Contracts
Contracts are always in terms of flat salary and the last season of such contract. For example, $10m (2015) is a contract the pays $10m each season through the 2015 season.
Except for any contract inherited in 2018, all contracts must be no longer than five years. Also, for a given salary, all contacts have term limits (max years contract can be per the salary) as provided below.
Salary range, Maximum Years
$1m or less = 2 years
$1.1m - $4.9m = 3 years
$5.0m - $9.9mm = 4 years
$10m or higher = 5 years (max years is 5)
Team Discount
The team that a free agent was on as of the end of the previous season is awarded a discount if the GM wins the bid. Such discount is 10% off the total contract value.
Releasing Players Under Contract Updated 09/11/2020
All contracts are non-binding, you may release a player or coach at any time. However, bonuses are given to each contract for the duration of the contract that will count against your salary cap. They are as follows:
Player's yearly salary/amount of bonus each year:
$1.0m or less = no bonus
$1.1m - $3.0m = $500k
$3.1m - $5.0m = $1.0m
$5.1m - $7.0m = $2.0m
$7.1m - $10.0m = $3.0m
$10.1m or higher = $4.0m
Example - The Colts sign Jamaal Charles for $45.0m. Contract is set for 3 years @ $15.0m. Charles' bonus each year is $4.0m for each of the 3 years he was signed for, whether he plays for the Colts or another team, since his yearly salary ($15.0m) is over $10.1m (based on the bonus chart). Remember: If you release a player, any remaining years he has on the contract will have its bonus affect your cap for its duration. Always check your contract lengths.
Effective with the 2020 league year the league will follow the 75/50/50/25/25 percent rule. Example: $10M(2024) contract bought out in 2020 will have the following cap hits; $7.5M(2020), $5M(2021), $5M(2022), $2.5M(2023), $2.5M(2024) totaling $22.5M. The cap hit can be paid in the current year or spread across the life of the original contract years, not to exceed the length of the original contract. Contracts $1M or less per season incur no cap hit.
-If a team releases a player, that team may not re-sign said player for 30 days.
Practice Squad Contract Updated 09/11/2020
A player can be signed to a practice squad contract as long as they have played in less than 16 games in their career which includes undrafted rookies, UDFAs, import players, former CFL players, AAF players or anyone that has not reached the 16 game threshold in the NFL. The contract is at the league minimum ($0.4M $0.6M eff 2020), but can be bid on with a guaranteed bonus attached, example PS + $1M. The player may be cut at any time, and the hit to the cap will be zero as long as their salary was at the league minimum (bonuses are fully guaranteed and stay with winning team for remainder of year). Note that a player also becomes ineligible for a practice squad contract when that player is released from a practice squad contract that had his three year clock already start.
The contract lasts for three years after the point they play in 16 games. They may accumulate this over multiple years, but the three year rule does not take effect until the year they actually hit the accumulation threshold. For example:
Junior Galette
2010 = 4 games
2011 = 16 games
If Galette was bid on and won in 2010 or in 2011 before he hit is 16 game played, his contract would have been (P-n/a) and then convert to PS-2014 after the 2011 season as that is when he exceeded the 16 threshold.
Initial 2018 practice squad players will start with a $0.4m (PS-n/a) contract. The contract will change to a P-2021 contract if they reach the threshold determined above or if the player meets the criteria below. Players signed in 2020 will start with a $0.6m (PS-n/a) contract to mirror the NFL's minimum salary. Players who reached threshold in 2019 and after earning a contract will increase to $0.6m.
The max years a player can remain on a Practice Squad is 3 years. Once a player is on a PS for three years he either has to be released or he has to be promoted to the active 53 roster and his contract will become a normal contract at league minimum with an expiration date 3 years from when the 3 year PS threshold was reached.
For example:
Chuckie Football is on the Las Vegas Raiders PS from 2020-2022, he would begin the 2023 season with a $0.6M(2025) contract and on the 53 man roster.
