Mason Shipley

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Mason Shipley's Contract Value Index lands at C+, putting the deal in a defined slice of comparable signings. At $1.033M AAV over three years, this is a minimum-salary specialist contract typical of undrafted kicker acquisitions—serviceable depth pricing that carries zero dead-cap risk if the Saints need to pivot mid-camp. The CVI grade reflects realistic value for what amounts to a replacement-level camp body with no proven NFL track record; the contract is neither overpaying nor underpaying relative to his tier, it's simply calibrated to the long odds of an undrafted free agent sticking on a 53-man roster. His dual stops at Texas and Texas State in college signal instability in finding a permanent collegiate home, which compounds the perception of marginal NFL upside entering this competition. Media coverage has been sparse and dismissive—five headlines framing him as routine roster filler—and the Saints' broader offseason activity (selective signings and cuts across linebacker, defensive back, and defensive line depth) suggests the organization views Shipley as interchangeable rather than a deliberate investment, reinforcing expectations that he's tracking toward a practice squad candidacy at best. The three-year term is immaterial given the low annual cap hit; this deal poses no long-term constraint on New Orleans' flexibility, making it a low-risk, low-upside depth deployment exactly as intended.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Mason's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance AnalysisPre-Debut

Mason Shipley has not appeared in an NFL regular season game.

Fan Sentiment

Mason Shipley's arrival in New Orleans has registered as one of the quietest, most dismissive receptions a kicker can receive, and the D- sentiment grade reflects exactly that. Media coverage was sparse at best — five headlines total, almost all framing the undrafted signing as routine camp fodder, with Shipley's path through both Texas and Texas A&M serving as a narrative red flag about instability rather than development. There is no meaningful on-field production narrative to counter the skepticism here; he enters the league with the perception of a replacement-level specialist who has yet to prove he belongs on an NFL roster, let alone a 53-man one. The signing was further buried by the Saints announcing ten undrafted free agents simultaneously, which effectively signaled to fans and analysts alike that the organization views Shipley as interchangeable depth rather than a deliberate roster investment — and that framing has stuck. The broader Saints offseason has been active, with the team adding names like Martin Emerson, Anfernee Jennings, and Zxavian Harris while also trimming roster filler at receiver and running back, painting a picture of a front office making targeted decisions — which only makes Shipley's long-shot odds feel more pronounced by contrast. The overwhelming consensus has him tracking toward a practice squad candidacy at best, and with the team's sentiment sitting steady at D- over the last 30 days, there is no indication the narrative is shifting before training camp roster battles begin.