Notable 2014 NFL Performance Bonuses

Former Sports Agent Joel Corry of CBS Sports provided a breakdown of some of the more lucrative performance bonuses reached, missed and those still pending.

Corry notes the significance of performance bonuses in contracts, serving as an effective tool to bridge the gap between player and team where disagreement remains on salary.  He also details the difference between incentives, and escalator clauses, with the former being preferable to the player as the latter is not necessarily guaranteed even if reached.

Below is a brief overview of some of the players highlighted by Corry.

Earned Bonuses:

• OLB Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore:  Earned $3 million in base salary escalators and $1 million in incentives by totaling twelve sacks.
• NT Vince Wilfork, New England:  Wilfork earned a total of $3 million in incentives based on various bonuses for snaps played, for the Patriots reaching the divisional round of the playoffs, and for the Patriots being in the top ten in scoring defense.
• DE Cameron Wake, Miami:  Wake’s 2015 base salary increased by $750,000 for reaching 11.5 sacks.
• WR Emmanuel Sanders, Denver:  Sanders earned $850,000 worth of escalator increases in part for totaling over 90 receptions and over 1,200 yards.
• Other players earning lucrative bonuses: S Charles Woodson, RB Matt Forte, QB Mark Sanchez

Unearned Bonuses:

• OLB Junior Galette, New Orleans:  Galette missed out on $6.5 million in future incentives by falling two sacks short of twelve.
• QB Chad Henne, Jacksonville:  Henne missed out on $2.5 million in incentives based on playing time and team success.
• MLB Sean Lee, Dallas:  Lee missed out on a $1.5 million salary escalator in 2015 as well as a $1.5 million increase in base salary.  Lee, of course, missed the season due to injury.
• RB Marshawn Lynch:  Lynch fell short of a $500,000 incentive by missing out on the 1,500 yards rushing mark by 194.
• Other players missing out on lucrative bonuses: RB Darren McFadden, QB Colin Kaepernick

Corry adds that there are still some players who stand to make bonuses based on how things go in the postseason including: Bengals QB Andy Dalton, Broncos CB Chris Harris and Patriots WR Julian Edelman.