Restructuring Contracts Updated 10/10/18
Restructuring allows annual salary to be reduced if player's market value (extension price) is less than or equal to half of his current annual salary. Total reduction in salary is converted into a guaranteed signing bonus during the current (or upcoming for off-season) year. Annual salary after such restructuring must be over $4m and also no less than 50% of current annual salary. Restructuring of contracts is not allowed during the period after the trade deadline and before the off-season. Here is an example using hypothetical rankings and market values with a real contract.
Clay Matthews Jr., $13.2m (2019)
Let's say his market value is $4m, and the team owning him at the time has plenty of cap space. The restructuring says that his new annual say is $6.6m (at least 50% of current contract, no less than $4m). However, the leftover money now front-loaded to him in the form of a bonus (100% guaranteed). The signing bonus is then $13.2m.
Now, let's say the team doesn't have that cap room, but they want to restructure the contract a little bit. Well, that example is the extreme... the team can play the middle ground and reduce the annual salary to $8m per say for a signing bonus of $10.4m.
Such restructuring of contracts is not allowed from August 1st to the end of the playoffs to prevent teams from abusing the restructuring to make it count for an additional season.
Contract Buyout
For a contract buyout, a GM must pay his bonus salary for the current season, plus all salary bonuses in each year after in the current season. This will allow a GM to not accrue any cap hits for any future years of a forfeited contract.
Example: If a team releases Adrian Peterson $18.0m (2014), he is due a signing bonus of $4.0m per year. Therefore, the team must pay his bonus this season ($4.0m) plus his 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 bonuses, a total $20.0m. Therefore, a team may release Adrian Peterson, and not take a cap hit to his contract for any season after the current one if the team pays $20.0m for a contract buyout in 2010.
See player release rules.
Extensions Updated 10/10/18
Extensions can only be given in the last season of a player's contract or after the final season of a player's contract before the league rolls over to the next league year. Salary is based on player's top positional ranking from the last two complete seasons if in off season, last two complete seasons and current season if before week 8 of current season, after week 8 of NFL season then it will be last complete season and current season. A contract extension can be no less than 50% of a player's current annual salary and contract term limits apply. Contracts are subject to maximum years and bonus guidelines, as follows:
REGULAR SEASON, PRE-NFL WEEK 8 (2018): 2016, 2017, and 2018 rankings are used
REGULAR SEASON, AFTER NFL WEEK 8 (2018): 2017 and 2018 rankings are used
OFFSEASON (2018-2019); 2017 and 2018 rankings are used
Note: Values will be adjusted every two years based on contracts within the league. The highest paid player at that position will set the top value and the next 19 actual values will be posted, then the rest will go down from there in groupings. In the inaugural season, the top salaries where utilized as a base, slight modifications were made to make the scale flow down the rankings. Next value update will be after the 2019 NFLC Offseason Free Agency Period.
