Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? The two-year, $28 million contract (worth up to $31 million through incentives and salary escalators) Watt signed with the Cardinals in 2021, after the Texans granted his request to be released, is expiring. With the Football Team winning six games -- all with him at quarterback -- he's already made $750,000 this year with the chance for another $125,000 on Sunday against the Giants. He was one of 26 players to have earned at least $500,000. Since the acquisition, which allowed Steve Spagnuolo to slide Jones back to the interior of the defensive line, Jones has tallied six total sacks. Winning one playoff game is worth $500,000 more. The amount increases by $250,000 to $750,000 for winning a wild-card playoff game where Brady plays a minimum of 75% of Tampa Bay's offensive snaps or earning a first-round playoff bye. There are multiple ways for Poyer to earn the $2 million: (1) $750,000 for six or more interceptions, (2) $500,000 for a Pro Bowl selection, (3) $500,000 for 92% or more defensive playtime, (4) $500,000 for at least 90% defensive playtime and the Bills improving in wins from 2021, (5) $500,000 for at least 90% defensive playtime and the Bills improving over 2021's league rank in sacks, (6) $500,000 for at least 90% defensive playtime and the Bills improving over 2021 league rank in turnover margin, (7) $250,000 for one fumble recovery or $300,000 with two fumble recoveries or $500,00 with five fumble recoveries and (8) $250,000 for at least one interception return for a touchdown. Players on teams that make it to the wild-card round receive a $28,000 bonus. Kirk has 76 receptions for 988 yards through 15 games. Armstead had played 97 of a possible 145 regular-season games in nine NFL seasons prior to signing a five-year, $75 million contract containing $43.73 million of guarantees with the Dolphins. The necessary playtime thresholds are each 5% lower in this instance. Los Angeles Rams receiver Odell Beckham Jr.'s potential of $3 million in incentives doesn't start until the playoffs, where he'll earn $500,000 if he plays and the team wins in the wild-card round. Garoppolo has an incentive paying $250,000 for every game in which he participates in at least 25% of San Francisco's offensive plays where there's an additional $100,000 in a 49ers win. Here's a look at 2022 performance bonuses for 20 noteworthy players. This year, the league divvied up $8.55 million per team for veterans and rookies, and while the checks won't hit the players' accounts until 2024 at the earliest, it's still good to know there will be some money coming in. The deal contains $1.25 million in annual incentives for reaching 10 sacks. $17.1M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2021 salary + 2022 salary + 2022 option bonus) $2.866M of 2023 salary fully guarantees on 3/18/22; 2022 Option Bonus: $3M; . The 49ers could choose to stick with 2022 seventh-round pick Brock Purdy during a deep playoff run even if Garoppolo can return. Smith has 10 sacks in 15 games this season. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. The Level Two PPE is earned if a player participates in at least 55% of a team's offensive or defensive snaps in all of his first three seasons. The other $1 million is also contingent on Jacksonville ranking in the NFL's top 10 in at least one of seven offensive categories (points scored, touchdowns scored, total offense, average net yards gained per passing play, average net yards gained per rushing play, sacked allowed or completion percentage).The playtime threshold isn't a problem, as Norwell has only missed six snaps this season. And while the yardage bonus is probably a bridge too far (Rodgers sits at 3,977 yards on the season and in ninth position, 634 yards behind Joe Burrow in fifth place) he enters play with a completion percentage of 68.6%, just 0.4% behind Kyler Murray who sits in third place with a mark of 69%.. New England linebacker Donta Hightowers return to the lineup helped spark a defensive resurgence for the Patriots. Free-agency coverage | More NFL . In spots 3 through 10: Seattle linebacker D'Andre Walker ($453), Carolina offensive tackle Matt Kaskey ($542), Green Bay defensive tackle Anthony Rush ($547), Martin ($591), New York Giants wide receiver Alex Bachman ($600), Jacksonville Jaguars place-kicker Stephen Hauschka ($740), Philadelphia Eagles tackle Prince Tega Wanogho ($781), Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson ($924) and Washington Football Team tackle Saahdiq Charles ($924). Jones has 12 sacks this season. Contract Notes: $2.82M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2021 salary) 2023: Proven Performance Bonus. Two more sacks in the final three games will get Golden the entire $2 million. This years top earner is Buccaneers guard Alex Cappa, a2018 third-round pick who played every single snap for the eventual champs. Green is enjoying a second life in the desert as part of an Arizona Cardinals team that is trying to lock down a division title in the final week of the season. The most frequent categories for individual achievement are playtime or based on the player's primary function (i.e. Hightower's defensive playtime is 66.32% through 14 games. If he reaches 10 sacks, that will bump to $2 million, and if he were to hit 12 sacks, that would bump to $3.2 million. It has not been the best of seasons for the Seattle Seahawks, and that has led to questions about the tenure of Pete Carroll, general manager John Schneider, and even quarterback Russell Wilson. He had bonuses of $500,000 for reaching double-digit sacks in a season and another $500,000 if he reached 12. Henry hit the 1,300-yard mark in Week15's game against the Chargers. Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick Maximum: $5 million Expected bonus: $2.5 million Dolphins head coach Brian Flores'. Bradley Bozeman, C, Ravens, $613,180.37: Bozeman is near the top of the bonus list after snapping the ball to Lamar Jackson all season. There are entirely too many performance bonuses in NFL contracts to recognize them all. The team cut him after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced. He was one of 26 players to have earned at least $500,000. Jerry Jones believes Cowboys can keep Zeke and Pollard, NFL combine measurements for DBs: Full list of results, Jerry Jones believes Prescott can progress like Brady, NFL combine 2023 results tracker: Top performances, NFL combine 2023: Winners and losers from DB workouts, Report: Pollard to get franchise tag if deal isn't done, Agent's Take: Inside 2022 performance bonuses, NFL combine: Winners and losers from DB workouts, Mock Draft: Panthers, Colts trade up for QBs, Rodgers' trade value, logistics, best fit, Top QB in draft: I definitely don't want to play for 1 team, Jerry Jones: Dak can get better with age like Brady, Report: Daniel Jones actually wants more than $45M per, Ex-Patriots star McGinest facing 8 years in prison, Jerry Jones: Cowboys can find way to keep both RBs. He enters Week 18 with the Patriots still having an outside shot at the top overall seed in the AFC having played 67% of New Englands defensive snaps. Instead, he joined the Vikings on a backloaded, three-year, $42 million deal worth up to $44 million with incentives. Howard has been on field for 90.47% of Miami's defensive snaps this season. He has an incentive paying $125,000 for every win in which he plays at least 60% of the Washington's offensive snaps for a maximum of 12 wins. Grasu played right tackle and blocked for a 3-yard gain. The trade market never materialized thanks to Garoppolo's right shoulder injury. Maximum: $7 millionExpected bonus: $1 million. Likely unreachable, but if he were to hit 14 with five sacks, he'd see that bumped to $4.4 million. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? Aaron Rodgers earns a bonus of $100,000 if he plays over 72.5% of the Green Bay Packers snaps and finishes in the top three of any of these four categories: Passer rating, completion percentage, interception percentage and passing yardage. Smith needed four catches to earn an additional $300,000 in incentives and 23 receiving yards for his ninth season with 1,000 receiving yards. Brown, who was picked up by the Buccaneers midway through the 2020 season at the urging of quarterback Tom Brady, had been playing on a one-year, $3.1 million contract signed in April 2021.. Smith-Schuster has 74 catches for 877 yards so far this season. Arizona Cardinals tackle Kelvin Beachum collected the second-highest check at $604,185 after starting every game. Clowney makes $250,000 for reaching 60% defensive playtime. Stay prepared during the 2021 NFL Season From Week 1 until the Super Bowl, we create the highest-quality NFL fantasy, DFS, and prop betting content. Those clauses remain in force, and while Diggs is likely to fall short of 1,375 receiving yards, he enters Sunday with 94 receptions. Bowen's favorites | Pick analysis This means Hightower's 2020 contract year became his 2021 contract year, which includes $2 million in incentives. Since 2002, the NFLs performance-based pay system has rewarded low-salary players who exceed their expected playing time. His fellow Cardinals linebacker, Markus Golden, already made $1 million because of his 11 sacks ($250,000 for six sacks, $250,000 for eight sacks and $500,000 for 10 sacks). The team requirement was necessary to turn the $3.375 million of incentives Brady earned last season from likely to be earned to NLTBE. Cooper Kupp saved the Rams Arizona could theoretically climb as high as the number two seed, if both the Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose. Houston gets $500,000 for reaching five sacks. The four-year, $160 million contract Dak Prescott signed in March contains a $1 million incentive each year for the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl. Id be curious as to what metrics and variables are used to determine that. Tot Player Comp for the '19 season will be $228.7m/club; $188.2m of that is salary cap, but there is another $40.5m of benefits that is distributed. His $21 million 2023 salary remained as is. The bonus pay will help him offset the money he lost from a two-game suspension at the start of 2019 for violating the league's personal conduct policy. He cut his $14 million 2021 compensation to the $6 million that was already fully guaranteed. $4 million of incentives based on his sack total and Atlanta improving on last season's four wins, which has occurred, were included. There are three different $1 million incentives predicated on Norwell playing at least 70% on offense this season. Entering Sunday, Lockett had already earned $1.8 million of that $2.4 million in potential added money. He wasn't the only Buccaneer, either. He enters play this weekend second in field goals made with 35, so those bonuses seem to be safe. Sometimes the best feeling can be finding an extra $20 in a pair of jeans you have not worn in a