USC football players who stay, get paid

It paid to stay.

When former USC linebacker Keith Rivers ended a holdout and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals this week, the Trojans’ celebrated senior class of 2007 allowed Coach Pete Carroll to offer nearly 50 million reasons why players should exhaust their eligibility before turning pro.

Rivers, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, offensive lineman Sam Baker and defensive end Lawrence Jackson all considered declaring for the NFL draft after their junior seasons in 2006. They returned and parlayed their decisions into first-round selections last April and five-year contracts that guarantee a combined $49.2 million.

“Those numbers, they wow me,” said senior linebacker Rey Maualuga, the defensive MVP of the 2008 Rose Bowl who opted to return for a final season.

Carroll said it wasn’t difficult to determine the benefit of staying for a final season – unless a junior is projected as the top player at his position.

“We don’t have to try and build it up because it’s so obvious, it’s crazy,” Carroll said.

Ellis, the seventh overall pick this year by the New Orleans Saints, signed for a guaranteed $19.5 million and could make as much as $49 million. Rivers is guaranteed $15.6 million and could earn as much as $23 million. Baker got an $8-million bonus and could earn $14 million. Jackson is guaranteed $6.1 million of a $11.25-million deal.

Offensive lineman Chilo Rachal left after his junior season and was taken in the second round with the 39th pick, signing a four-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers that included an undisclosed bonus. Tight end Fred Davis, taken 48th by the Washington Redskins after a Mackey Award-winning senior season, received a $1.8-million bonus. The New York Giants picked cornerback Terrell Thomas in the second round and signed him for an undisclosed sum.

“Overall, how they ended up, it made my decision a lot more clear,” Maualuga said. “I’m happier with it.”

 gary.klein@latimes.com