Quarterbacks Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Rodgers, Aaron $33.50
2 - Ryan, Matt $30.00
3 - Garoppolo, Jimmy $27.50
4 - Stafford, Matthew $27.00
5 - Taylor, Tyrod $26.00
6 - Brees, Drew $25.00
7 - Luck, Andrew $24.60
8 - Smith, Alex $23.50
9 - Flacco, Joe $22.10
10 - Roethlisberger, Ben $21.90
11 - Manning, Eli $21.00
12 - Rivers, Philip $20.90
13 - Newton, Cam $20.80
14 - Bradford, Sam $20.00
15 - Tannehill, Ryan $19.30
16 - Bortles, Blake $18.00
17 - Brady, Tom $15.00
18 - McCown, Josh $10.00
19 - Mayfield, Baker $8.20
20 - McCarron, A.J. $7.90
21-25 $7.0M
26-30 $6.0M
31-35 $5.0M
36-40 $4.0M
41-45 $3.0M
46-50 $2.0M
50-60 $1.0M
>60 $0.6M
Running Backs Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Bell, Le'Veon $14.50
2 - Gurley, Todd $14.40
3 - Freeman, Devonta $8.30
4 - McCoy, LeSean $8.00
5 - Barkley, Saquon $7.80
6 - McKinnon, Jerick $7.50
7 - Fournette, Leonard $6.80
8 - Miller, Lamar $6.50
9 - Elliott, Ezekiel $6.20
10 - Juszczyk, Kyle $5.30
11 - Johnson, Duke $5.20
12 - Hyde, Carlos $5.10
13 - Lewis, Dion $5.00
14 - Lynch, Marshawn $4.50
15 - McCaffrey, Christian $4.30
16 - Crowell, Isiah $4.00
17 - Ingram, Mark $4.00
18 - White, James $4.00
19 - Powell, Bilal $3.80
20 - Riddick, Theo $3.80
21-25 $3.5M
26-30 $3.0M
31-35 $2.5M
36-40 $2.0M
41-45 $1.5M
46-50 $1.0M
51-55 $0.9M
56-60 $0.8M
61-70 $0.7M
>70 $0.6M
Wide Receivers Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Beckham Jr., Odell $18.00
2 - Brown, Antonio $17.00
3 - Evans, Mike $16.50
4 - Cooks, Brandin $16.20
5 - Hopkins, DeAndre $16.20
6 - Watkins, Sammy $16.00
7 - Landry, Jarvis $15.10
8 - Adams, Davante $14.50
9 - Jones, Julio $14.30
10 - Robinson, Allen $14.00
11 - Thomas, Demaryius $14.00
12 - Hilton, T.Y. $13.00
13 - Jeffrey, Alshon $13.00
14 - Nelson, Jordy $13.00
15 - Baldwin, Doug $11.50
16 - Allen, Keenan $11.30
17 - Jackson, DeSean $11.10
18 - Fitzgerald, Larry $11.00
19 - Sanders, Emmanuel $11.00
20 - Bryant, Martavius $10.00
21-25 $9.5M
26-30 $9.0M
31-35 $8.0M
36-40 $7.0M
41-45 $6.5M
46-50 $6.0M
51-55 $5.0M
56-60 $4.5M
61-65 $4.0M
66-70 $3.0M
71-80 $2.0M
81-100 $1.5M
101-110 $1.0M
111-120 $0.9M
121-130 $0.8M
131-160 $0.7M
>160 $0.6M
Tight Ends Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Graham, Jimmy $10.00
2 - Kelce, Travis $9.40
3 - Reed, Jordan $9.40
4 - Gronkowski, Rob $9.00
5 - Olsen, Greg $8.60
6 - Ertz, Zack $8.50
7 - Walker, Delanie $8.50
8 - Burton, Trey $8.00
9 - Clay, Charles $7.60
10 - Gresham, Jermaine $7.00
11 - Brate, Cameron $6.80
12 - McDonald, Vance $6.60
13 - Ebron, Eric $6.50
14 - Doyle, Jack $6.30
15 - Sims, Dion $6.00
16 - Cook, Jared $5.30
17 - Seferian-Jenkins, Austin $5.30
18 - Cook, Jared $5.00
19 - Davis, Vernon $5.00
