Green Bay Packers running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams both earned a base salary escalator for the 2020 season.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, the two running backs will have their base salaries bumped to $2.147 million next season thanks to the NFL’s “proven performance escalator.”
As noted by Bill Huber of SI, the raises will cost the Packers around $2.6 million in cap space in 2020.
Any player drafted in the third round or later can earn the escalator by playing at least 35 percent of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps during at least two of his first three NFL seasons or by playing at least 35 percent of the total offensive or defensive snaps over the entire three-year period.
Jones and Williams both hit each criterion.
Jones, a fifth-round pick in 2017, played over 35 percent of the offense’s snaps in 2018 and 2019 and played over 35 percent of the offense’s total snaps between 2017-19.
Williams, a fourth-round pick in 2017, played at least 35 percent of the offense’s snaps all three seasons and played over 35 percent of the offense’s total snaps between 2017-19.
Hitting the escalator raises a player’s base salary to that of the lowest restricted tender in the final year of his rookie deal.
Over the Cap has the entire list of players qualifying for the proven performance escalator in 2020. Overall, 42 players earned the escalator. The Packers are one of only 11 teams to have at least two players earn the escalator.
As it stands now, only receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling will have an opportunity to earn the escalator in 2021.
Last season, outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell, inside linebacker Blake Martinez and defensive end Dean Lowry all earned the escalator. The year prior, only inside linebacker Jake Ryan earned the raise.
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