Here are the Top 25 earners in the NFL’s annual performance-based pay amounts for 2022.
This rewards players who are on the lower end of the pay scale but play a significant percentage of snaps for their teams.
This is a player benefit only and has zero impact on the cap. pic.twitter.com/N01D87LQk8
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 17, 2023
Tampa Bay Buccaneers center [autotag]Robert Hainsey[/autotag]’s unexpected ascendency to the starting lineup is paying off as he lands on the top-25 performance-based pay earnings list for 2022, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Due to his increased snap count last year, Hainsey earned an extra $706,331. The performance-based pay does not count against the Bucs’ salary cap.
The performance-based pay bonuses are designed for players on cheaper deals who end up playing a larger number of snaps than their contract might indicate. The more they play at a lesser salary, the more they could earn in performance bonuses.
Hainsey started at center at last season after Ryan Jensen went down with a knee injury. As a 2021 third-round pick, Hainsey’s salary was just over $1 million so his performance-based pay bonus ended up being substantial.
With the Bucs’ guard positions in flux, Hainsey could be in line to earn a performance-based bonus again next season if he can win a starting job early. He will be competing against the likes of Nick Leverett, Aaron Stinnie and Luke Goedeke, but his full year as a starter does give him an advantage.