20 - Ellison, Rhett $4.50
21-25 $4.0M
26-30 $3.5M
31-35 $3.0M
36-40 $2.0M
41-45 $1.5M
46-50 $1.0M
51-60 $0.9M
61-70 $0.8M
71-80 $0.7M
>80 $0.6M
Kickers Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Joseph, Greg $6.30
2 - Gano, Graham $4.30
3 - Gostkowski, Stephen $4.30
4 - Tucker, Justin $4.20
5 - Crosby, Mason $4.10
6 - Boswell, Chris $4.00
7 - Succop, Ryan $4.00
8 - Parkey, Cody $3.80
9 - Prater, Matt $3.80
10 - McManus, Brandon $3.70
11 - Vinatieri, Adam $3.70
12 - Bryant, Matt $3.40
13 - Cantanzaro, Chandler $3.20
14 - Dawson, Phil $3.00
15 - Hauschka, Steven $3.00
16 - Hopkins, Dustin $2.50
17 - Sturgis, Caleb $2.30
18 - Zuerlein, Greg $2.30
19 - Janikowski, Sebastian $2.10
20 - Gould, Robbie $2.00
21-25 $0.8M
>26 $0.6M
Defensive Tackles Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Donald, Aaron $22.50
2 - Cox, Fletcher $17.10
3 - Short, Kawann $16.10
4 - McCoy, Gerald $15.90
5 - Casey, Jurrell $15.10
6 - Jackson, Malik $14.30
7 - Suh, Ndamukong $14.00
8 - Jernigan, Timmy $12.00
9 - Goldman, Eddie $10.60
10 - Williams, Brandon $10.50
11 - Liuget, Corey $10.30
12 - Lotulelei, Star $10.00
13 - Harrison, Damon $9.30
14 - Poe, Dontari $9.30
15 - Autry, Denico $6.00
16 - Dareus, Marcell $5.50
17 - Williams, Kyle $5.50
18 - Allen, Beau $5.00
19 - McGee, Stacy $5.00
20 - Ellis, Justin $4.50
21-25 $4.0M
26-30 $3.5M
31-35 $3.0M
36-40 $2.5M
41-50 $2.0M
51-60 $1.5M
61-70 $1.0M
71-80 $0.8M
81-90 $0.7M
>90 $0.6M
Defensive Ends Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Ansah, Ezekiel $17.10
2 - Lawrence, Demarcus $17.00
3 - Watt, J.J. $16.70
4 - Jones, Chandler $16.50
5 - Pierre-Paul, Jason $15.50
6 - Campbell, Calais $15.00
7 - Quinn, Robert $14.30
8 - Hicks, Akiem $12.00
9 - Tuitt, Stephon $12.00
10 - Brockers, Michael $11.10
11 - Jordan, Cameron $11.00
12 - Daniels, Mike $10.30
13 - Bennett, Michael $10.20
14 - Heyward, Cameron $9.70
15 - Irvin, Bruce $9.30
16 - Wolfe, Derek $9.10
17 - Crawford, Tyrone $9.00
18 - Hughes, Jerry $9.00
19 - Irvin, Bruce $9.00
20 - Sheard, Jabaal $8.50
21-25 $8.0M
26-30 $7.5M
31-35 $7.0M
36-40 $6.0M
41-45 $5.0M
46-50 $4.0M
51-55 $3.0M
56-60 $2.5M
61-70 $2.0M
71-80 $1.5M
81-90 $1.0M
91-100 $0.8M
>100 $0.6M
Linebackers Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Mack, Khalil $23.50
2 - Miller, Von $19.00
3 - Houston, Justin $16.90
4 - Ingram, Melvin $16.00
5 - Matthews, Clay $13.20
6 - Collins, Jamie $12.50
7 - Kuechly, Luke $12.40
8 - Perry, Nick $11.80
9 - Kerrigan, Ryan $11.50
10 - Smith, Telvin $11.30
11 - Wagner, Bobby $10.80
12 - Ogletree, Alec $10.70
13 - David, Lavonte $10.00
14 - McKinney, Benardrick $10.00
15 - Kirksey, Christian $9.50
16 - Barron, Mark $9.00
17 - Hitchens, Anthony $9.00
18 - Hightower, Dont'a $8.90
