Tag: signing bonus

Chargers WRs Keenan Allen, Mike Williams restructure contracts

The Chargers restructured the contracts of receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, saving nearly $14.5 million in cap space.

The Chargers’ salary cap situation got a bit of relief on Thursday when the team restructured the contracts of receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams to save nearly $14.5 million heading into free agency.

Even with this move, the Chargers still have work to do to get under the cap threshold before the regular season. Their decision to convert Allen and Williams’ salaries to bonuses is a swisemove by Los Angeles’ front office, though the increased flexibility won’t come without some strings attached.

Allen and Williams are effectively un-cuttable in this arrangement, and the team is fully committed to keeping both receivers on the roster through the end of the 2023 season. Should they need to part ways with either player, they would absorb the entirety of the bonus money against their salary cap, causing massive dead-money numbers that would not be able to be recouped.

While this risk certainly seems worth the reward at this juncture, the Chargers will need to do everything in their power to ensure that this move doesn’t come back to bite them throughout the 2023 season. Having their top two wideouts on the roster is undoubtedly an advantage for Los Angeles. Still, situations and circumstances will need to play into their favor to ensure that their decisions in March don’t affect their ability to contend in December and January.

Cowboys restructure Dak Prescott’s contract, create $5M in cap room for 2021

Prescott will now take $6.25 million of his $9 million 2021 salary as a signing bonus, creating more cap room for this year or beyond. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Dak Prescott has yet to play a down under the terms of the megacontract extension he signed with the Cowboys back in March, but the dollars-and-cents details of that deal have already changed.

The organization has restructured Prescott’s payout, converting $6.25 million of his $9 million 2021 base salary into a signing bonus. Prescott’s base salary for this season will now be $2.75 million.

The move creates $5 million in cap space for the Cowboys this season.

Team owner Jerry Jones explained on Dallas radio that the move was all part of the original plan with the way they structured Prescott’s $160 million extension.

“It was looking around the corner, looking at what you’re going to need as you move through, if you will, even this season, but certainly into next season,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan. “It was anticipated when we made the contract, and it’s part of the contract that allows you to manage your roster. Everything about it was expected.”

The club similarly restructured running back Ezekiel Elliott’s contract last week, converting most of his 2021 base salary into a signing bonus in order to create about $7 million in room.

Left tackle Tyron Smith, right guard Zack Martin, and right tackle La’el Collins also recently had their contracts restructured in the same way. As the Dallas Morning News points out, “[T]eams are selective with these accounting tactics, doing them only with high-priced players whom they comfortably forecast will remain with the club.”

It is perhaps worth noting, then, that wide receiver Amari Cooper’s sizable contract has not undergone the same sort of tweaking.

So what happens with this new money that comes from the reworking of Prescott’s deal? In the short term, it could be used in free agency to sign a player or players. Or it could be part of a bankrolling effort with an eye toward re-signing a current player bound for free agency; Randy Gregory, Michael Gallup, and Leighton Vander Esch immediately come to mind. Or the money could be set aside for the 2022 draft class.

According to DMN‘s Michael Gehlken, though, “the Cowboys are expected to carry over the $5 million in cap space from 2021 to 2022.”

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B.J. Finney struggled to train for 2020 season with Seahawks

Offensive lineman B.J. Finney struggled to train for the 2020 season with the Seahawks due to fear of losing out on a signing bonus.

When offensive lineman B.J. Finney was with the Seattle Seahawks last offseason, he struggled to train for the 2020 season because of his concern over losing out on a $2 million signing bonus due to the restrictions the NFL placed on player physicals.

These restrictions were, of course, set in motion due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Finney entered training camp overweight and out of shape.

“It put a player like him in a bad situation — he literally couldn’t work out to get in shape, and he was in a funk all year because of it,” a source affiliated with Finney told ESPN. “This is the one time you can set yourself up for life, and if you tweak your back or do anything, you’re in jeopardy of losing your contract.”

Finney signed a two-year contract with the Seahawks but never played a down for them, as they traded him along with a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for Carlos Dunlap.

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Saints-Demario Davis contract includes affordable cap hits

The New Orleans Saints signed All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis to a long-term contract extension which fits well beneath the salary cap.

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All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis signed a three-year contract extension with the New Orleans Saints that might be the textbook definition of a team-friendly deal. Davis is averaging just $9 million per year on his new deal, well beneath the top tier of linebacker contracts around the league, but it’s still a step up from the $8 million he was earning on his initial arrangement with the Saints. But he wanted to stay in New Orleans long-term, and it resulted in a deal that made everyone happy.

The Saints were able to lower Davis’s 2020 salary cap hit from $9.9 million (second-highest on the team) to just $5.8 million (seventh-highest, behind backup guard Nick Easton’s $5.84 million) in this extension, which also functioned as a restructure for the existing deal. His current salary cap hits, per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill:

  • 2020: $5.8 million
  • 2021: $8.1 million
  • 2022: $9.7 million
  • 2023: $10.7 million

Underhill also reported that Davis received an $11 million signing bonus which is prorated over the course of his deal, and that he has a voidable “ghost year” written in for 2024 for salary cap purposes. Davis is a candidate for another restructure in 2021, converting his $3.6 million roster bonus to a signing bonus so that the Saints can recoup some much-needed salary cap space.