while. If that happens, it could cushion the blow of missing out on the Pro Bowl -- and the $1 million that would have come with that. The full list, going team-by-team,can be found here, courtesy of the NFLPA. "I've been taking my incentives one incentive at a time," said Floyd, who finishes with 10.5 sacks this season. He has seven sacks so far this season. Then there is Goldens contractual incentive based on sacks. Here's a look at all of the bonuses for Denver's players: Johnson, Alexander (96.2%): $539,136 Jewell, Josey (94.9%): $455,274 Cushenberry, Lloyd: (93.1%) $427,816 Reed, Malik (71.9%): $401,032. The Seahawks were going to take a knee with 22 seconds left but changed the play in the huddle to an end-around pop pass for Moore. Bengals' rebuild not yet complete Incentives are usually designed to be classified as not likely to be earned (NLTBE), so that they will not count against the salary cap when a deal is signed. If Smith, somehow, has the game of his life and records five sacks, he will earn over $3 million for his efforts, as the contract allows for another $1.2 million bonus if he reaches 14 sacks on the season. Playing at least 50% on offense in the AFC Championship Game win while having at least 65 catches and 900 yards earns $1 million. There's also $500,000 for reaching 95% or making the Pro Bowl, which didn't happen. The two quarterbacks aren't the only big-name players with money at stake. Heinicke also gets $250,000 with at least 60% playtime during the regular season and Washington making the playoffs. If it's one category, Green Bay has eclipsed this with two interception returns this season versus one last year. 7:48 pm ET. $1 million also requires a Pro Bowl selection. The deal contains $1.25 million in annual incentives for reaching 10 sacks. Smith tying his career high of 12 sacks would make the total $3 million. All players who are on the active 53-man roster the Sunday immediately preceding the divisional round games will earn $42,500 this year, up $9,500 from last season's postseason. A.J. Eric Winston (@ericwinston) March 5, 2019 . The remainder of the top 10 includes: Buffalo Bills corner Taron Johnson ($578,749), Los Angeles Rams guard Austin Corbett ($572,736), Detroit cornerback Amani Oruwariye ($572,067), Chicago tackle Germain Ifedi ($570,571), Steelers offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor ($567,469), Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Dakota Dozier ($561,469), Baltimore Ravens safety DeShon Elliott ($557,477) and Whitehead ($555,335). First and foremost, with a win and a loss from the Los Angeles Rams, the Cardinals can still win the NFC West and secure a home game for at least Wild Card Weekend. The Bengals are averaging 69.4 offensive plays per game. It's an additional $500,000 for making it to the Super Bowl and $500,000 more for winning. Kirk's $18 million per year easily exceeded all reasonable projections of his contract. He is playing on a one-year $3.5 million contract worth up to $7 million though incentives. 5 is at 11.9 yards-per-completion, so that also seems like an unlikely bonus to unlock. Folk is leading the league with 34 field goals made. Gilmore didn't sign a two-year, $20 million deal worth up to $23 million with incentives until the middle of April when the 2022 NFL Draft was approaching. Each team hands out $8.5 million to their players based on playing time and salary. Five touchdowns are worth $333,333 and seven touchdowns earn another $333,333. Each Pro Bowl selection adds $250,000. In 2019, he started every game for Pittsburgh and posted an 86% pass block win rate, an ESPN metric powered by NFL Next Gen Stats. There are entirely too many performance bonuses in NFL contracts to recognize them all. 8 at 100.5. If earned, a team will incur a salary cap charge for most incentives after the playoffs end. Markus Golden is one of the NFL's best bargains for a pass rusher. Rodgers will earn an extra $100,000 for each of these categories if he finishes in the top three of the NFL and the Packers hit one other stipulation: They have to improve as a team in touchdowns on returns and recoveries. If the Buccaneers win the wild-card round, that jumps to $750,000. Week 18 Contract Incentives and Statistical Milestones Incentives are preferable to escalators. He came up short on six touchdowns with playoffs incentive (he had four) and 650 receiving yards (483). San Francisco's plan to trade Garoppolo early in the offseason went out the window because an injury to his throwing shoulder during last season's playoffs required surgery in March. Including Bozeman, three of the top five leaders in total performance-based pay were offensive linemen. New England Patriots kicker Nick Folk signed a contract with a base salary of just under a million dollars this past spring, but with incentives that could nearly double that salary. The Bills added $2 million of incentives to Poyer's contract rather than sign him to a contract extension. With 12 catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, the wide receiver maxed out his $1.2 million worth of 2020 incentives, according to a source. Stefon Diggs' 2021, 2022 and 2023 base salaries increased by $658,333, $750,000 and $800,000 because he hit 100 catches or 1,375 receiving yards in 2020. David Moore hit a $100,000 incentive with his lone catch Sunday, his 35th of the season. The earned incentives are also added to Collins' 2023 base salary, which is currently $3.5 million. At least 75%, 