GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The only guaranteed money in the four-year contract extension Mike Daniels signed Monday with the Green Bay Packers was the $12 million signing bonus, according to NFL Players Association salary data obtained by ESPN.
The signing bonus can be prorated over five years because it’s an extension of his existing contract, which means it adds only $2.4 million to this year’s salary-cap figure. The Packers still have $7,295,019 in available salary-cap space for this season, which can be carried over to next year’s cap if general manager Ted Thompson doesn't strike any more deals this season.
However, in both 2016 and 2017 there are significant roster bonuses due on the third day of the league year. The 2016 roster bonus of $3.3 million might as well be guaranteed money because the Packers aren’t going to cut Daniels between now and then.
The total value of the contract is actually $41 million (not $42 million as was widely reported at the time of the signing). However, if all the escalators are reached it would be worth $42.5 million. Those escalators aren't counted in the average per year, so it the actual average is $10.25 million.
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of the contract:
2015
Base salary (unchanged from original rookie contract): $1.542 million
Signing bonus: $12 million
Salary-cap charge: $4,022,996
2016
Base salary: $800,000
Roster bonus: Up to $3.8 million ($3,300,000 due on third day of the league year, $31,250 per game active)
Workout bonus: $400,000
Escalator: $125,000 for the Pro Bowl
Salary-cap charge: $7.4 million
2017
Base salary: $2.1 million
Roster bonus: Up to $5.5 million ($5 million due on third day of the league year, $31,250 per game active)
Workout bonus: $400,000
Escalator: $125,000 for the Pro Bowl
Salary-cap charge: $10.4 million
2018
Base salary: $6,600,000
Roster bonus: Up to $500,000 ($31,250 per game active)
Workout bonus: $400,000
Escalator: $125,000 for the Pro Bowl plus an additional $500,000 with playing time or sacks plus playoffs
Salary-cap charge: $9.9 million
2019
Base salary: $7,600,000
Roster bonus: Up to $500,000 ($31,250 per game active)
Workout bonus: $400,000
Escalator: $125,000 for the Pro Bowl plus an additional $500,000 with playing time or sacks plus playoffs
Salary-cap charge: $10.9 million
