The 49ers had a pair of players receive performance-based bonuses from the NFL’s Performance-Based Pay program used to compensate players who out-perform their contracts. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley both got nice payouts under the league’s program.
According to NFL communications, Greenlaw earned an additional $339,981 from the Performance-Based Pay program. Moseley netted an extra $500,519 thanks to the performance pay program and the veteran pool, which is money not available to players with zero accrued NFL seasons.
Greenlaw earned the 14th-highest total in performance-based pay thanks to taking on a starting role out of camp. The 2019 fifth-round pick was the Sam linebacker and only on the field when the 49ers were in their base defense, but he moved to Will linebacker after Kwon Alexander got hurt. With Alexander out, Greenlaw posted big-time snap counts while performing at a high level.
Moseley wasn’t a rookie, but the third-year former undrafted free agent wound up playing a key role in the 49ers’ playoff run. His bonus was the 17th-highest among the combined performance-based and veteran pool distributions. He jumped into a starting spot when Ahkello Witherspoon went down with a foot injury in Week 3. He eventually lost the starting job when Witherspoon returned, but wound up taking over when Witherspoon faltered down the stretch.
San Francisco entered the year with a significant question mark at corner, but Moseley did a fine job and looks like he’ll have the inside track for a starting job next season.
Players like Moseley and Greenlaw helped provide the essential depth that pushed the 49ers over the hump and into the Super Bowl, and they got a nice extra sum of money for their efforts.