The Saints signing Davis and Alvin Kamara to long-term contract extensions over the same weekend might be the best one-two punch they’ve pulled off in recent memory. It sets the team up for success on the field and gives them some real flexibility in working around the salary cap in future years. It’ll be fascinating to see how the front office tackles those new challenges as they come up, but having Davis and Kamara secure on the roster has to be good for their confidence.

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Saints pickups Ty Montgomery, Patrick Omameh qualify for veteran salary benefit

The New Orleans Saints signed free agents Ty Montgomery and Patrick Omameh to contracts that qualified for the NFL veteran salary benefit.

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The New Orleans Saints are one of several teams taking advantage of the new CBA’s veteran salary benefit, allowing them to retain players with four or more NFL seasons behind them at a lower salary cap charge. According to a report from ESPN’s Field Yates, the Saints are using this tool again by signing running back Ty Montgomery and offensive lineman Patrick Omameh.

Under the new CBA, these benefits manifest in a one-year contract valued at the minimum base salary for that player’s accrued NFL experience, as well as an additional $137,500 paid out through a signing bonus, roster bonus, or other incentives. But the benefit for teams comes around in these contracts equaling the salary cap charge of a player with just two seasons credited to them.

So of course the Saints are going to take advantage of a salary cap loophole. They’re always working overtime in trying to retain high-priced talent, and this is an opportunity the NFL drew up for them — no smoke and mirrors needed. But what does it mean for Montgomery and Omameh?

Per Yates’ report, Montgomery received a $137,500 signing bonus (as expected) and a base salary of $910,000. Omameh also agreed to a contract with a $137,500 signing bonus, but his base salary is valued at $1.05 million. Both deals will count just $887,500 against the Saints salary cap due to the new benefit rule.

Other Saints players who have qualified for this benefit:

  • Defensive lineman Margus Hunt ($1.05 million base salary)
  • Fullback Michael Burton ($910,000 base salary)
  • Cornerback Johnson Bademosi ($1.05 million base salary)
  • Running back Dwayne Washington ($910,000 base salary)

This sort of salary cap manipulation is par for the course in New Orleans, allowing the Saints to compete for free agents despite their limited resources on paper. It’ll be fascinating to see what new maneuvers the Saints find to work around the cap as we move deeper into the decade of this new CBA.

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Saints guaranteed more money to Joe Bachie than most NFL undrafted free agents

The New Orleans Saints guaranteed $160,000 to Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie, one of the NFL’s highest-paid undrafted free agent deals

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The hours after the NFL draft are a maelstrom, with agents, media, fans, and the players themselves all jockeying to announce deals between rookie free agents and the teams working quickly to recruit them. Those discussions often manifest in bidding wars as teams make competing offers for players, guaranteeing greater portions of their base salary or lucrative signing bonuses.

In 2020, that meant the Saints paid a few of their undrafted free agents like seventh-round picks, particularly valuing Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie (who received $160,000 in guarantees, making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid college free agents). Versatile Oregon offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton was also guaranteed $122,5000 by the Saints. Bachie and Throckmorton were the only members of the rookie free agent class to break the $100,000 threshold in guarantees, though a few others came close. That suggests the team valued them highly and expects each rookie to make a strong case for a roster spot.

For comparison, last year’s final draft pick, Idaho linebacker Kaden Elliss, was guaranteed only a $76,316 signing bonus. The Saints also picked Notre Dame tight end Alize Mack a few slots ahead of Elliss in the seventh round, who was guaranteed a $93,636 signing bonus, though he was later cut from the practice squad and has since bounced around between a few other teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs.

Here are the reported guarantees for each member of the Saints undrafted free agent class. All have a base salary of $610,000, though greater portions of that are guaranteed for some than others. They are ordered by guaranteed salaries, with signing bonuses noted in parentheses:

  1. LB Joe Bachie, Michigan State: $145,000 guaranteed salary (plus $15,000 signing bonus)
  2. OL Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon: $110,000 guaranteed salary (plus $12,500 signing bonus)
  3. DL Malcolm Roach, Texas: $85,000 guaranteed salary (plus $10,000 signing bonus)
  4. WR Marquez Callaway, Tennessee, $85,000 guaranteed salary (plus $10,000 signing bonus)
  5. OL Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois: $75,000 guaranteed salary (plus $15,000 signing bonus)
  6. WR Juwan Johnson, Oregon: $75,000 guaranteed salary (plus $10,000 signing bonus)
  7. CB Tino Ellis, Maryland: $17,500 guaranteed
  8. DE Gus Cumberlander, Oregon: $1,500 signing bonus
  9. CB Keith Washington Jr., West Virginia: TBD
  10. P Blake Gillikin, Penn State: TBD
  11. RB Tony Jones Jr., Notre Dame: TBD
  12. OL Adrian Magee, LSU: TBD
  13. OL Darrin Paulo, Utah: TBD

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A look at the signing bonuses for Seahawks undrafted free agents

The Seattle Seahawks gave out signing bonuses to a handful of their undrafted free agents, including WSU quarterback Anthony Gordon.

