Will Compton’s rise was noted early in his second training camp, when one defensive coach predicted he could be their starting inside linebacker that year, just one season after he had made the squad as an undrafted free agent.
But it wasn’t until injuries occurred that he started. And it wasn’t until the following year that he grabbed the job full-time. It was quite the jump for someone who was considered a long shot to make the NFL before the 2013 draft.
Compton elevated his game because he could handle the mental aspect of the job quite well. He helped himself with his special-teams play, too, and has become a popular player in the locker room.
That rise led to more playing time as well as a huge chunk of extra cash. Compton received $251,511.61 in additional compensation, leading all Redskins in this regard. The sum is divided from a pool of approximately $4 million per team and is based on playing time commensurate with the initial base salary.
The Redskins recently tendered Compton, a restricted free agent, a low-round tender. That means if another team gave him a deal and the Redskins failed to match, they’d receive a draft pick in the same round he was selected. But because he went undrafted, they’d receive nothing in return.
Former Redskins defensive end Kendall Reyes, a free-agent signee last year, received the lowest amount at $2,562.46.
After Compton, here are the next nine highest amounts paid out in extra income, according to the NFL Management Council:
WR Jamison Crowder: $191,529.84
OT Morgan Moses: $187,971.35
S Duke Ihenacho: $176,848.47
CB Bashaud Breeland: $176,681.04
C Spencer Long: $172,796.53
DL Ziggy Hood: $163,633.12
S Donte Whitner: $141,655.63
CB Kendall Fuller: $133,822.72
CB Quinton Dunbar: $127,817.14
