The NFL dishes out performance based bonuses every year, with some players doubling their salaries based on categories like yards gained, touchdowns, passes completed, and more. For instance, Baltimore Ravens guard John Simpson led the way with a total of $974,613 in bonuses based on his protection output.
The performance based bonus system also allows players with lower contracts to secure even more money in hopes they can also secure a new contract. Take 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy as an example. He earned $870,000 on his normal contract, but banked an additional $739,795 in performance bonuses.
Being at number 24 on the list out of the entirety of the NFL can help inform Purdy himself and the 49ers organization about what type of contract extension he should get. Purdy was in the Super Bowl, after all, so he should warrant a huge contract extension.
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While many players were able to practically double their contract size, others didn’t get very much. That leads us to the lowest earner for the 2023 season: New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers was knocked out of the season after just four plays of his Jets career. Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles, sidelining him for the entire season. Still, he was given a performance bonus, in the form of a hilariously small amount.
According to Adam Schefter, Rodgers earned a whopping $81.14 for his efforts in the Jets’ 2023-24 season.
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers earned $81.14 through the NFL’s performance-based pay system, the lowest amount among all NFL players last season.
The system rewards all NFL players based on their play time and base salary. If a player has a low base salary but plays a significant number… pic.twitter.com/dldDmr338f
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 2, 2024
Rodgers earning that $81.14 was the lowest among any NFL player in 2023. To be frank, it’s a little shocking he was even given any sort of performance bonus for playing half of one series.
Rodgers did attempt to return in the 2023 season, but had stated he would only have done so if the Jets were preparing for a playoff push. The Jets were not in that position around December, and Rodgers decided to not push his return.
The good news is that he has had more than an entire season to completely heal, and the 2024 season could be his epic return. The Jets have also been plenty busy in the free agent department, securing stars like former Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams and left tackle Tyron Smith. That’s not to mention the defensive side of the ball benefitting from edge rusher Haason Reddick coming over from the Eagles.
The offensive output should be the focus of the team moving forward, as their defense has always been a good unit. With Rodgers fully back and healed, he could secure a far more lucrative performance bonus in 2024.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.