80%, 85% and 90% are each worth $750,000. The Art of NFL Contracts Part 1: The Basics - Sports Illustrated Click here to see our full content schedule or subscribe now. Could the Cowboys look at a running back in first round again? Golden has already made $1 million because he is tied for eighth in the NFL with 11 sacks. Incentives are preferable to escalators. A salary reduction was necessary after Dante Fowler only produced three sacks in 2020. But, as we are reminded almost daily, the NFL is a business, and players have limited windows to maximize their earnings before the cruelty of the game and Father Time take hold and win in the end. A 90% or better conversion rate on field goals is worth an additional $250,000. If he reaches 10, he'll earn $1.25 million. With nine sacks, he already has brought in $1.25 million. Heinicke was benched during the second half of Week 16's contest versus the 49ers. The sixth-round pick out of Alabama in 2018 started for the entire regular season. (), Four NFL officials have to decided to step away from the game, At the Seventh Annual NFL Women's Forum, Laurie Fitzpatrick learned that there are many like her who have just wanted opportunities in (). A fourth-round pick in 2018, Whitehead started every game for the Super Bowl champs and had two interceptions. "It felt great," Sanders said with a laugh after the game. He earns a $250,000 bonus each for hitting 50, 60, 70 or 80 receptions on the season, so he has already earned $250,000 for the receptions and with ten catches this weekend he would earn another $250,000. Interestingly enough, if he reaches this goal he might want to treat new teammate Melvin Ingram to something nice. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers, $1,687.79: Big Ben started two games before going out for the season because of an elbow injury. Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones has nine sacks. He also has hit on 92.1% of his field goal attempts, so barring a bad day at the office, that bonus should also be secured. It's $250,000 for 50 receptions. A new home for Michael Thomas? Maximum: $4 millionExpected bonus: $4 million. Smith was set to return to the Ravens, who took him in 2015's fourth round, on a four-year, $35 million contract before Von Miller and Chandler Jones signed for deals averaging significantly more. Go inside the room, Previously covered University of Michigan for ESPN.com and AnnArbor.com, Also covered Notre Dame for Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Answer questions on the 2022 NFL draft for a chance to win $100,000! There's $500,000 more with 7.5 sacks. The tenth sack brought him an even bigger bonus, as the contract provided for a $500,000 bonus for ten sacks on the season. Poyer will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Brady's 40 touchdown passes was also second most in his career in a regular season, behind only his 50 thrown in 2007. There are entirely too many performance bonuses in NFL contracts to recognize them all. He totaled seven sacks with the Lions, matching his yearly average over the past four seasons. He wound up with nine catches for 63 yards and a touchdown while the Saints' offense was missing Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Tre'Quan Smith, among others. He has converted 91.9% of his 37 field goal attempts. Wentz will count $33.8 million against the Eagles' salary cap in 2021, which is the third-biggest cap hit in the NFL for 2021 for a team he won't be playing for. To make the $1 million tied to 90%, Miami must be improved from 2020 by NFL ranking in total net defensive yards allowed or net yards allowed per passing play. He didn't have 1,000 receiving yards in any of his four NFL seasons with the Cardinals. Maximum: $3.5 millionExpected bonus: $2.5 million. He received the fourth-highest total from the veteran pool. Agent's Take: Inside the 2021 performance bonuses of 20 notable players Giants running back Saquon Barkley suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. Playing at least 50% in the Super Bowl is worth an additional $1 million. Agent's Take: Inside the 2022 performance bonuses of 20 notable players Kamren Curl leads Washington players in Performance-Based Pay with Can the Lions fix their defense? He has easily exceeded the 20 touchdown passes also necessary to qualify for this $500,000. Hightower makes $375,000 for 65% or more defensive playtime, with an additional $250,000 for 70%. For others, he just needs to hit the mark for bonuses, according to Roster Management System, which provided all the incentive information for this story. Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd entered Sunday's game needing a half-sack to earn a $1.25 million incentive, which perhaps explains his jubilant celebration when he took down Cardinals backup quarterback Chris Streveler to surpass the 10-sack mark. He'll enter Sunday having played 96.8% of Arizona's defensive snaps. The Chiefs are hoping to get Jones back from the COVID-19 list this week. Agent's Take: Inside the 2021 performance bonuses of 20 notable players Lance's season-ending broken right ankle early in Week 2's contest versus the Seahawks put Garoppolo back in the lineup. La'el Collins signed a three-year, $21 million contract (worth a maximum of $30 million through salary escalators and incentives) after the Cowboys released him. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? It's $4 million instead with at least 65% playtime and 10 or more sacks.