19 - Bradham, Nigel $8.00
20 - Brown, Zach $8.00
21-25 $7.5M
26-30 $7.0M
31-35 $6.5M
36-40 $5.5M
41-45 $5.0M
46-50 $4.0M
51-55 $3.5M
56-60 $3.0M
61-70 $2.5M
71-80 $2.0M
81-100 $1.5M
101-120 $1.0M
121-140 $0.8M
141-180 $0.7M
>180 $0.6M
Safeties Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Berry, Eric $13.00
2 - Jones, Reshad $12.00
3 - Slay, Darius $12.00
4 - Joyner, Lamarcus $11.30
5 - Thomas, Earl $10.00
6 - McCourty, Devin $9.50
7 - Jenkins, Malcolm $8.80
8 - Jackson, Kareem $8.50
9 - Jefferson, Tony $8.50
10 - Gipson, Tashaun $7.20
11 - Mathieu, Tyrann $7.00
12 - McLeod, Rodney $7.00
13 - Stewart, Darian $7.00
14 - Allen, Ricardo $6.50
15 - Church, Barry $6.50
16 - Quin, Glover $6.50
17 - Tartt, Jaquiski $6.50
18 - Weddle, Eric $6.50
19 - Cyprien, John $6.30
20 - Diggs, Quandre $6.20
21-25 $6.0M
26-30 $5.0M
31-35 $4.0M
36-40 $3.5M
41-50 $2.5M
51-60 $2.0M
61-70 $1.5M
71-90 $1.0M
91-120 $0.8M
>121 $0.6M
Cornerbacks Updated 10/10/18
1 - Norman, Josh $15.00
2 - Johnson, Trumaine $14.50
3 - Patterson, Patrick $14.10
4 - Fuller, Kyle $14.00
5 - Trufant, Desmond $13.80
6 - Bouye, A.J. $13.50
7 - Gilmore, Stephon $13.00
8 - Jenkins, Janoris $12.50
9 - Butler, Malcolm $12.30
10 - Hayward, Casey $11.10
11 - Smith, Jimmy $10.30
12 - Ryan, Logan $10.00
13 - Alford, Robert $9.50
14 - Talib, Aqib $9.50
15 - Sherman, Richard $9.10
16 - Amukamara, Prince $9.00
17 - Haden, Joe $9.00
18 - Colvin, Aaron $8.50
19 - Harris, Chris $8.50
20 - Carrie, T.J. $7.80
21-25 $7.0M
26-30 $6.0M
31-35 $5.0M
36-40 $4.0M
41-45 $3.5M
46-50 $3.0M
51-55 $2.5M
56-60 $2.0M
61-70 $1.5M
71-90 $1.0M
91-110 $0.8M
111-130 $0.7M
>130 $0.6M
Punters Updated 10/10/18 League Minimum Updated 09/11/2020
1 - Morstead, Thomas $4.00
2 - Hekker, Johnny $3.50
3 - Anger, Bryan $3.40
4 - Martin, Sam $3.40
5 - Koch, Sam $3.30
6 - Kern, Brett $3.00
7 - Colquitt, Britton $2.80
8 - Lee, Andy $2.70
9 - Bosher, Matt $2.50
10 - Colquitt, Dustin $2.50
11 - O'Donnell, Patrick $2.40
12 - Jones, Chris $2.20
13 - Allen, Ryan $2.00
14 - King, Marquette $2.00
15 - Berry, Jordan $1.90
16 - Way, Tress $1.50
17 - Dickson, Michael $0.70
18 - Dixon, Riley $0.70
19 - Edwards, Lac $0.70
20 - Kaser, Drew $0.70
21-25 $0.7M
>26 $0.6M
Examples - A team wants to extend a QB who is at the end of his contract. Say he was the #2 Quarterback in 2012 and the #4 Quarterback in 2013. Since his best rank was #2 in 2012, this is the rank that will be used to extend him. Based on the chart, his yearly salary must be $19m per year. Based on the maximum contract and bonus guidelines, the team can give him up to a 5 year contract, and each year the team sign hims for he will receive a $4.0m guaranteed bonus as of part of that $19m per year.