Shortly after the NFL draft concluded, the Seattle Seahawks brought a whopping 17 undrafted free agents onto the roster to compete for spots in this unique, mostly virtual offseason.

Most of them won’t make the final roster, but with a bigger gameday roster and a bigger practice squad to work with, it makes sense for Pete Carroll and his staff to take a look at as many interesting players as they can get their hands on.

While it’s not always a direct correlation, we do have an idea who the team might be favoring by looking at the signing bonuses given out to Seattle’s undrafted free agents, information that was revealed by ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

Anthony Gordon, the quarterback from Washington State who was unexpectedly left undrafted, got the biggest bonus at $12,500 dollars. He was followed by $11,500 for Mississippi State tackle Tommy Champion, $10,000 each for Maryland tight end Tyler Mabry and Baylor safety Chris Miller, and $8,000 for Albany defensive end Eli Mencer.

The signing bonuses are usually more an indication that other teams were interested in said prospects, not necessarily that they have a better chance of making the active roster.

Gordon is the most likely candidate to break camp with the team, as he is the only other quarterback on the roster besides Russell Wilson.

Champion and Mencer seem like they have decent chances as well, playing at positions of need for the Seahawks that also don’t have a ton of depth.

Until we can see these guys on the field, which may be a while, it will be hard to know what Seattle has with their undrafted free agent pool – although this team has had plenty of success finding diamonds in the rough in recent years.

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Broncos’ UDFA contracts could give clues about who will make 53-man roster

Essang Bassey might be a favorite to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster.

When NFL teams make decisions about roster cuts, a player’s performance on the field is the biggest factor to consider.

That doesn’t mean other factors don’t have any influence on decisions, though. A player’s draft status and contract situation can also influence a team’s decision.

For the Broncos, the bonuses for undrafted free agents could give us a clue about which of those players Denver coveted the most. Sometimes teams get into bidding wars for UDFAs and a player’s large bonus certainly doesn’t guarantee a player will make the team, but it can help.

Running back LeVante Bellamy received a $25,000 signing bonus and $35,000 in guaranteed salary, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Could that be a sign that the Broncos plan to trade or cut Royce Freeman and have Bellamy serve as the third-string RB this season? Maybe.

Cornerback Essang Bassey received a $20,000 signing bonus, according to Klis. Even though he didn’t receive the largest bonus, Bassey might be the most likely UDFA to make Denver’s roster. The team needs more depth at cornerback and Bassey could be a sleeper to watch this summer.

Here are the remaining UDFA signing bonuses, according to Klis:

Player Bonus
WR Zimari Manning $12,500
WR Kendall Hilton $10,000 (plus $5,000 guaranteed salary)
QB Riley Neal $8.000
DB Douglas Coleman $5,000
OT Hunter Watts $3,000

The undrafted free agents who don’t make the 53-man roster will be strong candidates to make the Broncos’ practice squad.

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Projected NFL contracts of top Longhorns selected in 2020 NFL Draft

Let’s take a look at the projected value and signing bonuses of the top three Longhorns selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Texas had three players selected within the first five rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft. Continue reading “Projected NFL contracts of top Longhorns selected in 2020 NFL Draft”

Russell Wilson’s deferred 35 million dollar signing bonus is due

The star quarterback cashes in with a $35 million dollar signing bonus, which was due on April 1. Bobby Wagner earned $8 million as well.

Talk about a large payday.

Seattle Seahawks star quarterback Russell Wilson, as part of his massive four-year, 140 million dollar contract extension, is owed a $35 million dollar signing bonus payment by Wednesday, April 1.

Wilson is one of a handful of players who is cashing out on Wednesday, including teammate Bobby Wagner ($8M) as well as linebacker Shaq Thompson ($8M) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ($8M) defensive tackle Gerald McCoy ($2M) and safey Eric Reid – who is owed $2M from the Panthers despite being released by the team last week.

Wilson’s contract made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, and he responded by having quite possibly his best season to date in 2019, posting a 106.3 quarterback rating with 4,111 yards, a 66.1% completion rate and a whopping 31-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, while leading the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and a loss in the divisional round to the Packers.

Wagner signed a three-year, 54-million dollar extension last summer as well, and he’ll collect a nice little payday after posting another excellent season in the Emerald City, racking up a league-leading 159 tackles while earning a fourth consecutive All-Pro nod.

These figures do not impact Seattle’s cap space, which got a little bigger yesterday after the team let go of safety Tedric Thompson and tight end Ed Dickson.

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