Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that Tavon Austin‘s restructured contract with the Rams can still pay him as much as $8 million for the 2018 season if he reaches incentives.
According to La Canfora, Austin receives a $4 million signing bonus to go along with a $1 million base salary and $3 million available in incentives. La Canfora adds that there is $2 million available for game-day active incentives and another $1 million for combined rush/receiving yards from 400 to 700 yards.
Had Austin been released, La Canfora says he may only have made around $5 million total on the open market, so this isn’t that bad of a deal for him all things considered.
Alden Gonzalez previously mentioned that the rest of Austin’s contract will be eliminated as part of this deal, which means Austin is now on a one-year, $5 million deal.
There were multiple reports over the past few months that that Austin was available for trade and could be released at the start of free agency. However, it appears as though they’re now comfortable keeping him in the fold.
Austin hasn’t come close to living up this big-money extension and wasn’t been a big part of the team’s offense under the new coaching staff, which is why many felt that they would be moving on from him.
Austin, 26, was the No. 8 overall pick back in 2013. He’s in the third year of his six-year, $56.14 million contract and stands to make base salaries of $3 million and $9.35 million over the next two years of the agreement.
In 2017, Austin appeared in all 16 games for the Rams and caught 13 passes for 47 yards receiving to go along with 270 yards rushing on 59 carries (4.6 YPC) and one touchdown. He also contributed 13 kick return yards and 53 punt return yards.
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