It’s the end of the 2020 NFL season, and whether or not a player’s team makes the playoffs can have financial implications. Several contract incentives were redeemed towards the end of the regular season – and the money earned is significant.
Here are some performances the players made on Sunday – and some that were just missed.
Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd entered the game on Sunday and took half a sack to earn a $ 1.25 million incentive. This may explain his jubilant celebration when he defeated Cardinals backup quarterback Chris Streveler to break the 10-sack mark. “I took my incentives one at a time,” said Floyd, who ends this season with 10.5 bags. “Today I finished my last one.” Floyd is playing on a one-year $ 10 million contract, and Rams trainer Sean McVay said last week he’d love to find a way to keep the lanky pass rusher on.
With 12.5 bags, Packers earned a $ 1 million bonus outside of linebacker Za’Darius Smith. He had a bonus of $ 500,000 for hitting double digit sacks in a season and another $ 500,000 when he hit 12.
Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker earned a $ 750,000 incentive on Sunday after eclipsing 60 catches for 750 yards this season. He took four catches for 73 yards and ended up with seven catches for 116 yards.
Tyler Lockett’s big day against the 49ers was worth $ 600,000. With 12 catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday, the wide receiver has fully exhausted its $ 1.2 million 2020 incentives, according to a source. This also triggers a $ 1.2 million escalator, which increases his base salary from $ 9.8 million to $ 11 million for 2021. By the beginning of Sunday, Lockett had already made $ 1.8 million of that $ 2.4 million in potential extra cash. He then made $ 400,000 by exceeding 1,000 yards that season and another $ 200,000 by scoring his 10th touchdown.
Tom Brady made $ 562,500 for finishing in the top five on the fly. He threw for 399 yards Sunday and finished 4,633 – third in the NFL behind Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes and fifth in his career. Brady’s 40 touchdown passes were also the second most frequent of his career in his regular season, after only his 50 thrown in 2007.
Holy recipient Emmanuel Sanders took eight catches on Sunday to earn a bonus of $ 500,000 for 60 catches in the season. He landed nine catches for 63 yards and a touchdown while the Saint’s offense missed Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Tre’Quan Smith, among others. Quarterback Drew Brees admitted after the game that the Saints were making a concerted effort to help Sanders achieve his goal – and teammates made a solemn gesture with him on the field as he did. “It felt great,” Sanders said with a laugh after the game. “But I think the best thing is to win as a team.”
Antonio Brown earned a $ 250,000 bonus by hitting 45 catches in the season. To get that 45 catch bonus the wide receiver had to make the playoffs as well, which the Bucs did. With six touchdowns with playoff incentives (he had four) and 650 receiving yards (483) he came up short. These were also worth $ 250,000 each. He can still make $ 750,000 if the Bucs win the Super Bowl.
Broncos linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu triggered a $ 250,000 bonus on Sunday when he sacked Raiders quarterback Derek Carr with 4 minutes and 42 seconds in the Broncos’ 32:31 loss to Las Vegas. There was Attaochu, who started instead of the injured Bradley Chubb, five sacks for the season – good for fourth place on the team. Chubb sustained an ankle injury in the Broncos’ December 19 loss to the Buffalo Bills and failed to play in the team’s last two games. Attaochu signed a $ 1.5 million one-year deal last March to return to the Broncos.
David Moore scored an incentive of $ 100,000 with his only catch on Sunday, his 35th of the season. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson knew what was at stake for Moore in the week leading up to the regular season finale. When Moore had no catch in the Seahawks’ 26:23 win, Wilson and QB coach Austin Davis spoke on the sidelines about getting him one. The Seahawks wanted to kneel a knee 22 seconds before the end, but changed the group game to an end-around pop pass for Moore. “It’s pretty cool,” said Wilson. “It’s a blessing. He’s worked so hard this year that he definitely deserves it.”
Players who just missed their bonuses
This is what the postseason bracket looks like at the moment and what scenarios are ahead of us.
• Playoff picture (ESPN +) »
• Playoff machine: see scenarios »
• Ranking list »| Football Power Index »
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Giants cornerback James Bradberry took two interceptions against the Cowboys on Sunday to earn a $ 250,000 incentive.
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Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland needed an interception Sunday for $ 100,000.
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It took Chris Jones 2.5 sacks on Sunday to earn a $ 1.25 million incentive.
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Invoice Security Jordan Poyer took an interception Sunday to receive a $ 250,000 incentive.
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Vikings quit the duel “> Riley Reiff stood for a possible million dollars if he played 93.75% of the snaps; he finished the season with 92.6%.
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Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton would have made $ 1 million if the Cowboys had made the playoffs.
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Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers had to reach 65% of the season in 2020 and was 64.3%, but was inactive on Sunday.
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Buccaneer’s linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul needed 2.5 bags for an additional $ 350,000.
