looking [at you] and say, 'Nice watch, man!'"
Davis said the Rolex would be the one major purchase he makes from his rookie money, while aiming to save as much of the rest as he can.
That contract is no small thing, either. As the 72nd pick, Davis’ rookie deal is worth a little over $7.2 million over four years. It’s a strong payday, even if it doesn’t reach the numbers being handed to some players drafted earlier.
One example: Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price, the final pick of the first round at No. 32 overall, is on a deal worth a little over $16.7 million, with $8.6 million guaranteed.
So Davis may not be among the top earners in his draft class, but he’s still making enough to turn a $58,950 Rolex into a realistic first NFL reward.
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